Igor Malkov - a leading modeling expert and an author
of the Modeling Guide and Training "SUCCESS IN MODELING CAREER"
answers your questions.

"I asked many aspiring models the same question: What modeling is about?
I got a lot of different answers, but almost nobody even mentioned the main thing.
Modeling is about three things and three things only: SELLING, SELLING AND SELLING!
First: You have to sell yourself to agents.
Second: You have to sell yourself to clients.
Third: You have to help to sell clients product."

What are the first steps in modeling?
First steps are very critical for modeling career and it is very important to learn how to make those steps. Just one mistake can destroy your future! More than 97% of modeling career are finishing without even starting because many aspiring models are not serious and not ready to enter into modeling business. Please understand: When you start a modeling career you are starting a corporation under your own name!

What size do you have to be a model?
Fashion and editorial models are tall and thin. Women are 5'8"-5'11" tall, with hips not more than 36". Male models are 6'-6'2" tall and wear a 40 or 42 jacket.
Commercial / character, body and parts models can be any size.
Plus size modeling is a fast growing market. Especially in USA.

Evaluation. It is a very critical and sometimes is a most difficult step - you have to be honest with yourself!
Look in the mirror and ask yourself: Do I have what it takes to be a model?
The best scenario if you are young, tall, slim and beautiful. You have good teeth, long neck and full lips. In this case your modeling potential has no limits. Any market!
But If your body is not slim- it is already a limit. If you are not tall enough - it is a limit. If you are not young - one more limit.
And each additional limit makes your modeling market narrower and narrower.
Some people think that anybody can become a commercial model. But commercial modeling still has one very important requirement - you must have an acting talent.
So, ask yourself: What kind of modeling is good for me? What is my market? What can make clients choose me to promote their collections and product?
Give yourself honest - I repeat - the honest answers and you can avoid many problems and save a lot of time and money. And you will never be a victim of scams.

What can you say about modeling schools and modeling conventions?
Those businesses have nothing to do with your modeling career. Any modeling school or convention always accept you even if you do not have any chances to be a model.
How many girls and boys have been caught by these words: “You have been chosen!”
But the truth is: EVERYBODY WHO IS WILLING TO PAY IS ALWAYS CHOSEN BY MODELING SCHOOLS OR MODELING CONVENTIONS!
The modeling schools are making money by selling classes and modeling conventions are making money if you pay for participation in conventions. If they will give honest opinions to aspiring models they will loose a lot of money and even can go out of business.

I just found info on internet that all "slim and beauty" models almost are gone and to be a model you can look as regular people on the streets. Is it true?
Browsing the internet you can find tons of absolutely stupid information and recommendations. ...It is very easy to get an answer on your question. Just look throw latest fashion magazines. When models will look as regular people on the streets they will be paid also as regular people: $10 - 15 per hour. However some ads and fashion collections require the "street" look.

Modeling forums on Internet.
Modeling forums are not the best places to get professional advises .
It is OK to share your opinions or info, but.....
Successful professional models do not have time to waste it on forums or in chat rooms. All models who spend their time on different modeling forums and give a lot of recommendations ARE NOT THE MODELS AT ALL OR JUST ARE VERY BAD MODELS! They are pretending to be the experts and are ruining many modeling careers.
Please understand: How can they teach you to be successful in modeling if they could not succeed themselves. They can teach you only one thing - how to destroy your career!
When you go to any college you want to learn from professor but not from a bad student or even from janitor. BE CAREFUL!

I was talking to several photographers and all of them told me that I need to have not less than 10 -15 photographs to show to model agency.
That is A CLEAR MISLEADING! Your initial portfolio must be: for female - not more than 6 photographs, for male - 3 photographs is enough.
The photographer is not your friend. His or her goal, stated in the simplest of terms, is to get you to order more photographs and spend more money.

I know that I have everything to be a great model. I've tried to work with four agencies and with some photographers. Unfortunately I'm nor very lucky. What should I do?
The most common mistake which makes a big damage to modeling career is when model thinks and acts like that: "I AM SO GREAT! MY CAREER IS NOT SUCCESSFUL ONLY BECAUSE OF BAD PEOPLE AROUND."
Never blame somebody except of yourself in your problem. If you blame everybody around in your problems you will continue to make the same mistakes again and again until your career is absolutely ruined! Always try to analyze and ask yourself:
Why did I not get this job? Or why this client does not want to work with me anymore? What did I do wrong? And if you can find right answers you will avoid the same mistakes in a future.
Follow this rule and you will make your career more successful!

I am only 14 but am VERY interested in becoming a model. My mom doesn't have the kind of money to pay for an expensive portfolio and, looking at how expensive they can be, I only have money for one or two GOOD pictures. What should I do?
First: Take two GOOD pictures. Even one good picture is much, much better than hundred of bad ones.
Second: Girls in your age are changing so fast and very soon you will need new photos.

Very often I hear the word "Supermodel". What does it mean?.
Unfortunately you hear this word to often. Sometimes it is enough for a model to appear in a couple of fashion magazines or fashion shows and people from media begin to call her or him a Supermodel. But a lot of those "supermodels" are not even close to real Supermodels who constantly appear in all major international fashion magazines, fashion shows and make not less than $1,000.000.00 a year from a modeling job.

I have a book about modeling poses. I already learned 24 different poses. Do I need to learn more?
What you need to do first is very simple. Take this book and throw it in a garbage can.
Your second step will be more difficult: you have to forget all those poses! Why? Because they are absolutely useless. Each fashion collection and especially high fashion collection has its own style and mood. And the model's job is to express this style and mood and make it as more attractive to the public as possible.
It is a very important subject. Get the guide and training SUCCESS IN MODELING CAREER and you will learn how to create a thousand poses.

Do I need an agent?
Some model think that when they work without an agent they save money on agent’s commission.
It is so wrong! When a modeling agency is negotiating the terms with the clients you can be sure - you will get the highest possible rate for your job.
Please understand a very important thing. Working on your own a model always is loosing money!!!
If you want just to fool around and pretend to be a model, go ahead - be a free lancer. But if you are serious about your career - find a good agent!
Why do you think all supermodels and famous actors have agents?! Just think about that!

Do agencies charge you to represent you?
No!!! Agents make their money by charging you a commission (15-25%) on the contracts they negotiate for you. If you don't work, they make nothing.
Agency is your business partner! Each of you must do your own job in your partnership. Agency is like a bridge between models and clients. A good professional agency will guide you and help you to avoid a lot of problems in your career.
One important point: I'm talking about good professional agents.

Do agencies finance models professional expenses?
Some agencies can loan money to new models with a great modeling potential, but it is so rare. Modeling is a business. If you do not want to make necessary investments in your own business it is almost impossible to become a successful professional model. The information that agents always will pay for your photos or other professional expenses is absolutely false. All model agencies require you to pay all your professional expenses: photo shooting, composite cards, headsheets, etc.

At my modeling workshops aspiring models ask me all the time:
How many turns professional model must know?
Let's talk about turns.
To understand turns on runway you must understand the whole nature of runway. Why models are making turns on runway. Because it looks good? But runway modeling is not a ballet.
Fashion show is not just a show. Main goal of any fashion show is to promote, advertise and sell.
When I direct a fashion show the most important thing for me is to find how to make that particular collection look great!
Fashion show can promote, but bad fashion show can destroy even a good collection.

So, what for models make turns on runway? Please remember the answer. The model makes different turns on runway because they help to show all outfits in the best possible way.
Only collections, only outfits dictate the style of show, kind and quantity of turns.
Some outfits don't require any turns and some require several turns. For example: business, casual or avant-garde collections very often need just one turn or no turns at all, but elegant evening dresses especially with wide skirts require many turns.
Very often you can see that model makes the same turns and in absolutely different collections, absolutely deferent styles. Why? The answer here is also simple. Professional level of that model is very low. Or she doesn't understand requirements of this collection or she just doesn't know how to make different turns.

I believe you don't want to be that kind of model. Get the "Modeling Guide and Training". Watch the video, read the book, practice and go for your dream!