How to start your journey as a model without being signed by an agency(free eBook, part 1)
Freelance modeling: Who can be one?
Who am I? While I wouldn’t say I am an expert, I do think I am pretty knowledgeable about the industry I have been apart of it since the start of the previous decade. I imagine if you landed here then you’re starting out similarly as I did; I launched my freelance modeling career with absolutely no leads — no photographer friends, no model friends, I really only got into the industry by luck.
But it took a lot more than luck to get to where I am today. It took hard work, passion, blood, sweat, and many, MANY tears. Accepting rejection is second nature for me at this point. It’s definitely not a great career or hobby choice for everyone, but at times it certainly has its rewards.
Standing at just over 5' tall with an average body type, I knew my chances of getting picked up by an agency were slim — no pun intended. I thought the only way to model was to get signed by an agency, and I know this is a misconception many other people have too.
Thankfully, that’s not the case at all and now I would like to share everything I know to help you, too, get on your freelance modeling feet.
Of course, not all agencies are built the same, and this eBook isn’t meant to turn you away from agencies. I will just be helping you understand the benefits of being an unsigned model so you can decide what avenue best suits your personal wants and needs.
Without further ado, let’s get started.
Who and what is a model?
When people ask me “who can become a freelance model,” they’re often surprised by my response of “anyone.”
Unsurprisingly, many people misunderstand what a model is and what they have to look like. You don’t have to be 5’8’’ and unhealthily underweight to be a model. In fact, the Webster definition of “model” may even surprise you.
There is nothing said about what you need to look like, what background you need to come from, or any of the likeness. So what’s stopping you from chasing your modeling dreams?
Truthfully, only yourself.
There are plus-size models, models with disabilities, models with “imperfections,” models who come from dirt-poor backgrounds, and so on. Variety is the spice of life, and you probably don’t even realize how many of these models you see every day — from the commercials on your TV to the ads plastered on social media and everywhere in between. Truth be told, you probably just don’t notice them because it’s not the media’s standard of “beauty.”
That’s right, I’m saying it: models don’t have to be sexy, they don’t even have to be pretty, and they certainly don’t have to be perfect. You could dress up as a zombie and literally model that if you wanted to.
Are you still not convinced? Keep reading…
The whole idea of modeling is having something to model, be it a body part (example: jewelry store hand models, dentist office teeth models, hair models, etc), a product (example: designer’s clothing, food, makeup, your own products), or something to model for, like stock photos (example: someone eating in a restaurant, someone doing a handstand, other real-life situations, etc), or niches (cosplay, fetishes, etc).
Maybe your best quality is your feet, and guess what, you can totally model those.
And I can hear you now saying exactly what I said, “but I don’t want to just model my feet, I want to be a beauty model. I want people to want to look like me.”
Unfortunately, we don’t get to choose what we look like (unless you opt for plastic surgery — maybe you could model for the plastic surgery firm?!) but I promise, no matter how unattractive you think you are, you don’t need plastic surgery to freelance model.
If you’re convinced you’re still just not cut out for the beauty industry, you need to realize it’s always possible if you play to your natural strengths, and sometimes, weaknesses.
For the longest time, I was under the impression that I had no redeeming model qualities (as stated above I am short and stubby, to name a few of such qualities) and I’m sure to many out there I probably don’t, and that’s totally fine. Part of modeling is understanding that you will never be everyone’s cup of tea (yourself included!). Take, for example, Kim Kardashian — while so many people love the way she looks, many, many others don’t — but that doesn’t stop her from modeling or being one of today’s biggest beauty icons.
Battling other people’s beauty standards is one thing, battling your own is a whole other demon. It’s hard to always be in love with the way we look, after all, we know ourselves best down to every clogged pore, birthmark, and scar, and again, that’s okay.
Just because you see every single one of your imperfections doesn’t mean that you aren’t the most gorgeous thing in the world to someone else. There’s no truer industry to the phrase, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” and this is the industry where even “ugly” is needed.
Take for example all of the acne commercials you have undoubtedly seen over the years. Do you think those models and actors thought they were amazingly gorgeous when the camera zoomed in on their red-pimply face? Of course not! But they had a job to do — model the acne product and show off how well it worked.
If your hair is chronically unmanageable and constantly in knots, maybe you should be searching for a hair product to model. Before and after photos are some of the most powerful promotions out there because they show real people like you and me, looking like, well, real people.
So before you let someone — or yourself — diminish your dreams on who can be a model, look all around you. It’s not about looks because anyone can model, it’s about having the right attitude.
Stay tuned for part 2, and in the meantime, you can connect with me on Instagram @datcassdoeee
