fashion n trends

Commercial modeling may be the most common type of modeling. You may not have known the large number of commercial models out there; everywhere from newspapers to magazines, to television commercials and cereal boxes, you will see people. How do you become one of those people? Well, there are a few easy steps you can follow to get yourself in the business of commercial modeling. As opposed to high fashion modeling, there are no stringent requirements for commercial models. All ages, sizes and types are needed for commercial modeling work.

First thing you need to do is get an agent. An agent is who an advertising agency or photographer goes to when they need a model for their product. They tell the agent what they need, then the agent picks out all the matching talent and sends them to an audition or casting. Here, the casting director and client get to see and meet all the talent, and decide who best fits their vision for the end product. Sometimes, they will book you from your photo without having you audition. This is called a direct booking. Sometimes, in a television commercial casting you will be asked to learn a few lines of dialog as well. To find an agent, do an online search for talent agencies in your city. Many medium size towns have talent agencies. If your town doesn't have an agency, search for one in the next largest city until you find one. However, keep in mind, you don't want an agent in a city too far away. It can be a pain to drive hours to castings constantly. You may want to consider living in a big city to break into the business.

What you want to do next is determine where you fit within the industry. We may be searching for the answer to that all our lives, but in the modeling world, we base this on appearance only. Look at yourself in a realistic way. Do you look like a young mom or dad in a minivan commercial? Do you look like an older female who may be taking arthritis medication? Are you a teenager struggling with acne or an important business man? If you have an agent, don't be reluctant to ask for their opinion; they know what will get you work.

Lastly, make a portfolio. You have to get some professional photos for the clients to see you. In commercial modeling, a nice smile is important, so try to capture that in your headshot. Don't go too heavy on the make-up, and don't overdo the airbrushing in the touch-up process. It appears like you're obviously trying to hide something. A natural untouched photo is what attracts the casting directors. A good photographer can take a photo that captures you at your best, so ensure that you like the photographers' work before you hire them to take your pictures. Besides a headshot, you will need a full body shot. If your body is great in swimwear, take a picture of you in a swimsuit. If not, take a full body shot in tasteful casual clothing for the commercial casting agent to get a full look at you.

Commercial modeling is not necessarily the most glamorous, but it can be very lucrative and a lot of fun. You can end up shooting a brochure for a cruise, or maybe a television commercial on horseback. Remember, they need all kinds of models, so keep looking till you find a good agent and follow the suggestions we mentioned above.