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.

Neon Models Guide to Becoming a Model

Lots of people want to become a model, but some are more successful than others. Neon Models explains the right steps to take to give yourself the best chance of finding success as a model.

Step One – Decide if you really want to be a model

Think about the reasons for wanting to become a model, and though it might be hard, try to assess yourself realistically for model potential. Are you taller than average, do you have exceptionally clear skin and are you photogenic?

Step Two – do some research

Read up on the industry, what’s expected from you and what you can expect. Find out about the major modelling agencies, how they work, where they’re based and what their guidelines are like. You can also contact a modelling support company such as Neon Models, who can give you an independent assessment for modelling potential and help you put together an action plan.

Step Three – Make sure you have support

If you’re under eighteen, then you can’t be a model without your parent’s consent, so you need to discuss it with them, and make sure they’re on side. The chances are they’ll probably get as excited about the idea as you, and will help you on your way.

Step Four – Submit your photos to an agency

Read their guidelines carefully and make sure you follow them to the letter and don’t forget anything. Then you’ll have to wait to see what they say. It’s fine to submit to a few agencies at once, but only do as many as you’ll be able to take rejections. Rejection is part of life for a model, and no reason to give up too soon.

Step Five – Be professional

If you’re lucky enough to get invited in for an interview, then try to stay calm and just be yourself. If you’re under eighteen your guardian will need to go with you. Answer all the interviewers questions honestly, and try not to babble. If they offer you a contract then check it our carefully and read the small print. 

Love fashion and modelling? Visit our main site and Neon Models.

Teen Modelling

There is always a lot of demand for new teen models as the current ones get older and move into the adult brackets. The teen model bracket is usually considered to be between the ages of 12 and 17 years.

Teen modelling work is available across all kinds of formats from glossy magazines to billboards to TV adverts to catalogues and these days even stock photography for websites.

The teen  market is a very major section which companies are keen to target, and each ‘type’ of teen needs to be represented. That means that as well as the standard modelling work for attractive, fresh faced, tall models there will be work for petite models, plus-size models and alternative models, who may have tattoos or be more unusual looking.

Many child models follow a natural progression into teen models, but also lots of teenagers decide they’d like to try modelling and take their first steps in the industry at this time.

Teenagers who are considering trying to become a model need to make sure they have the right attitude and realistic expectations.

The Right Attitude

Not all teenagers fit the stereotype of being grumpy and stroppy, but there is definitely no space for that kind of attitude when it comes to modelling. Modelling is a professional and requires a professional attitude. Paying clients are not going to be willing to waste their time with temper tantrums.

Realistic expectations

The modelling industry is tough and very competitive and those who think they can just fall into it and make pots of money have got disappointment waiting down the line. Aspiring models need to be willing to invest time and energy in getting their foot in the door, and they have to be thicked skinned to deal with the inevitable early rejections.

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Modelling Posture

Posture is all about how you hold your body – whether you stand upright or slouch, hold your chin up or look down your nose, sit straight or lean to the side.

Good posture is important for all people, because it can have a long term effect on your health – for example, sitting badly in front of a computer screen for years, or walking badly can weaken and wear down your bones and muscles at particular points. These physical problems may not become evident until it’s too late to easily solve it, and serious medical intervention needs to take place. In many cases, improving posture early could prevent this.

For models, posture is critical. Posture affects how you come across, how healthy you look and how your clothing is displayed. Posture is an all over body thing, it’s not simply about a high head and straight back – though that’s a good place to start!

Posture advice for models

Most people think posture just means standing up poker straight, stick your chest out and look straight ahead. But it’s not as simple as that.

Body balance

The first thing to check is whether your body is balanced and straight. Stand in front of a mirror, with a straight vertical indicator behind you, such as a pole or doorframe. Does your head lean slightly to one side? Are your shoulders even? If not, try to get everything even and see how it feels. The first step is becoming aware of your posture, and where there may be imbalances. Once you’ve indentified areas for improvement, you can start to make corrections.

Of course this doesn’t mean that when you’re working as a model, you’ll never pose at an angle – but a model should be a blank canvas, and any angles should be deliberate, not ingrained. This is particularly important for catwalk models.

Height and Lift

‘Stand up straight!’ Well, yes, good posture is about standing up straight – but people often strain to stand up straight by stretching their neck, arching their back and even going on tip toes. To get a real natural lift, and gain the most benefit of standing up straight, you need to think whole body. Start with your legs, make sure your standing foundation is firm, with an event weight on both feet. Legs should be straight but not locked. Them rather than focussing on the spine, think more about the chest. Take a deep breath and feel your body lift and tyour spine extend as you do so. Make sure your head is light on your neck, and isn’t leaning forward. Finally, ensure your chin is straight out (not up or down). Standing up straight in this way will give you natural even distribution of body weight and restore the natural curvature of the spine

Relax

One of the most common problems when attempting to improve posture, is that people get really tense and stiff – which is completely counter-productive. To combat this, give your arms and legs a shake out to make sure you’re not holding any tension, and take a few deep breaths. If you notice any particular areas of tension, focus on gently relaxing them. Another problem with tension is that it affects the balance and lift of your posture. For example, if one side of your neck has knots in it, your head will lean towards that side.

Modelling jobs are waiting for you!

Modelling Agency Contracts

A contract with a modelling agency seems like the holy grail for aspiring models, but unfortunately, too many models rush in too eagerly, and only find out what they’ve agreed to later.

Pressure to Sign a Modelling Agency Contract

Modelling Agency contracts are often very long and filled with legalise, and can be very daunting for anyone who’s not a lawyer, let alone someone who may be very young and inexperienced with contracts.

The contract will often be presented as a ‘take it or leave it’ offer, and the modelling agency may even pressure the model to sign it on the spot, saying that the offer will be off the table if the model doesn’t make up her or his mind right away.

But a new model should resist this pressure. If possible, take the contract away and genuinely try to read it, not matter how difficult it may seem. It may even be worth paying for the services of a lawyer to check it over. And, if there are any clauses that the model isn’t happy with, she can ask for the contract to be amended.

What will the Modelling Agency Offer

A modelling agency contract will never guarantee you work, and in most cases, it will be heavily biased in favour of the agency, offering you very little. This is normal and is simply there to legally cover the modelling agency. After all, they can’t guarantee you work, as you must complete with other models and it’s the clients who make the final decision. It’s in the modelling agency’s interests to promise very little and then overdeliver. Otherwise, if they have any written commitments to get work for models, if it’s not possible, the model will come complaining to them. This doesn’t mean that the modelling agency isn’t going to try their hardest to find work for you, just that it can’t be guaranteed.

Exclusive Vs Non Exclusive Modelling Contracts

Contracts should be very clear about what level of exclusivity is required. The modelling agency may only require the model to be exclusive within a particular region or country, or it may be worldwide. The larger the modelling agency and the more time and effort they are intending to invest in launching the model’s career, the more likely they are to have high exclusivity requirements.

Length of Modelling Contracts

Modelling contracts can range from one year to five years and they may be fixed, or it may be possible to cancel them from either side before the time period is up. Whether it’s good to have a long or short contract depends on the relationship between the modelling agency and model, and how hard each are working for the other.

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Neon Models #5 Tips for a successful photoshoot

Here is the Neon Models guide to a make the most out of a photoshoot – follow these simple rules to great some great pictures from your portfolio!

Try not to be Tense

A lot of people instinctively hold their breath as soon as a camera looks at them, but this is a bad idea, because it makes you look stiff! Try to breathe naturally – it gets easier once you get over the initial nerves.

Don’t be afraid to Be Experimental

Your photographer will probably give you some guidance about where she wants you to stand, which way to face, how to hold yourself and that kind of thing, but it’s a good idea to have some kind of creative input. At Neon Models, we aren’t afraid to experiment with having your hands in different positions, with different expressions and looking at the camera from different angles.

Try using different Props

Props are a great way to add interest to a photo, and you should try interacting with your props in different ways. If it’s a teddy bear you can cuddle up to it or lift it up to the light, flowers could be smelled, held in the teeth or even tucked behind your ear. The more different things you try, the more likely you are to get that perfect, unique shot.

Listen to the Photographer’s advice and guidance

Chances are, the photographer has done this loads of times before, especially at Neon Models, so you should listen to her advice and instruction carefully and do your best to follow them.

Really try to relax and have fun!

The best advice of all if to try to relax and have fun! If you’re enjoying yourself and smiling and laughing naturally, it will come across in the images. You might want to try some techniques to help yourself relax, such as shaking out your body to get rid of tension, taking a few deep breaths and looking at things that make you laugh. Neon Models are experts at helping you relax and stay calm during a shoot. You could even try the old classic technique of imagining everyone around you naked!
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So Lottie Moss has been signed to Storm Model Management

Nola Marianna

It sure does help to be Kate Moss’ half sister eh?

I promise I’m not just hating for the fun of life but at 5’5 Lottie Moss really isn’t tall enough to be signed as a model yet, is she?

The original Moss was already short at 5’7 so is that why Storm have decided to chuck the rule book aside so they bagged the future Moss superstar before anyone else?

Lottie does have the face to make it in the modelling world so the world might need to prepare for a modelling dynasty to take over very soon indeed.

Reckon she’ll knock Cara Delevingne off the “hot right now” seat?

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Jayne Moore Focuses On Inner Beauty

Neon Models Advice for Male Models

In modern society, men are becoming more fashion conscious and more occupied with how they look, including grooming, clothing and accessories. This translates into more work for male models.

If you want to be a male model you should start out by taking some test shots to see how you come across photographically, and also to find out if you enjoy the experience. Some people clam or tense up when a camera is pointed at them, and you need to be able to look relaxed and calm even when a whole modelling shoot team is focussed on you.

As you would expect, male models are generally expected to be muscular, fit and toned. However, they should not be overly muscly, as the body builder’s physique has relatively limited appeal. The exception is male sports models, who tend to have very well defines bodies. As fashions change, there is more call for more slender males and even those with an androgynous look.

Male models need to have the right combination of body shape, stamina, resilience and the right attitude. Male models are usually aged between 18- 25, although there is call for younger and more mature models for certain products.

As with any modelling, if you want to make it as a male model, location is really important. You need to be where the studios, agencies and clients are and you need to be available to turn up to casting at short notice. In practise this means being based in London, preferably, but if that’s not possible, then being near any major city centre is a must.

Freelance modelling is becoming a more popular option, which means you can cut out the agency fees and keep more of your hard earned cash for yourself. However, freelance modelling does involve a lot more legwork and running the business side of being self-employed.

Most modelling agencies work with both male and female models, though generally they will have fewer male than female models on their books.

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