What type of modelling is right for you?

Knowing where you fit into the industry is vital to making it. Remember to be realistic and not try and fit yourself into an area that is not right as you will be doomed to fail and this will only lead you to feel disheartened. If you select the right area and focus on that you have a great chance of succeeding and having a successful career. The below will give you a list of the types of modelling and what the requirements for each are:

Fashion

Fashion modelling is probably the hardest type to break into. It is extremely competitive and something that most people want to do but very few will make it. There are very strict requirements to being a fashion model in particular height. Female models will usually need to be at least 5’9’’ in height and men 6’0’’. In the past there has also been a requirement on models to be very, very thin being referred to as size zero. However in 2006 Madrid banned size zero models from their fashion week and Milan followed suit. This does not mean you will not need to be thin, but there is more of a move to the fact that fashion models are more normal with a healthy BMI of 18 or more. To make it in this industry you will normally need to have a striking face however the requirements will change from season to season.

If you do manage to make it into the world of fashion modelling you will find that it is probably the most demanding form where you will need to work full time often travelling long distances on a regular basis. The plus side is that fashion models are usually the most famous and will get the opportunity to model on the Runway as well as gaining editorial work on the cover of magazines like Vogue. It is also not uncommon to see fashion models getting advertising work with the most famous brands often getting big contracts with perfume of cosmetic companies to be the "face" of the brand.

Runway

Runway modelling goes hand in hand with fashion modelling and it is very rare that you will do one without the other. Models working in this area will have a very high exposure due to the coverage of the fashion shows they will work at. There are four main fashion weeks in the year with Paris and Milan being the 2 where the most famous designers will exhibit their work and are subject to the largest amount of media coverage. The other 2 main shows are London and New York where up and coming designers get a chance to show their work to a large audience. This is often where new stars in the design world are found.

If you get the opportunity to take part in runway modelling you will find that it is very demanding and will take a lot of dedication on your part to catapult yourself into the "super model" status that so many models crave.

Editorial

Editorial modelling is that done for magazines and usually relates to the fashion world. The main magazines that are in this world are Vogue, Elle, Glamour and Cosmo who all have a huge amount of space to fill every week showing current and upcoming trends in the fashion world. Surprisingly enough this is actually not that well paid however due to the exposure the model will get can lead to other things that will bring in the higher paid work.
Again this area of modelling is highly competitive to get into and then once you are there the competition to be the next face on the cover of a magazine is rife. It is slightly less demanding than the life of a catwalk model but you must still be prepared to work hard. The height requirements are less strict but you will still need to be very thin and look great in front of a camera. You will also need to ensure that you take good care of your hair, skin and body and are always impeccably turned out.

Commercial

The term commercial modelling covers the biggest area of modelling and will include newspaper, magazine, TV and billboard advertising. Advertisers will spend a lot of time looking for a model that will be memorable and will be associated with their product or service.
The requirement for height and build is a lot less rigid in this area as advertisers will be trying to appeal to a particular audience and will want something that they can associate with. A good example of this is the Dove adverts where they have made a big point of using "normal" women. However it is very important that you take good care of your hair, skin, teeth and nails to get this type of work as advertisers will not be impressed if you look scruffy.

Although this is a competitive area of modelling it is open to a much larger group of people and so if you have the right attitude you can definitely make it. If you can act it will be a great advantage.

Glamour

This is a form of modelling that does not involve the selling of a product or service and is usually about the model herself showing her sexuality. Glamour modelling can range from the model wearing underwear to full nude. The most common form that you see is the page 3 girls in the newspaper or the "Lads mags" type images.

The requirements for this type of modelling usually include a curvy figure, larger breasts and an attractive face. Many girls feel the need to have their breasts enlarged in a belief that this will increase their chances of making it. However be aware that this is not necessarily the case and if you look good and can be sexy then you have a great chance. It is vitally important that you have a lot of confidence to do this type of modelling and do not feel self conscious when you take your clothes off.

Remember with this type of modelling it is important that you do not do something you are not comfortable with and a reputable photographer will respect this.

Nude

When we talk of nude modelling we are referring to artistic nude photography. We would usually consider this type of work to be tasteful and not done to titillate at all. Very often it will not include the showing of breasts, bottoms or genitalia but will purely be to show the human form.
This can take several forms and may often be work done for a photographer’s portfolio to show their artistic ability. Nude modelling can often be used in advertising, such as for shower gels and similar type products.

It is important that you are comfortable being naked, especially in a room that may include a photographer, lighting assistant, make-up artist and the like. Having good skin, hair, teeth and nails is essential as you will have nothing to cover these up. Although in many cases you will be required to have a thin, curvy figure to do this kind of work it is not essential as it is an art form and many body shapes and types can be used

Lingerie/swimwear

If you model lingerie and swimwear most of your work will probably be for catalogues and some advertising. The shape of your figure is very important for this type of modelling as most of your body will show. You will usually need to be slim, have a curvy figure, but not too curvy. The most common bra size for this type of modelling is 34B and your hips should be roughly the same size as your bust with your waist 8in to 10in smaller.

You will also find that for this type of work the model is required to have an attractive and striking face and to be reasonably sexy. You will need to keep your skin and hair in tip top condition and when sunbathing do your best to ensure you have no tan lines as these will show up on the camera and not impress a photographer.

Body Parts

Body Parts modelling can cover a wide variety of things with the most common body parts used being the hands and feet. Every body part will have a different requirement but the most important thing to remember is that you take good care of that part of you and ensure it is blemish free.
If you would like to model your hands then you will need to take good care of your nails and having long, slender fingers is an advantage. For feet, again take good care of your toenails and the skin on your feet, it is usually better to have smaller feet, sizes 2-4 as they generally look more delicate in photos.

If you believe you have an exceptional part of your body then remember to take good care of it and ensure that you include this in information about yourself.

Character

Character models will usually find themselves doing advertising work and will require an everyday look that people can relate to. Please refer to commercial modelling for more information.

Plus size

Plus size modelling is something that is growing in demand all the time as advertisers and clothing companies realise there is a huge market in plus size products. Usually this will involve catalogue and advertising work for clothing.
It is usually expected that plus size models are between the sizes of 12 and 18 with an attractive face. Again as with all other types of modelling it is important to take care of your skin, hair, teeth and nails.

Child

Children are always in high demand from advertisers and good models can get a lot of work at all ages. If you believe your child would make a good model the best way to break into the industry is to get in touch with an agent that specialises in children.

With children their personality is probably the biggest deciding factor on whether they get work. They can be the most beautiful child in the world but if they get bored easily or have frequent tantrums they will not get work. Your child should be confident, be at ease when meeting new people, be able to take directions and repeat something over and over again.

As a parent you will need to be present at all photo shoots but it is important to remember that you will need to take a back seat and let the professionals do their thing. A pushy, interfering parent will not be appreciated and will limit the work your child can get.

There are strict laws on child labour including when and how much they can work and as with everything their education must come first.

Now you know a little about the types of modelling available think very carefully about which will best suit you. Remember be realistic, if you do not have the requirements do not go for it, there is something out there for everyone.