A Step-by-Step Guide to Having a Modeling Career at Any Age
By Wyatt Elling
Most of the attention in the modeling industry goes to young supermodels, and it might seem like a career in modeling is unattainable if you look at the latest cover of Vogue or Cosmo. What you might not know is that most high-profile fashion models are phased out by their mid-twenties. Models who are 25 and older can have lucrative long lasting careers for years after their Swimsuit Issue counter parts are out of work.
In the world of modeling it's not your age that matters, it's your "look" and level of professionalism. We've listed six ways that a skilled mature model can work consistently in the industry.
1. Print Ads
Print ads are one of the biggest sources of work for models over 25, and the steadiest way to make money. Whether it's using a product aimed toward an older market, playing a grandmother at a family gathering, prescribing medication as a doctor, or enjoying a glass of top-shelf whiskey at a club, models are still in high demand. Warmth, confidence, and approachability are key things to look for in print ads, and older models still fit the bill.
2.Catalogues:
Runway fashion goes in and out, and the careers of size-zero cat walk stars are over as soon as they begin. Clothes for everyday people from every size and age range, however, will never go out of style. Fashion models for catalogues are cast year-round. The jobs can range from posing for a mail out flyer for a local department store to modeling a fur coat for a Bloomingdale's catalogue. There are also a large variety of niche catalogues for specific markets that are always looking for distinctive models of various ages and looks.
3. Mature Fashion Shows:
Just like there are fashion shows for new Fall styles from major labels, there are also fashion shows for men and women of all ages. Designers work at every level of the market place, and they need models to display their products at fashion shows aimed toward mature people in their thirties and above. These are just like regular fashion shows, with catwalks and photographers, and the same skills as a regular runway model are helpful. Confidence, an elegant stride, and a striking figure are all key.
4. T.V. Commercials:
As an extension of either print ads or catalogue work, models are often cast in age appropriate roles in television commercials and infomercials. The same traits that make a successful older model in still photography carry over to television advertisements. A distinctive look, a feeling of trust and warmth, and familiar types are in high-demand. Models already know how to sell an emotion or a product, so they are a natural choice for broadcast ad work. Whether it's a kind grandmother making a bowl of soup for her grandchild or middle-aged man looking for a suit at a local clothing store, there are abundant roles in the commercial industry for models over 25.
5. Promotional Models:
There are trade shows and events of all varieties that hire models all year round. You might think of young women in bikinis at a boat convention as the only kind of models who get hired for promotional work, but in reality the job opportunities are available for all ages. There are trade shows for custom beds, hearing aids, toothbrushes, plastic surgery, hair products, age-covering cosmetics, and just about any other type of product you can think of. These types of promotional events need models that match the demographic to demonstrate their products and sell the experience to event-goers.
6. Maturing Careers:
Even if you spend the early days of your modeling career in high-fashion, bathing-suit modeling, and the like, you can apply your modeling skills to different kinds of work once you're older than 25. Claudia Schiffer recently did a fashion shoot for an older skewing clothing line from Chanel. Kathy Ireland used her modeling credit to launch her own brand of clothing for older women at a major superstore. Christy Turlington, one of the original supermodels, now rejects the title and runs several lines of clothing for active women. Cindy Crawford now lends her celebrity endorsement to a variety of products, appearing in many popular TV commercials. Fashion modeling might be short-lived, but the skills and connections gained can build a lasting career as a mature model.
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