If you want to become a professional model, one of the first decisions you’ll have to make is whether to sign with a modelling agent. An agency will find you work, but you’ll pay for it by giving them a cut of your hard-earned fee. The alternative to signing with an agent is being a freelance model. Here’s a look at how to successfully be your own modelling boss.
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Freelance models work independently, without hiring an agent or modelling agency. They book their own gigs, find their own clients, and do everything an agent would usually be expected to do. Freelancers are basically entrepreneurs, often with a strong personal brand, selling their own image to clients that align with their looks, values, or both. As with models attached to agencies, freelancers do all types of modelling: runway, editorial, commercial, promotional – you name it.
If you’re going it alone, you need to let the world know you exist and are available for work. That means marketing yourself, online and in real life.
1. Build a strong portfolio
Your portfolio is your main modelling tool for showcasing yourself to clients. Think about what kind of modelling work you want to do and fill your portfolio with images of yourself that reflect it. The images ideally will be from previous shoots, but your modelling headshots can also reflect your personal brand. All images in your portfolio should be high quality and shot by a professional. Remember to include your name, age, measurements, and contact details.
2. Network
Great freelancers make themselves visible 24/7 and see every interaction as a potential for work. You don’t have to be pushy, but you need to talk to people. Tap up friends, relatives, neighbours – even the lady who works at your local supermarket may have a cousin who’s a fashion stylist. Look online for industry events, and talk to photographers, fashion students, and makeup artists. Get out and about and meet people in the wider industry – however tangential their link.
Keep your eyes peeled for freelance modelling gigs and casting calls. Also think about pitching your services to brands directly. Look for their press or marketing staff and email them your details.
3. Research your market
Look at the models whose careers you admire. What is their niche? How do they market their personal brand? What was their career path? How do they compose themselves in front of the camera?
Being a successful model is a skill, and posing takes practice. Find your best angles by using your phone camera and taking test shots from every angle – and asking people you trust what they think of the results.
4. Be consistent on social media
Having a big social media following as a freelance model is a great advantage. Many clients want to work with models who already have an audience that aligns with their brand image. Your following can also be a negotiating tool when setting your rate, especially if you’re committed to posting about the brands you collaborate with.
To get started, showcase your portfolio on Instagram and tag your photos with relevant hashtags (#instamodels, #models, #modelcallout) to boost your chances of grabbing the attention of brands and potential clients. Shout about any shoots you’ve done. You can also post behind-the-scenes photos (if the client permits it) to give your followers a more personal insight into your work.
5. Commit to your personal brand
Any model needs a strong brand identity, so think about what makes you you. It’s a good idea to keep up with trends in the industry, but it’s even more important to stay authentic to yourself. Successful freelance models know their own worth and want to control their own destiny. Without an agent, you need to be the biggest backer of Brand You – so get your image out there.
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Benefits of freelance modelling
For most freelance models, the benefits of not working with an agency come down to two things: control and money.
As a freelancer, you get to pick the jobs you want to do and say no to clients you don’t want to work with. If you see yourself as an arty editorial model, for example, you don’t have to say yes to a supermarket lingerie shoot just because your agent wants you to. You are in charge of your own brand, timetable, and career trajectory.
Then there’s the financial incentive. Modelling agencies will always take a cut of your earnings, and it can be up to 30% of your fee. As a freelancer, you’ll get to keep the entire fee.
Drawbacks of freelance modelling
Keeping every penny you earn (before tax, of course) sounds appealing, but there are several things to consider before taking the plunge into freelance modelling. As a freelancer, you’ll be responsible for everything. You have to find your own work, market your own brand, and network constantly. You also have to think about contracts, legal agreements, and invoices. Are you happy setting your own rate, negotiating payments, and staying wise to potential scams?
That can be a lot of work on top of your actual job in front of the camera. You may end up paying other professionals – from a lawyer if you have problems with a client to an assistant to manage your busy inbox – to help you out anyway. An agency would manage a lot of the admin on your behalf, and you’d be paying them only a percentage of the gigs you book. An agent can also introduce you to their contacts, and they’ll be in the know about opportunities, which can be especially useful when you’re starting out.
Freelance models tend to be very self-motivated, hardworking, and financially savvy – because they have to be. Freelancers likely have more work to do away from the camera, but it can be empowering and very profitable if you stay on top of it.
Gone are the days when models wouldn’t get out of bed for “less than $10,000 a day,” as Canadian fashion model Linda Evangelista once quipped. For most, success comes with being a hard-working grafter. According to the Economic Research Institute, the average model salary in Australia is just over AU$66,000. In the UK, Model Kit UK suggests the number is between £40,000 and £50,000. Check out our deep dive into model earnings in the UK and Australia.
Remember: There’s no agent to blame if you sign a dodgy contract or set your day rate too low. You’ll also have to be responsible for your own tax affairs, so it’s important to keep a close eye on your finances.
In addition to having the looks and knowing how to work a camera, successful freelance models also have a wide range of other qualities. At the top of the list is interpersonal skills. Without an agent to do it for you, you need to be able to advocate for yourself and charm new clients. You’ll be talking to your collaborators directly, so you need to be a people person – or at least know how to fake it.
You also need to look after yourself. Your face and body will be booking you work, so keep them well preserved by going to the gym, eating well, and ensuring you get enough sleep. On top of that, adopt a grooming routine that works for you.
The modelling industry is tough and you need to be resilient, especially as a freelancer. Most models get more noes than yeses, so it helps if you can develop a thick skin. Work comes and goes, so you need to be flexible and prepared for that.
