Feature: the easy, online way of becoming a model
By: Alexa Williamson
Want to see if you’ve got what it takes to become a model – effortlessly and without spending any money? Then, this piece is for you!
Preliminary disclaimer: some of what I’m about to say is going to sound very vain, but it’s true and suitable for the feature.
Ok, here we go!
Being a size zero*, having “legs to die for” (according to some) and being a huge fan of America’s Next Top Model, for a laugh, I wanted to see if I was model material. Despite not being in the ideal age range (ie 16-25) or the right height (I’m exactly 5ft 4.5 inches tall – also Madonna’s height!), I felt I was still suitable to do petites modelling or adverts (print or television). However, I didn’t want to spend any money on pictures or go to any fuss to attempt to break into the business.
What I did
With this in mind, I typed “model agencies London” into Yahoo! and found that I could submit my picture to some of Britain’s top modelling agencies very easily via their website.
I contacted the following agencies (including one of the biggest UK names at the moment, Storm) at their site or via an email address found on their site, then submitting a cover note with all my details, along with a photo or two (I went for full body and head and shoulders unless it required one or the other).
The agencies:
Raw Models
Reality Check
N2O
Flair Talent
NEVs
Daniel Browne Street
Cape London
FM Agency
Profile Model Management
Absolute Models
Storm Model Agency
MOT Models
After contacting the above agencies, generally I was met by a wall of silence (although I did get three polite rejection emails) as a response to my uploading my pictures. However, I was asked by Daniel Browne Street to come in and register with them for their casting division. The procedure included having to wear a white t-shirt and jeans and have a photo shoot with them (£55). Despite having to pay for the photoshoot (25 photos isn’t bad for that price), the woman who handled the bookings/models on the books for this department was very knowledgeable, presented herself well and convinced me that if I had the money to spend on what I’d consider a ‘fun activity’, I’d do it.
After having a shoot done, the model they’ll take on their books has a consultation with the owner of the firm, Daniel Streete Brown, and then is ready to be auditioned for assignments. The woman handling the bookings also said that the agency gets 10-15 jobs in per day for the casting division.
I found applying online to be a model a great experience and recommend it for those who want a quick and easy way to find work in this field.
* This is due to gastro-issues : ( and not an attempt to be uber skinny.
