How to join a modelling agency by Neon Models

Modelling agencies get hundreds of applications from aspiring models, so how can you make sure you give yourself the best chance of being noticed and signed?

Choose your agency carefully

These days there are many different types of modelling and many different types of modelling agencies to meet all those requirements. The largest agencies will cater for everything from fashion shows to catalogues to TV commercials on an international basis, but smaller agencies will specialise and may be a better bet, especially if you don’t have classic model looks, aren’t so tall or are looking for alternative or body part modelling.

Read the guidelines

You might be surprised how many people don’t read the modelling agencies’ guidelines. This is just a silly mistake that can be easily avoided, and if you’re careful to make sure you follow their guidelines you can save yourself a lot of wasted effort and rejection. Most modelling agencies will specify if they work with males and females and what ages. Also, if they have minimum requirements such as height. Ignore their guidelines at your peril!

Use decent quality photos to apply

All genuine modelling agencies will ask you to send a snapshot that they can assess to see if they want to meet you for an interview to see if they’d like to sign you to their books. While you don’t have to spend a fortune on these pictures, if you send in something in bad light taken on your mobile phone, they’re likely to throw them out without looking properly. So, try to get access to a decent camera (and someone who knows how to use it), and make sure the pictures are taken in good light (preferably natural light) and show you clearly and looking relaxed.

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Child Modelling

Many parents consider child modelling as a way to spend time with their child, expose them to some new experiences, and maybe save up a little money for a college fund or perhaps to go towards a house deposit one day.
So how can you tell if your child has got what it takes to be a model?
Well, the most important thing to know is that personality is far more important than actual features. We don’t judge children by the same kinds of beauty standards that we do adults, but we are drawn to happy, bubbly children.
So if your child is outgoing and full of sunny smiles, then child modelling might be a possibility. If so, you should get a few test shots to get an initial idea of how they come across in pictures.
A photographic studio is not the most natural place for a child and it can be quite a stressful environment for some children. However, others thrive on the attention and love meeting new people, posing and playing with the props.
The only way you’re going to find out if your child enjoys the experience of modelling is to try it, and either get a test shoot or have a session in a professional photographic studio. It may be better to do it this way than go through the process of signing up to an agency and not discovering that your child gets camera shy until you’ve got a paid job and there’s too much riding on it.
If you think your child could be a model, then remember, the photos have to be very up to date that you send to modelling agencies for review – assuming g you’re not going freelance. Children change very quickly, so portfolio pictures have to be updated much more rapidly than with adult models – sometimes every few months.

 

If you want a helping hand as you launch your modelling career, then register on the Neon Models website.

Freelance Modelling – the Basics

Many people are not aware that even if you are signed to a modelling agency, you’re not actually ‘employed’ by the modelling agency and there is no guarantee that they are actually going to get you any paid work.

 
They are an ‘agent’ that means they deal in making introductions and getting a commission of the fee that the model is paid by the client, and sometimes an additional introduction fee.
For this reason, freelance models may find it more lucrative to go directly to the clients, and cut out the agencies fees.

 
So, if you want to break into modelling, one of the first questions to ask yourself is whether you’d prefer to join a modelling agency or go freelance. Of course, you might decide to chase both routes and see which one works out the best, and that’s a good idea too, if you have the time and resources to do so.

 
A freelance model has to take care of the business side of being a model, and that means invoicing clients, chasing payment and making sure all the correct contracts and other paperwork is in place. There is plenty of advice out there and you can find free templates for most contracts, but you need to make sure you do your research.
Of course, getting in front of clients is easier said than done, and freelance models – especially those just starting out – also have to do a lot more legwork, networking, meeting the right people, making the right connections.

 
If you do have the right kind of drive and skills to become a freelance model, then of course the main benefit is that you get to keep all of your hard earned cash. With agency fees averaging about 20%, that can add up quite quickly. On top of that, you have a lot more control over where and when you work and you’re not limited by an agency contract which restricts who you can work for.

If you want to break into modelling with Neon Models, then visit our website and register today!

Mother Modelling Agencies explained by Neon models

A mother modelling agency is not an agency for mothers! Though their models may well be mothers…

So what is a mother modelling agency?

You may be surprised to hear that there are many different kinds of modelling agencies, and Neon Models is familiar with all of them.
No, a mother modelling agency is basically a middle-man, that acts like an agent for a model to get a contract with a modelling agency. So, if you want to join a modelling agency, you may first try to join a mother modelling agency.

Although it’s not their main role, mother modelling agencies may help a model find work while they are seeking a contract with a regular agency. This will help build up the model’s portfolio, experience and skills, which will make them more attractive to the agents.

If you go through a mother modelling agency you will have a much better chance of getting your foot in the door than if you try to go directly.

That’s because the mother modelling agency will assess you for suitability and then approach their contacts in a range of agencies to see if they might be interested in signing you. They will work hard to promote you, including creating marketing materials and schmoozing their long standing contacts.

A mother modelling agency may help you get non-exclusive contracts with a number of agencies, that may cover different countries, regions or even types (such as body part, fashion show or catalogue).

They might even help train new models, teaching them what to expect from the industry and from modelling agencies and familiarising them with contracts, their rights and how to stay safe.

If you want to learn more about the insider secrets of modelling agencies, then visit the Neon Models website.

Neon Models Guide to Superfoods

If you want to be a successful model, then you’re body is your temple.

Models need to have flawless skin and perfect figures, and that means taking good care of yourself.

There are no shortcuts to good health, and the most important things are eating a healthy, balanced diet, avoiding toxins and getting plenty of sleep. And if you want to take care of your skin – stay out of the sun! For more tips and advice on being model perfect, click here.

In this article we’re going to look at the diet side of things, or more specifically – superfoods. What are superfoods, and which ones should you look out for

What are superfoods?

Superfoods is a term used to describe certain foods that have particularly strong or effective health benefits and may even help with some medical conditions. They may be able to help with everything from warding off heart disease, cancer and obesity.

Blueberries

Blueberries are one of the most well known superfoods, and are packed with anti-oxidants and phytoflavinoids. They are anti-inflammatory and can help reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer.

Frozen blueberries are just as good as fresh, and about ½ a cup a day should give you great health benefits.

Omega 3 rich fish

Fish has long been known as ‘brain food’ and as well as there being some evidence that it can help stave off memory loss and Alzheimer’s, it may also be able to help avoid depression.
Wild salmon, herrings, sardines and mackerel are the best – but if you really can’t stand fish, you can get the same kind of benefits from fortified eggs, flax seed and walnuts.

Tea

Since ancient times, tea has been thought of as the miracle drink, and has been said to cure all manner of ailments over the centuries. Green tea in particular has been shown to be associated with lower cholesterol and the inhibition of cancer cells. But of course, it still has caffeine, so don’t overdo it!

Want to learn more about modelling and how to keep healthy for the camera? Click here!

Neon Models Modelling FAQ

Neon Models helps new models take their first steps in the industry, so we’ve written this article to answer some of the most frequently asked questions that come up for new models we meet.

What are the minimum physical requirements for becoming a model?

It varies depending on the kind of modelling you’re doing and the agency you want to sign with. For fashion show catwalk modelling only the tallest models will be accepted, so unless you’re startlingly tall, you will struggle to break into this area. However, catalogue and commercial modelling has slightly more relaxed requirements and there is always the option of petite modelling. There are no specific weight or bust requirements for a model – a teen model will have different statistic to an underwear model and a sports model will be different again.

How much can I earn as a model?

Unfortunately there’s no easy answer to this, but as a general rule, brand new models earn slightly over the minimum wage, and the more experience you get, the higher salary you can command. If you have several years’ experience and a bulging portfolio, then you could make thousands of pounds for just a day’s work.
But there are other perks as well as money, including being able to keep clothing and other items, and travelling the world.

Is it easy to become a model?

No, it’s not. There are many people who would like to be a model, so competition is fierce and many people will face disappointment. That’s why it’s so important to be realistic, and if you are sure that you have a genuine chance, then don’t give up too easily. Even the most successful models faced rejection at some point.

Have all your modelling questions answered by Neon Models – register on our website today!

Three steps to making it as a professional model

Take care of yourself

The first step to becoming a model is to make sure you’ve got a model quality body. That means great skin, healthy, toned shape and glossy hair. Making yourself physically perfect involves getting enough sleep every night (this is much more important than you might think!) eating a healthy balanced diet with plenty of green vegetables, drinking lots of water, avoiding toxins such as coffee and chocolate and avoiding the sun.

Learn about the types of modelling and which one you want to do

There are many different types of modelling and it’s important to find the type that will be best suited to your body type and personality. If you’re very tall and have a lot of flexibility in your schedule, you might want to consider catwalk modelling at fashion shows. If you’ve got more of a girl or boy next door kind of a look, then catalogue modelling might be more appropriate, and if you don’t meet the standard look, you might be suitable for petite, plus-size or alternative modelling.

Be professional

It’s many people’s dream to become a model, but it’s important to be realistic and down to earth if you’re going to make a success of it. While modelling can be very satisfying and glamorous, it also involves good organisation and the ability to respond quickly and be flexible. You need to be willing to travel at short notice to attend castings and models have to look fresh and happy, even if they’re been travelling for long hours.

If you follow these steps, you’ll give yourself a much better chance of success in the modelling industry. To find out more, register on our website.

Modelling Jobs

So, you’d like to become a model, but you don’t really know what’s involved in modelling jobs?

Well, almost all modelling jobs start with a casting (unless you’re a household name like Kate Moss or Claudia Schiffer). This is where several models are invited to be viewed and possibly interviewed by the client, and there may be some test shots. Based on the casting, the client will select his preferred models for the final shoot.

On the day of the shoot, the model will have instructions about whether to come ‘clean’ faced or made up, and whether he or she should bring any particular types of clothing or accessories. On arrival, if it’s a big shoot, there could be a whole team available to dress and style the model, including hairdresser, make-up artist and stylist.

Modelling jobs can be in studios or on location. Everything is much easier to control in dedicated studios, whereas if shoots are on location, there can be a lot of unexpected factors to contend with, such as the weather.

Once the shoot starts, the model is expected to respond quickly to instructions and also use his or her own initiative to find the perfect shot for the product. They should try out many different poses and expressions, and use the props in imaginative ways.

Even if the shoot goes on for some time, the model has to stay fresh looking. There may be many changes of outfit, or lots of waiting around, but whatever happens the model is expected to act professionally and be able to turn on the smile or smouldering sultry look on demand.

Each modelling job is different and may be at a different location, go on for a varying length of time (from a few hours to a whole week) and each modelling job will pay differently.

Modelling jobs are waiting for you!

Register with Neon Models!

Neon Models – Top Modelling Mistakes

Neon Models has been in the industry long enough to see pretty much all of the mistakes new models make, many of them hundreds of times over. Read on to find out what the top new model mistakes are and how you can avoid them!

If you want a helping hand as you launch your modelling career, then register on the Neon Models website.

Being unprofessional

Some aspiring models have the impression that modelling is a quick way to make a bit of easy money and you just have to stand around and pout. But there’s a lot more to the profession than that, and that includes knowing how to deal with client and understanding contracts and your rights.

Being over confident

We’ve seen plenty of people with unprofessional expectations, who think the world owes them a modelling career on a plate. These people may be quite attractive and have friends and family who have fed their egos, saying that they are much prettier than loads of the models on the front of the glossy magazines.

But however perfect you are to be a model, it’s important to be humble and have realistic expectations, Even if you’re stunning in normal life, once you enter the industry, you’ll be surrounded by stunning people at all times. Having a good attitude, being grateful for any help and opportunities you get will get you a long way in modelling – as well as life.

Being under confident

One the other hand, it’s no good have thin skin and getting upset every time there’s a little rejection, or feeling that you haven’t got what it takes – that’s the quickest way to make that prediction come true!

Models need to be confident and outgoing, as they are always in new situations, working with different people. Networking is also a useful part of building a successful modelling career, so it’s not really a great job for wall flowers.

For more advice on avoiding the pitfalls of modelling, visit the Neon Models website.

How to walk the catwalk – a guide by Neon Models

If you want to be a fashion model, you need to know how to strut your stuff on the catwalk – without falling over!

Neon Models has written this guide which explains how professional models walk the catwalk.

The first thing to do is get your posture right. That means standing up straight with your head held high and looking straight ahead. Your face should be pointing forward and not to either side. Your expression should be neutral, no big grins or moody scowls!

Your shoulders should be relaxed and slightly back, but don’t stick your chest out too much. There should be no slouching or hunching of the shoulders.

When you begin to walk, your arms should swing naturally as you move, but you don’t need to swing them back and forth too much. If the outfit has pockets you may want to put your hands in them, but don’t tense your arms when you do so.

As you move, try to keep your body as still as possible and not move from side to side or bob up and down. Lead slightly with your hips rather than your chest, but don’t sashay dramatically.

Your feet is where you will want to focus most of your attention, as this is the most different from normal walking. When you walk the catwalk, imagine there is a line down the middle and you have to place your feet exactly on the line, not to either side of it. If you want a slightly more dramatic look, you may place your feet on the other side of the line, so they cross over each other. Be careful not to trip over your own ankles though!

Once you reach the end of the catwalk, it’s customary to strike a pose – now you can be as dramatic as you like. Jut your hips out to one side and then the other, placing your hands on your hips. If you’re wearing a jacket, you may want to slip it off and swing it over one shoulder for full effect.

Great, now you’re ready for the Milan or Pairs fashion shows!

If you’d like to find out how Neon Models can help you become a catwalk model, then register on our site.