Suzanne Kay Wingfield admits she likes the money she has made modeling part time for the past 2 years. But for Wingfield, there are other benefits to being a model. "I get to travel to places I never would've gone and meet more people than I ever would've met otherwise," she says. Although the city in which her agency is based, Chicago, is primarily a catalog market, she has done other modeling in New York and spent last summer modeling in Europe.
Kelly Causey, who has modeled in Europe and Asia, also enjoys traveling. She has done different kinds of modeling, from runway to print to commercials. But no matter what the medium, she says, models, especially beginning models, like the star treatment they receive. "You have professionals who are making up your face and hair, and you might get to wear a $5,000 outfit," says Causey, of Georgia. "Sometimes, it's almost like it's not real; it's as if you're playing."
Not a day goes by that we don't see models, like Wingfield and Causey, somewhere--on billboards, at local department stores, on our favorite TV game shows. Only a handful of them are supermodels who earn millions and hold celebrity status. The vast majority of working models earn a comfortable living at best and are treated as celebrities only within the modeling industry, if at all.
Although thousands of people work as models, even more compete to become models. Almost anyone who expects to become the next famous face is headed for disappointment. But those who enjoy modeling for its exciting opportunities are generally satisfied. "If you look at it in the right way, modeling is one of the most amazing businesses there is," says male model Beau Bourquin. "What we do for work is what 9-to-5 people take vacations to do: Travel all over the world, have fun, meet a lot of interesting people. It can get crazy and hectic. But as wild and crazy as this business is, you can have a realistic life."
There are many ways to get into modeling. Some models stumble into it without much forethought; others plan their lives around it from an early age. Although there are no guarantees that anyone can become a model, there are ways you can get things moving in the right direction. Keep reading to find out about the different media that use models, the standard requirements most modeling agencies look for, the process for finding and contacting the agencies, and what to expect if you become a model. The accompanying boxes discuss some related career options and how to avoid modeling scams.
Models and Their Media
The largest and highest grossing segment of this multimillion-dollar per year industry uses young, tall girls for fashion modeling. Less lucrative markets exist for males, infants and children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, petites, plus-size models, and even specific body parts such as mouths or feet.
Some models' faces grace the covers of magazines. Others are part of the haute couture, or high fashion, elite of international runways. Still others appear in television commercials. But the majority of models are not as well known. Whether working in print, live, or on television, there are numerous possibilities for models in each medium.
Print modeling. Models who are photographed for printed matter make up the largest portion of the modeling industry. Still photographs of models appear in magazines, catalogs, newspapers, and corporate brochures, and on billboards. Generally, magazines provide models with the greatest variety of assignments in terms of coverage, diversity, and exposure. But catalogs, considered the least prestigious of the print modeling media, use the greatest number of models on a regular basis.
Magazines feature models in advertising, "advertorial," and editorial layouts. Advertisements vary in their use of models to display a company's product or create an image; an ad for foot powder might prominently feature its product with a parts model's feet, while an image-conscious ad for men's cologne might focus more on the model than on the product. Advertorials are product advertisements presented to look like photo essays. Editorial modeling includes content not paid for by outside advertisers, such as magazine covers and illustrations that accompany articles.
Although editorial modeling is the most prestigious of the three, it pays little compared to advertising and advertorial jobs. But advertising and advertorial work account for a small number of all modeling assignments--only about 10 percent, according to one agent's estimate. Meanwhile, publicity generated from appearing on the covers of major magazines often leads to more modeling assignments.
Live modeling. From the glamour of European runways to the obscurity of fitting rooms, live modeling is done in a variety of locations. According to Brandon Lewis, director of the Click Atlanta modeling agency, live modeling is especially popular in New York, Atlanta, and California. "The market for live modeling is growing a lot," he says. "Live ads have increased over the last 10 years." Live modeling is essential for fashion shows and showrooms; other models pose for sketching artists or model merchandise in retail stores or the fitting rooms of clothing designers. A small number do limited modeling for tea rooms, floor shows, trade shows, and conventions.
