Become a model: What you need to know as a model!
Becoming a model – a dream job, really! Nationally for e-commerce shoots, internationally on the catwalk. Learn everything you need to know to become a model here. From here you can access all the explanations, wiki and checklists, all free of charge, so that you are perfectly prepared.
“The fascinating and varied job of a model takes you to the world’s most exciting fashion capitals, including New York, Paris, Milan, London, Barcelona, Berlin, Hamburg, Seoul and Los Angeles. From school to shows by Burberry, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Dior, Gucci, Fendi & Co.” – It all starts with the first step.
Another little tip! Listen to The Model Book now for free as a model podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, Deezer, with all chapters by our Head & Owner Stephan Czaja. Before you take a look at individual technical terms or the history of haute couture & prêt-à-porter, here’s a behind-the-scenes insight:
Your first years as a model are all about setting yourself up, test shoots, first jobs and placement abroad! Good model agencies and management will enable you to get the right contacts. Your job is to be reliable for casting appointments with clients, test shoots with photographers and appointments at the agency.
Have fun learning!
PS: You can also apply directly to us here – CM Model Application!
Stephan M. Czaja, owner
Model agency, requirements, castings and jobs
If you want to work internationally as a model, you need to meet special requirements when it comes to height, weight and later diligence, self-confidence and trust.
You can learn a lot before your first model application. Why? There is a lot of competition among young models, especially between the ages of 15 and 22. The better prepared you are, the better you will perform at castings and jobs.
We have written this XXL guide to give you a free, comprehensive overview of how to become a model.
The first step: Overview
Let’s start step by step and with an overview.
Here in the CM Model Guide you will learn the basics, all the important terms and can then watch a short documentary, 3 Days Model Life. Then you will learn about the specific requirements for different jobs and countries. Finally, we’ll take a look at the most important fashion cities in the world for models, from Milan to Paris, Tokyo and New York City.
- Basics: Requirements for teenagers (14-18 years)
- Model Wiki: Explanations from A-Z
- Small CM documentary: 3 days on the road
- Requirements: Size, dimensions & Co.
- Abroad: modeling in Paris, Milan, London and Tokyo
Now a first, very, very quick overview. What does it mean to become a model? What can young models expect? What do you need to bring to the table as a model?
Ask yourself this question:
Do you really want to be a model?
Reality Check – As a“New Faces” (new model) you don’t start out on the cover of big magazines like Vogue, Elle and Harper’s Bazaar. Whether you’re a supermodel in the 90s or now in your 20s with Instagram and TikTok, building your career takes time and 95% depends on you (self-confidence, hard work, ambition, motivation, … but more on that later).
If you want to get jobs in showrooms, in commercials and on the catwalk of a fashion show, it takes a lot more than “good looks”. After all, you are a young business woman or business man. While others your age have a relaxed life, you already have your first appointments, trips, and if everything goes well and your modeling agency builds up trust in you, you may be flying to Milan or Paris for the first 14 days during the autumn vacations. You see, modeling is more than just “good looks”.
The first important question is:
Do you really want to be a model?
The road to becoming a model is long and takes a lot of patience. Becoming a model means that you want to do photo shoots, even if they take 9 or 10 hours and you have to present 30 different outfits, with facial expressions and gestures. The path from the first casting at the model agency, the introduction to the networks of advertising photographers and advertising agencies, the first test shoots with renowned photographers, the first small jobs, feedback from the agency. The more castings and jobs you do, the better our clients and brands get to know you. If you’ve done a good job, you’ll get follow-up bookings – perfect! This means that the clients were satisfied with your performance and would like to work with you again. This is how we build your career as a model step by step.
Modeling at 15, 16, 17: School
School & good grades – becoming a model and being a model is work and a real job! Your goal is to be working well by the time you’re 20 or 21, i.e. in 3, 4 or 5 years. The longer you are at it, the higher your wages will be. At some point, you’ll get jobs where you earn as much in one day as others earn in a whole year. The way to get there requires patience.
Until you graduate, it’s all about good grades and your education. Very important: your education. Why? You will meet many interesting people with big goals, you will encounter many languages, international photographers, casting directors and models. The more you know, the better. The school actually gives you all the important basics. That’s why our modeling agency puts a big focus on making your school a priority for you until you graduate.
You can apply to CM from the age of 15. Below that age, you should be absolutely and 100% focused on school. Here you will find articles that are even more specifically tailored to your age and life:
- Becoming a model at 13 – wait and see
- Becoming a model at 14 – The first steps and to-dos
- Becoming a model at the age of 15 – building up during school
- Becoming a model at 16 – Preparing for the end of school / jobs
- Becoming a model under 18 – tips and procedure
Modeling over 30 at CM? Of course we also have tips for you!
Model portfolio: Structure and photographer selection
Throughout your career, our management will focus on one thing: your model portfolio. The better your model book, the higher your fee. The important thing is: quality before quantity. This means that your model portfolio should contain “only” 10 photos from 5 excellent shoots with top photographers instead of 100 photos from 50 shoots.
The more exclusive, the higher your fee can be.
As management, we also work to ensure that your book reflects you as naturally as possible. Naturalness generally plays a very important role, even with advertising agencies, fashion brands, etc., who ultimately book you for jobs and campaigns. For example, almost 80, 90% of decisions are made on the basis of Polaroids. Polaroids are absolutely natural shots of models, without styling, make-up, etc.
Your first shoots, castings and jobs
After the first good test shoots with photographers to build up your model portfolio, you have a solid foundation. Now we will put you forward for your first castings and jobs. Small jobs at first, for example for online stores or social media shoots. Once your first test shoots have gone smoothly and now your first jobs, you will gradually be put forward for larger jobs and campaigns (depending on how old you are).
Here’s a reminder: you need good grades to be able to take time off during the week. The better you do at school, the more likely it is that your school teachers will give you time off for these appointments. Good grades will help you even more, for example if your journey continues after graduation. At an international fashion show, a photo shoot in London or a video shoot with an international team in Berlin, you will constantly meet interesting people and learn new languages. You need to be fit for small talk and for your job itself.
That was a very, very quick overview!
Application, Casting & Jobs
More details about castings, gosees, photographers and much more.
- Application part 1 – Apply as a model
The perfect preparation for your first model application - Application part 2 – The introduction at the model agency
Preparation and procedure for the first agency appointment - Become a model
The model’s dream job: popular & underestimated - Male model – Special features
Strength of character as a recipe for success for men - Become a model: Small business
The start of self-employment - 1 day in a modeling agency
Behind the Scenes
Castings & Jobs
- Casting tips
Live casting, e-casting, agency casting tips - Fashion show – The basics
Planning and organization is the be-all and end-all - Catwalk: style & tips
Tips and tricks for your first steps - Advertising & Commercial Model
Model for advertising & sales talent - Record casting video
How to convince customers - Posing tips
Get to know your strengths - Instagram / Social tips
Create content and build a community - Agency types
Advertising, media, marketing… who does what? - The first 2 years as a model
Working in New York, Paris, Milan & Co.
Lifestyle
- Healthy lifestyle
Proper nutrition & exercise - Beauty Guide
Care tips for models
Fashion & Small Talk
- Fashion Week Metropolises
The most important FW fashion shows worldwide - Fashion Week Dates
All dates for New York, Paris, Milan & Co. - Haute Couture
The high fashion - Haute Couture & Pret-A-Porter
Two worlds, one passion: fashion - Fashion history
All eras, from past to present - Fashion history: 100 years
Fashion in fast motion, super interesting - Fashion magazines
The best fashion magazines in the world - Supermodels
It all started in the 90s - Fashion brands
The most popular fashion brands in the world
Technical terms simply explained
This will help you understand all the technical terms used in the agency and on set.
- Asap
- Availability
- Booker
- Buyout
- Close-Up
- Commission
- Casting
- Cover
- Cuttings
- Card index
- Direct Booking
- Disposition
- Down Days
- E-Casting
- Editorial
- Exclusive contract
- Facial expression
- Fee
- Final Rehearsal
- Fitting
- Go & See
- Haute Couture
- Introduction Video
- Live casting
- Location
- Look-Book
- Measurements
- Model apartment
- Model book
- Mother agency
- New Faces
- On Stay
- Open casting
- Option
- Overtime
- Plus Size
- Portfolio
- POS
Modeling: Advantages of CM as your agency
Did you know? We are the only model agency in Germany with our own shows at Fashion Week. We are one of the few top agencies with our own internal and exclusive model coachings. Here are a few advantages of CM and our little model documentary, 3 days in the life of Chand. More videos and mini-documentaries can be found on Youtube: CM Model Agency.
Tasks, agency and management
Bookings, castings, projects from 7 AM – 9 PM, read more about our management here:
It’s that time again – the young models come together from Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Switzerland and other places to take part in model coaching. Once a year, for our New Faces.
Model Life: 3 days with Chand
From the airport to the hotel, to the shoot, sports, sleep, good food and back to the airport! Modeling can be really challenging if you pursue your dream with determination. At the last shoot, we accompanied our Swedish model Chand for three days in Germany. He talks about his path to becoming a model, modeling abroad and shows how to live as a model in the jet set. Don’t miss the mini-documentary! Follow us on Youtube: CM Model Agency.
Many people dream of being a top model. The dream of traveling the world, meeting interesting people and having good jobs for well-known companies and brands. Particularly in the modeling industry, the rise can be very fast. If you have international dimensions and that certain something as a model, you can get to know the world from Berlin to Cape Town. As in professional sport, careers start very early. New trends are constantly emerging in the media world, which are quickly spread by many.
Mental requirements for models and new faces
In addition to the physical requirements for models, such as their measurements, the mental requirements and character of a model also count. A model must always demonstrate strength, discipline and stamina. Jobs are often strenuous and time-consuming. Tiredness or stress must not be noticeable in a good model. Motivation and ambition characterize an experienced model for clients and model agencies. Agencies and clients like to book models with these qualities again.
Recurring bookings are very important for you as a model and for the model agency. In addition, a healthy self-confidence and the versatility of a model are decisive selection criteria. As a model, you will be competing with twenty, fifty or a hundred models in castings for jobs. For e-castings, there are sometimes more than one hundred models. If you are diligent and make it to the fashion capitals of Europe, America and Asia, you will be sent from casting to casting every day. If everything goes well, from fashion show to fashion show and from photo shoot to photo shoot. This requires a lot of self-confidence and energy from you! This overall package of measurements, appearance, motivation and ambition creates the charisma of a model.
Model requirements: women, men, weight and height
The requirements for models are very different. The more international the agency, the narrower the scope for measurements. Especially in modeling agencies, the requirements are very high. It all comes down to a few centimeters. Female models should look for a slim figure, beautiful skin, teeth, hair, every detail. For men, the criteria are just a little simpler. As a male model, you should pay just as much attention to a well-groomed appearance, from the hairstyle to the nails. There are, of course, quantitative restrictions on the look. In international model management:
- Women
Body size for fashion: 176 – 180cm / International
Height for advertising: 172 – 181cm / Germany
Slim figure, usually long hair - Men
Height for Fashion: 186 – 190cm / International
Height for advertising: 184 – 194cm / Germany
Slim or slightly athletic figure
Model Podcast
Listen to “The Model Book” for free. The podcast is based on one of the best-selling books for models in Germany. Now available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, Deezer and anywhere else you can find good podcasts!
Reputable and good model agencies
The route via a reputable model agency or a model agent or model booker is always the best for you. This route has established itself. A model agency will make sure that your career goes well. Right from the start, they will make sure that you get good contacts with photographers and the opportunity for good test shoots, ideally magazine publications. This way you can build up your own model portfolio right from the start. A good model agency will also provide you with good initial contacts to clients for casting and jobs.
Why do clients book models for jobs?
Clients use models to successfully communicate products and services to customers. This is achieved by perfectly conveying emotions through the advertising campaign and the model. As a model, you have to be able to slip into different roles on the shooting set in order to sell the product or service to the consumer. Authenticity and naturalness are the magic words to captivate consumers so that the client’s concept works. Model “sell” advertising even more profitably!
Emotions are aroused by a model’s charisma, including facial expressions and gestures. Not only advertising, but also many company appearances such as image films, online stores and social media rely on models.
Sedcards, test shoots with photographers and video clips
Good agencies invest in you and your career. With test shoots by top photographers for your model portfolio and in video productions for Instagram, online sedcards and YouTube. This allows customers to see you in different facets. You can see what a test shoot looks like here in the video (backstage preview). Our guest was Yulffi from Madrid/Barcelona, who flew in from Bangkok shortly before for a campaign shoot in Munich followed by a test shoot in Cologne with Robin Platte. Two of our female models (Lea & Janine) and New Face Johnson spontaneously joined us for a first test.
During tests in the studio, we create slow motions like these for our models. As a customer, you can see the different looks of our models in focus here.
Why a modeling agency?
Now to the question: What does a modeling agency actually do?
Model manager takes care of his career.
It is particularly important for up-and-coming models to have a reputable model management team behind them. They not only provide you with initial contacts to good photographers who will help you build up your model portfolio, they also show you the first steps. Be it small things like your first business registration or your first catwalk coaching. With reputable model management, you will find your way into the industry much easier. It also gives you the chance to travel and discover the world later on. Young models in particular will quickly have the opportunity to get to know foreign countries. With the contacts in a good management, the way is always open to you.
Model managers build you and your portfolio.
In the first few months, it’s often tempting for models to do lots of photo shoots with lots of photographers. Really? With tips and recommendations from your model management, you will have a good selection of photographers and a good overview of the industry right from the start. They will also explain to you what you need to look out for, not only in shoots, but also when traveling or with clients.
Model managers take you further.
Model managers help you with good contacts. Whether it’s photographers, as just mentioned, or the first fashion show. Here everything revolves around the Fashion Weeks. Only the best agencies get invitations to the castings. Your model management will always support you in breaking new ground and getting to know new things! It’s not just about the classic photo shoots. They plan stays abroad for you, flights and placements in other agencies, in New York, Paris and Los Angeles.
Model managers acquire customers.
Not only flights, but also things like usage rights are always taken into consideration by your model management. This is not just about individual photo shoots, but also about the distribution and use of the material. Are photos only needed for 3 months in a fashion online store or five years to make up a complete branding of a brand? Depending on the situation, different conditions apply. Your model manager will take care of it!
Commercials or photo shoots: modeling is diverse
As a hard-working model, you will make it into many areas of presentation. Discipline is an important element, but a little acting is also part of it, as well as a desire to travel and, of course, having fun at work. This will also get you into international productions.
Modeling abroad: Paris, Milan, London and New York
Welcome to the A-League. Once you have proven yourself at home and your agency has confidence in you, it will organize your first trips abroad to Paris, Milan, London, Shanghai, Tokyo and New York.
Interview with Klara: Almost 1 year in Milan
Klara enjoyed Milan so much that she has now spent almost a year in the Italian fashion metropolis. In the model interview, she talks about her experiences.
Many people pursue the dream of modeling in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Munich and Cologne. Of course in many other cities in Germany too. However, you will always have the best chances of finding a job in larger cities. That’s why all the top models are drawn to megacities like New York. This is where the big clients, the big agencies and the big budgets are located. If you want to make it as a model, sooner or later you have to leave the small town. Those who make it will see and experience a lot! From beautiful shooting locations to unique backdrops on film sets. Plus lots of interesting people from all over the world. That’s the dream of modeling.
The agency vouches for you as a model with its good name, so you have the chance of interesting jobs right from the start of your career! Your management will help you with all organizational matters, be it tax processing or the organizational planning of trips and stays abroad. Many models end up going abroad sooner or later. The most famous destinations for models are Cape Town and New York. But Paris, Hong Kong, London and Shanghai also cast a spell over many. Good and reputable model management will help you to gain a foothold abroad if the conditions are right. The most important job of an agency is to accompany you on your way, to relieve you of a lot of work in terms of organization and planning, to save you a lot of time in acquiring new clients and new assignments so that you can concentrate fully on becoming a model.
The End: Dream job, dream trips and lots of memories
Anyone who has made it as a model can travel to beautiful places and knows many interesting people in Germany, Europe and worldwide. Modeling was a dream job and still is. With patience and ambition, you can make it!
Q&A: The most frequently asked questions
Here are the most frequently asked questions and answers for you:
What do I have to do if I want to become a model?
First of all, you need to look at the requirements to realistically assess whether you can work as a model and get jobs. As a new face, your height is particularly important. Then you send your model application to a good model agency, usually via an online form with the most important data and measurements. You simply take photos with your smartphone in daylight. If the agency scout likes your photos, you will receive an invitation to a casting at the model agency for a personal interview. After the appointment, it will be decided whether you get a modeling contract or not. Then you’re ready to go!
What measurements do you need to become a model?
The two most frequently asked questions are “how tall do you have to be to be a catwalk model?” and “how tall does a male model have to be?” There are different requirements for different jobs. For high fashion and international fashion shows or fashion campaigns, the strictest requirements apply in terms of height and proportions. For women, this means 178-180 cm; men should be around 10 cm taller. In advertising, it is more relaxed, both in terms of height and proportions.
Can anyone become a model?
For 99.99%, attractiveness, positive charisma and naturalness apply. If you have these attributes, you have a chance.
How much do you earn as a normal model?
How much money a model earns depends on the individual path, the requirements and the clients. However, it takes a few years before you can make a living from modeling, especially if you start at the age of 15 or 16. It usually takes another 1 or 2 years until you finish school and then the international build-up begins, which takes another 1 or 2 years. Some people have an extra dose of luck and everything goes faster.
How does a model casting work?
Here you can see one of our model castings in Home Town Berlin.
