Height and Professional Modeling
For Female
1.
We hear this all the time: I’ve always wanted to be a model. Everyone tells me I ought to be a model. I’m 5’2 tall. Can I be a model?

The short answer is “yes”. But for fashion models it is about the as probable as being struck by lightning on the way to cash in your winning lottery ticket. Even for commercial models, the market for short younger models is small. The realistic answer is no.

That’s not fair. No, it isn’t, but that’s the way it is. This is a business, it isn’t about what you want or what’s fair, it’s about what the marketplace wants. And for the most part the market doesn’t want short models.

Height requirements in fashion

Height requirements in fashion are driven by two factors: sample size and preference. Designers and fashion photographers prefer taller models. Dresses for runway shows and editorial and advertising photography are cut to a sample size that reflects that preference. Once the clothes are put together it’s a lot easier to hire a model to fit than to redo the clothes for a shorter model.

The requirements for being a major market fashion model are not absolute – they are just (very strong) preferences. Everyone in the industry knows that Jegede(the girl in ego"Djinee song and 2FACE African Queen among others, don’t fit the standards, and yet She has been very successful. So why shouldn’t you say to yourself “Hey, what about her? I’m only 5’7 tall, but so are some other fashion models I could name. That means I have a chance to make it, right?” Yes, it does. But we have to distinguish between “possible” and “reasonably likely.”

Let’s look at some numbers. A study done in 2007 showed that among top editorial fashion agencies in Lagos and Port Harcourt, 81% of their “editorial fashion” models were 5’9” and above; 15% were between 5’8” and 5’9”, and only 4% were below 5’8” tall.

Modeling Ratio

According to the US Center for Health Statistics, only about 3 ½% of all young women are within an inch of 5’10” in height. The average weight for those women is about 145-150 pounds – some 30+ pounds more than the “normal” fashion model. If you add in factors like facial beauty, body proportions and all the other things that qualify a girl to apply as a “fashion model” the competition is a very small part of the population.

By comparison, almost 20% of all young women are within an inch of 5’6”. So when you couple the strong desire of the fashion industry for tall women with the fact that a short girl has 5-6 times the number of competitors, the chances look very small indeed.

When a model below 5’8” tall is successful it is almost always because someone, typically a photographer, agent or editor, took a special interest in a girl and “made” her career. It doesn’t happen through the normal route, but by having a special person with influence in the industry decide, for whatever reason, to push you to the front of the line. Things like that can’t be worked for, planned for, or reasonably hoped for. They simply happen, very, very rarely. The “modeling schools” and the scammers seek out girls who want to believe they can be the exception. They assure girls that they can, but they never say what it really takes to be that exception – because it’s almost certain most victims don’t have it, and the schools and scammers aren’t going to give it to you.
i cannot in good conscience suggest that a girl who does not meet the “standards” for a fashion model spend a lot of time, effort and money pursuing that goal when the probabilities of success are so very low. She is better off pursuing some other kind of modeling that uses different standards. If the luck is going to strike, it can do so regardless of what else she is doing

Modeling tips for Men

For men the situation is very different. It’s still hard to make it if you aren’t the preferred six-footer, but the numbers tell a different story. Over 25% of all young men are within an inch of being six feet tall. The average weight for young men of that height is 175-180 pounds – not very different from what the fashion community wants. If it’s true that a short girl can get taken by an agency simply from the difficulty of finding enough tall girls, the opposite is true for men. There is an abundant supply of men who meet the height criteria, so there is little need for an agency to look outside their preferred bounds.

Commercial Print

The typical reaction when counseling short aspiring models is that, since they can’t be a fashion model, they ought to be a commercial model. It’s pretty common to hear that “height doesn’t matter” in commercial print. The motivation is understandable, and there is some (limited) sense behind the advice. But it’s every bit as wrong as it is right. Here’s the truth: The criteria are different than they are for fashion, and not as firm. But height does matter in commercial print.

For the most part, very tall and very short models (for women, 5’11” and above, 5’4” and below, for men 6’3” and above, 5’8” and below) are not what the print industry is looking for. Yes, there are exceptions, and commercial agencies tend to have some models who will work in those exceptional cases. But for the most part, commercial work goes to those who are of “middle height”. (Yes, 5’4” is close to the median in the “real world”, and 5’4” girls really are not “short”. But the terms and criteria used here are based on the norms of the modeling industry, not “real life”.) The average female commercial print model is 5’6 ½” tall, the average male 5’11 ½” tall.

We did an analysis of who was actually requested for commercial print work, based on thousands of castings. A great majority of the time, height was not specified, but when it was, 96% of requests were for women over 5’6” tall. Since height is not often an explicit part of the casting request, we took a look at who actually gets hired. The sample size was a lot smaller than for requests, so it’s harder to draw firm conclusions. But based on what we have observed, we can draw some tentative conclusions:

1. Short minorities are more likely to get hired than short Caucasians. That is especially true of Asians.

2. Short older models (over 40) are much more likely to be hired than short younger ones. There is too much competition among the 5’6” and above group for a young, shorter girl to compete.

Again, this is for classic “commercial print” work, not specialties like glamour, promotional or fitness modeling, where height doesn’t seem to matter as much.

The bottom line is this: Except for Asians, the market for young female models under 5’5” is vanishingly small, much less than 1% of the market. With rare exception, a taller girl can do pretty much any print job; a shorter girl is limited to a very small subset.

Agencies know that, at least to a rough approximation. And that is why it is so difficult for a short model to attract the attention of a commercial print agency.

Promotional

There is a preference for taller models in promotional modeling (taller people are easier to see in a crowd, and attract more attention), but it’s far from a requirement. Many promotional models who are well under “modeling” height have had excellent careers.

Glamour and Art

There is no height requirement for glamour and art models.

Getting an Agency if You are Short

Fashion agencies want tall models. Commercial print agencies in major markets may have a variety of heights, and so accept shorter models. But agencies in medium and smaller market cities generally are “hybrid” agencies which book a lot of commercial fashion work, and that sets the baseline for their needs.

Many non-fashion clients don’t much care about the height of their models. If models were all 5’4” tall that could be just fine for them. But there are three reasons why print agencies don’t carry many short models on the books:

1. Even though “short” may be OK, a large height disparity between models used in a multi-person shoot is not OK. Since most models are on the tall side, it’s more likely that another tall model will fit in.

2. Very few clients will object to a 5’9” inch model – but many will not want to hire one at 5’3”. So the taller girls can do virtually all the commercial jobs that the short ones can, but the reverse is not true. Shorter models can only do a fraction of the work available.

3. In smaller markets, clients tend not to want to spend a lot of money on models. If they need taller models, they probably need to use an agency to find them. But if short models will work for them, as likely as not they will use family, friends and company employees, who are readily available in heights less than 5’8” (women) and 5’11” (men). Agencies know that too, and they don’t try to compete with the client’s niece.

Agencies don’t want a lot of models that aren’t getting much (or any) work – they would much rather have all of their models working as much as possible. So they want to sign models that can work in as much of the market for their type as possible. And that means taller models.

Are you Interested in being a World Class Model, Fashion Model e.t.c Email Your Pictures to lonely2face@yahoo.com for more enquires call 07025885208,08029314720

It’s a common misconception that naturally beautiful models take naturally beautiful photographs. The truth is—without modeling poses and modeling tips, perfect photographs are harder than you think.

If you are a professional model, a photographer will most likely guide you through a variety of model poses throughout the photo shoot. But if you are an inspiring model and are still working your way up to the top—you may have to control your poses to ensure great headshots and sample modeling photographs.

Live show models, promo models, photographic models, and runway models all rely on professional model poses to succeed. Whether you aspire to appear in print magazines or fashion shows and Hollywood movies; if you want to be a model, pay special attention to this insider guide to modeling poses.

Breathe
Although sometimes concentration enhances a good photograph, obvious concentration can distract and often ruin a good photograph as well. Do not hold your breath for a modeling pose; always remember to breathe and appear at ease.

Posture
Bad posture is an unrecognized flaw in many people. However, for models, posture is a harmful flaw. Always remember to keep your back straight and your shoulders up. Slouching affects the mood of the photograph and enlarges the appearances of your stomach. In addition to your back and shoulders, always remember to flex your stomach muscles. Despite your weight or state of shape, your abdomen will appear more toned if you flex.

Limbs
Symmetry is officially out in the modeling world. When posing, make sure to differentiate your arms and legs with asymmetrical poses. If you have one arm long and straight by your side, make sure the other arm is bent. Whether a big or small angle, the bend will make the modeling pose look more real, less artificial. Continue the asymmetry to your legs. If one leg is locked straight, give the other leg a casual bend.

Camera
Although the camera is the ultimate focal point of a modeling photo shoot, great models do not look directly into the camera. To enhance the quality of your photo shoot, look away from the camera with a mix of head and eye poses. Looking off to the right or left side, or tiling your neck to either side can help you avoid direct eye contact with the camera. In many cases, your head and neck can remain stationary in your modeling pose—and your eyes can do all the work. Head and eye positions, coupled with personable facial expressions make for great model poses.

Sitting Poses
If you are sitting down during your photo shoot—don’t think it’s ok to slack off. In fact, sitting photo shoots require a lot of extra work. If you are sitting down or reclining, it’s important to put your eight on the back of one thigh, rather than distributing your weight equally on both thighs. If you roll one hip up from the ground or surface, shifting your weight will be simple. This pose results in a slimming effect that you don’t want to miss out on.

Cleavage
To make sure your best assets shine, there are a few basic guidelines to follow. Based on two distinct poses, a forward lean and a backward lean, any model with any breast size can maximize cleavage. When leaning forward, either bring your arms together at your waist, keep your arms straight at the elbows and clasp your hands together below your waist, or simply cross your arms. When leaning backward, raise your arms about your shoulders and head, keep your arms apart, and always slouch for the best cleavage results.

Smile
If you have a naturally beautiful smile—show your pearly whites with pride, just not every time. If you smile in each modeling pose, modeling agents will notice your lack of versatility, not your smile. To add variety to your modeling poses, try switching up your smile with a cute frown, a bratty bout, a friendly laugh, or even an edgy scowl. Your facial expressions can make or break your modeling poses. Let your smile show, but make sure to show what else you can do.

In addition to these personalized tips for modeling poses, every model should be aware of the basics of posing. There are 4 main types of model poses: lifestyle pose, movement pose, portrait pose, and body pose.

Lifestyle
The lifestyle pose evokes a sense of everyday living with common body movements and facial expressions. Throughout the day, moments of happiness, love, anger, and hope arise. To succeed at the lifestyle pose, each model must be able to recreate these everyday emotions.

Movement
The movement pose captures a specific action, such as running or jumping. Because this pose is most often used for a marketing photo shoot—the model is used to promote a product. Each model must be able to smile and laugh when using the products in the photo shoot.

Portrait
This modeling pose emphasizes the face of the model—and relies purely on facial features. The model will be in modest makeup and relaxed hair and should pose with a casual, genuine smile. Many portrait photographs are close up and emphasize details of the model’s face. If you are scheduled for a portrait photo shoot, make sure to pay extra attention to your skin and drink at least 8-12 glasses of water a day.

Body
Full-length photographs require body poses. Models are encouraged to shift weight between hips and make arms and lengths into asymmetrical stances. Although many body poses do not require specific facial expressions, putting your entire body into character during full-length poses helps your body find a natural balance.

Keep these insider model posing tips in mind during your next professional model photo shoot to ensure you blow the photographer away. Whether you’re a trained expert or an ambitious beginner, all models have the ability to excel in photo shoots. Focus on your posture, attitude, and facial expressions to succeed beyond your wildest expectations.

Good to know that there are some who are really interested in modeling but all the pictures have been recieving lately are not up to standard , i need an HEADSHOT and A[b] Full SHOT[/b] Thats all ,

MODELING TERMS

The terms used to describe various types of modeling and photography are often poorly defined. Such ambiguity can result in misunderstandings and uncomfortable situations for models, photographers, and other industry professionals. In an effort to clarify terms and reduce miscommunication, we have provided a list of terms which describe various types of modeling and photography, as well as various styles and states of dress.

This list is not all inclusive and serves only as a guide for models and photographers, so that they may have some common ground by which they may discuss various projects. Please note that the terms are not mutually exclusive, in other words, Fetish may be Semi-Nude, Full Nude, or may not contain any nudity. You should always ensure that the terms of any agreement you make with another individual are explicitly stated in writing.

AFTRA
(American Federation of TV and Radio Actors) is the union that represents most actors in TV shows, videos and commercials. There is an overlap with SAG, (Screen Actors Guild) which represents talent in movies, etc. Generally speaking AFTRA deals with video and SAG deals with film, but each may be involved with either. A project is either AFTRA or SAG, but not both.

ART DIRECTOR
The person from the advertising agency who is responsible for the art/design of the project.

ARTISTIC NUDITY
Artistic nudity is a form of nudity that is quite tasteful in the nature of poses, but is still revealing. Photographers who do this often work in black and white or with unique lighting scenarios. Generally speaking, these are the types of photos that are intended for gallery display rather than in magazines.

AUDITION
Interview with a photographer, art director, casting director or client where they evaluate you for a particular opportunity. Where specific talents are required, it is not unusual for you to be asked to perform. As an example, for acting, one might be asked to read lines from a script.

BEAUTY SHOT

BIKINI AUDITION
The same as an audition except that one will be asked to appear in a bikini so that the client may evaluate your figure.

BILLING FORM/VOUCHER

BIT
The term applies to a role as an extra where the actor is asked to do something specific on camera for which there are no lines. As an example, if one were an extra acting as a doorman at a hotel, went up to a car, opened the door so an actor might exit, that would be doing a "bit."

BODY CHECK
For an assignment where shape is critical, a casting director may want to view your figure. This will often be done in a bikini. In some cases, a body check will require nudity (if the assignment requires nudity). It is important to never disrobe at an audition unless you were informed in advance of the nature of the assignment and have discussed the requirements with your manager and/or agent first.


Still expecting more emails cuz the screening process is coming up soon

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sojapikin:

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