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Too "fat" to model
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? Jan 11 13 09:57 pm Link chellforte wrote: You're never too fat to model. Jan 11 13 10:08 pm Link 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. Jan 11 13 10:09 pm Link chellforte wrote: Hell yes! Jan 11 13 10:09 pm Link 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! Jan 11 13 10:10 pm Link 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  Jan 11 13 10:13 pm Link Christinare wrote: Oh, your curves are perfect...snipped to shorten... Jan 11 13 10:13 pm Link MyrnaByrna wrote: Ooh I never thought about that. That sounds like it would be a blast! Jan 11 13 10:19 pm Link 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. Jan 11 13 10:27 pm Link 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. Jan 11 13 10:30 pm Link 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. Jan 11 13 10:37 pm Link 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. Jan 11 13 10:53 pm Link 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. You get out of this what you put into it. Jan 11 13 10:55 pm Link Paige Morgan wrote: ^ This! ^ Jan 11 13 11:12 pm Link J McCaghren 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. Jan 11 13 11:52 pm Link chellforte wrote: Modeling is great for this. Jan 12 13 12:01 am Link chellforte wrote: Yes!! Jan 12 13 12:02 am Link I think you'll discover that many of the successful llamas 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. Jan 12 13 12:07 am Link 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!!!! -Aera Jan 12 13 01:18 am Link If you were in my area and shot nudes or implieds I'd work with ya in a heartbeat. You're cute and I like your look. Jan 12 13 05:29 am Link 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. Jan 12 13 05:44 am Link That makes me angry to even hear. You are definitely not "too fat" to model. You're gorgeous. Jan 12 13 05:52 am Link 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 look great and should continue modeling. Jan 12 13 06:01 am Link 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). Jan 12 13 06:05 am Link I like women w curves not skeletons bring on the thickness! Jan 12 13 06:09 am Link 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. Jan 12 13 06:16 am Link 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. Jan 12 13 06:46 am Link 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. Jan 12 13 07:49 am Link 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. Jan 12 13 08:20 am Link Marc Damon wrote: 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. Jan 12 13 08:27 am Link Too fat to model ---- "They" told Jenny McCarthy the same thing. see Jen-X : Jenny McCarthy's Open Book http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jen-x-j … 1002440063 "They" were wrong. Jan 12 13 08:39 am Link KonstantKarma wrote: +1 Jan 12 13 08:52 am Link 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! Jan 12 13 08:52 am Link 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. Jan 12 13 08:53 am Link chellforte wrote: You have seen a lot of skinny models on "This" website?? Jan 12 13 09:01 am Link 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. Jan 12 13 09:04 am Link 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.  Jan 12 13 09:09 am Link I have found recently that its being curvy that gets me more shoots. Yes i do nude, but im also about to do a Fashion Line, they only chose curvy models as we fill out the clothes better. Ive been requested a few times to go up a size to add more curve to my figure. your height shouldnt be an issue at all, there are lots of models your height. You really have nothing to worry about, as long as you are healthy and happy thats what will come across in your work. not what size or height you are. Jan 12 13 09:25 am Link I would shoot you. Jan 12 13 04:51 pm Link hey, how do you lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks? Jan 12 13 04:53 pm Link |
