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So you think you can model? Well, there are four basic steps you will need to take in order to fulfill this lifelong dream.

1. Educate yourself about the “The Biz”
2. Break into the industry
3. Avoid scams
4. Model, Model, Model

1. Educate yourself about the “The Biz”.
There are many different kinds of models, including child models, plus-size models, and parts models (like a hand model). Fashion models are usually chosen based on physicality alone, but there are others models called “real-life models,” who are often also actors. Just as their title suggests, these models are simply ordinary looking people used in catalogues and commercials to represent someone with whom the average consumer can relate. If it turns out that you aren’t quite what they’re looking for in a fashion model, you might want to consider this sort of work.

Girls:
• You should be somewhere between 15 and 22 years old, though probably closer to fifteen. The younger the better!
• As you probably suspect, the ideal body is tall, long-legged, and lean. The minimum height is usually about 5′8″, and average weight for a model is 108-125 lbs. These characteristics are partly aesthetic and partly practical: this type of frame looks good on the runway and in front of the camera (which, they say, adds 15 pounds); and a somewhat scrawny build drapes clothing nicely and ensures a good fit in the standard wardrobe.

Boys:
• Luckily, you can start out a little later, roughly between the ages of 18 and 25. The good news is that a male modeling career usually lasts longer than a woman’s, and it seems to be less competitive as well.
• Average dimensions for a male model are a height of 5′11″- 6′2″ and a weight of 140-165 lbs. You should also be fit (not bulging with muscles, but definitely in shape).

2. Break into the industry
Freelance modeling is minimal because almost models work through an agent. Your agent is responsible for getting bookings and ensuring that you show up on time. Good agents will also advise you about clothes and hair, and generally guide you through the various stages of becoming a full fledged model.
You can obtain an agent several ways. Many times it happens effortlessly when a talent scout is out in the public and instantly recruits new talent. Other than that it’s pretty tricky. Most agencies will hold an “open call” a few times a year, where anyone can come and strut their stuff. If a casting call isn’t for a while, it is possible to call and set up an appointment, or even just send your pictures and resume in. Register with Model Scouts This is a well-respected service through which model scouts browse. It’s a place to post an electronic profile so that the pros can check you out.

3. Avoid scams

There are really two modeling industries: the legitimate one that pays models a fair price for their services; and the scams that prey on naive young people. To avoid getting tricked out of your hard-earned cash, remember that you wan to make money, and not give it away. There are lots of con artists posing as photographers, and there are lots of shady organizations calling themselves “agencies” and “schools.”

Shady Photographers: There are some photographers out there who will try and convince you that you need expensive professional prints to even approach an agency. Not true. In fact, most agencies prefer Polaroid’s because if they bring you on, they will want to set-up your photos they way they want to market you.

Fake Agencies: Some “agencies” will try and get you to pay for expensive portfolios and not really even get you any auditions or jobs. Be sure to do some investigative work before you commit to an agency to ensure that they will do their job.

Modelling School: Some people believe that they are an outright scam, while others believe that they’re a pretty good way to gain a little experience, so long as you have the money. Don’t believe anyone who tells you that you must go through a school before they’ll even consider you. No one needs to go to modeling school in order to become a successful model.

4. Model, Model, Model

You’ve bagged yourself an agent! If you’re willing to make the move, New York is really the hub of the modeling world. You have your best chances of getting work in the Big Apple. However, a couple of years in Miami or L.A. aren’t gonna kill you. Hard work, charm, connections and luck all play a part in where you end up. No matter where you’re based, if you sign with a big agency that’s based in New York (as most of them are), there’s a good chance that you’ll end up there. But there is still a high demand for models in secondary markets such as Chicago, Philadelphia and Phoenix.

So as you get ready to embark on your career, keep the following points in mind:

Don’t Quit Your Day Job Don’t think that your newfound modeling career is going to pay the rent. Like all things, success takes time. Be sure to have a day job to pay bills, and don’t drop out of school just yet. It’s always good to have options.

Modeling isn’t as glamorous as it seems Think endless hours in airports, rushing from appointment to appointment, shoots that seem to drag on forever, and chaffed thighs from changing into eighty different swimsuits in two hours. Yes, there’s a lot of great partying, but you have to remember moderation.

Keep your finances on track If your agency uses a contract, have your own lawyer look at it before you sign. Also, find out what unions you may be required to join, and whether or not you are free to sideline at a different agency. Consult an accountant about which receipts you should be saving, and keep careful track of the money you earn. A little attention to business now will save you many headaches with the IRS later on.

Still want to be a model?

***Picture Thanks to justin benedick***