New York, Paris, London & Milan: Modeling abroad

If you want to make it to the top, you should have a goal as a model. You should work abroad sooner or later! Although you already have many options in Germany and already live in a large market for advertising and fashion, there are even larger jobs and campaigns abroad. You already know the “Big Four” from Fashion Weeks all over the world. For models abroad, there are still many more interesting markets. In Europe, for example, there are still Istanbul, Athens and Barcelona. In Asia, there are several well-known and emerging cities. As a model, you can work here in Seoul, in Tokyo, Hong Kong or hang next to Hong Kong, Gzenshen. As a model, the world is open to you.

International Modeln: Chand from Stockholm visiting Germany / Shooting Time

In our new small model docu we accompanied Chand in Germany for three days. Together with Oliver Rudolph Chand shoots for trueprodigy. The fire sells in over 35 countries! So that the looks in the new look book, the shop and the store elements are right, the label Chand from Stockholm flew in. We accompanied Chand backstage, in the hotel, in the gym but also at breakfast. A little insight for New Faces!

The requirement for the international career is a good modelbook and good measurements

While the fashion metropolises of the “Big Four” are more inclined to rely on the classic model dimensions, in cities like Istanbul, Athens or Hong Kong they also have more or less chances with a few centimeters. The sought-after types differ from country to country. In North America they are classic models but sexy guys are doing well too. In Europe, one also looks for classic models, much is produced by advertising but also with normal, everyday types. In Paris, London and Milan, there are also good opportunities for new faces when girls have the perfect size, plus long hair. Guys arrive here well, if they rather still carry the childlike and thus rather androgy than male act. In Asia you are looking for less classic models than sweet, cute, European guys.

How are the fees different worldwide?

There are extremely many jobs in the metropolises worldwide. The fees in the individual countries, including the commissions of the agencies, are extremely different. Of course you have the best salaries in American and European capitals like New York, Paris but also Hamburg and Berlin. There is less then in the southern European cities such as Athens and Istanbul but also in the Arab Emirates. Relatively little you get as a model in the Asian countries, where there are exceptions, such as Japan, South Korea and free trade zones such as Shanghai. Anyway, as a New Face you start far below, you run first shows, you take part in many castings.

Casting! Casting! Casting! Production cities in southern Europe and Asia

Of course most of the models are automatically drawn to the “Big Four”. But many go for the Bookaufbau for a few months in cities that you first not with fashion and connects, but are a very own microcosm. These include cities such as Istanbul, Mumbai and Hong Kong. Here products are produced for the whole world. Not just fashion, but also electronics or toys. Many producers are interested in making photo shoots and video shoots on site. Here are the productions much cheaper. As a result, the teams are bigger, the shootings sets more elaborate.

Elephant, dinghy or dreamlike South Seas beaches? No problem! For your own bookbuilding these countries are a real Eldorado, because you directly get extremely many different jobs. There are also big brands that produce photos for dealers and buyers right here. So you can quickly reach international brands. What is the catch? Of course there is a catch, the payment. While you as a model in Germany already earn as New Faces four-figure amounts, here are only a few hundred euros. While German agencies strictly respect rights of use, a subsequent remuneration is often not so sure. The A & O is a big agency that has been working with the local agency for a long time and had good experiences.

Placement – Model agencies and jobs worldwide

At some point the moment will come when your model agent or modeling agency will talk to you about foreign and placement issues. In principle, there are two different forms of placement abroad.

Direct Booking – direct booking of the model for commercials and shootings

Direct bookings are the most pleasant form of collaboration 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 they have new interesting models for their clients. In high-priced jobs, it is often no longer relevant where you come from. The travel expenses are taken over Europe-wide or also world-wide. That’s why agencies like to pick up 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 will always be forwarded directly to your parent agency. This does not change much for you. Also all updates of measures, picture and video material will be coordinated by your mother agency. With a little luck, you will quickly get your first bookings. Since these are “direct”, you will not have to go to a casting before, you will be booked and travel to the production site. However, it is much more profitable for you to give on the spot, for “On Stay”.

On Stay – Two to three months working abroad

The supreme discipline for models: Conquer the world! At On Stay, you’ll travel to a partner agency for sixty to ninety days as a model. Especially at the beginning you live in Model-WGs and you are on countless auditions every day. If you decide to take this step, it is clear to you that you want to fully concentrate on life as a model. A stay abroad must be planned in advance. In Germany, most models start after school before they start their studies. For models it is the ideal time to travel. You are in the stage of “Never Seen Before” and you are in the absolute prime of your life. If you take the chance now, you can make it as a model internationally.

On Stay Expiration – How to live during your stay

First of all, as a model, you must actively choose to try abroad. Active decision-making is important as you are involved with big agencies and clients at an early 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 are closed and maybe booked airline tickets. If you then have a few days in advance, it will not have a positive effect on your career as trust is lost. It is also important for you to have everything carefully considered in advance. You will be in a foreign land and live with strangers for sixty to ninety days. If you’re still young, talk to your parents about your plans right at the beginning. They have a lot of life experience and can always accompany you with good advice on your way. Besides, you 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? Do I cost the money? With a good modeling agency behind you, your stay abroad is as well planned as a package holiday. Weeks or even months before the trip contracts are closed. So you know very early, when you will travel, where you will live, who is your local contact and much more.

An On Stay will never cost you money as a model. Good agencies always work on the principle that you have no investment as a model. The partner agency abroad assumes all your costs in advance. These include the air tickets, the accommodation but also on-site services such as gyms, drivers or “pocket money”. In the end, the costs will be deducted from your earnings. If you end up with a negative amount, the agency will cover the costs. That’s what we call “minus balance”. You definitely gain experience, certainly visual material and it does not cost you a penny. Good modeling agencies invest in their models. If you are proposed for an on-stay, the agency will firmly believe 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.

Yulffi: Bangkok, Munich, Cologne, Madrid to Tokyo

Yulffi is traveling a lot. Here he was after his Reebok campaign (Munich) for a stopover in Cologne for the shoot with our Janine, Lea and New Face Johnson. Coming back to Bangkok and with luck to Tokyo.

Guarantee Contract – guaranteed income and great jobs

Models who have made it far, many customers and an absolutely fantastic book will gradually get their first “Garantuee Contracts”. Then you even get a guaranteed minimum income from the agencies. They do that when you are so good at modeling that in theory you do not have to spend any more time abroad. Or, you travel so much that other agencies have to convince you to come to them. If you made it here, congratulations.

At some point you will only travel. Not for sixty to ninety days, but for days and weeks, from country to country, from production to production. At some point, your network has grown so much that your management completely takes over the administration of your time. You get constant inquiries and have to plan your life exactly for all trips.

If you have not had the question in your mind for a while, then maybe now.

How much does a successful model make?

As I said, at the beginning of your career, you will usually be doing small jobs for a relatively small fee. Models that manage it will definitely have the chance to make an incredible amount of money. Of course I can not name exact salaries, but I still want to give you an insight. In Germany, you’ll get fees for most shoots and shoots that are in the four-digit range. Some fall in the three-digit range, for example, for small labels that one finds sympathetic. Advertising commercials bring fast high four-digit, sometimes five-digit amounts. That depends on how many production days it is, in how many countries the advertisement is broadcast and in which media. For a large commercial, for example, for a luxury manufacturer, it can then be twenty to fifty thousand euros or US dollars. Although the borders are open at the top, some of them succeed at a very young age to much success such as supermodel Cara Delevingne or Beckham offspring Brooklyn Beckham. For his first Burberry campaign, he got a whopping $ 57,000, at age 19. It pays to travel, piece by piece: Berlin, Milan, Paris, New York.