Hi, I'm new here, and I am slowly getting work and building my portfolio.
I see a lot of skinny models on this website by nature, and I am deterred by a lot of people because I'm not a size 2 dress and 5'9'' tall. I'm a size 8 and my measurements are 36 30 38, and I'm working to lose weight but it's rough because I work my day job at a bakery (and boy is it hard to keep a diet there! lol!)
I work really hard at my shoots though, when I started I worked with my friends who were photogs or photography majors at my college, and I did TFP work. I just did a paid photo shoot and I am going to a casting call for an alternative hair show next week and I really need to work on my self consciousness. Modeling helps me do that, most of the time, but I still struggle with it.
So what do you guys think? Can you be curvy and still be a good commercial or freelance model?
chellforte wrote: Hi, I'm new here, and I am slowly getting work and building my portfolio.
I see a lot of skinny models on this website by nature, and I am deterred by a lot of people because I'm not a size 2 dress and 5'9'' tall. I'm a size 8 and my measurements are 36 30 38, and I'm working to lose weight but it's rough because I work my day job at a bakery (and boy is it hard to keep a diet there! lol!)
I work really hard at my shoots though, when I started I worked with my friends who were photogs or photography majors at my college, and I did TFP work. I just did a paid photo shoot and I am going to a casting call for an alternative hair show next week and I really need to work on my self consciousness. Modeling helps me do that, most of the time, but I still struggle with it.
So what do you guys think? Can you be curvy and still be a good commercial or freelance model?
But you should accept the fact that you will not be right for every job and your height/weight ratio is one of many factors in that decision. Check out www.newmodels.com for more info on height and weight in modeling. Grow some thick skin if you expect to survive in this industry. As long as you're getting work, tell the naysayers to go screw themselves.
You are certainly not "too fat to model." Like everyone else, you are better suited for some styles than others. Can't say much more without getting into critique territory, and what I just said basically has nothing to do with the way you look. It's true for pretty much anyone.
I'm in a similar position as a curvy model. I'm not overweight by any means, but I definitely don't have fashion model stats. I think the important thing to do is to be realistic. For me, I know I will never be a fashion or runway model. I'm totally fine with that. There is a market for toned curvy women (boudoir/lingerie, commercial, etc.) but I know it will be harder for me to find paid work. Right now, I'm fine with that. I just enjoy modeling, and appreciate the photographers who are willing to do TF shoots with me. As long as you don't have unrealistic expectations, I think you will do fine and have a lot of fun! Good luck!
Evie_Wolfe
Posts: 652
Nottingham, England, United Kingdom
Too fat to model?
... Crap, I wish someone had told me!
If you have a good, hardworking attitude and you're a polite an professional person, you'll do we'll, if you are realistic, and you accept that you won't be perfect for every job (but then nor is anyone else)
If you are unprofessional, nasty, spoiled or lazy, you won't.
Good luck, and my inbox is open if you want to chat
Christinare wrote: I'm in a similar position as a curvy model. I'm not overweight by any means, but I definitely don't have fashion model stats. I think the important thing to do is to be realistic. For me, I know I will never be a fashion or runway model. I'm totally fine with that. There is a market for toned curvy women (boudoir/lingerie, commercial, etc.) but I know it will be harder for me to find paid work. Right now, I'm fine with that. I just enjoy modeling, and appreciate the photographers who are willing to do TF shoots with me. As long as you don't have unrealistic expectations, I think you will do fine and have a lot of fun! Good luck!
Oh, your curves are perfect...snipped to shorten...
Koryn Locke
Posts: 31,842
Boston, Massachusetts, US
You are not fat at all.
There is this magical thing called "toning." A lot of women think they're "fat," when they actually just need to get started on a resistance training program, with a targeted cardio component. They find their bodies look quite excellent after about 6-8 months.
The more muscle you have, the more efficiently your body burns calories, and the shapelier your measurements will be.
My waist and hips measurements were similar to yours in 2006.
Resistance training = best thing I ever did for myself. Changed my life. Seriously.
no such there is always an opportunity for some that shows up on time and is willing to work. There is no such thing as the perfect wieght or body type. Just the right attitude.
Thank you to everyone for all the advice. I'm going to take it all to heart and as I know that I won't be right for every job, and that's ok. I actually have some things like bridal, and alternative hair coming up soon.
I have almost the exact same stats as you, expect you have a 4" smaller waist.
I don't think I'm fat.
So yes, if you really want to, you can do and achieve a lot if you put in a lot of hard work. Just like anything else. I don't expect to become famous or be a fashion model. I do this as a hobby and I enjoy it.
Hi there...fellow member of team curvy here! (5'7" 34-27-40)
You might not fit the stats for high fashion, but that is okay.....most people don't.
Take some time to get familiar with the different niches and genres (and their general standards), identify which ones are a good fit for your look(and what content levels you are comfortable with), work hard, and network like crazy.
J McCaghren
Posts: 603
Los Angeles, California, US
Paige Morgan wrote: You might not fit the stats for high fashion, but that is okay.....most people don't.
^ This! ^
Too many models get worked up over 'fashion stats' or being a 'fashion model'. Most people don't meet the requirements and it's not all it's cracked up to be anyway. I've found commercial models tend to make more money and stay busier than 'fashion' models.
Better ways to determine if you 'measure up': Are you professional? Determined? Polite? Humble? If you've got it in you to model, you can be a successful model. Keep shooting, keep building, keep learning, and never stop hustling! Good luck!
Too many models get worked up over 'fashion stats' or being a 'fashion model'. Most people don't meet the requirements and it's not all it's cracked up to be anyway. I've found commercial models tend to make more money and stay busier than 'fashion' models.
Better ways to determine if you 'measure up': Are you professional? Determined? Polite? Humble? If you've got it in you to model, you can be a successful model. Keep shooting, keep building, keep learning, and never stop hustling! Good luck!
This is especially the kind of critique/comments I especially need. I really am working hard at this despite my doting mother and my now ex boyfriend who didn't support me, it has developed from a hobby to something that I am pursuing as something I want to do. So thank you! I knew I don't have "true fashion" proportions, but that is the way most of the women in my family are built. The least I have weighed since I was 16 is about 135.
So thanks again! I never really did consider myself "fat," but I really did think that the lack of support was discouraging and I have discovered that the most supportive person you can have is yourself.
J McCaghren
Posts: 603
Los Angeles, California, US
chellforte wrote:
This is especially the kind of critique/comments I especially need. I really am working hard at this despite my doting mother and my now ex boyfriend who didn't support me, it has developed from a hobby to something that I am pursuing as something I want to do. So thank you! I knew I don't have "true fashion" proportions, but that is the way most of the women in my family are built. The least I have weighed since I was 16 is about 135.
So thanks again! I never really did consider myself "fat," but I really did think that the lack of support was discouraging and I have discovered that the most supportive person you can have is yourself.
Modeling is great for this. It can be hard to pursue anything you may not feel fully supported on, but like you said - finding your own inner strength and support is worth more than others' support anyway. I never wanted to model and didn't invest in it fully as a career, but I completely soaked up the many lessons I learned in a couple of years doing it. I feel that's the best way to do it. Just keep an open mind and do you, you know? Haha I'm done now.. but again, good luck!
I think you'll discover that many of the successful models on this site don't have "industry standard" stats. Doesn't mean you can't get some awesome images, and possibly even make money. There's a niche for every body type.
I'm happy to see all the positive feedback the OP is getting!
I felt like when I first started modeling that my weight (which got to a shocking 218 during this past summer's shoots!!!!!) would greatly influence which photographers would even LOOK at me, much less RESPOND if i contacted them.
I think it's about attitude and the type of work your looking for, and who you know in some cases. Also where you live. If your reclusive like I am and don't go out to meet people and barely know anyone, it can be hard to find people willing to shoot with you.
OR if you live in Seattle and people are kind of hard to contact and they seem to always have other projects ,it can be hard to get people to FIND time for you, and you end up getting casting calls from way up 2-3 hours away from you! And some of the people you really might want to work with are much farther away, and if you're like me and can't exactly travel too far out, that can REALLY impede your progress as a model, too.
But it sounds like you're going to be a GREAT curvy model, and already are. I wouldn't worry about it!
And like someone else just said, thick skin is a must. A lot of our anxieties come from how we think about models, and the fact that skinny, tall, or skinny and petite runway models are mostly what we see growing up on TV show ads and stuff.
I think creative boudoir or creative color blasted lingerie might be really cool for some curvy busty ladies.
Weight loss is always an issue for those of us weighing a bit more. I lost a ton of weight recently, and that might increase my chances of finding better work to be sure, but it's more for HEALTH reasons and should ALWAYS be fore health reasons. I want to kind of stress that. Not to spazz out the topic or anything.
So as long as you are:
Healthy
Happy
Doing what you love
Have a good attitude on the job and with those you are networking with
I think: Your going to be great!!!!
You are certainly not fat, in fact you look really beautiful and have a nice figure. While it is true that many fashion models are taller and thinner, there will always be some sorts of modelling work for people of every size. If I can still model at age 60, and my measurements are not as good as yours, then you should have nothing to worry about.
I know for myself I use weight 170 lbs in High School. But I quite eating fast food. And I work out at least an hour aday. Ride my bike instead drive my car. I put in a lot of hard work. But working at a bakery. Would be my down fall.
You are not too fat (I think you have that idea from the above comments). Then you get photogs like us who want to a series on "larger" women (all nudes) who can't find models. Of course, the field to chose from on Vancouver Island IS pretty small (pun intended).
Need inspiration?
Marilyn Monroe was not a skinny woman yet she is certainly considered an icon of both sexuality and sensuality and the first Playboy centerfold.
Though I'm sure you'll find SOME work, I think your height (5'7") & an unwillingness to do nude work will probably be more of a barrier for consistent work on the independent MM market than your body type will be.
Why do you need to loose weight? You're not fat, you're curvey, which is very different. There's lots of work for curvey llamas.
You've got a natural figure, slim and beautiful face. You'll never do the big fashion shows, your height would stop you from doing that anyway. Research the industry and see where you fit in and go for it.
Try sliming down to match the naturaly slim llamas and you're fighting a loosing battle, your weight will always go up again. Go for what you're suited to and not what you're not.
Too fat!! No way! My only suggestion to curvy girls is to watch your muscle tone, especially in the upper arm and tushie areas. Toned is beautiful, flabby is not.
Marc Damon wrote: Marilyn Monroe was not a skinny woman yet she is certainly considered an icon of both sexuality and sensuality and the first Playboy centerfold.
The difference being Marilyn rose to prominence in the 1950's & was a star in her own right when Hef bought the rights to those now famous Playboy photos.
no model is "fat" i know im very slender myself but thats not because i goto the gym or anything im naturally slim due to a thyroid problem, but i would love to have beautiful curves. flaunt it! dont hide it!
99.999999999% of girls who pursue modeling keep it strictly as a hobby. There are very few opportunities for anyone to be a commercial freelance model. However there are lots of opportunities to model as a hobby.
I recommend anyone over the age of 16, under the height of 5 foot 9, and over a 0/2 dress size enjoy modeling as a hobby if they love to do fashion type work.
For paid work if a model is more interested in alternative, I recommend they really study alternative models and invest in the wardrobe and time to become a more successful alternative model. If a model is interested in nude work I suggest they do a few dance classes and learn about classical poses and even try to get a gig at a college as an art model.
Glamour work is more tricky and can be a very good avenue or it can be the devil's own of inappropriate photographers and bad experiences. Most of the time I try and stay away from talking about glamour work, it is 90% of the work on MM and also seems to drive 90% of the drama on the forums. If you are interested in that type of work find a successful, level headed, mentor model to help you figure out how to not get in the drama.
But I want to reiterate, there is nothing wrong with modeling for a hobby with a paid job every now and again. It is what the lion's share of people on here do.
chellforte wrote: Hi, I'm new here, and I am slowly getting work and building my portfolio.
I see a lot of skinny models on this website by nature, and I am deterred by a lot of people because I'm not a size 2 dress and 5'9'' tall. I'm a size 8 and my measurements are 36 30 38, and I'm working to lose weight but it's rough because I work my day job at a bakery (and boy is it hard to keep a diet there! lol!)
I work really hard at my shoots though, when I started I worked with my friends who were photogs or photography majors at my college, and I did TFP work. I just did a paid photo shoot and I am going to a casting call for an alternative hair show next week and I really need to work on my self consciousness. Modeling helps me do that, most of the time, but I still struggle with it.
So what do you guys think? Can you be curvy and still be a good commercial or freelance model?
You have seen a lot of skinny models on "This" website??
Where??!!
Most are amateurs who don't take care of themselves..which is not a big deal if you are shooting other than standard fashion/+ sized modelling.
If you just want to model in general who cares...always somebody out there who will point a camera at you. Just don't misrepresent your current physical condition. Nothing more frustrating than a size 2 who shows up clearly looking like a size 8.
we've worked with models in all shapes and sizes and ages. our career as wedding photographers started because we used a BBW model from OMP.
for trade shoots it's just whatever the photographer wants so i think pretty much anyone can play if they find the right photographers.
for getting paid then it gets competitive. and there are certainly genres (like art nudes) where thin is in. but there are other genres like men's magazine glamour where curves are the thing.
you just have to find your niche. maybe consider paying a photographer to really show off what you can in the right hands.
Oh, what was your question again? Oh yes, now I remember. I really don't see anything wrong with your figure. Just get out there and "play". Have fun, and don't worry about being so self conscious. There are many who would love to have a figure like yours.
hello Glen Ellyn! I used to work at a bakery in Westmont, IL.
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