Do I Have What it Takes?
Part 2-Commercial Modeling
Story & Photos by: Keith Foster
Last month I talked about what it takes to become a runway/fashion model, the physical specifications required, and the competitive nature of that type of modeling.
In this installment of the series I’m going to talk about commercial modeling. Commercial modeling
doesn’t have any specific physical requirements. Well, that’s not entirely true. The physical requirements are whatever the person hiring the model wants or what fits the needs of the client.
Generally to be a successful model you have to be attractive but even that isn’t always true. Sometimes the client is looking for someone to play the role of a big, ugly, tough guy. There isn’t a huge
demand for that character, but it is out there. More frequently commercial models find work as the
face of a company in non-fashion advertising campaigns, promotional events, tv ads, internet, magazine, newspaper etc.
We see commercial models all around us every day. It is by far the genre of modeling with the most
jobs to offer. The mom in the peanut butter ad, the armpit in the deodorant ad and the model washing her hair with a brand of shampoo are all commercial models.
So you don’t fit the physical requirements for runway modeling why not become a commercial model?
You may very be able to. In fact, if you are reasonably attractive or have a unique look or characteristic
you may very well become a successful commercial model. However, along with the less stringent
physical requirements comes another challenge, since there aren’t as many physical requirements,
more people can attempt to enter the field. So there are more jobs for commercial models there are
also a lot more competition for those jobs.
What does it take to become a commercial model?
The jobs for commercial models are so varied there isn’t a che