vbabe wrote:
I think it would be silly to suggest someone would have to stop modeling because they have to correct their teeth. I hardly show my teeth in most photos anyways. *shrugs*

Wow. Well, It's presumable that smiling falls under a model's job description. So unless you're modeling for a dentist office ad your teeth should be corrected. (ps- please do not take braces as a sign of "ugliness", thats not it.)

If you're shooting for fun then who cares. Just know most professionals will pass on you. As far as not noticing them at all... trust me... photographers can see every last single pore on your face, let alone braces.

+1 on the above comments (pro vs internet model)

Brittany B Bell wrote:
Ive seen alot of models who become ugly as soon as they smile. At least you are fixing the problem! Keep on modeling you're fine!

Exactly! My teeth weren't horrible before braces (as I had them when I was younger), but there were flaws in my front teeth I really despised. Not too noticeable, but noticeable enough in a close up photo. My bite was the major concern as it could lead to health issues later on. Ultimately braces are better than a crooked smile and thankfully we have wonderful things like Photoshop. :-)

My height actually makes professional modeling difficult (as far as joining an agency), so most of my shoots are for fun.

Thank you all so much for your support!

Here is a recent photo from a shoot I did with braces:

RKD Photographic wrote:
This model has braces - so what? As long as the photographer knows in advance, it's all good...

so does this one.

https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/30822529 (18+)

It didn't seem to affect her modeling ability.

Scarlett Renee wrote:
Leanna Decker, Playboy Cyber Girl of the Year, had obvious braces for a while, even after she started shooting for Playboy.

http://vimeo.com/23887394 18+

Maybe it was forgiven due to her nakedness, but one example of a pro model with braces that didn't seem to hurt her career at all.

Leanna Decker could have been toothless and it wouldn't have hurt her career at all lol.

To the OP, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Most individual photographers won't notice, won't care or may even find it an appealing feature. I personally think women with braces are adorable...maybe it's the unavoidable pout or the shy/self-consciousness that creates a vulnerability.

Could it affect more commercial or mainstream work where the requirements are more constrained, sure. You probably won't get a Crest White Strips commercial for a while.

But I say Rock the Braces.

natural beauties of qld wrote:
braces are a non-event.  I cannot imagine turning down a model because she had braces.  I wish the same applied to tattoos.

Good point. I think braces (depending on type you have and also the photos you are doing) can be easier to hide. I think it also depends on what the photographer is looking for. If the model is covered in tattoos and it's not exactly the look the photographer is going for there isn't much you can do I guess. I think also since braces are usually a medical necessity and tattoos are not, that may also be another reason.

I'm actually so amazed so many people find braces attractive and are a big hype in places like Japan. I actually would have gotten invisalign, but my ortho said it would probably only correct 85% of my biting issues.

Jorge Kreimer wrote:
I don't mind braces.

I've shot with this model many times, and she's always been great, with or without them.

Love it!

Twila Jean wrote:
my best friend is a published alt/tattoo model who is extremely successful, and she never stopped modeling when she got her braces at 24. She even does shoots showing them. But its not hard to conceal them for the time you have to wear them. I think that would be a silly reason to quit.

Same here!

291 wrote:
for picture taking and going through the motions of modeling via the internet, braces are often overlooked due to one simply showing up.  at the professional level pertaining to client bookings through an agency, models are told to come back when they are removed unless there is a specific client request which is few and far between.  those are the choices and reality for those with braces.

+1

vbabe wrote:
lol I think it would be silly to suggest someone would have to stop modeling because they have to correct their teeth.

In the sector I work in, you will not book work unless your teeth are perfect. 

It's modeling. You MUST have clear skin.  You MUST have nice hair.  You MUST have nice nails.  You MUST have straight, white teeth.  Everything not perfect makes you less desirable and less marketable when up against the other MODELS. 

To ask if you can realistically work without these things (in my sector) is a no brainer. 

For other sectors, it matters less.

Harbor Images wrote:
Personally, I wouldn't care if the model I was working with had braces. Then again, I don't really like those "cheesy, smiling" photos.

just my $.02

Why nawt? 

vbabe wrote:
Thankfully we have this wonderful thing called Photoshop for imperfections, because everyone has them.

For your line of work, it may not matter and yes, everyone has imperfections.  However, the amount of perceived "imperfections" to edit in post-production are relatively small for a working industry model than compared to say an average girl who decides to pursue modeling as a hobby.

I see threads like this all the time asking if it's "OK" for stretch marks, scars, cellulite, crooked teeth, yellow teeth, braces, tattoos, acne, poor skin, etc, etc, etc...  the answer is always the same: "If you expect to find work in the "industry", no, these things aren't "OK" -- they make you less marketable".  I would argue that even some freelance work and hobby models should take these things into consideration, because I'm not sure why anyone would use a "model" with a bunch of these things when there are so many models who don't have them.

We're obviously talking about two separate worlds, but I'm just wary whenever I see anything indicating that these things don't matter or Photoshop can just be used as a fix all.  It can lead others to think that it doesn't quite matter as much what goes into it, only what "comes out" -- but there's an old saying that goes "Garbage in, garbage out".  Photoshop is best used to fix minor imperfections/touch-ups.  Using it to remove braces or correct crooked teeth is too much, IMO.  Best to just find a model with straight white teeth if that's what's needed.

vbabe wrote:

Exactly! My teeth weren't horrible before braces (as I had them when I was younger), but there were flaws in my front teeth I really despised. Not too noticeable, but noticeable enough in a close up photo. My bite was the major concern as it could lead to health issues later on. Ultimately braces are better than a crooked smile and thankfully we have wonderful things like Photoshop. :-)

My height actually makes professional modeling difficult (as far as joining an agency), so most of my shoots are for fun.

Thank you all so much for your support!

Here is a recent photo from a shoot I did with braces:

well, to be honest, it's very clear you have braces on in that shot . But that's okay, nothing wrong with that!!

sybarite photography wrote:
As I do the casting for our modeling agency I can tell you the following:

When girls ask if it is a problem, my answer is:
"NO, you are working on getting beautifull teeth... how can I object"

I do see in photographs that the mouth shapes differently when they wear their retainer, so it can be an issue in photography...

But for catwalk, I don't see the problem, and 50% of the photoshoots neither... so keep going... and yes, you might miss out a few times... but know that after they come out, you'll have a set of the most beautifull straight pearlywhites... increasing your changes greatly.

Thank you very much for this.

Valerie Kelly wrote:
Recently, I was critiqued by a friend who asked me how I would continue modeling once I got my braces. (Unfortunately had to get them again at 23 and invisalign wasn't an option for my particular case). I got the clear braces of course and I find that no one notices them unless they are really close. I've had a few shoots and haven't noticed them at all. That also could be thanks to photoshop. lol I think it would be silly to suggest someone would have to stop modeling because they have to correct their teeth. I hardly show my teeth in most photos anyways. *shrugs*

Visible braces is a problem for me, since I usually shoot nudes, and they're associated with adolescence in a lot of people's minds.  But, if the braces are inconspicuous, that helps.  Plus, very few of my images show teeth anyway.