Becoming 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 runway. Learn everything you need to know to become a model here. From here you can get to 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 most exciting fashion capitals in the world, including New York, Paris, Milan, London, Barcelona, Berlin, Hamburg, Seoul and also Los Angeles. From school to shows by Burberry, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Dior, Gucci, Fendi & Co.” – It all begins with the first step.
One more little tip! Listen The Model Book now for free as Model Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, Deezer, with all chapters from our head & owner Stephan Czaja. Before you look at individual technical terms, or also the history of Haute Couture & Prêt-à-porter, here is a behind-the-scenes insight:
Your first years as a model revolve around your development, test shoots, first jobs and placement abroad! Good model agencies and managements enable you to make the right contacts. Your job is to reliable for casting appointments with clients, test shoots with photographers, appointments at the agency.
Enjoy learning!
PS: Here you can also simply apply directly to us — CM Model Application!
Stephan M. Czaja, Owner
Model agency, requirements, castings and jobs
If you want to work internationally as a model, that requires even more special Requirements, when it comes to Height, Weight and later it is about hard work, self-confidence and trust.
Before your first Model application you can already learn a lot. Why? Competition among young models is fierce, especially between the ages of 15 and 22. The better prepared you are, the better you will deliver at castings and jobs.
To give you a free, comprehensive overview of becoming a model, we have written this XXL guide.
The first step: overview
Let’s start step by step with an overview.
Here in the CM Model Guide you will learn the basics and all the important terms, and afterwards you can watch a short documentary, 3 Days of Model Life. Then you will learn the specific requirements for different jobs and countries. Finally, we will take a look together at the most important fashion cities in the world for models, from Milan and Paris to Tokyo and New York City.
- Basics: requirements for teenagers (14-18 years)
- Model Wiki: explanations from A-Z
- Short CM documentary: 3 days on the road
- Requirements: height, measurements & co.
- Abroad: modelling in Paris, Milan, London to Tokyo
Now a first, very, very quick overview. What does it mean to become a model? What lies ahead for young models? What do you need to bring as a model?
Ask yourself this question:
Do you really want to become a model?
Reality check – as a “New Faces” (new model), you do not start directly on the Cover of the big magazines such as Vogue, Elle and Harper’s Bazaar. Whether a supermodel in the 90s or now with Instagram and TikTok in the 20s, building your career takes time and 95% depends on you (self-confidence, hard work, ambition, motivation, … but more on that later).
If you get jobs on Showrooms, in Commercials and on the runway of a Fashion show you want to land, there is much more to it than “good looks”. Ultimately, you are a young businesswoman or businessman. While others your age have a carefree life, you already have appointments and travel; if all goes well and your model agency builds trust in you, you might fly to Milan or Paris for the first 14 days during the autumn holidays. As you can see, being a model is more than “good looks”.
The first important question is:
Do you really want to become a model?
The road to becoming a model is long and takes a lot of patience. Becoming a model means you enjoy photo shoots, even when they last 9 or 10 hours and you have to present 30 different outfits with facial expressions and gestures. The path from your first Go-see at the model agency, bringing in the network 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 have done a good job, you get repeat bookings, perfect! That means 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.
Modelling 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 age of 20 or 21; that is, in 3, 4 or 5 years. The longer you are in the business, the higher your fees become. At some point you will get jobs where you earn in one day as much as others earn in a whole year. The path there takes patience.
Until you finish school, it is mainly 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. School really does give you all the important foundations. That is why our model agency places great focus on school remaining your priority until you graduate.
At CM you can apply from the age of 15. Below that, you should concentrate absolutely and 100% on school. Here you will find articles tailored even more specifically to your age and life:
- Becoming a model at 13 – Wait a little longer
- Becoming a model at 14 – The first steps and to-dos
- Becoming a model at 15 – Building up during your school years
- Becoming a model at 16 – Preparing for the end of school / jobs
- Becoming a model under 18 – Tips and process
Modelling over 30 at CM? Of course we have tips for you too!
Portfolio: build-up and photographer selection
Throughout your entire career, one thing is our focus as your management: Your portfolio. The better your model book, the higher your fee. What matters: quality over quantity. That means it is better for your portfolio to have “only” 10 photos from 5 outstanding shoots with top photographers rather than 100 pictures from 50 shoots.
The more exclusive, the higher your fee can be set.
As your management, we also work to make sure your book reflects you as naturally as possible. Naturalness generally plays a very big role, also with the advertising agencies, fashion brands and so on, who ultimately book you for jobs and campaigns. Decisions are made, for example, in almost 80 to 90% of cases based on Polaroids taken. Polaroids are completely 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 your portfolio, you have a solid foundation. Now we will put you forward for your first castings and jobs. Initially small jobs, for example for online shops or also Social media shoots. Once your first test shoots have gone smoothly and now your first jobs too, you will be put forward step by step for bigger jobs and campaigns as well (depending on how old you are).
Here is also your reminder right away: to be able to take time during the week, you need good grades. The better your performance at school, the more likely you are to be granted time off by your school’s teachers for these appointments. Good grades help you even more, for example when your journey continues after you finish school. At an international fashion show, at a photo shoot in London or on a video shoot with an international team in Berlin, you constantly meet interesting people and encounter new languages. You need to be on form for small talk and for the job itself.
That was a very, very quick overview!
Application, casting & jobs
Even more details on castings, go-sees, photographers and much more.
- Application part 1 – Applying as a model
The perfect preparation for your first model application - Application part 2 – The introduction at the model agency
Preparation and process for your first agency appointment - Becoming a photo model
The dream job of a model: popular & underrated - Male model – special features
Strength of character as a recipe for success for men - Becoming a model: small business registration
Starting out as self-employed - 1 day at a model agency
Behind the Scenes
Castings & jobs
- Casting tips
Live casting, e-casting, agency casting tips - Fashion show – the basics
Planning & organisation are everything - Runway: style & tips
Tips and tricks for your first steps - Advertising & commercial model
Model for advertising & sales talent - Recording a casting video
How to convince clients - Posing tips
Get to know your strengths - Instagram / social tips
Creating content and building a community - Types of agency
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 cities
The most important FW fashion shows worldwide - Fashion Week dates
All dates for New York, Paris, Milan & Co. - Haute Couture
High fashion - Haute Couture & Pret-A-Porter
Two worlds, one passion: fashion - Fashion history
All eras, from the past to today - Fashion history: 100 years
Fashion in time-lapse, 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 explained simply
This way you will understand all the technical terms at the agency and on set.
- Asap
- Booker
- Buyout
- Casting
- Close-Up
- Cover
- Cuttings
- Direct Booking
- Scheduling
- Down Days
- E-Casting
- Editorial
- Exclusive contract
- Final Rehearsal
- Fitting
- Go & See
- Haute Couture
- Fee
- Introduction Video
- Live casting
- Location
- Look-Book
- Maße
- Facial expression
- Model database
- Model book
- Model house share
- Mother agency
- New Faces
- Open casting
- On Stay
- Option
- Overtime
- Plus Size
- Portfolio
- POS
- Posing
- PPM
- Prêt-à-Porter
- Commission
- Runway
- Scouts
- Sedcard
- Shortlist
- Showroom
- Stylist
- Supermodel
- TBA
- Test shoot
- Top model
- Availability
Modelling: 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 short model documentary, 3 days in the life of Chand. You can find more videos and mini documentaries on Youtube: CM Model Agency.
Responsibilities, 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 the model coaching. Once a year, for our New Faces.
Model Life: 3 days with Chand
From the airport to the hotel, to the shoot, sport, sleep, good food and back to the airport! Modelling can be really demanding when you pursue your dream with determination. On our last shoot, we accompanied our Swedish model Chand for three days in Germany. He talks about his path to becoming a model, modelling abroad, and shows what life as a jet-setting model looks like. Don’t miss a mini documentary! Follow us on Youtube: CM Model Agency.
Many people dream of a life as a top model. The dream of travelling the world, meeting interesting people and having good jobs for well-known companies and brands. In the modelling industry in particular, the rise can be very fast. Models with international measurements and that certain something get to know the world from Berlin to Cape Town. As in professional sport, careers begin very early. New trends are constantly emerging in the media world and spread quickly.
Mental requirements for models and New Faces
Besides the physical requirements for models such as measurements, the mental requirements also count and the character of a model. A model must always show strength, discipline and stamina. Jobs are often exhausting and drawn out over long hours. A good model must not show tiredness or stress. Motivation and ambition set an experienced model apart for clients and model agencies. Agencies and clients are happy to book models with these qualities again.
Repeat bookings are very important for you as a model and for the model agency. Beyond that, healthy self-confidence and a model’s versatility are decisive selection criteria. As a model, you will compete at castings for jobs with twenty, fifty or a hundred other models. For e-castings, it can even be more than one hundred models. If you work hard and make it to the fashion capitals of Europe, America and Asia, you will be sent from casting to casting every day. If all goes well, also from fashion show to fashion show and from photo shoot to photo shoot. That demands a great deal of self-confidence and a lot of energy from you! This complete package of measurements, looks, motivation and ambition forms a model’s presence.
Model requirements: women, men, weight and height
The requirements for models vary greatly. The more international the agency, the tighter the leeway on measurements. Especially at model agencies, the requirements are very high. A few centimetres can make all the difference. Female models should look after a slim figure, beautiful skin, teeth, hair, every detail. For men, the criteria are only a little easier. As a male model, you should also pay attention to a well-groomed appearance, from your hairstyle to your nails. In addition to the look, there are of course quantitative limits. In international model management:
- Women
Height for fashion: 176 – 180cm / International
Height for commercial: 172 – 181cm / Germany
Slim figure, usually long hair - Men
Height for fashion: 186 – 190cm / International
Height for commercial: 184 – 194cm / Germany
Slim or slightly athletic figure
Model Podcast
Listen „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 everywhere you 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 one for you. This path has become established. A model agency makes sure your career goes well. Right from the start, it takes care that you get good contacts with photographers and the opportunity for good test shoots, ideally magazine publications. That way you can build your own portfolio in a targeted way from the beginning. A good model agency will also get you your first good contacts with clients for castings and jobs.
Why do clients book models for jobs?
Clients use models to successfully market products and services to customers. This is achieved through the perfect communication of emotions, through the advertising campaign and the model. As a model, you must be able to slip into different roles on the shoot set to sell the product or service to the consumer. Authenticity and naturalness are the magic words for captivating consumers so that the client’s concept works. Models “sell” advertising even more profitably!
Emotions are evoked by a model’s presence, including facial expression and gestures. Not only advertising, but also many corporate presences such as image films, online shops and social media thrive 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 portfolio and in video productions for Instagram, online sedcards and Youtube. This lets clients see you in different facets. You can get a glimpse of what a test shoot looks like here in the video (backstage preview). Our guest was Yulffi from Madrid/Barcelona, who had just flown in from Bangkok for a campaign shoot in Munich, followed by a test in Cologne with Robin Platte. Joining spontaneously were two of our female models (Lea & Janine) as well as New Face Johnson for a first test.
Tests in the studio produce slow motions like these for our models, among other things. As a client, you can see very nicely here the different looks of our models in focus.
Why a model agency?
Now to the question: what does a model agency actually do?
A model manager takes care of their career.
For new models in particular, it is important to have a reputable model management behind you. They not only put you in touch with good photographers who help you build your portfolio, they also show you the first steps. Be it small things like registering your first business or your first runway coaching. With a reputable model management, finding your way into the industry is much easier. Here you also have the chance to travel later on and discover the world. For young models especially, the chance to get to know other countries comes quickly. With the contacts of a good management, the way is always open to you.
Model managers build you and your portfolio.
In the first months, it is often tempting for models to do lots of photo shoots with lots of photographers. Really? Here it is important to focus on quality. With tips and recommendations from your model management, you have a good selection of photographers and a good overview of the industry right from the start. You will also be told what to look out for, not only on shoots, but also when travelling or working with clients.
Model managers take you further.
Model managers help you with good contacts. Be it photographers, as just mentioned, or your first fashion show. Here, everything revolves specifically around the Fashion Weeks. Only the best agencies receive invitations to the castings. Your model management will always support you in taking new paths and getting to know new things! And it is not just about classic photo shoots. They plan stays abroad, flights and placements with other agencies in New York, Paris and Los Angeles for you.
Model managers acquire clients.
Not only flights, but also things like usage rights are always handled carefully by your model management. This is not just about individual photo shoots, but also about the distribution and use of the material. Are the photos only needed for 3 months in a fashion online shop, or will they make up the complete branding of a brand for five years? Different terms naturally apply depending on the case. Your model manager takes care of that!
Commercials or photo shoot: modelling is varied
As a hard-working model, you can make it into many areas of presentation. Discipline is an important element, but a little acting is part of it too, along with a love of travel and, of course, enjoying the job. This is how you also make it into international productions.
Modelling 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 organises your first trips abroad, to Paris, Milan, London, Shanghai, Tokyo and New York.
Klara in interview: almost 1 year in Milan
Klara liked Milan so much that she has now spent almost a year in total in the Italian fashion capital. In the model interview, she talks about her experiences.
Many people pursue the dream of modelling, in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Munich and Cologne. Of course also in many other cities in Germany. However, you will always have the best chances of getting jobs in larger cities. That is why all top models are drawn to megacities such as New York. This is where the big clients, the big agencies and the big budgets are. Anyone who wants to make it as a model has to leave their small town sooner or later. Those who succeed will see and experience a lot for it! From beautiful shoot locations to unique settings on film sets. Add to that many interesting people from all over the world. That is the dream of modelling.
The agency vouches for you as a model with its good name, so you have chances of interesting jobs right at the start of your career! Your management helps you with all organisational matters, be it tax handling or the logistical planning of trips and stays abroad. For many models, going abroad comes sooner or later. The most famous destinations for models are Cape Town and New York. But Paris, Hong Kong, London and Shanghai also captivate many. A good and reputable model management will help you gain a foothold abroad if the requirements are met. The most important job of an agency is to accompany you along the way, take a lot of organisation and planning off your hands, and 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
Those who have made it as a model can travel to beautiful places and know many interesting people in Germany, Europe and worldwide. Modelling was a dream job and still is. With patience and ambition, you can make it!
Q&A: the most frequently asked questions
And 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, you need to look at the Requirement to realistically assess whether you can work as a model and get jobs. As a New Face, height is especially important. After that, you send your model application to a good model agency, usually via an online form with the most important data and measurements. You can simply take photos with your smartphone, in daylight. If the agency scout likes your photos, you will receive an invitation to the Casting at the model agency, for a personal introduction. After the appointment, it is decided whether you get a model contract or not. Then it can begin!
What measurements do you need to become a model?
The two most common questions: “how tall do you have to be as a runway model?” and “how tall does a male model have to be?” Different jobs have different requirements. High fashion and international fashion shows or fashion campaigns have the strictest requirements when it comes to height and proportions. For women, that means 178-180cm; men should be around 10cm taller. In advertising it is more relaxed, in terms of both height and proportions.
Can anyone become a model?
For 99.99% of cases, what counts is attractiveness, a positive aura and naturalness. Anyone who brings these attributes has a chance.
How much does an average model earn?
How much money a model earns depends on the individual path, the requirements and the clients. It takes a few years before you can make a living from modelling, especially if you start as early as 15 or 16. Usually another 1 or 2 years pass until you finish school, and then the international build-up begins, which takes another 1 or 2 years. Some have an extra portion of luck and everything goes faster.
How does a model casting work?
Here you can see one of our model castings in our home town of Berlin.
