FIRST IMPRESSIONS

What is your first impression when you hear someone is a model? Do you instantly stereotype them as a pretty face with no brains? Do you take another look at them and think they probably couldn’t do anything else with their life so they chose the easy way out?

I love hearing people’s opinion about what they think models do. I guess with the small window of social media these days no one actually sees the real behind the post. Models, especially, post the most beautiful photos at the most amazing places and it always seem like they are living their best life. Gosh even I get fomo from some of the stuff people post.

But allow me to let you in on a little secret. Modeling isn’t as glamorous, easy or brain dead as most people might think. There is a lot of patience, people skills and creativity that is included in this job, it might just be a little different to most people’s normal. I have come to realize probably 90% of people don’t see modeling as a real job. That it’s all glamour and getting freebies. This is exactly why I have decided to share the ‘not-always-so-Fabulous’ life of being a model.

Just to be clear. I am not a famous model, nor do I know everything about this job or industry. My reason for this is purely to share my personal experiences (some of them quite funny and interesting I think), and maybe answer some questions people might have.

 

 

One day I went to catch up with a friend. I haven’t seen him in a while so there was a lot to chat about. After he told me how work has been going for him he asked if I was still modeling, then ended off the question with a brutal : “or have you found a real job ??”.  At first I wanted to punch him in his throat, but then I almost felt sorry for him. He didn’t understand how there can be an industry that works so differently to his norm. That one doesn’t need a 9 to 5 timeline to qualify in the ‘real job’ category. I know to most the shell of the ‘model life’ seems very glamorous. But if you’re not a Supermodel, the only perks you get is free food, sometimes working in amazing locations and maybe a few nice photos. The long hours and hectic clients aren’t ever seen on social media.

Many people have asked me if we get to keep our clothes… we don’t.

Models like me still working their way up, are merely hangers to make the clothes or products look good most of the time. It’s not even about the model mostly but about the look and feel of the product. If you fit the description the client has in their minds you will get the job. If you don’t there’s not much you can do to change that. One of the most important lessons I had to learn is if you don’t get booked for the job, most of the time it wasn’t something you did but how you look that changed the clients mind from booking you.

Now let’s get into what our work days look like… A normal shoot day (when shooting on location) will start at sunrise, purely because it’s the best light. Yes, sunrise doesn’t sound so bad but models don’t just rock up looking super fresh and ready for action. They need to meet before to get their hair and makeup done. That means they need to meet an hour or 2 or sometimes 3 hours before the shoot starts to get ready. Getting your hair and makeup done doesn’t sound so bad either. But if I really need to paint the picture, sunrise in Cape Town is around 5:30am (Summer time) so meeting an hour before would mean to be at base camp, or wherever hair and makeup is done, at 4:30am or earlier. A full day on set is between 8 to 10 hours excluding an hour lunch. (Like most ‘normal’ jobs). Then, think about how you feel that time of the morning. The last thing you want is having someone in your personal space, pulling on your hair and touching your face, sometimes plastering make up on you so hectically you’ll be able to take it off like a mask later.

Another question frequently asked is: “Do you get to say how you want your hair and makeup done?” Once again… No. The client decides, we are their blank canvas.

But the fun doesn’t stop there. Depending on what the product is the model will have to create the image the client has in their heads. Normally the client will have a clear idea of what they want and either show you or explain what the day will look like. Our job is to make that come to life. So if it’s freezing outside and the client wants to shoot swimwear or summer clothes (which normally happens) the model has to think her warmest thought and make it work. If you’re shivering or turning blue they’ll quickly come with a blanket of some sort and try warm you up. Then when the photographer gives the signal all warming elements are removed and the model needs to pretend to be in paradise again.

The main thing most people forget or don’t know about a model’s job is for her to get that amazing photo where she is in her bikini with the sunset right behind her walking out of the water, the sun glistening off her phenomenal body… She had to get into the water either sunrise or sunset doesn’t matter if it’s hot or cold. She needed to walk out of the water probably a hundred times before the client was happy with the shot. In between all of that the client or photographer comments on what she should try do differently, the hair, makeup and style team will be fiddling and touching up and pulling on her to make sure everything is perfect. And then she still needs to act and look beautiful even if she’s freezing, lips turning blue, trying not to fall as a wave hits her from behind and ready to throw someone with a rock.

Every job has its own challenges. Every job has people and problems to deal with. Every job has good days and bad days, good clients and horrific clients, good months and bad months. Every job is done sometimes not because you want to or because it’s a passion but because you know you have bills to pay at the end of the month. And so does the job called modeling.

My first impression of this industry wasn’t a good one, in fact it scared me. Because there is no consistency, no definite, no specific salary that will definitely be paid at the end of the month. I realized it took a lot of guts and faith to keep going in a job like this and if you don’t grow from your mistakes and make an effort to put yourself out there you will stay in the same place.

There’s a quote that goes “Don’t judge her for what she looks like, you don’t know the storms she has had to face.” In this industry, and I’m sure in every other job, we face a lot of storms but we keep pushing and growing.

Next time before you judge someone allow their First Impression toward you to be something more than just what meets the eye.

Photos by :  Matt Hind   www.matthind.com   /  www.instagram.com/_matthind/

Jeff Bergen  www.instagram.com/jeffbergen/