What to wear to a model casting or open call

Casting:  A casting is like a job interview, usually for a paid modelling job, a photo-shoot or walking catwalk in a fashion show.

Open Call:  Model hopefuls come into a particular model agency during their open call to try and join that agency.

What to wear for both, are basically the same, you want to show of you (not your wardrobe).  You are presenting yourself as a blank canvas, on which the bookers will envisage what they want to do.

Clothes:  A tank top or t-shirt (solid colour: e.g. basic black, white, grey) don’t wear too high a neckline – they may want to see your chest/skin, in case they are thinking to book you for wearing/modelling jewellery like necklaces.  Skinny jeans are great. Or shorts. Don’t go baggy, go lean/fitted so they can see your shape. Black or dark grey is slimming.

Shoes:  Nude or black pump shoes. (Nude/flesh coloured heels makes your legs look longer when you wear shorts) Make the heel thinner/less chunky/more graceful shoes.  It can hurt running around in heels all day.  So bring flip-flops or flats to walk from casting to casting then change shoes before you get in the building.

Underwear:  Strapless or nude, or black. So you don’t have crazy colours popping out from under your top. Bring a black or white bikini, just in case you are asked to show more skin (make sure you are waxed/shaved ready!).

Make-Up & Hair:  Wear concealer, mascara, lipgloss. Don’t go heavy, go basic: they want to see you as a blank slate, and image what they can do with you.  Pony tail is good, as they can see they profile of your face, how long your hair is etc.

Jewellery:  Not wear jewellery, or if you have to, keep it simple thin/light: not statement pieces: so it doesn’t distract and take away from you.

Nails:  Keep them clean and looking smart/filed.  Wear nothing, nude, or french tip: no crazy colours or nail art.

Attitude:  Remember to turn up early (don’t be late).  Politely introduce yourself ‘Hi, my name is….’ and hand them your book (model portfolio).

Good luck, hope you nail booking the modelling jobs you want.

Love the look?  Get yours:  

Shop the look at Amazon UK :

• Shop womens white tank tops
• Shop womens skinny jeans
• Shop womens nude coloured heels

Kick-start or refresh your Model Portfolio with Maggie Yescombe Studio Photography

Contact Maggie directly at info@margaretyescombe.com to receive information on our current Model Portfolio packages, and secure your booking to create stylish imagery to help achieve your goals.

Digital Image Retouching

Careful retouching brings out the best in the images.  Maggie Yescombe images are digitally retouched, improving the tone/quality of the images.  Great care is taken with the images.  Subtle details build up quality.  Clients are delighted with final results of using the imagery.

Elements that go into the post-production are:

• Colour balance and/or selective colour adjustments / colour grading / saturation/ desaturation
• Dodging out & burning in light and contrast curves (to give the images it’s full ‘punch’)
• Selective sharpening (eg on the eyes to focus attention)
• Skin: individually removing blemishes
• Body shaping
• Face: contouring, highlighting, and more
• Eyes/teeth: subtle whitening
• Hair: removing fly-aways, amending shape, including eyebrows/etc
• Clothes: removing creases/dust/stray threads, increasing/decreasing highlights and folds of material, changing shape
• Removing distracting elements
• Swapping/adding/blending elements with other images

Before & After retouching example:

Email Maggie directly at info@margaretyescombe.com and secure your booking to create stylish imagery.

Applying to work with a Model Agency 

If you are new to Modelling, or have some experience, finding a model agency is paramount.  If you want to make a career as a professional model, you’ll need to work with an agency as top photographers book their models through Model Agencies (for quality, convenience, reliability, accountability, and instant model replacement if the model booked is sick and can’t make the shoot).

A reputable agency will not ask a Model for any money to be paid to them to upfront to get started (if an agency does this, it may be a scam, so check agency reviews on google before handing over a penny!).  A reputable agency will take a percentage of any money earned through job bookings they have contracted for you.  They may charge additional fees (again taken out paid photo-shoot bookings) to cover investments they have made on your behalf, like printing costs for your model portfolio.

Model Agencies are the experts in models.  They are experienced in selecting new models they think they can find work for with their current clients and the current market trends.  A reputable Model Agency will let you know if you have a look they think they can promote successfully.

Different Model Agency’s measurements entry criteria to taking you on varies, so check with each model agency’s individual measurement requirements and application procedure.  Minimum height for fashion models is usually around 5ft7″+.   (Kate Moss is 1.70m and considered short in the industry, Cara Delevinge is 1.73m, Karlie Kloss is 1.85m) Heights and application procedures can vary from sending in initial snapshots/measurements, to booking an initial meeting, or attending an open casting day.

Even you pass the first hurdle and the Model Agency decides to take you on; there is a lot of competition out there, it is hard work to try and make a decent living pursuing a career in fashion modelling.  And a lot of whether you get booked for that dream model job or not is often largely out of your control (beyond doing your best to present yourself promply at castings/shoots, presented well, being polite, flexible, able to follow direction, posing in ways your body looks good on camera, being a team player, relationship building, etc).

If you don’t meet the model agency requirements, you won’t have the proportions to fit the samples sizes made by the fashion designers: so the model agency won’t be able to take you on or find you work. 

Get in touch directly with the Model Agency you think you have the right look to work with, to ask if they’d like to consider taking you on.  (If applying via email – don’t send CC multiple model agency companies, send separate individual emails!). 

Check the T&C with model agencies that offer to take you on as a model.

Click HERE to find out : What To Wear To A Model Open Call or Casting

While you may be beautiful, you may not always have the right look for the right agency, at the right time.  So don’t be put off by the first no, or the second.  In fact if you want to pursue a career in Fashion Modelling you’ll need to deal with rejection as part of the job, going to multiple model castings for photo-shoots.

Once a Model Agency has agreed to take you on, they will likely send you on Test Shoots with carefully selected Professional Photographers to build up your Modelling Portfolio, aka your Book.  A reputable agency will use their experience to build a book with the best possible images to promote you as a Model to potential clients for fashion shoots.  Hopefully the bookings start trickling in and you gain more experience and… hey hey! You’re now a successful fashion model!

Click HERE for links to reputable London Model Agencies :  Top 10 Model Agencies

On the other hand, maybe fashion modelling through an top model agency isn’t going to happen for you.  Maybe all the Model Agencies turned you down.  Perhaps you were stunning but just too short to meet their criteria as a fashion model.  

If none of the agencies think they can get you enough work to take you on, then Fashion Modelling isn’t likely to be a sustainable career choice for you.  Though you might be still be able to make a some money occasionally as a Freelance Model.

Freelance Modelling

If you’d like to start out on your own and promote yourself as a freelance model; it is harder to make an income.  Though it doesn’t mean you can’t have a lot of fun and feel like a super model while doing it!

You’re effectively being your own model agency.  So you need to put together a strong portfolio to promote yourself.  Though, as you are just starting out, you don’t have the model agency years of experience and creatively trained eye to know what Photographers and potential clients look for, effectively what sells.  What we look for in photos of ourselves is heavily bias, so it’s best to seek guidance from an industry professional.  Your professional Model Portfolio is about presenting quality, not quantity.  Working with an experienced Fashion Photographer gives you a first-taste of the on-shoot experience and jump-starts your model portfolio.

Aspiring Models – kick-start your portfolio and career in modelling

For your Model Portfolio session, Maggie will arrange a professional creative Make-Up Artist/Hairstylist who will create looks to bring out your natural beauty.  Feeling beautiful, we will guide you to get the best results from your session.

Feel like a star in your studio make-over session

If professional modelling isn’t your cup of tea, you can still have a fun and relaxed photo-shoot experience and feel like a star.  With a creative professional make-up artist/hairstylist, giving you on trend fashion looks to bring out your natural beauty.  With flattering lighting to create stylish images where you look your gorgeous, beautiful best.  You’ll gain confidence and love your shoot experience, as well as treasure the stylish images created for you.

Email Maggie directly at info@margaretyescombe.com to get the current Model Portfolio packages information and book your session to create stylish imagery for you.

Top Model Agencies in London

Want to know where to look for the most stunning professional fashion and beauty Models in London?

Book the best models in the industry to showcase your collection through these model agencies: 

• Elite
• Body London
• Boss Models
• Bookings Models
• IMG Models 
• First Model Management
• FM Model Agency
• Nevs Model Agency
• Next Management (Models, Talent, Chefs, Artists, in London, New York, Paris, Milan, Los Angeles, Miami)
• M+P Models
• MiLK Model Management
• Models 1
• Profile Models 
• Premier
• Select
• Storm Model Management
• Supa Model Management
• Lenis Models
• Oxygen Models
• PRM Agency
• Zone Models

Model agency look-book fees guidelines:

For a fashion model for your print and web lookbook you’ll be looking at between £350 to £1000+20% agency fee, depending on the agency/brand/model.  Model agency fees vary, a ‘New Face’ costs less than a ‘Main Board’ model.

You will sign an agreement with the model agency to allow you to use the images for your particular purpose. This is the contract.  If you would like to later extend the image usages, for example, then using the images for a campaign – you must inform the model agent and pay the additional fees.

ASPIRING MODELS CLICK HERE : HOW TO BECOME A FASHION MODEL