Modelling can be a fun and rewarding career, but making it into mainstream industry is no easy task. Apart from looking great in front of the camera, there are actually much more to it than meets the eye. Maria Sergejeva, professional model (represented by BMA models) and Olympic figure skater, gives us an insight and some useful tips for establishing a successful modelling career. Maria has worked with top photographers such as Mario Testino, and have been in advertising campaigns for numerous brands including Burberry and The X-Files. Here are the top tips from Maria.
Learn about your industry
Read as many articles and watch as many relevant videos as you can. If possible, speak with established models and photographers. Your industry is complex and to give yourself a better chance of success, you must understand how it works.
Learn as much as you can about everything that relates to your career. Photography, lighting, styling, makeup, fashion and even acting!
Knowing about photography will give you some understanding of what makes a good photo composition so that your poses can complement them.
A knowledge of lighting will help you understand where you should be in relation to the light source, to achieve the best shape and look. (This does NOT mean you should tell the photographer what to do and how to shoot but you can always give suggestions and knowing what works for your face and body will always show in the final photos).
Learn some acting! Being able to bring different expressions and emote in front of the camera is really a great asset. For both still photography and film, that expressive energy really shows in a good model.
Portfolio building
If you are reading this, you probably already know that reputable agencies will want to see some professional photos before they will even consider meeting with you.
It can take several shoots to get the right set of photos, that will give you your entrance ticket to an agency or your first job, so do not give up after a first failed attempt.
You don’t need to spend a fortune on photoshoots. There are many fantastic photographers out there who are willing to collaborate on a TFP basis but you must make sure that their style suits your look.
Social media and social networking are invaluable tools to find photographers and to check the style and quality of their work.
If you decide to spend money on a photoshoot, make sure you have a written agreement with the photographer or company. You must understand what you are getting for your money or you may end up with a test sheet of thumbnails and you will be forced to pay more for usable prints. Ask for details about how many retouched photos you will receive or tell them, in advance, if you want to receive unretouched images.
Know your "good side"
The ability to pose is of huge importance and knowing what works for your face and body is essential.
Do not expect step by step instructions from the photographer or choreographer. You must be the expert in posing.
Posing correctly is not something that comes naturally. Sometimes poses that feel very awkward and unnatural will look amazing on camera so… practise, practise and practise! Take as many photos of yourself as possible. Learn how and when you look your best and what angles are great for your face and body.
Be healthy, take care of your body
Obviously, you need to maintain your body image, skin, and hair. This takes a fair amount of discipline as you must have a healthy balanced diet and lifestyle.
Contrary to popular belief, models do eat pizza, cake and chocolate. It’s completely normal but should be in moderation and you should also exercise often.
If you are unhealthily underweight, you may not be offered a casting. There are now restrictions in many fashion houses and labels.
Do not let a few nasty comments, about your shape or size, from ignorant people, lead you to an unhealthy lifestyle, depression or low self-esteem… This is paramount. There is no such thing as a perfect body so learn to love your body.
Be unique, be yourself
There are thousands of models out there… What makes you different?Remember being a model is not all about having a “traditionally pretty” face. If you have quirky features and more importantly, a great personality, use it to your advantage. Take a look at Cara Delevingne!
It’s not easy but when you are in the spotlight as people will always pass judgement. Not everyone will like your looks, regardless of how great you are. Remember, it is subjective and so you must be thick skinned. You will undoubtedly encounter negative comments and rejections throughout your career. Keep your head up, stay poised and keep going… Be yourself and be strong.
Be a social media guru
Find the best ways to promote your images and your brand.
As I said before, Social media networks are great for finding photographers but they are also perfect for helping people find you. Learn how to use these platforms to your advantage. A strong presence on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook are all essential and could put you in the spotlight and ahead of the game.
Model scouts, designers, brands, magazines and editors all browse through Instagram. Learn how to post, what to post and when to post. Follow successful models and see how they do it. Don’t post every image of yourself, be selective. Social media is your online portfolio and can be seen by the world so don’t ruin it with substandard images.
Be professional and have fun
A lot in the fashion industry operates via word of mouth and recommendations. Even if you cannot pose like Coco Rocha, a good reputation will take you far. It is for this reason that you should act professionally, be respectful and friendly at all times.
How to act professionally should be common sense. Be on time, be organised and prepare well for each job.
You will need to learn to work as part of a team. Be kind and respectful to others no matter who they are or what their role is. Give it your all and don’t ever moan. Remember that, as “the talent” you will probably be the person with the shortest working day. For big shoots, there will be a lot of setting up before you arrive and a lot of packing down once you’ve left. Appreciate these people as they are all there to help make you look as good as possible.
Sometimes you will need to work alongside other models and so you will need to be sociable and have the ability to quickly get along with other people.
Stay humble. Don’t forget all the people who have helped you and encouraged you on your journey. Bad mouthing and gossiping about others will one day bite you back. You never know who you will need a favour from again in the future.
Lastly, have fun and enjoy the moment. When you are having fun on a shoot, your energy will radiate and be noticed. This will make people want to work with you again and recommend you to others.
Summary:
Being a model is not as simple as most people think. A lot of work is required for models to get to where they are. Be professional, be unique and stay true to yourself. Keep healthy and keep learning. Most of all, have fun and enjoy the journey.
To follow Maria's work:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariasergejeva
See one of Maria's recent work with Kai here:
Image credits (top to bottom) - Photo by Kirill Gvozdev, Photo by Dawn Marie Jones (Stoyanov Jones) for HUF magazine, Photo by Liam Bergin, Photo by Don Photography