Become a model in London: your book, casting & jobs
Become a model in London – modeling in a model agency? Among the “mighty 4”, London is considered the fashion capital. No other city is as creative and experimental with fashion as London. Once you have worked in the modeling world in London, you can be sure that Paris and New York will be even easier. Here, it’s a matter of jumping from casting to casting and angling for the best jobs in the world. If you manage to walk at London Fashion Week, you’ve earned yourself a little crown. Read more about models in London here.
Modeling in London: basis and requirements
As London is one of the most sought after cities to work as a model, you need to be well prepared to score with the important brands and brands. It’s important that you have a good portfolio. You want to become a model and you want to do it at CM Models. Here we explain the requirements for models. It is a dream of many young people – photo shoots, Instagram, travel and meet many interesting and at exclusive influencer events colorful people. The truth is, it’s a long road. Our management will give you the best support you can have. But before it gets to the model application, there is a lot to know and learn. The competition for you is fierce, especially between the ages of 15-18. The better prepared you are, the faster you will convince!
3 Ways to Become a Model:
- Scouting on the street or Instagram
- Online application with Polaroids
- Open Model Agency Casting
Living and working in London, Paris & Co.
If you have an agency and your portfolio has been expanded a bit and you have collected good video and image material, your agency will usually approach you to talk about a stay abroad. This opportunity is perfect to get to know the fashion world and to get important jobs through castings. This way you will learn to work independently and with the support of your modeling agency you will be able to enjoy your modeling world carefree. How stays abroad can look like, you can find here:
On Stay – Work abroad for two to three months
The supreme discipline for models: conquer the world! During an On Stay you will travel as a model for sixty to ninety days to a partner agency. Especially in the beginning, you will live in model shared flats and attend countless castings every day. If you decide to take this step, it is clear to you that you want to concentrate fully on life as a model. A stay abroad must be planned in advance. In Germany, most models start after school, before they begin their studies. For models it is the ideal time to travel. You are currently in the stage of “never seen before” and are in the absolute prime of your life. If you take the chance now, you can make it internationally as a model.
- On Stay is a longer-term stay abroad
- Models live in model WGs and attend pre-scheduled castings
- Always in contact with mother – and partner agency
On Stay Expiry – How you live during your stay
First of all, as a model you have to actively decide to try your hand abroad. The active decision is important because you will have to deal with big agencies and clients at a young age. For example, if you say that you would like to go abroad, your agency will invest time in finding a good agency for you. Contracts will be signed and maybe airline tickets already booked. If you break off a few days before, this will not have a positive effect on your career, as trust will be lost. It is also important for you to have thought everything through in advance. You will be in a foreign country and will also be living with strangers for sixty to ninety days. If you are still young, talk to your parents about your plans right at the beginning. They have a lot of life experience and can always give you good advice on your way. Besides, you will always have a contact person in your agency from the beginning.
Many models ask me at the beginning, how does such an “On Stay” work? Will it cost me money? With a good model agency behind you, your stay abroad is just as well planned as a package holiday. Contracts are signed weeks or even months before the start of the trip. So you know very early when you will travel, where you will live, who your local contact person is and much more.
An On Stay never costs you money as a model. Good agencies always work on the principle that you as a model have no investment. The partner agency abroad takes over all your expenses in advance. This includes the flight tickets, the accommodation but also services on site such as gyms, drivers or “pocket money”. In the end, the costs are deducted from your income. If you end up with a negative amount, the agency will cover the costs. This is what we call “minus balance.” In any case, you gain experience, certainly footage and it doesn’t cost you a cent. Good model agencies invest in their models. If you are proposed for an On Stay, the agency believes in you and the success you could have abroad. Also the local partner agency believes in your success, otherwise they would not invest time and money to fly you in for two to three months.
Direct Booking – direct booking of the model for commercials and shootings
Direct bookings are the most pleasant form of cooperation for you as a model. Your mother agency recommends you to their partner agencies or one of the agencies would like to work with you. Through direct bookings model agencies try to fill their portfolio perfectly, so that they have new interesting models for their customers. With high priced jobs it is often no longer relevant where you come from. The travel expenses are taken over Europe-wide or even worldwide. That’s why agencies like to take good models for direct bookings. You are then just like in your mother agency in the model board of one or more agencies. Availability and option requests are then always forwarded directly to your parent agency. This does not change much for you. Also all updates of measurements, pictures and video material will be coordinated by your mother agency. With a little luck you will get your first bookings quickly. Since these are “direct” you won’t have to go on a casting beforehand, you will be booked solid and travel to the production location. But it is much more profitable for you to give directly on location, to “on stay”.
Application, test shooting, casting, jobs: models in London
The classic entry into the modeling career always runs through an application in a modeling agency. Model agencies not only help you get the right jobs and contacts, they also support you in your career and in your path. Most model start with mediated test shootings of their agencies, with renowned photographers. Here you can prove yourself as a model for the first time! It depends on your posing but also on your facial expressions.
You can show how changeable you are and how versatile you can be. But you can also prove that you are motivated and ambitious at the photo shoot set.
What do you need to be aware of as a New Face in London?
For you as a newface in the modeling industry, it is important to adhere to the basic principles of punctuality, loyalty, honesty, reliability and ambition. If you meet these criteria, you can go far as a model and later work internationally as a model in London and other cities. Especially as a new face, i.e. beginner, it is naturally more challenging to gain a foothold in cities like London. The world is full of beautiful and interesting models. So it is even more important to concentrate on the essentials and to do the tasks you get from your model agency properly.
If you want to know more about modeling and career, you will find everything you need to know in our big and detailed model guide.
Springboard to an international career
Once in London, the international competition of the most beautiful models from all six continents reaches a new level. Because each of the models that has made it this far pursues the same goal to run at the big fashion weeks and to present the latest collections of the most famous designers. Of course, only the models who have achieved this goal with the help of a modeling agency, such as Gigi Hadid, become publicly known. The many unknown faces of the modeling industry are quickly forgotten. What makes these lucky few stand out today, besides their jobs, is the promotion of themselves on social media. From Instagram to Facebook, a successful modeling career today involves a lot more initiative than just photo shoots or catwalk appearances. In the end, however, it’s always luck that decides which model people will still remember in 10 or 20 years.
Traveling as a model in London
Besides the work as a model, you should of course also explore the city in which you are. Often you live as a model in a model flat share or know some through castings, with which you can also tour around. London’s streets are full of fashion boutiques, vintage shops and interesting exhibitions. If you’re lucky, twice a year there’s a chance you can pop along to London Fashion Week and maybe even walk in it. We’ve picked out the best locations for you to take some time out and produce the best Instagram photos:
