How to start your modelling career everywhere
Cities can often feel like the centre of the universe. And London, arguably the most famous city of them all, is the heartbeat of the UK, both in political and financial terms.
You don’t have to live in London to know its reputation for opportunity, nor do you need to commute there. London has been globally recognised for centuries. Its population reached one million by the early 1800s and now stands at just under 9.5 million. It’s a mecca for big hitting businesses and tourism, as well as history, sport, art and culture, and fashion. In short, London is a mega city that’s known by almost everyone in the world.
Because London has so many opportunities regardless of the type of industry, models might be wondering if the bulk of modelling jobs are in our capital. We recently chose London as the location for our second office, so does that mean that it has the monopoly on most of the jobs we offer to registered models?
The answer is: no. Whilst London remains the centre for UK business, we are a national employment agency, meaning that we regularly offer modelling assignments all over the UK, from the Scottish coasts to Wales, from the bustling north of England to the seaside resorts on the south coast. The reason we can do this is because we are trusted by an extensive array of top brands, and they have locations and job settings in all corners of the country.
So, our diverse range of clients results in extensive job opportunities for anyone wanting to get involved in our wonderful industry. It’s true that there are plenty of openings in London – as expected – but we place thousands of talented individuals elsewhere in the UK.
If you’re not based in London and feel you’re at a disadvantage, nothing could be further from the truth. We cater for every commercial model of any age and experience no matter where they’re based.
Here’s our mini guide to starting a career in commercial modelling anywhere in the UK.
1. Be optimistic that you don’t need to be based in London (or any other large city) to succeed. You should be optimistic, because it’s true! We’ve put our models in jobs in North Yorkshire towns, supplied promotional models for Welsh photography shows, and provided talent to many hospitality jobs all around the country. As a Models Direct model, you’re not handicapped by where you live.
2. Look for social media posts about modelling in your local area, and regularly check in with our news, be it our blogs, IMAGE magazine or our own social media updates, where you’ll find reviews from models, job alerts and tips & advice.
3. Offer to work for local authorities or businesses in any modelling capacity. You don’t need to be photographed posing, either. We have plenty of promotional modelling jobs, where models work at trade shows or exhibitions, or even on the high street, so all you need is the confidence and social skills to interact with the public.
4. Don’t pass up chances to add images and reels to your portfolio. It needs to be updated every two months or so. Also, if you develop any new skills you think are beneficial to any type of modelling job, don’t forget to tell us.
5. Never give up! Modelling has always been a realistic and enjoyable way for everyday people to make money and contacts, but it remains competitive. When you register with us, you can’t expect to be selected straightaway. It can happen, but not all the time.
London may have the bright lights, but bright stars in the commercial modelling world can be anywhere.
