How to act like a modelling pro (even when you’re not!)

Teenage Modelling Agencies:

Everyone has to start somewhere with every career, whether that’s at teenage modelling agencies or in an office, a pub or a shop. All experience is good experience, and even if it’s nothing to do with your ultimate career goals, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t helping you out considerably.

No one likes being the new guy or girl and having absolutely no idea how things work. You’ll find yourself constantly asking questions and even though no one minds it’s easy to start feeling like you’re being a royal pain.

Until you get used to what’s expected of you and how much you should be doing, you can pretend to be better than you are. At least you’ll be trying! A good way of doing this while avoiding making mistakes (and therefore making more work rather than being as helpful as you’d like to be), is to suffix your questions. Rather than just saying ‘what should I be doing’, try ‘I’ve finished with that, but I noticed that this hasn’t been done, shall I get on with that?’ You’ll feel much more useful and you’re likely to learn what you’re doing much more quickly.

The same rules apply in with teenage modelling agencies as well. If you stand around waiting to be shown what to do you’ll look like you don’t have a clue, if you ask how the photography director wants you to pose you’ll instantly come across as more confident.

When you sign up to teenage modelling agencies the career progression isn’t quite the same as it would be in other jobs. It’s one of those industries which you can be involved with as a hobby for years and you’ve build up a great profile when you suddenly get a great job which turns out to be your big break. For others, they might find this straight away, and then decide that actually modelling isn’t for them. Because you won’t necessarily have the same opportunities to practise and improve, it’s much better that you make the most out of every single shoot you attend.

Modelling rules to live by:

  • The first rule is to remember that if the director tells you to, you’ll need to immediately forget every other rule. They are in charge of the photo shoot and they will know how they want you to pose and how you should look in their pictures. Don’t assume you know better, but offer suggestions if you have an idea.
  • Do you remember ballet or gymnastics at school? Both are all about having a strong frame. You’ll want to do this as a model too. That means no weak and half-hearted posing – when you try something make sure you put your all into it.
  • Separating your limbs from your body will be more flattering. Even when you’re well-toned and looking great, if you press your arm up against yourself then it will look much chunkier than it really is. It’s why the hand on hip pose is so popular – it creates this effect very naturally.
  • Don’t stare blankly at the lens for the entirety of the shoot. It will make you look gormless rather than engaged. Look through the camera to the person behind it and try to connect with them with your eyes. Have a look at some school photos and then some pictures taken by a friend. You’re likely to look more engaging in a snap taken by someone you don’t know than you are with a stranger.
  • Practice, practice practice. It might sound obvious, but have a good hard look at yourself in the mirror and make sure that your body movements look how you think they do.

Read Tyra Banks’ advice for some more modelling advice, but remember that photographers will have worked with inexperienced models in the past. If you sign up to teenage modelling agencies with some ideas how you’ll behave on your first shoot you’re off to a good start.