Commercial print assignments open opportunities even when you don’t make the cut in high fashion.
Modeling by Cristina DeHart
When I first started modeling, I was told that being 5-feet-7-inches tall would prove to be a challenge. Most fashion models were at least 5-feet-9 and up to 5-feet-11. I would soon realize that the fashion modeling category represents only a fraction of the work available to models in the industry.
Discovering Commercial Print
I used to flip through the pages of popular magazines and wonder, “Who are these models in everyday advertisements for cell phones, insurance, cars, etc. They look like everyday people.” This was when I first discovered commercial print modeling, also known as “real people” modeling, which has no age, height, or size requirements. Browse the advertisements in newspapers, magazines, and television, and you will see all ages, ethnicities, and sizes of people represented by models who are well paid for looking like, well, just plain folks! Commercial print models earn up to $250 per hour, plus bonuses or buyouts in return for usage rights.
Adopting the Lifestyle
Once I came upon the commercial print modeling division, I quickly gained representation from a reputable commercial print agency. At the time, I used my fashion photos for the initial interview, but the agent asked that I “commercialize” my portfolio and composite card to make myself more marketable to commercial clients. How is this done? By having pictures made that show you in an array of everyday activities and situations, called lifestyle photos...
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When I first started modeling, I was told that being 5-feet-7-inches tall would prove to be a challenge. Most fashion models were at least 5-feet-9 and up to 5-feet-11. I would soon realize that the fashion modeling category represents only a fraction of the work available to models in the industry.
