Modeling 101 - Answering Reader Questions

Angie Shipp Wrote: Hey! So I have always wanted to model! I would still like to if possible but now I do a lot of traveling with my Fiance for work, I am never constantly in one place for longer than 1 Month. Is this still possible for me to do? If so where do I start? I have some good pictures but they are not professionally done and I don't have a lot of money to put into building a portfolio. I am fairly new at this, I haven't put much thought into pursuing my interest into modeling until recently so I don't really know much. I can use all the information I can get! I am not really sure where to look for information. Hey, Angie! Given that you're moving around so much and only in one place for a month, I don't believe that an agency would be able to represent you properly. Not many are that flexible to take the time and effort to bring you onto the books if you're only going to leave a few weeks later. That being said, you'd still be able to mod

Blessing Wrote: Hey! Im Blessing and I've been wondering a few things. 1st what if I get a opportunity for thaw "big leagues " in places like New York, but I live 4 hours away from NY. How would that work? 2nd I hear that personality is something they look for in a model, how exactly do i show that?  3rd If I become a model for top agencies (such as Ford and etc.) would I stop school (Im 13) or would I go to school as normal? Hey, Blessing! A majority of NYC agencies will require you to live within a 2 hour's drive from their offices so they may be hesitant to sign you because you live farther away. In most cases, you'll have to relocate in order for them to represent you properly. Personality is a huge factor in addition to meeting physical requirements. You'd get a chance to showcase your personality to an agency during the open call and/or interview. You're in luck because I literally just published a post on my Modeling 101 - A Model's

Tara Wrote: Hi Dania! It's sort of unrelated to this article but I've been wanting to ask someone this for a while now: How do agencies work? Say I go and they are interested and I want to work with them, then comes time to sign a contract of some sort. I am a modest woman, I have been modeling for a few years now and haven't done any photoshoots involving any kind of nudity. I have noticed that many agency signed models do end up posing topless or completely nude for magazines and etc.  So I guess what I'm wondering is: Is the model's opinion on nudity considered or talked about when signing to an agency? Or is that something that is talked about when a particular gig opportunity comes up? Or is it talked about at all? Are models assumed to "know what they are getting into" and then forced to take whatever job their agency send them to? Or do they have to audition for most gigs still? Can you tell your agency "no" to a shoot if it is o

Katy Wrote: Hey Dania,  So I am 14 years old and 5'3". I've done extensive research on modeling in the past couple weeks, so I am well aware of the fact that I'm too short for runway modeling. I am, however, aware that I may be able to do commercial modeling, which would be a dream come true. I have been told I could be a model (but then again, so has everyone else, haha). An issue I might have is, my teeth, because of genetics, are fairly yellow and not as straight as I would love them to be..., is there anything I can do that would easily fix my teeth in a matter of a few weeks or months? Also, I live in the Denver, Colorado tri-state area and so far I have found a few agencies and places that are holding open audition type things and stuff, but I'm still unaware if I will have to pay an upfront fee just to book an appointment with them, or if I will just have to pay if they sign me. If you could answer any of those questions it would be so greatly appreciat

Dana Wrote: Hi Dania, I am 22 attending my first open call in attempt to be signed with a major agency in New York City. Can you give me any insight into the kind of questions I should expect to be asked? Thanks, Dana Hi there, Dana! Open calls are really informal and agencies typically don't spend a lot of time with each model so you won't have to worry about getting a ton of questions asked like you would in an interview situation. Some open calls are as quick as an agency staff member taking your snapshots to another room to evaluate with their peers (while you wait in the lobby) and then returning with a "yes" or "no" answer. Others take a bit more time (by that, I mean a few minutes) with each model and may ask simple questions like: - Do you have any modeling experience? - Are you in school/working? - What is your availability/schedule like to accept work? - Why do you want to be a model? Very generic things like that to get a se

Kadani Iavy Wrote: Hi Denise. Am 20,and new to modelling..34-28-34 are my measurements and I'd love to pursue high fashion..please help me on how I can start. Hey, Kadani! I don't know your height so I can't say for certain that you would be a fit for high fashion but the best way to find out where you should start would be to check out the link below. It will take you to a blog post I wrote about how to get started in modeling: http://amodelsdiary.blogspot.com/p/where-do-you-start-in-modeling.html Make sure to read closely the requirements I have listed. They're in different colors so it is easy to spot. That info will tell you what kind of model you can ideally be (according to agency standards) and the next steps you should take. Hope that helps!

Anonymous Wrote: hi, i wanted to know if you have done an operation on your leg and you have a scar or a mark there , will that scar have an effect or will it be a setback if you want to be a model.  Hi, Anonymous! Scars in general can be a pain to deal with if you want to become a model but whether or not it will prevent you from pursuing modeling seriously depends on how large the scar is and how dark/noticeable it is compared to your natural skin tone. If it's light and slightly faded, that shouldn't be a problem for agencies. But if it's really large and not as easy to conceal with body makeup then you might run into some challenges. However, Photoshop is able to make those kinds of things disappear so I say go for it and attend open calls to see if the agencies you're interested in give you any feedback about your scar and if it would be something they could work around or not. Hearing feedback straight from the horse's mouth is the best