More Modeling Tips for Teenager

More Modeling Tips for Teenagers

The following tips and tricks of the trade should help to guide you in the right direction for getting your foot in the door of a modeling agency.

Photos are Everything

One of the very first things you should do when considering launching your modeling career is to have photos taken of you. The following are tips for those all-important images:

Do:

• Have a professional take photos of you, not your best friend or family member unless they can take incredibly clear and well-planned pictures.
• Have several shots taken: a headshot, a full front shot and a side view shot.
• You can have make-up on for the headshot, but don’t wear make-up in the other two shots.
• Wear snug fitting clothing for your photos, but not too tight. You want to look classy, not trashy.
• Remove any piercings that aren’t earrings for your photos.
• Have a nice haircut done prior to your picture shoot so you’ll look your best.
• Wear minimal make-up; the agents want to see the real you.
• Make at least 10 copies of each of your photos so you have them to send out. These can be copied inexpensively at many retail stores and drug stores.

Don’t:

• Send grainy or out of focus photos to an agent.
• Have someone take pictures of you with a lot of stuff in the background. It is too distracting.
• Use props in your photos; the agents want to focus on you, not props.
• Spend a lot of money on a photographer. You can have professional photos taken at your local Wal-Mart, K-Mart or other similar store photo studio.

Getting an Agent

Many people think that if they are attractive then the agents will find them. Not true! Agents look for models in specific places, and they won’t come knocking on your door, even if you are drop-dead gorgeous. Models have to do the footwork if they want to get modeling jobs. This means doing the following:

• Prepare your photos and a cover letter introducing yourself to agents.
• Find local agents by looking in the phone book or searching for them on the Internet (try using Yellow Pages.com).
• Send your packet with your photos and cover letter to the agents you have found.
• Call agents to find out if they have any open calls so you can meet and greet prospective agents in person.
• If you don’t hear from them within 2-3 weeks, call to follow up to see if they received your information.

One more modeling tip for teenagers looking for agents and jobs: many prospective models can scan their local help wanted sections of their newspaper to see if there are any modeling agencies looking for new people to represent. Another way to get some experience and exposure is to participate in modeling events, such as wedding shows in the spring.

One word of caution: never go to see an agent or photographer without having someone with you. Unfortunately, many so-called modeling agencies and photographers want to take inappropriate photos of clients, especially of young teenage girls. Having a friend or family member with you will help to ensure that nothing bad happens.

Avoiding Scams

There is no credentialing agency to oversee who can call themselves modeling agents. Anyone can say he or she is a modeling agent. For this reason, it is very important to protect yourself from scam artists. Avoid the following:

• Agents who can’t provide you with names of people who have landed jobs through them or show you some of their success stories, such as photos of individuals they represent on magazines.
• Anyone who wants you to spend hundreds of dollars on photos, usually from a photographer that he or she personally recommends.
• Agents who charge you a fee to have them represent you. Legitimate agents will get their fees when they land you a job.
• Those who charge a huge fee to include your photo on their website or in their model book that they send to prospective clients.

Be Realistic

The modeling business is a dog-eat-dog world. There is no room for people who have huge egos or those that can’t follow the rules of the business. Before you decide you want to try to be a model, consider the following:

• Successful models give up a lot to be in the business. For teenagers this may mean missing big school events like prom and not being able to participate in their favorite sports or club activities. It also means giving up many of your evenings and weekends if you are good at what you do.
• Realize that not everyone can be a certain type of model. There are print, runway, petite and plus-size models. If you are short than five foot ten inches you probably will never model on a runway in Milan, Paris or New York.
• Your friends and family may think you are model material, but agents have to believe this too. Don’t expect that the first agent who sees your photo will want to sign you. While it can happen, each agent is looking for a specific look - one that can sell to his clients. Not everyone will want exotic-looking models or thin, blue-eyed, blondes to add to their roster of models.
• Modeling is a business. If you can’t keep appointments, are always late or like to argue with people, then modeling isn’t for you. Only super models can get away with being a little egotistical. If you act like a primadonna from the start, you won’t land many jobs because people won’t want to work with you.
• Modeling is hard. It may look glamorous, but it requires long hours in clothes you may not enjoy wearing and shoes that may not fit. You may find yourself modeling swimsuits in the freezing cold and wearing parkas in the summer. If you can grin and bear it, you may do well in this business.