Friday 13 July 2012

Fashion Modeling - What You Need to Know Before Joining

A fashion model is a person whose job is to advertise, display and promote clothing. Fashion models, also known as mannequins, work with products commonly known as fashion clothing. Their job involves featuring in some, if not all, of the media formats, to increase the sale of clothing. Fashion models work with modeling agents and agencies who help manage their careers.
Finding modeling jobs is hard, so the agents and agencies aid the fashion models by giving them advice, booking jobs, finding jobs and providing potential and current clients with the models portfolios. Some agencies go as far as billing for jobs on behalf of the model and even paying the models after a job. This allows an agent to focus on modeling. Getting an agent is not a necessity, but is highly recommended for a successful career.
If you want to know how to get a job in modeling, one thing to put in mind is that it extends beyond the conventional working routine that many people go through. The first thing to do is to get a legitimate modeling agency. Illegitimate agencies are rife in this industry. Some get the models into prostitution, drug addiction and scams that destroy the lives of aspiring models. It is imperative for an aspiring model to be informed.
Consult a lawyer before signing a contract to confirm an agency`s reputation. Keep an eye out for pressure tactics and do not rush into anything, especially with agencies that advertise or hand out brochures. Avoid paying large advance fees. An agency that requires one to take certain courses or lessons as a prerequisite to representation is not genuine. Most agencies require three to four shoots from different photographers for a beginners complete portfolio. An illegitimate agency will not cover these costs while a reputable agency will do it.
Fashion modeling began in 1852 with the first fashion model being Marie Vernet Worth from Paris. She modeled for her husband Charles Frederick Worth who was a designer. After that, fashion models were poorly paid and were fairly anonymous even after fashion photography became significant. This went on until the late 1950s. Lisa Fonssagrives in America is widely thought of as being the one who prepared the way for supermodels.
Vogue magazine became significant due to her fame and her appearance on the cover of Vogue, 200 times over. She appeared on covers of many other fashion magazines from the 1930s and onwards. These magazines included Vanity fair, Life and Town and Country. Another well-known fashion model was Dorian Leigh, who became famous after World War II. The swinging sixties saw the rise of models as consistent media personalities. These included models like Penelope Tree, Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton. This trend has continued since then.....to see more click on the link bellow.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Fashion-Modeling---What-You-Need-to-Know-Before-Joining&id=6886253

Types of models

Commercial modeling
Commercial modeling represents everything that isn't fashion and isn't glamour. It is vast, diverse and the physical requirements can vary greatly. The purpose is to sell a product, service, or idea.
Catalog modeling
Models for catalogs can be anyone depending on the look and products of the catalog. Often they include mature models and children as well as petit and full sized models.
Showroom modeling / Promotional modeling (trade shows)
Some exhibitors at trade shows may hire models to hand out literature at their booths. The idea is that attractive people will sell an idea about the product.
Print advertisements
Depending on the product or service being sold in the advertisement, different types of models will be needed.
Fitness modeling
This type of modeling is specific to magazines and ads that focus on health, fitness or nutrition. Models for fitness modeling require strong, toned bodies.

Body part modeling (hair, hand modeling, etc.)

Body part modeling (hair, hand modeling, etc.)
Body part modeling is a special category that belongs in both fashion and commercial modeling. This is the use of just part of the body in a photograph. Sometimes models that look great in full-length shots or headshots don't have nice hands or feet so body part models are used to fix this problem. In such cases, photographers will shoot using the standard model's face but the body part model's hands or feet and make it look as though they are from one person. Usually body part models will specialize in just one part of the body like hands, feet, legs, ears, or neck.
Hand models are the most requested of body part modeling. For women hand models, long slender graceful hand and fingers with smooth, wrinkle-free, clear skin, and very good nails. The ability to pose the hand in a relaxed graceful fashion is also very important.

Mature modeling

Mature modeling
There are certain products that target certain markets and if that product is for older customers, the company often wants a model that fits this niche market. Mature models are not usually used for fashion or glamour but jobs are available in most other forms of modeling.

Teen modeling

Teen modeling
For products targeting teenagers, companies will want to use teenagers in their ads. There are also many magazines that target teenage girls and that use younger women as their models (typically 13-16 years old). Sometimes older teenagers will make it into fashion or runway modeling. All respectable photographers and magazines will require parental permission prior to working with anyone under the age of 18.

Petite modeling / Plus size modeling

Petite modeling / Plus size modeling
It is rare to see petite sized or plus size women in fashion modeling but there are still many opportunities for models in this field. Many stores that focus on petit or plus size clothing want models with that particular body type. Also as in glamor modeling, body size is less important but still requires a pretty face. Plus size models range from a size 10 and up and are generally
5' 8" to 5' 10". Petite models are generally 5' 2" to 5' 6" with good body proportions.

Glamor modeling

Glamor modeling
  Glamor modeling is modeling for photos with a sexual theme, including bikini, sexy outfits and lingerie modeling. This includes photos for calendars, posters, and other pin-up girl products and pictures for the adult entertainment industry with high-end men's magazines like Playboy and then on down to the lower end magazines. These shots are also becoming very popular on the Internet. The glamor industry is huge and top glamor models can make as much as top fashion models. There are no height or size requirements as in fashion modeling. While fashion modeling often requires a very specific thin body type, glamor modeling prefers curves. Fashion often looks for a special or different look while glamor modeling wants traditional drop dead gorgeous; and while fashion really only happens in New York, glamor can happen anywhere.