model-maria wrote:
I am signed into some national and international agencies and they all have different names for the my age-group.  The category is called: senior models, special models, specials, best-ager models, classic models, character, people women, mature models, lady model, ladies or just 40-50 group......  There is no standard and sometimes it is very confusing as " senior models" are for instance in other agencies 65 +............


What do you all think should be a proper name or the best name?

Hello Maria!

I think I like divisions such as:
40+ life-style
40+ character
50+ life-style
50+ character

While I think there is definate crossover for a life-style model to be a character I think it would be clear that if they are looking for a specific editorial/commercial look that life-style is the focus.

However, I wouldn't want to be limited away from doing characters either. At least, for me this is hypothetical because I'm not signed yet!
Jen

Bravoscape wrote:
... I have seen 50+ yo models that look like they are 30 (naturally).

Just my opinion...but age shouldn't matter...

This. I know it isn't PC but they should be grouped with their skill and style that fits them best.

model-maria wrote:
I totally agree, but somehow agencies always are splitting up models by age..........

I've always wondered about this age thingy....I mean if you're an attractive model that can sell a product/photographs well/generally awesome, does age matter?

COCO in WA wrote:
I refer to myself as a woman of age ... senior, mature and cougar just don't work for me.

+1  Not all 40+ women are "cougars" either...I don't chase after young men...they might chase me but I do know the reality of that.

Nylon wrote:

I've always wondered about this age thingy....I mean if you're an attractive model that can sell a product/photographs well/generally awesome, does age matter?

+1  I agree...but they always want to "label" us for some reason...if we are right for the shoot, then does it matter?

Nylon wrote:
I've always wondered about this age thingy....I mean if you're an attractive model that can sell a product/photographs well/generally awesome, does age matter?

Sometimes it does matter, the other day I read a posting here that said no one would buy wrinkle cream that was advertised by a 20 year old model. I agree with that. I would be more likely to buy things or services that were advertised by a model over 50 if those things were directed at people who were older.

My experience has been that there are many artists and photographers that prefer to work with older models. Often they refer to those of us who are over 35 or over 40 as having the style they are looking for, whatever that means.

I also find that the older I get, there is more interest from artists and photographers who say they are not finding very many models over about the age of 50 who will model in the nude.

model-maria wrote:
people women

As opposed to the women who are not people?

Alabaster Crowley wrote:

As opposed to the women who are not people?

Sure could be Cylons

DivaEroticus wrote:
Model.

This.

Michael Pandolfo wrote:
Usually the age group prior to "senior models" is often called "Lifestyle Models." That works for me.

I thought lifestyle was typically just a genre. It's often stock photos, like people doing ordinary daily life things (Cooking, riding a bike, walking a dog, etc.) that can be used in advertisements.

Alabaster Crowley wrote:

I thought lifestyle was typically just a genre. It's often stock photos, like people doing ordinary daily life things (Cooking, riding a bike, walking a dog, etc.) that can be used in advertisements.

+1 Yeah that's what I thought too.

Nylon wrote:

I've always wondered about this age thingy....I mean if you're an attractive model that can sell a product/photographs well/generally awesome, does age matter?

+1

some models that are younger and fall into the 21+ category look older than the 40+ models and vice versa...lol!

Brooklyn Bridge Images wrote:
Sure could be Cylons

The Battlestar Gallactica took care of all those didn't it?

Jules NYC wrote:
Hummm

Hmmm...I just see it as a cat with glasses on

Alabaster Crowley wrote:

I thought lifestyle was typically just a genre. It's often stock photos, like people doing ordinary daily life things (Cooking, riding a bike, walking a dog, etc.) that can be used in advertisements.

You're right...it is a genre. The agencies I worked at (ad agencies) used the term Lifestyle Models to refer to more mature models who fell outside the fashion or glamour realm. That age group was also the primary age group for doing lifestyle-type collateral so when we would ask for Lifestyle Models, the modeling agencies knew not to send models under 35 or who had an overtly fashion look.

It seems to be a catch-all term but I thought it was a more tactful term than "Senior" (which was always used to refer to the 55+ demographic). Even if I was a senior I'd hate that term.

I think the other terms were more based on the generation of the model - Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y, etc.

Michael Pandolfo wrote:

You're right...it is a genre. The agencies I worked at (ad agencies) used the term Lifestyle Models to refer to more mature models who fell outside the fashion or glamour realm. That age group was also the primary age group for doing lifestyle-type collateral so when we would ask for Lifestyle Models, the modeling agencies knew not to send models under 35 or who had an overtly fashion look.

It seems to be a catch-all term but I thought it was a more tactful term than "Senior" (which was always used to refer to the 55+ demographic). Even if I was a senior I'd hate that term.

I think the other terms were more based on the generation of the model - Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y, etc.

This sounds more descriptive.

And especially because I don't want to think of 55-60 year old guys as seniors. Because Liam Neeson.

Light and Lens Studio wrote:
Cougars? 

I think cougars are a different entity all together. They kinda scare me as they wear so much make up in real life...with tight clothes and soap opera hair and all, right? On the prowl, ick. Then again I am a 46 year old woman and not a cougar so maybe that is why they creep me out.
Jen

Gennaver wrote:
I think cougars are a different entity all together. They kinda scare me as they wear so much make up in real life...with tight clothes and soap opera hair and all, right? On the prowl, ick. Then again I am a 46 year old woman and not a cougar so maybe that is why they creep me out.
Jen

There are all kinds of "cougars" out there...its just a term given to women who date men younger than themselves...is there anything wrong with that?  I, for one, don't think so...after all, men date women much younger than themselves and no one thinks twice about it unless it's like a 30 or more year difference...It doesn't mean all women who are given the title of "cougar" wear too much makeup, tight clothes or soap opera hair (what is that exactly?)...not a diss on anyone, just want to clear up some issues on how women 40+ are viewed.  I have been called a "cougar" before and even was named "cougar of the month" on a couple of cougar sites...the guys who ran the sites nominated me, approached me and asked me and I said, sure why not? and while I'm not sure how I feel about that term anymore, yes, I have dated guys younger than me, but they are the ones pursuing me.    I also certainly don't think I fit the description given as I'm not "on the prowl" nor do I have soap opera hair, etc.  Just my POV. We are talking about models who are 40+ anyway aren't we? 

CamiAnn wrote:
There are all kinds of "cougars" out there...its just a term given to women who date men younger than themselves...is there anything wrong with that?  I, for one, don't think so...after all, men date women much younger than themselves and no one thinks twice about it unless it's like a 30 or more year difference...It doesn't mean all women who are given the title of "cougar" wear too much makeup, tight clothes or soap opera hair (what is that exactly?)...not a diss on anyone, just want to clear up some issues on how women 40+ are viewed.  I have been called a "cougar" before and even was named "cougar of the month" on a couple of cougar sites...the guys who ran the sites nominated me, approached me and asked me and I said, sure why not? and while I'm not sure how I feel about that term anymore, yes, I have dated guys younger than me, but they are the ones pursuing me.    I also certainly don't think I fit the description given as I'm not "on the prowl" nor do I have soap opera hair, etc.  Just my POV. We are talking about models who are 40+ anyway aren't we? 

Hi,
I don't think you fit the old definition of cougar either. You are merely dating down in age and that is not a cougar.

A cougar is on the prowl for sexual conquests versus a kitten who is a playful sexual romp. At least, that is what it meant when I first understood the term. Maybe the common definition has changed.

Regardless, I don't think that age makes someone a cougar but, mindset and intention do.
Jen
p.s.  edit to add, this is the type I was referring to:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cougar which is the opposite of
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.p … sex+kitten