I want to become a model...not a fashion model (i'm not tall). Where do I start?

• Answer:

  Right OK, I'm stepping in here because every single answer here is pretty much useless as far as breaking into glamour modelling goes. First of all we'll deal with some misconceptions: - From the point of view of getting work and making money, the more clothes you are willing to shed the better. This is not me telling you that you have to do things you are uncomfortable with, this is just plain and simple industry fact. Models who are not tall enough for fashion and who will not pose nude, or at least topless generally get very few bookings. Don't do anything you know you will regret or that you couldn't tell your Mum about - but at the same time, don't kid yourself. The industry wants tits and ass and it wants them as bare as possible. That's just the way it is and you either do it or you decide that modelling isn't for you. you may pick up the odd job here and there, but it's unlikely it will ever be anything more than a hobby (nothing wrong with that if you enjoy having your photo taken of course!) -Never ever send amateur pics into a men's magazines. Yeh they may get published now and then, but you won't get paid as a result and you risk humiliation. Virtually no-one ever makes a career out of readers' wives or high street honeys. The major men's mags generally take on girls through agencies so that someone is accountable if they don't turn up or the pictures are rubbish. It costs a lot of money to do a photo shoot, and if they're going to commit to that they want someone they know for sure can deliver the goods. There's a bit more to it than standing around in your bikini - you need to be able to stand around bored and hungry and sucking in your stomach for hours whilst sucking on a lollipop and still manage to look insanely turned on when really you're just hoping you don't run out of money on the parking meter. - Glamour modelling is an art. Even adult/porn modelling is an art - not everyone can do it. Posing is a skill, projecting sex on film is a skill, interacting with photographers is a skill. even more - it's damn hard work, involves a lot of travelling and a lot of waiting around. It can be great fun, financially lucrative, and very rewarding. The best pictures make it all worthwhile - but it is exhausting and often boring. - Don't expect everything to be done for you. You will need your own collection of sexy lingerie and bikinis, you will need to learn to do your own hair and make-up to a high standard. At 80% of the shoots I've done I've had to do (and provide) my own make-up. I often also have to provide my own outfits. - Don't expect to be paid from the get-go. Most models start by paying a photographer to produce a portfolio for them, or if their lucky, a professional will invite them to do time for prints or a test shoot (where you "work" for nothing but both you and the photographer get to add the prints to your portfolio.) don't expect big bucks either - I ahve five years experience as a model and my going rate is currently around £25 an hour. If that lot didn't put you off and you'd like to test the waters as a freelance glamour or adult model I would suggest you look into uploading a portfolio onto one of the portfolio hosting websites. modelmayhem.com and purestorm.com are my favourites (model mayhem is more professional, purestorm is friendlier - nothing to stop you using both). You can upload some photographs here to start advertising yourself for work and to help you find photographers who can help you build a portfolio. at first snapshots are fine, but they need to be clear and good quality and not taken with a camera phone. You need to clearly show your face and figure (they don't need to be nude, but any clothes need to be fitted enough to show your shape). After a week or two's member ship, feeling around, reading the advice, chatting to other models and photographers, you need to look at getting a few professional shoots - this will help you to generate more work, to learn the craft, and to gather contacts and references (which are really important). It's a good idea to work with someone local, but try and pick either a professional (who you will probably have to pay around £100 for but it'll be money well spent) or a respected, well referenced amateur. There are a lot of guys setting themselves up as photographers just because they happen to own a camera, and will offer you Time For Prints shoots just in the hope of getting a pretty girl on camera in her knickers. Their pictures may look OK but be next to useless for portfolio purposes. Ask the other models for recommendations of photographers near you who work in a style appropriate to what you want to do. after you start building a freelance reputation, you may find you want to approach an agency (many are members of these sites) or to carry on as self-employed. Never approach men's magazines directly, it's a waste of time as all their models are sourced through agencies and existing contacts - these are the people you need to be approaching. Be careful, there are LOTS of scams, but the advantage of dipping your toes as a freelance is that you begin to learn more about who to avoid and who is genuine.