Modeling Career

A modeling career offers you myriad opportunities, traveling to exotic locales, getting pampered by beauty specialists, hobnobbing with celebrities and earning thousands of dollars a day. But modeling is not all about fun and glamour. A modeling agency helps a model with her portfolio, getting plum assignments and handles various aspects of her contract and clauses therein.

What it takes to be a model
Women models are generally between 5'9 and 6'0 and weigh in the range of 120 -130 lbs. There are varied skin tones and face shapes that are doing the ramp these days so there is no definite facial prerequisites. The kind of look that is preferred tends to change every fashion season. From innocent to medieval to anorexic and classic beauty; the requirement is based on the needs of the client. Modeling is usually client driven. The characteristics that go into making a successful model are partly practical and partly aesthetic. What is good for the print media is not suitable for the ramp. Though there are exceptions to this rule, most models fit a standard wardrobe. The other types of models are petite and larger size models. Juniors and children are also an essential part of the modeling industry. After all dimpled smiles and innocent gazes can sell millions worth of products.

Modeling is not just about looking good. You need to work on your facial expressions, posing, make-up, hairstyling and wardrobe. An aspiring model should be able to move her body gracefully. Dance and rhythmic gymnastics are good for conditioning as well as expression. Learning to portray facial expressions needs practice. Practicing in front of a full-length mirror can help you with this. Posing is also a critical element of modeling. A turn of the ankle, the movement of your hand and the tilt of your head - its the fine details that make the difference. You need to hone up your skills at becoming comfortable in front of the camera.

Fashion models are the supermodels whose faces stare out of Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and Elle. Runway models who walk the ramp for fashion houses like Versace, Gucci, Chanel and Calvin Klein among others, usually have long limbs and prominent facial characteristics.

As a model, you will have a professional hair stylist to weave magic with your hair. But as a professional model, you should be able to do your own hair. A versatile hairstyle, one that is not too short and neither too long. Understanding fashion can help a potential model in the making. When you are modeling for clothes, its advantageous to know how a particular fabric will drape or move. It is essential to have some knowledge about the fashion industry if you are planning on making a career out of modeling. Good teeth, well-groomed hands and feet, clear and glowing complexion and poise are the requisites of a successful model.

Modeling avenues
Fashion print modeling - This involves modeling for display advertisements and print materials and is a well paying segment.

Fashion lingerie modeling - Because of the nature of the product, the model has to have good body tone and proportions.

body part modeling - This is a special category that requires the model to display just a part of the body. Many a beautiful model may have hands and feet that look horrible. Hand models have long and slender and graceful hands and fingers. This is a niche-modeling segment.

Commercial modeling - Commercial models are used to sell soaps and shampoos, cars and insurance. These models look like ordinary moms, dads, students and teachers. Commercial models do not have any height, weight or size restrictions.

Modeling agency
A model can either decide to work on her own or work with an organization or modeling agency. An independent or freelance model needs to track down her assignments and follow up on the non-exclusive contracts and other requisites. Fashion centers of Europe offer excellent campaign opportunities and growth prospects for modeling career. The American cities of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami are the American fashion modeling hubs. Commercial modeling agencies represent commercial models - models for clients, who are promoting items such as household goods, automobile, baby items and cosmetics. A fashion-modeling agency grooms its models for a glamorous career in fashion modeling.

Model Portfolio
A model's portfolio is an important marketing tool especially in the initial stages of her career. This portfolio is an assortment of photos that showcase the model's personality and earlier assignments. The modeling portfolio needs to contain certain basics -- a good head shot that brings forth your physical personality and charisma. There must also be some good full-length shots to show your body shape. A blend of photographs taken by different photographers would work well since variety could lend an interesting blend to your portfolio snaps. The model of today needs to also look at her web presence. A reliable model web site showcasing their models can help photographers and art directors in their search for new talent. The costs of listing on a modeling site can vary from initial free service to hundreds of dollars. Some models even have a web site of their own.