There’s an endless number of people who share the dream of becoming a model. Just a decade ago, you had to have the perfect figure and impeccably symmetrical features to stand a chance. However, with the rise of technology and social media, many people, even those who don’t fit into these rigid standards, are now able to turn their modeling dreams into reality. The days of waiting to get scouted by an agency are long gone. Being an online model, depending on the platform you use and the amount of exposure you get can be highly profitable and rewarding.
The world of modeling is very broad and complicated. Not to mention that since practically anyone can do it, the competition has become very fierce. It’s only natural that you may not know where to start. Fortunately, we are here to give you 6 tips that will help you on your journey to becoming an online model.
Determine Your Best Features
Headshots are a vital step in becoming a model, whether online or not. However, before you take your headshots, you need to determine your best features, and of course, know how to show them off. Pull your hair back and observe your bare, makeup-free face in the mirror. Your face doesn’t have to be sharp and symmetrical- this perception or standard of beauty has changed dynamically over the years. The key here is to search for an interesting feature in your face. This could be full lips, a prominent cupid’s bow, droopy eyes, a tooth gap, freckles, etc. Look for something interesting and capitalize on it, as this will make you memorable and set you apart from others in your field.
As odd as it will make you feel, practice making various faces in the mirror. Try to be highly emotive and expressive. Try to laugh on cue and get moving. Use your body to make interesting silhouettes. Experiment with different positions (yes, even the awkward ones!). The key here is to look very natural and comfortable while doing them. Practice moving quickly, yet fluidly. Always have a plan. Photographers take quick shots, so you have to keep up with them and take small movements between pictures. Going from one pose to a totally different one can ruin the pictures. Aim for the image that you want to set for yourself, remembering always that you’re building a personal brand. This is also a helpful tip for when you’re representing a brand. You have to adopt the brand personality in your shoots.
Also Read: How to Know If You Are Mature for Online Dating.
Build a Portfolio
Now that you’re familiar with all your angles and have determined your best poses, you need to hire a photographer. Although this may cost you a few hundred dollars, the pictures must be very professional. You’re trying to make a good first impression, so you will need a lot more than selfies and pictures snapped on a smartphone. Before you start the session, discuss the process with the photographer. Each photographer has their own style and workflow. This is why you need to understand how they will shoot beforehand.
Create a modeling portfolio website for yourself so you can share it with prospective clients and casting agents. Keep in mind that the competition is strong and that the standards and expectations regarding portfolio have become a lot higher. There are generally two types of portfolios: hard copies and online portfolios. Since you’re opting for an online-based career, we’ll skip to the latter. Your online portfolio is your opportunity to showcase your versatility and potential. While building a robust portfolio requires a lot of time and effort, it is your shot at showing casting agents what you’re capable of. Your portfolio should always be a priority, even as you grow in the field. You need to update it regularly as you gain more experience.
Learn From Others
If you want to excel in your field, you have to watch out for your competitors, and ideally, learn from them. Look up the most popular online models and observe their social media profiles. Scan and observe their accounts to find out what people love about them and why they are popular in the field. Generally speaking, authentic content is key. Here are two statements to go by: ‘quality over quantity’ and ‘less is more’. When setting up your social profiles, which we will be explaining in greater depth, you have to focus on the quality and details of your content. Your followers have to connect with you. They want to learn all about your passions, interests, and personality.
It also helps to be influential. Speak up for the things that matter and establish yourself as a trustworthy and credible figure. Share with your online community and engage yourself. Assert that you’re experienced in the industry. Most importantly, network! Post engaging content that people will find beneficial, and endeavor to build real relationships.
Explore Popular Platforms
When aiming to become an online model, you have to explore all your options. You want to get as much exposure and connect with as many people as you can. This means that you have to harness the power of social media and other online platforms. Sometimes with just a simple click here, you can find a lot of useful information on how to utilize new, yet very popular networking sites. Some platforms are designed specifically to help you create exclusive content on a pay-per-view basis. The content is typically protected by a paywall, ensuring that creators get compensated for their efforts. You can use these platforms strictly for modeling or for gaining exposure by generating a lot of anticipation and excitement around your new campaigns.
Use Specialized Platforms
If you wish to secure modeling gigs and expand your portfolio as a beginner, you can start as a freelance model. You can set up freelancing profiles so people who are looking to promote their products or even showcase their photography skills can book you. You can use social media to promote your temporary freelancing career.
Some social networking profiles are exclusively created for models. You can set up your profile and upload your portfolio to get networking. You can also look into online modeling websites that are made available to casting agents. Upload your portfolio so that they can come across it whenever they have a job opening. The casting agents will browse through the available portfolios to select a model that matches their needs.
Instagram is also now a must-have tool for models and all other public figures. Not to mention that you can build your entire modeling career on Instagram alone. Social media platforms are how you make yourself discoverable, which brings us to our next point.
Build an Online presence
If you want to model, you need to start viewing yourself as a brand. By now, you should have a very good idea of why you’re on social media and what you want to achieve with your social profiles. However, it’s still good to take a moment to think about your goals, the kind of content that you want to share, and the image or personality that you wish to sell. Since your brand is all about visuals, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest are good places to start.
Make sure to attach your social media handles, along with your email to your portfolio and other platforms that you sign up to. Fill out all the necessary information on your accounts and write up a good bio so that casting agents and your general audience know where to find you. You need to come up with a good editorial and posting schedule so you stay active. Posting fresh and quality content regularly is very important. You don’t want to abandon your social profiles for days. Planning ahead will ensure that you always have fresh ideas and will also keep you from forgetting to post.
Audiences like authentic and fresh content. You can create reels and TikToks and post pictures from behind the scenes of your photoshoots or create stories that showcase your regular afternoons. Create polls and interactive stories so you can connect with your followers. Most importantly, you have to stay on top of the trends. Use trending sounds and hashtags on Instagram and TikTok. However, always ensure you hop on the trends that are relevant to your target audience. You don’t want to reach the wrong people or mess up your algorithm.
The great thing about being an online model is that you get to have full control over your time and career. That is, of course, if you don’t end up signing to an agency or hiring a manager. Becoming an online model allows you to create the identity and image you want. It also gives you the freedom to select the projects that you want to work on and the collaborations that you wish to partake in. Being in control of your career as a model gives you the opportunity to select the products and services, as well as the brands that you want to represent. However, being in complete control also means that you have a lot of responsibilities to take care of. This includes building a robust online presence and managing your follower base, creating a portfolio, sealing deals, and handling campaign promotions. This will be the case at the beginning until you make enough income to hire social media managers and even virtual assistants to help you out.
