What agencies actually look for
An agency is not judging your photography. It is looking through the photos at you: your face, your proportions, how you carry yourself, and whether the clients it knows would book you. That is why plain, unedited photos beat a styled shoot. Filters and heavy makeup hide exactly what an agency is trying to see.
Experience matters far less than people think. New faces are a category of their own, and agencies take on beginners all the time. It is easier to teach someone from scratch than to undo habits.
Five steps, in order
- Take your digitals. These are plain photos in daylight: a headshot, a full-length shot and a profile. A phone is fine. Our guide to taking digitals on your phone covers the details.
- Know your measurements. Height matters most. Chest or bust, waist, hips and shoe size help. Measure honestly, because agencies measure again.
- Work out where you might fit. Fashion, commercial, beauty, fitness, curve, classic and content work all ask for different things. You do not have to choose one, and height matters less than you think away from the runway.
- Apply to agencies directly. Use the form on the agency's own website. Never pay to apply, and read how to spot a modelling scam before you send anything.
- Carry on with your life. Replies take time, and a no from one agency tells you little about the next. If your look changes, send new photos.
The kinds of modelling there are
Modelling is several different jobs that share a name. Knowing which ones could suit you makes it easier to choose where to apply.
- Fashion and editorial. Magazines, campaigns and designers. The most selective, and the most particular about height.
- Commercial and lifestyle. Adverts and brand content. The widest range of ages, sizes and looks, and a large share of the paid work.
- E-commerce. Product photos for online shops. Steady, repeat work for people who are consistent and quick on set.
- Beauty. Skin, hair and cosmetics, shot close up.
- Fitness, curve and classic. Specialist boards for athletic builds, larger sizes and models aged 35 and over.
- Content and creator work. Paid partnerships for people with an audience of their own.
Choosing where to apply
Read how an agency describes the work it does and ask whether you fit it. Apply to more than one. Where you live matters too, because castings happen where the clients are, so say honestly where you are based and how far you can travel.
What you do not need
- A professional portfolio. Agencies usually organise test shoots for the people they take on.
- A modelling course. No certificate makes an agency more likely to sign you.
- A big following. It helps with brand and content work. It is not a requirement.
- Someone to introduce you. Applications through the website are how most new faces are found.
If you are under 18
Involve a parent or guardian from the first step. They should see every message, come to every meeting and sign anything you sign. A proper agency expects this and will ask for it. School comes first, and a good agency plans around it.
One thing not to do
Do not try to change your body for an application. Agencies want to see you as you are today, and the ones worth working with care that you are healthy.
Applying to Star
Our application is the home page. Upload at least two photos, add a few details and send it. It takes about two minutes and it is free. A person looks at every application. If you are 16 or 17, you can apply with a parent or guardian's agreement.
Quick answers
- How old do you have to be to start modelling?
- Star accepts applications from 16, and anyone under 18 needs a parent or guardian to agree. There is no upper limit. Agencies book models in their forties, fifties and beyond for classic and commercial work.
- Do I need professional photos to apply to a model agency?
- No. Agencies prefer plain, unedited photos taken in daylight, because they show what you actually look like.
- Can I become a model with no experience?
- Yes. Most models start with none. Agencies look for potential and teach the rest.
