The "How?" on Modeling: Research
In response to my last post “The ‘How?’ on Modeling”, I present to you a list of sources that I found helpful at the start of my journey*
GENERAL
To review, some of my main objectives were to:
Identify and understand the different types of modeling.
Listen to other people’s experiences as working or aspiring models.
Researching different agencies and what they offer.
Finding out what I was most interested in based on my findings.
Create actionable steps.
BOOKS
I love to read. Some of the most in-depth tips and tricks I acquired for getting into the industry came from the pages of a good old-fashioned book. This may not be the first place people think to look for information now, but considering the thoroughness and the underutilization of books as a tool, I find it necessary to recommend these first.
“How to Become a Successful Commercial Model”
This was probably the most informative piece of information that I came across while researching the industry. Yes, at first glance this book comes off as somewhat dated, but the perspective captured within these pages is extremely valuable. For me, this was the first time that I began to see the association between modeling and acting, as well as what a career path within the industry could be. I also feel that this book made the idea of becoming a model more attainable by revealing the multitude of job opportunities available and providing tips on navigating the business as a whole.
Honestly, I did not get a lot of new information from this read, but had I found it earlier on in my learning phase it may have proved to be more helpful. I purchased this book firstly because I followed the modeling journey of the author, Daphne de Baat, on social media. I gained a lot of insight through her candid life talks on YouTube and hoped to gain more through her book. However, by the time her book had come out, I had already gone through all the sources on this list and built a strong foundation of understanding. I think the information in this book is a great starting place for someone new as it provides a general introduction to the job in an easy-to-read format.
PODCASTS
One of the best things about podcasts is how convenient they are. I know that educating yourself on something new can take immense amounts of time and attention. If you are in the process or interested in making a career change, finding extra time in your work week to research new opportunities may seem overwhelming or out of reach. I find podcasts to be an easy way to “get your feet wet” as they can be incorporated into daily commutes or listened to while exercising, cleaning, or cooking. Overall, podcasts do not ask you to take any time away from your day-to-day tasks. The podcasts listed below were available when I began my search in 2020 (there may be others, but these are the ones I have listened to myself).
This podcast has very few episodes that are not very recent (2017) but I mention it because: it provides a male perspective on the industry, and two because it highlights a different market (modeling more athletic campaigns, almost exclusively in the Boston area). So, if that segment of marketing appeals to you at all, it may be worth giving a listen to.
One thing that I like about this podcast is that one of the hosts works as an agent (as opposed to hearing exclusively from working models). The episodes are all under an hour long and feature interviews with a variety of industry professionals.
I found this podcast to be of value to me specifically because Andrea Ventura, the host, started the podcast with petite model interviews. As someone who is also considered petite, it was important for me to hear about other petite model’s success stories.
WEBSITES
Models.com is an extremely reputable site that is choc full of resources. I mainly used it to help me identify legitimate agencies (because unfortunately, scams do exist) but there are many other resources available through their site that even I am not currently aware of.
Although it is not the nicest site to navigate, “A Model’s Diary” is one of the few blogs that I found. Dania Denise has hundreds (if not thousands) of posts related to modeling and acting (dating back to 2007). What I really love about her blog is how responsive she is (she will answer emails from readers), the fact that she posts answers to readers’ questions, and how she talks about freelancing as a model.
SOCIAL MEDIA
By far the bulk of my studying, social media can provide a wealth of information if you are willing to sift through it. I will not be going into depth about these individual accounts as there are so many of them, but feel free to look through them and find the ones that most resonate with your personal goals.
Too Short for What (Instagram)
Dom Robinson (Instagram)
Andrea Ventura (Instagram & YouTube)
Daphne de Baat (YouTube)
Rowena Karmy (YouTube)
Fresh Pepper (YouTube)
Any and all modeling agencies on Instagram (follow for open casting information and just general inspiration)
CLASSES
Lastly, if time and finances allow, I highly recommend taking a class. This is a great way to put your knowledge to the test while receiving constructive feedback in a safe environment. I chose to take a class through Coco Rocha Model Camp but there are many models that offer their own coaching services. Do your research and figure out which ones work best for you.
With love,
Daina
*Please note: some products in this post contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase using the links on this post, I may receive a small commission for referring you to the product.