Want to be a model? What's it take

The physical requirements to be model are relatively few, it’s the mental requirements that will most likely be the make-it or break-it factors in the success of your career as a model.

If your heart isn’t set on only being a “super model” the most needed quality you really need to be a model, is the availability of time.  Once you become a model and the jobs start coming in, you’ll be surprised by a couple of things.  First, jobs will “pop up” seemingly, at the last minute.  Many Advertising Agencies,  Graphic Design firms, and photographers often times need to react to last-minute client demands. The ability to be available for those last-minute projects will get you quite a few projects.  Having a flexible “other life” will be a contributing factor to your ability to get work.  Modeling Agencies will love the fact that you will be available to them when they need you. 

Another feature about modeling that may surprise you is that many modeling gigs may be for a surprisingly short period of time.  Cheap-o clients, like the rest of us, like to spend as little money as possible.  If possible, clients will try to hire models for an hour at a crack.  Modeling agencies will try to keep that to a minimum by demanding a minimum fee from their clients, usually, two hours.  That’s another reason that Modeling Agencies are worth their cut.

Another attribute of a good model is patients.  On quite a few projects, models are often asked to wait before and after their actual modeling duties.  Either the time to do the shot right before yours took longer that expected, or some other snafoo happened in the schedule.  Learning to “deal with it” with a smile, can go a long way toward building your reputation in the city and in the industry.  Your reputation is probably far more important than you may think, especially in a small city like Cleveland or Pittsburgh.  Photographers talk with other photographers and agency people tend to hang out with other agency people.  You don’t want their bar-side conversation to be about what a pain it the butt is was working with YOU.

Good people skills really come in handy too.  Models are often required to interact with photographers, clients, and other models, and the ability to “fit in” can assure that the client leaves the shoot a happy camper.  Making friends with the client or photographer can make it more likely that the next time either one of them need a model that fits your profile, they’ll be calling you.  Like the rest of the business world, it’s much cheaper to make return clients than it is to find new ones.

When you began reading this article, you probably thought that I was going to talk about the physical qualities needed by a model.  In reality, the physical requirements are few.  The modeling industry needs all kinds of models for all kinds of clients.