Most people hear "modeling" and picture a 5’11" woman in heels on a Paris runway. That is one path, and not the most accessible one. New York has plenty of modeling work that does not require you to be six feet tall or a size zero.
After 7+ years photographing and managing talent at Dante’s Models, we have seen people build real careers in niches they did not know existed. Here are five paths you can start in NYC.
1. The High Fashion/Editorial Model
This is the one most people picture: runway, haute couture, magazine spreads and campaigns for major designers. Think Fashion Week, a designer's showroom in the Garment District, or a Vogue shoot on a rooftop overlooking Midtown.
- What it takes: Typically a tall, slender build (women often 5'9" and up, men 6'1" and up), strong bone structure and the ability to carry a mood without saying a word. Your look should be distinctive, sometimes a bit unconventional.
- Advice: Build a portfolio that shows range and unusual angles. Work on a signature walk and different poses. Agencies like ours are always scouting for the next face that can hold a room.
2. The Commercial/Lifestyle Model
High fashion sells fantasy. Commercial modeling sells relatability. These are the faces in ads for coffee brands and tech gadgets, on e-commerce sites and in lifestyle campaigns. You might be laughing with friends in a Brooklyn brownstone, jogging through Central Park or browsing shelves in a SoHo boutique.
- What it takes: A range of looks and expressions. Clients want real emotion: happy, thoughtful, engaged, friendly. All ages, ethnicities and body types are in demand. Think "the girl next door" or "the cool guy at the coffee shop."
- Advice: Your portfolio should show your natural smile, expressive eyes and an easy look in everyday scenes. The more roles you can play convincingly, the better. The market is big in NYC because the city is so diverse.
3. The Plus-Size/Curve Model
Plus-size and curve modeling is a real part of the industry now, and NYC is a center of it. Brands look for models with a wider range of body shapes for fashion, swimwear, lingerie and lifestyle campaigns.
- What it takes: Confidence, personality and comfort in your own skin. Some clients ask for specific measurements, but the emphasis is on a healthy, proportional figure and the ability to pose and connect with the camera.
- Advice: Show your shape well and professionally in your portfolio, with strong, dynamic poses. Brands want models who look self-assured, whether the shoot is in a Chelsea studio or on location in the West Village.
4. The Parts Model
Good hands for jewelry? Hair for a shampoo ad? Eyes for mascara? Parts modeling focuses on one body part, such as hands, feet, eyes, lips, hair or torsos, for close-up product shots, beauty campaigns and ads.
- What it takes: Serious care for the part you model, whether that is manicured hands, clear skin or healthy hair. You need to hold still, work precisely and follow detailed directions.
- Advice: Build a specialized portfolio of only the part you want to model, from various angles and in different lighting. NYC beauty and advertising clients need parts models for everything from diamond rings to skincare, often shot in studios around Flatiron or Midtown.
5. The Fitness/Athletic Model
Fitness modeling is for people with an active lifestyle and an athletic build. You model activewear, sports equipment and health supplements for gyms, brands and publications. Shoots might be workout scenes in Hudson River Park or a gym in Tribeca.
- What it takes: A fit, toned, healthy build, not necessarily bodybuilder-extreme. Energy, enthusiasm and the ability to hold athletic poses convincingly. A real interest in fitness shows.
- Advice: Your portfolio should have action shots that show your physique and how you move. Think about the sports you play or the workouts you do. Clients value an authentic fitness background.
If you are serious about getting into modeling or updating your portfolio, we can help. Reach out to book a photoshoot or to learn about joining our agency roster at dantet9.com.
Photo by Okiki Onipede on Pexels
