Perhaps it requires no second mention of how most of us (at some point in our life) have struck some killer poses before the camera or posed in our bath towels or simply sashayed down the catwalk! The keen desire to take modeling as our career has been strong in a vast majority of people (males and females included). It doesn’t matter if you’re thinking of making modeling a part-time hobby or putting in all the effort and devoting the necessary time to make this your future career. It makes sense, therefore, to learn more about this field is the smart thing to do.
Who Is A Freelance Model?
For starters, it’s important to understand the difference between working for an agency and as a freelancer. With the former, you don’t need to stress much about finding jobs since the onus lies on the agency. On the other hand, a freelance model is a person who works professionally, sans getting signed or contracted by any agency.
There’s considerable pressure and competition in this field, and to top it all, a freelance model has to represent himself or herself and create a mark likewise. Since these models are responsible to find jobs all by themselves, they need to have a thorough understanding of the work ambiance and people around them. If you’re working as a freelance model, you must be prepared to represent yourself and also book your jobs.
From keeping a tab on the schedule and appointments to marketing yourself well, you need to do everything. If that means, resorting to diverse promotional ways to secure jobs and spreading the legacy around, do it. The modeling industry is growing by leaps and bounds, so you must also take the effort in educating yourself, network with professionals, and always keeping the resume and portfolio updated.
How Can You Prepare Yourself To Become A Freelance Model?
First things first, gain a lot of experience. Collaborating with different people is always a boon in this field.
Second, enroll yourself in an online course. You can get in touch with experts who conduct weekly or weekend sessions or vital workshops to accentuate your skills. Few workshops are free and there are paid courses too. Choose the ones that suit you well.
Third, remember to make an awesome portfolio. A mere resume won’t be enough for a model. If you can get in touch with a designer who can do the work for you. Or you can try and work on your own first, and then convey the same to the artist or designer who can customize the profile the way you want.
Fourth, publish and update your working profile regularly. People need to see what kind of work you do or have done in the past. The more you can showcase yourself, the better your chances of prospering in this field.
Fifth, prepare the comp card well. Also, insert the casting photos that would be impactful enough for potent clients. Your card is the very basis of getting selected, so ensure you work on it sufficiently. Make yourself appear professional, no matter what.
Sixth, don’t forget to network. You need to contact industry professionals who can help you find work. In the process and after seeing your work, chances of referring you are high too. Besides, this is a field that largely works based on word-of-mouth publicity and your portfolio. Learn the art of balancing both.
Lastly, never stop looking for jobs. Even if you’re placed well, remember you’re a freelancer, so it’s not a permanent position. This is the very reason why you must keep updating yourself and always stay open to bookings. Of course, you need to negotiate and check if the pay package is at par with the industry standards and your expectations.
How Much Can You Earn?
This depends largely on the client, type of project, and your experience. A proper starting rate for new freelancers would be about $50 per hour, at least for studio catalog shoots.
On the other hand, experts can charge anywhere from $100 to $150 per hour. However, you may have to charge less if you’re still building your portfolio. After you gain sufficient experience, revise your rates.
Most importantly, remember to work in this field only if you’re genuinely interested and invested.
