Answering a Reader Question #669

Anonymous Wrote:

Hey Dania!
So today I had nothing to do and just went through your whole blog. Like no kidding, I read almost all of your posts!
And then I came across a post about modelling types and I just have some questions about it. So here we go!
1. do commercial/print models actually film commercial? or do they just appear in like catalogs? like any catalog?
2. Do fit models know how to pose? or will the agency teach the fit model?

And this question is not about the modelling types.
When I looked at some of 'become a model' section of some agencies, they had a message section. What are we supposed to write in it? Because I think that message section is important as the agencies kinda get a 'first impression'from that message.

Thank you so much!!

Hi, Anonymous!

Great questions and WOW you must've had a lot of time on your hands to read through all my posts...if I had a trophy I would award it to you, lol!

1. The word "commercial" is very misleading and it's not uncommon that people would confuse the way it is applied to modeling. Commercial/print models don't actually film commercials (although there are certainly models who also act)...but the way this word is used is basically the industry's way of saying "mainstream."

You know how fashion models have their own specific audience/demographic that they target? Well, the target audience/demographic for commercial/print models is the mainstream/everyday consumer. So that's what that means.

But print models don't just appear in catalogs. They literally appear in any type of print form, such as:

- Billboards
- Magazine ads
- Product packaging (look at any item in the store...the person on the box using the product--that's a commercial/print model)
- Flyers
- Websites/banners/online advertisements

2. Fit models don't pose, do photoshoots or anything like that. They literally serve as a "living mannequin," whose main job is to try on the clothes and model them for the designers. By "model" it's as simple as walking out, showing them the front of the garments, the back of the garments, profile, etc.

There is no fancy posing...they just stand there as the designers evaluate the clothing, the way the fabric fits on the model, make notes, etc. Because of the simplicity of fit modeling, there isn't really any training necessary or required.

If the message section of an agency's website gives some kind of prompt like, "Tell us about yourself," "Why do you want to be a model for [Name of Agency]" or something like that then follow those instructions and use that as a guide in what you will write.

Even if there aren't any prompts and it's just a plain message box, briefly introduce yourself and state that you're interested in modeling. Don't forget to mention the type of modeling you'd like to do or be considered for.

If asked why you want to be a model, don't gush about your favorite supermodels and designers--the info should be all about you. You could talk about what characteristics you believe would make you a good model, that you want to pursue it seriously as a career, etc. Things like that.

Keep it short, keep it simple and make it all about you. :-)