immateria wrote:
I'm not a more successful model because I suck at networking.

+1!!

and i'm really hesitant about travelling.

l y n n e wrote:
and i'm really hesitant about travelling.

I think this is what stops most models from being more successful. Unless you live in a huge market like New York or LA, I don't see how a freelance model could possibly find enough paying jobs to do it full time without traveling.

GoldRoseMedia wrote:

I think this is what stops most models from being more successful. Unless you live in a huge market like New York or LA, I don't see how a freelance model could possibly find enough paying jobs to do it full time without traveling.

You can do pretty well in a diverse local market, for a year or so, and then people get tired of you.

VikyL wrote:
"Sexy sells.  Point blank."

Would change this to confidence sells.  Unless you're a glamour model, there are just far more jobs out there where even the possibility that you might even accidentally come across as "sexy" will knock you out of the running.  This only applies in the real world, though.  Sexy does sell on MM.

I also think this list is far too optimistic.  You're basically saying: "If you just keep yourself fit and healthy and have a good attitude and work hard, you will be more successful.". Well, maybe.  It's definitely what people would like to hear, but honestly, any kind of success in the entertainment industry is about 80% good luck: right place, right time, right parents, right people who can move your career forward.

A tip I can pass on: if you are being considered, but not booking, see if your Booker can get feed-back after a gosee, or do a practice gosee and get feed-back from that.  I used to go in and try to speak very professionally and business-like, and it turned out I was coming off as very cold.  I had no idea.

Point will taken. What I outlined was what I noticed seemed to be common among the more successful models. Being at the right place at the right time with the right look (or whatever you need to be right) will take you a lot further.  It just amazes me that a lot models won't eat right, won't exercise, won 't take care of there bodies and skin, won't learn simple poses and feel silly making facial expressions and then can't understand why nobody  is knocking down their door to work with them.

Marianne Michaela wrote:
also, networking, listening to the right people,

I'd add this to the top of the list. Models who are superior at networking will do MUCH better in this industry. If you're a "Type A" personality and you create your own opportunities...YOU control your income. Most people outside of this industry have no idea how much hard work and dedication it takes to succeed. When there are thousands of others who could replace you in a blink of an eye, you always have to bring your A-Game!

l y n n e wrote:
and i'm really hesitant about travelling.

GoldRoseMedia wrote:
I think this is what stops most models from being more successful. Unless you live in a huge market like New York or LA, I don't see how a freelance model could possibly find enough paying jobs to do it full time without traveling.

ShivaKitty wrote:
You can do pretty well in a diverse local market, for a year or so, and then people get tired of you.

No matter how big the local market is, there are only so many photographers willing to pay you and some are not likely to pay you multiple times. You will saturate your local market. Every full time nude model I know travels to make money.

Jeff Fiore wrote:
No matter how big the local market is, there are only so many photographers willing to pay you and some are not likely to pay you multiple times. You will saturate your local market. Every full time nude model I know travels to make money.

I disagree, as far as LA goes. I've never been a traveling model unless the photographer was flying me out, putting me up, feeding me, and paying my rate (maybe happened 8 or 9 times so far). 
But LA isn't just LA... it's LA, Hollywood, the valley, Orange County, San Diego, the beach cities... etc etc. I don't think you could ever run out of photographers and projects, as long as you at least model nude.

Model Starr Photography wrote:
I hear all the time, from models, that they want to be in this magazine or that magazine. Or that they want to be taken seriously or that they don't understand why no one is willing to pay them for their modeling skills. Well, models (and you seasoned models who have had success, let me know if I'm wrong) if you want to increase your chances of being succesfull in whatever modeling you want to do, here is a list of things that I have noticed about successfull, full-time models, who get paid.

1. This first one you have no control over.
Have either a unique look or be so attractive (made up) that you are impossible to ignore.

2. Eat properly- If you don't eat properly it showss in every facet of your look. From hair to nails to skin to complexion. your diet is the first big step especially if you aren't blessed with the genes that can compensate for a poor diet.

3. Exercise- No, I don't mean exercise to be a skinny minny . Exercise because, like your diet, it will manifest itself in every part of your physical being. Even your attitude will improve with exercise.

4. Learn natural poses that work for your body type. If you don't know what I mean then your not there.

5. Facial expressions- Ok, here's one that can make even the homeliest model have great images.  A pretty model is one thing, but a model that can sell a shot, I'll take her everyday of the week twice on Sunday over a pretty, same smile, shot after shot model.  You must not be so self conscience that you're afraid to make the goofiest, sexiest, most animated expressions you can muster. It may start off feeling silly, but once you see the difference it makes in your images, you'll never go back to just smiling in every photo.

6. Lose your inhibition. - Look, every model doesn't have to be naked or be scantily clothed to be successfull, but you need to have the attitude that you couldn't give a rip if you were butt naked in the middle of your local freeway.  Not that you would every do it or should, but that kind of attitude needs to come through in your images.  Sexy sells. Point blank.

7. Remain humble- I don't care how many magazines, calendars, tv shows or movies you've claimed to be in, if you have a stanky attitude, you aren't getting as much as you could no matter how much you're getting already. Stay confident, but remain humble. It goes a loooooong way.

8. Be realistic- I'm not one to kill peoples dreams, but if your 5'2" stop trying to be a runway model. If your 5'2" and 300lbs, please scratch Playboy off your to do list. Listen, this industry is about the look and you need to be honset with yourself on what you can really do with your look. Not trying to kill dreams here, but evaluate where you can really fit in

9.  And last but not least. Love it!! If this is not something you think about everyday, then you limit how far you really can go. If you really, really want to be a model, modeling should be on your mind ALL THE TIME!!!


You gorgeous successful models and super talented photographers weigh-in a let me know if I'm off base with my observations.

I agree with everything except #9. Wannabes who are obsessed with the notion of becoming a model usually don't make it very far. The less emotional you are about it, the better. Work hard and be professional, but think of it as a job, not as the sole purpose of your life.

c_h_r_i_s wrote:
10. Getting out of bed to make it to a shoot.

Was it Woody Allen who said, "80% of success is showing up"?

immateria wrote:
I'm not a more successful model because I suck at networking.

This has OH SO MUCH to do with it.

More than any of the things that you listed. Networking is paramount in this industry. And good timing/luck. Which unfortunately you have no control over. I know lots of people who happened to attach themselves to the right people at the right time which lead to awesome opportunities.

You just have to hope that if you put yourself out there enough, you will stumble upon your own amazing opportunities. For some people this happens super quickly. For some people it takes years. Everyone's journey is different.

FlirtynFun Photography wrote:

I'd add this to the top of the list. Models who are superior at networking will do MUCH better in this industry. If you're a "Type A" personality and you create your own opportunities...YOU control your income. Most people outside of this industry have no idea how much hard work and dedication it takes to succeed. When there are thousands of others who could replace you in a blink of an eye, you always have to bring your A-Game!

Amen to this. We spend the vast majority of our time drumming up work, and a very small portion of our time actually working. Obviously that varies from week to week, month to month, and even year to year. But yes... expect to spend TONS of time applying to castings, attending events, reaching out to photographers, establishing an online presence, etc.

Sabrina Maree wrote:
I disagree, as far as LA goes. I've never been a traveling model unless the photographer was flying me out, putting me up, feeding me, and paying my rate (maybe happened 8 or 9 times so far). 
But LA isn't just LA... it's LA, Hollywood, the valley, Orange County, San Diego, the beach cities... etc etc. I don't think you could ever run out of photographers and projects, as long as you at least model nude.

yep! It's true. New photogs. come out of the blue everyday! It's a huge local market here. I've been doing good staying local or travelling at the most 100 miles. I can't travel much other than that cause I'm a full time student Mon-Thurs. Also, I eat whatever I want.. Am I pig? I don't know.. I'm a curvier model, but I've been getting so much more work than when I was 108 pounds let me tell you. I know what poses work, and what doesn't. what flatters my body and what doesn't. I know models that are 100 pounds and eat cheeseburgers everyday. diet smiet.

Alisyn Carliene wrote:
someone told me the other day i'm not a go-getter.. I was crushed. I totally think I am.. I promised myself that things would change this year.

I'm not really what you would call a go-getter either.

I'm a very laid-back personality type. Nothing irritates me; I almost never feel hurried or stressed. It's just how I am, but it's definitely a detriment to anything I ever try to be successful with.

ShivaKitty wrote:

I'm not really what you would call a go-getter either.

I'm a very laid-back personality type. Nothing irritates me; I almost never feel hurried or stressed. It's just how I am, but it's definitely a detriment to anything I ever try to be successful with.

Same here, but I think of myself as a go-getter still... but I don't know I guess I'm not pushy enough to get what I want. I would rather work my way up slowly, than be pushy and not be myself.

Alisyn Carliene wrote:

Same here, but I think of myself as a go-getter still... but I don't know I guess I'm not pushy enough to get what I want. I would rather work my way up slowly, than be pushy and not be myself.

I'm not a pushy or aggressive person either, but I tend to be able to get every single person to like me and have respect for me. I have GREAT people skills, but I wouldn't say I'm a productive type, or able to get what I want/need generally.

K I C K H A M wrote:
I think one of the biggest is things is not being scared of or deterred by rejection.

Going into modeling full force and being confident is easy.

Keeping it up when you go into casting day after day and get many rejections is harder.

YES! You hear again and again not to take things personally, but it gets hard sometimes.

K I C K H A M wrote:
I think one of the biggest is things is not being scared of or deterred by rejection.

Going into modeling full force and being confident is easy.

Keeping it up when you go into casting day after day and get many rejections is harder.

ow yes, tough skin, very important... I'm still very afraid to be rejected, and I know ti's holding me back!

c_h_r_i_s wrote:
10. Getting out of bed to make it to a shoot.

AMEN!!!  LOL!

K I C K H A M wrote:
I think one of the biggest is things is not being scared of or deterred by rejection.

Going into modeling full force and being confident is easy.

Keeping it up when you go into casting day after day and get many rejections is harder.

Yup, this is a big issue, and I'll admit it hinders me when it comes to travelling about.
I think (only my opinion) that the fear of rejection tends to go up when you come to the decision that you need to travel further afield in order to progress, especially if you know that it has to be financially beneficial otherwise travelling just isn't viable. Make or break really.

It's just a case of going for it full force & even if it doesn't go as well as hoped, at least you'll have learned some valuable lessons from your experience.

xX.maz.Xx

VictoriaVertuga wrote:

This has OH SO MUCH to do with it.

More than any of the things that you listed. Networking is paramount in this industry. And good timing/luck. Which unfortunately you have no control over. I know lots of people who happened to attach themselves to the right people at the right time which lead to awesome opportunities.

You just have to hope that if you put yourself out there enough, you will stumble upon your own amazing opportunities. For some people this happens super quickly. For some people it takes years. Everyone's journey is different.

Definitely my biggest hurtle. I am really socially awkward and only leave my house to work or go grocery shopping.