The importance of the parent agency

How do you become a model for Vogue & Co. In short, you need a good modeling agency with an international network. You gain initial experience in your home country and later abroad. This is the only way to make it onto the covers of the big fashion magazines!

You need a good model agency, your “mother agency”!

In the industry, we call them the “mother agency”. This is the first agency that believes in you as soon as they see your application and photos. Your mother agency is your first support and your first confidant in the fashion world.

How model agencies work together – Video

You can find more videos on YouTube x CM Models.

How does cooperation between agencies work?

Mother agencies, such as CM Models, look for promising talent, sign contracts and help models get their first photo shoots, castings and jobs. Once a model has proven herself and built up confidence, the doors to international opportunities open.

The way abroad

If you want to work as a model abroad, it is important to gain experience and build your reputation. At first, you will probably work in European fashion capitals such as Paris or Milan. With time and a growing portfolio, you may then be able to make the move to the United States.

The US market

New York City is undoubtedly the epicenter of fashion, but Los Angeles also has a lot to offer, especially in the commercial sector. If you manage to make a name for yourself here, there are plenty of opportunities open to you.

In the world of modeling agencies, a lot of communication takes place via email, as agencies and models are often spread across the globe. Nevertheless, it is important to meet in person from time to time to create a closer bond.

A modeling career requires time, commitment and hard work. Your mother agency is your first and most loyal ally. With patience and a growing list of jobs, you may one day be able to enter the exciting world of fashion in the United States.

How does it all begin? Become a model

The Road to Modeling – In the latest video from Stephan Czaja, founder of CM Models, author of The Model Book, aspiring models and anyone looking to dive into the exciting world of modeling will learn valuable insights and tips. Here are some of the key takeaways from the video:

• The path to modeling

Find a good modeling agency? 3 tips

What to do if you have the dream of becoming a model? Model Agency One (MAO) offers the solution. Here you will find the best model agencies worldwide, whether in New York, Los Angeles, Paris or Tokyo.

• Find a good modeling agency? 3 tips

You can find out more about Stephan’s agency here:

• CM Models

Stephan’s “The Model Book”: Now in German, English, Spanish & Co.

In “The Model Book” you will not only find a guide, but also a source of inspiration for your modeling dreams. Stephan Czaja’s dedication and passion for the modeling industry shines through in every chapter of the book and in this video. Whether you’re just beginning your modeling journey or looking to take your career to the next level, “The Model Book” is the key to your success in the exciting world of modeling. Let Stephan Czaja guide you along the way and get started!

• The Model Book – English
• The Model Book – Spanish
• The Model Book – German
• The Model Book – Italian

Tip! Listen to the book for free in the Model Podcast on Spotify, Deezer & Co.

• Model Podcast

Since the age of 14 in the model business

Quite banal, the 14-year-old girl from the US state of Illinois was discovered by a model agent on a horse farm and has been living every girl’s dream ever since: model. In Europe, the 17-year-old girl wanted to emulate her idol Gisele Bündchen and work for the famous IMG model agency. Smaller jobs in the early stages turned into big jobs like advertising for well-known brands à la H&M, Lancôme or Intimissmi. This is how she achieved her childhood dream. She is still grateful to her discoverer, the photographer Jim Jordan, to this day.

Little girl from the country becomes Victoria-Secret-Angel

The way to the model of the year 2015 led over many catwalks and photo shootings: The first time on the catwalk you could admire Taylor Hill 2012: At the “Haute Couture – Autumn/Winter Fashion Show 2012” the formerly shy girl from the country walked the catwalk.

This was the beginning of a career as a model for big fashion brands like Chanel, Versace, Elie Saab or Alexander McQueen. Her face became the new motif of fashion magazines.

But the great fame and worldwide recognition in the media was only achieved through her collaboration with Victoria Secret: The underwear company par excellence arranged the Model 2014 to present the current collection. With 18 years the youngest model in the show. For Taylor this was the start of a steep career and millions of followers on Instagram. The signing of the contract in 2015 and many successful years in Victoria Secret Shows followed. Every show brought new followers.

With more and more shows, the angel also gets more and more freedom: Working at Victoria Secret is not really work for her anymore, in the meantime she can choose which shows she is allowed to participate in, she has a say and does not have to follow the strict instructions of the agents anymore.

Taylor Hill: Your Victoria Secret Highlights

Since 2014, the Victoria Secret Angel has now been flying above the catwalk. In these years she might already participate in some shows and present many different looks:

Instagram-Star

Today, 14.4 million people follow the supermodel’s life on Instagram and other social media like Twitter. Posts about the model’s life, family or friends can be found on her profile. Her tweets or posts of the day regularly find attention in the tabloid press. For her, social media is the chance to show her fans closeness and personality and to get away from the image of the unapproachable and aloof supermodels.

Their income is estimated at a remarkable $6 million.

Taylor Hill: fan girl of Selena Gomez!

Who would have thought it: While she herself is an idol for many girls and they follow the latest news every day, she herself is a so-called “Fangirl”. The supermodel has a crush on none other than superstar Selena Gomez. In her childhood Taylor Hill watches the popular Disney movies and series like thousands of girls. Now she had the good fortune to meet Selena in person at a show. Pretty excited the angel met her childhood heroine, Selena was flattered and takes it as a great compliment. For Taylor definitely another plus point of her Victoria Secret career.

More than just Like for Like!

For the supermodel there is more than fashion and instagram. Her secret passion: reading. The Instagram Star is not afraid of thick books and fantasy and …the popular “Game of Thrones – Series”. Apart from the bookworm, she also has a sporting spirit for gymnastics. No wonder the supermodel stays in such good shape. After all, what is learned is learned: She has been taking gymnastics lessons since she was little. Even though the model today no longer has the time to pursue her hobby on a daily basis, she still tries to keep up with the average, with three training sessions a week in the gym or at yoga. No wonder that the supermodel stays in such good shape.

The model showed her athletic abilities and her mobility in the British video calendar of the British Love Magazine 2017.

Who wants to be beautiful, does not have to suffer: Secrets of beauty

The anorexia and the strict beauty ideals of society have never been something for her. Instead of starving herself before the big shows like other models, the 1.78m petite 3,300 calories allows herself to eat before the day of her show. Taylor Hill’s clear statement on this makes her all the more remarkable:

“There’s no way you can just stop eating. You would then die. Victoria’s Secret angels are like athletes. We are like Olympic athletes. We are strong” (Grazia Magazin)

Among the five things that a model could not live without is food, which is quite untypical for a model. If that does not make her sympathetic! She never wants to use the services of plastic surgeons, but always wants to remain as natural as she is.

From Instagram Videos to the Canvas

Besides, the hard-working model is working on an acting career. She had her first significant role in the horror movie “The Neon Demon” (2016). One thing is for sure: Her loyal Instagram fans will know when the young Instagram star is once again in front of the movie camera. Maybe this time as an alien, as she already joked in an interview.

Taylor Hill is what you want in an Instagram Star: down-to-earth with a high value for family, friends and animals. One of the most important things in life she counts exactly these. The most unpleasant thing about her job is therefore the separation from her home and family.

Speaking of family: Like her siblings, she is also active in the modeling scene. While her sister Logan is more interested in the area behind the camera, her two siblings are also models, her brother Chase even works for the same agency: IMG Models.

Taylor and love

For years, the Instagramstar has been happily engaged with model Michael Stephen Shank. After years of happy relationship with model Michael Stephen Frank, the two of them separated after 5 years. The exact date and circumstances are not known, online the two go separate ways, but on Instagram the two do not follow each other anymore. In February the 24-year-old was discovered with a new man at her side: Daniel Fryer. Professionally, her new admirer is committed to the global cannabis industry and its growth. Together they saw the two lovers taking a walk in Los Angeles with their beloved dog.

Model around the clock

Being a model today no longer means just buying on a catwalk and presenting the designer’s pieces. Today it is about presenting your own lifestyle. To show what happens backstage or what happens when the show is over. The life of the beautiful face moves and entertains people. Shows take place only a few times a year, but life and its philosophy take place every day. The tool: Instagram. Follow, watch, like.

The future of the supermodels

But is the time of classic models like Taylor Hill, Cara Delevingne and Co. over now? Digital models like Lil Miqula and Ella Stella are already on the rise.

Tip! Interview with model agency owner Stephan Czaja (CM Models): Become a model

The Model Book – Printed book on Amazon

The Model Book – Ebook on Amazon

3 questions about the model book by model agent Stephan M. Czaja

New Faces and young models between dream and reality

FIV – Stephan, why did you write that book?

In our model agency we are confronted with an incredible number of questions every day, which is often hard to imagine. Each year and every season new models follow, new talent! Do you know how many models apply alone every day? On peak days, we easily receive 20 or 50 applications from models. Every new model has absolutely understandable questions, very many questions! It ranges from absolute basics like “What does giving an option actually mean” to “How do I build up my model portfolio correctly” or “What do you have to prepare for when it comes to agency visits, castings or jobs? To collect all these questions in a single book, I retired in the evenings after bookings and on weekends and spent four months writing hard! In my favorite cafe, for several days, weeks and hours. Here I collected a lot of information together, formulated new terms and of course talked to my friends photographers. Also models and of course young models. It was important to me to find out which questions are particularly important to them! Four months later the time had come and now the book is on sale! I hope it will be the new standard work for models and look forward to the first results from the publisher!

FIV – Many love printed books! Is the book available only as eBook or also in Print?

As an author I am of course an absolute friend of books. I think everyone understands that, because it’s much nicer to have a printed version at home. Especially books you love! Or where you want to look something up again. That’s why! The book is published not only as an eBook, but also as a printed version with hardcover. Also as a gift much more beautiful than an eBook. We even did an extra cover shooting! With our little top model Lea Schiffmann and fashion photographer Oliver Rudolph. He also gives strong tips for posing and facial expressionxpressions in the book.

Tips for young models looking for a model agency

FIV – If you can give today an important tip for all New Face, what would that be?

First of all, it’s always about self-assessment! The subject also a large part in my book. If you don’t fit into the high fashion world in terms of your measurements and requirements, you shouldn’t waste your time expanding your model portfolio or your career in this direction. Every year there are thousands of new models and many corresponding requirement of the customer more than you. If you’re in the wrong area, you lose valuable years. That is why it is very important for models to find the right agency at the beginning that will help and support them in their career. There is an extra guideline in the book. With it you can distinguish serious model agencies from dubious ones. For the agency search there are also a few practical links. If you focus directly on the right area, you will save valuable years as a young model.

As with athletes, the first few years in particular are your most important ones. Here’s the New Faces bonus. You don’t have big commitments like a job or a family yet and you can perfectly prepare for the future and earn even more money. The choice of agency or your management decides whether you get few or many jobs. Accordingly also little experience or a lot!

Another quick tip at the end: If you want to start as a model, don’t invest money in photo shootings. Good agencies can use it if you send him some simple mobile phone photos. It’s simple, you in daylight. It’s called Polaroids. Never invest money in agencies! No serious agency will get money from you! And always believe in yourself! Like an entrepreneur, you have to get up every morning with a smile. As long as you say I did it! Self-doubt is blocking you.

Author & Model Agent Stephan M. Czaja

Stephan M. Czaja is an entrepreneur and owner of renowned advertising and media agencies. As an author he publishes many articles in blogs but also books. His main areas of expertise include business development, personality development, media development, model management and trend topics such as influencer marketing. Stephan M. Czaja took his first steps as an entrepreneur at an early age. At the age of fifteen he founded a music magazine, published several studio albums, wrote lyrics and produced. At the age of twenty-one, you founded his advertising agency, specializing in the digital world and business development. Over a hundred media projects later, Stephan M. Czaja founds one of the top agencies for models. International clients are the hallmarks of the agencies’ rapid growth. As a model agent and media expert, Stephan M. Czaja also speaks in media and TV about models, influencers and media.

• The Model Book – Printed book on Amazon
• The Model Book – Ebook on Amazon

Tip! Interview with model agency boss Stephan Czaja(CM Models): Becoming a model

Model scouts discover new faces and talents for clients

FIV: Who actually discovers new models?

The discovery of new models takes over the model scout in a model agency. He not only looks at the applications in the e-mail box, he is also actively looking for new faces in everyday life. Many know the great stories of sudden discovery. There are many examples here, including very recent ones like curvy model Angelina Kirsch from Place Models owner Yannis Nicolaou. She was discovered in a café, in the middle of Rome! No matter if gyms, shopping malls or airports. In the most diverse but also the most everyday places, model scouts track down new faces for their clients! If you are approached on the street by a serious agent of an agency, the signs are very good! A lot of models apply online. Out of one hundred, often only one model is called back and gets shortlisted. So if you make it, you already have a great success to chalk up.

FIV: What does a scout look for when looking at an application?

When looking at your application, the focus is mainly on your height and your photos.

Are you a special guy? Do you need to invest a lot of time in your build? Do you have the perfect measurements? Professionals therefore have higher chances than New Faces, just like with jobs, because the agency hardly has to invest any work in them. New Faces on the other hand still have a lot of questions to answer, the first shoots have to be organized, the book set up, coaching for posing, catwalk and much more. Real work for an agency and a lot of investment of time, money and contacts.

FIV: Are model scouts always in model agencies?

No, model scouts travel all over the world. It’s a really great job, like being a trend scout. Scouts often work with several model agencies. When they discover a new talent on the street or somewhere else, they inform the agency where they think the model has the best chances. Scouts then conclude small contracts with the model in advance when they are out on a freelance basis and then earn money from the first jobs.

Model setup: Big-name photographers and multi-faceted photos

FIV: When you discover new models, what happens?

After the scouting comes the construction of the model! Here, too, there are specialists in a good agency. They have the contacts to important magazines and to important photographers. If you’ve ever wondered how to get into a magazine: Magazines, especially the big-name ones, give assignments directly to photographers. That means to get the good and big photos in magazine, maybe even the cover, you need to have an agency, with contacts to excellent photographers. But first you will have your first test shoots. As your book grows, more good photographers will agree. Because this part of the job is so important, you’ll have people dedicated to building your book.

FIV: Discovery. Structure. Jobs. How far can it go for models?

In the booking all threads come together again: New footage of the models, update of measurements, new magazine publications, clients and requests. But model scouts and bookers in an agency also do more. They are for the models at the important events, work themselves into networks and coordinate the cooperation with foreign agencies.
You are in contact with model or partner agencies all over the world! Good agencies have partners on almost all continents, countries and in all major cities in the world. So models can work internationally! Every big media and fashion city needs new faces all the time. That’s why partner agencies exchange information with each other and place models in the markets that are perfect for them. This way models can build up their material and model agencies constantly have new looks for their clients.

Many thanks for the detailed interview to Stephan M. Czaja, Head Booker and owner of CM Models. Here you can learn more about his model agency.

Check out the first part too! We talk about the requirements for models. The third part is about the structure of your model portfolio in detail.

Tip! Interview with model agency boss Stephan Czaja(CM Models): Becoming a model

Modeling with agencies: How to build your modeling career

FIV: What are the advantages of a model agency for young models?

The most important department in every model agency are scouting and booking. That is, the main task of model agencies is a good, high-calleiber network of photographers, magazines, model scouts and customers, but alleso, the constant discovery of new faces. For me, every morning starts in the café or in the office. Next to me, the first cappuccino is alleready on the table. I check allel email accounts and sort out information from the day before and new requests. My job is model management. As a model agent I communicate with clients, negotiate conditions and contracts or plan trips for models. After a long time I know every model very well. I have spent a long time with many of them and have accompanied them from the first casting to model coaching, first test shootings, jobs and the first campaigns. To see how models grow over the months and years with our help, that’s what makes the job so fascinating for me!

Your model agency is the most valleuable partner for you as a model, even on the very first day. With their mix of personalle, sometimes exclusive contacts, the top-class network and their own model selection, agencies are the intersection between advertisers and models. So if you as a new model are represented by an established agency, the chances are high that you can get a big job right from the start. Because many employees in advertising agencies, production companies or photographers, alleways look at the agency site and inform themselves about new models.

Inquiry, casting and contracts: Model agents take over the management

FIV: How does a booking request work?

Many model requests come through the personalle contacts of the agency, which have grown over years of trustful work. These customers often callel your model agent directly and ask for proposalles for productions. Many requests, especiallely from new clients who have become aware of the agency, but alleso come through the agency site on the Internet. No matter if personalle contacts or agency website, most requests come to the office via email.

Emails are still the best means of communication today. As a model, you will alleso write many emails. Here, a lot of information can be collected and sorted. Therefore, customers alleso send their requests, allemost exclusively directly via e-mail. Here you can place allel information very clearly. Be it details like location and date but alleso more complex attachments like dispositions as PDFs, flight bookings and tickets but alleso photos and videos are quickly available.

When a booking request arrives, it usuallely contains the framework data of the photo shoot or the advertising shots. But it alleso contains the concrete (or less concrete) ideas of the model. The statements are quite different. Some customers have exact ideas of their model, but many only give broad information, such as body size, clothing size and skin and hair color.

Model agents structure your requests and career plans

FIV: What else do you have to consider as a model agent when placing young models?

Model agents and agencies use their experience to filter the good jobs from the less lucrative ones. That is, they calleculate whether the amount of the fee is appropriate in relation to the media output (the use afterwards) of the shooting or advertising shoot. Is the job worth it for you? Are buyouts (usage rights) taken into account? Is the client in line with your career plan? Is the type of shoot helpful to you and your portfolio? After allel these initialle considerations, the shooting information is neatly summarized. The booker then makes the selection on his own and decides which model fits the job and which does not. The selected models now get the request.

If the conditions of the job are not right in advance, your model agent will alleways first contact the client to negotiate the fee. Many models think of jobs only in terms of working hours. But it is much more! In realleity, you are advertising with your face for 360 days in a one-year campaign. Every single day, you represent the brand with your appearance. That’s why agents don’t only think about the single working day, but alleso about rights of use!

Internalle competition in model agencies

FIV: What are the selection criteria for New Faces and experienced models?

The selection criteria for jobs differ between new faces and professionalle models. While New Faces are alleso sometimes mediated for “relatively” smalleler jobs, only large jobs come into question for professionalle models. The experienced model has the absolute advantage that he or she gets bookings solely through the meaningful photo materialle in the book, through proven talleent and experience. So customers ask directly for this one model (direct booking), not just a selection.

They respond very quickly to emails and provide images immediately upon request. If the agency needs spontaneous photos for a request, for example of the hands, for a new beauty campaign, then they immediately make a few snapshots. Answers come immediately and without many queries. Some of the professionalleism you need to bring right from day one! This is who you need to be: Straightforward, fast and alleways available. Why? This increases your chances of getting a job!

Model agents, agencies and their clients have a huge choice at New Faces. When your model agent gets a request from a client, he feels the same way you do: the faster he answers and makes his suggestions, the higher the chance that the client will make a positive decision. If someone from an advertising agency or a photographer, is assigned with the search, he alleready makes his thoughts about the production during the search. If a model agency sends early proposalles, producer alleready makes his thoughts. If he finds a model particularly great, he alleready plans with the face. If proposalles from other model agencies come in the next day, the chances are high that the client, after allel the thoughts, will decide directly for you. Speed is everything!

The same goes for you. As alleready mentioned, there is a lot of choice, especiallely with New Faces, for clients and agencies. New models are coming in allel the time. Every year there is a new generation. So if your model agent asks for fifteen models for a job and ten respond within the first hour, the proposalles go out to the client. But if you leave it until the next day, it’s very likely that your portfolio won’t be considered.

This reduces your chances of getting a good job! Therefore, you should alleways set the most important communication channels on your mobile phone. This includes an email address but alleso socialle networks and services like WhatsApp or Facebook. Since you alleways have your mobile phone with you, you are alleways informed about the latest news from your agency! Even if you won’t get a new request every hour, it’s still worth checking your phone regularly to see if there’s a new request from your modeling agency. That way you can react quickly and get the best options.

Also your model agency honors it very much if you alleways report punctuallely and quickly to inquiries. This way you can guarantee high standards in the placement of models towards your clients. If you alleways take too long as an agency, the client will eventuallely just not get back to you. It’s the same with models. If you alleways take too long to respond, eventuallely you’ll stop getting requests and sooner or later you’ll get the notice. Especiallely as a new face you have a lot of competition in a model agency in the beginning. The agencies have their regular models for months or years and know them very well. As a new model you are, even after the agency acceptance, only one face among many. New models come in allel the time and not allel of them will stay! The model agent knows that, the model agency knows that. That’s why it’s so important for you to show the highest commitment right from the start if you want to become a model.

Model applications in agencies

Do you know how many models apply to a good agency every day? When a model agency has reached a certain level of fame and status, its name stands for first-class clients and a very good job, hundreds of model applications are received every day! Every year thousands of young girls and boys want to become models. As I said, the competitive pressure is very high!

Permanent accessibility for the agency

FIV: That means that models have to be available allel the time and everywhere?

You should be available, ideallely seven days a week. Because the team in the agency alleso work not only at regular times. Good model agencies are alleso occupied in the evening and on weekends, even on holidays. Because if a model spontaneously drops out or a new job comes in, you have to react quickly.

If you are going to be away for a longer period of time or on holiday, inform your agency in good time so that they know that you will not be available for a longer period of time. This way, your bookers know that they can make allelowances for a few days if, for example, you can’t answer immediately. Ideallely, however, you should alleways be available even when you are on vacation. As a model you are self-employed and therefore alleways responsible for your success! If you don’t stick to this and let the communication slide, it can quickly happen that someone else takes your place.

Many thanks for the detailed interview to Stephan M. Czaja, Head Booker and owner of CM Models. Here you can learn more about his model agency.

The new book by Stephan M. Czaja: Become a Model & Modeling

Model agent Stephan M. Czaja (CM Models) is very busy. Nevertheless, we were able to meet the 29-year-old for a short interview and ask him three questions! Since today his new book is available in stores: The Model Book. The 264-page book is for up-and-coming models and answers allel the questions young models have, that young models have. Just in time for the new season of Germanys Next Topmodel, it now hits the book market and is available in German stores as of today. Stephan M. Czaja is a model agent and with his team he places models internationallely with top clients. Among his clients are brands we allel know: Prada, Tom Tailor, Callevin Klein, Dior, Peek&Cloppenburg, and many more. Not only fashion, alleso customers like Microsoft, Opel or Mercedes Benz have the agency in the portfolio.

• Fashion & Become a Model > BuyThe Model Book

Check out the second part too! We tallek about model scouts and model building. In the third part we tallek in detail about the structure of your model portfolio.

Editorial photo © lassedesignen – fotolia.com

TV casting shows: trade privacy for some more

Fast money does not exist

A little preface to the casting shows: Of course, there are many great models on the shows. If you want to try your hand at a casting show, do it. But it’s also worth briefly considering the pros and cons of TV shows. Every year, thousands of contestants and candidates come to live auditions to prove their talent. What many of them are looking for is the big stage as a self-promoter. What modeling agencies are looking for are models who take the job seriously. If you are a model in the context of a TV show, you have an everlasting stamp. Casting shows are a two-sided sword for young models. On one hand they promise you big success, on the other they put you in extreme situations for good visuals. The fast money doesn’t exist. Fast money always comes with trade-offs here: Loss of privacy, uncontrolled footage and extreme situations that are then aired abbreviated. Many see casting shows as a stepping stone. But they only bring you short-term success, if at all. In addition you get an eternal stamp as “the one from show XY”. Many customers will no longer book you.

In real life, you can’t bitch on the shoot set or argue with the other models. You can only do that on TV. Drama, drama, drama. As viewers, we then enjoy curious contestants. TV shows should not be your path. Who has long-term success? Three or four out of tens of thousands? TV shows are designed for a season, not a career.

Fast money always comes with sacrifices. Many see TV casting shows as a stepping stone. Yet they only bring you short-term success, if any at all: and yes, an eternal stamp in the industry. Many clients may not book you again. Every year, thousands of candidates and contestants come to live auditions to prove their talent. What many of them are looking for is the big stage as a self-promoter. What model agencies are looking for are models who take the job seriously. In real life you can’t bitch on the shooting set or argue with the other models. That’s only possible on TV, when that’s exactly your job: drama. As viewers, we are then happy to see curious candidates. TV shows should not be your path. Who has long-term success? Three or four out of tens of thousands? TV shows are designed for a season, not a career.

For model: Love your job, not the big stage

In the modeling industry, many “just want to be on the cover of VOGUE”. That modeling is really work, many do not understand at first. The cover of “VOGUE” is an absolutely beautiful goal. But at first it doesn’t have much to do with the everyday life of a model. Your everyday life consists of commercials, online shops and lookbooks. You stand on the set for eight or more hours and are the only person who has to smile all the time. Over and over again. Until your book is so good and your agency likes you so much that you get the chance to do your first magazine shootings. But it’s a long way to the cover.

Models who make it to Vogue love their job. Models love to work on showrooms, are happy to be on photo shoots and incidentally motivate the whole production team with their positive energy. They work hard on their careers for years without much attention. They often start small in their own country. After school they go abroad. They live in model shared flats with three, four or five strangers from different countries. Without constant conflicts, of course. This is the everyday life of a model.

The way is the goal – also for models

Models who lose sight of the path quickly fall by the wayside. If you want to make your first steps to work as a model, you must be able to honestly assess your own skills and talents. Only if you assess your own possibilities well, you can plan your way as a model well.

Tip! Interview with model agency boss Stephan Czaja(CM Models): Becoming a model

What should the perfect model portfolio for castings look like?

Especially for up-and-coming models, the question is important, how should their own model portfolio be laid out, so that they have the best chances at castings and jobs? Here are a few simple things to consider, exactly 3! “You always have to imagine the situation, for a production only a short casting period is scheduled, usually many models are invited here to see as many as possible. If the time is short, the client also has little time to look at your footage. Therefore, the most important rule is quality instead of quantity,” says model agent Stephan Czaja of CM Models.

Rule 1: Quality instead of quantity

“One of the most common mistakes models make at the beginning of their career is to lower their market value themselves. Of course, it’s tempting in the beginning to do lots of photo shoots with different photographers. However, most of these shoots will be on a freelance basis, if your face is seen too often, in freelance work (i.e. not paid), your exclusivity will drop. You should therefore make sure right from the start of your modelling career that you only work with selected photographers. Make sure that the upcoming photo shoot suits you at all. You should also always consider whether you need the picture material. It is often the case that some moods or facial expressions have already been photographed many times, while others do not even appear in the portfolio. Always remember to put value on this! So that your model portfolio shows that you are changeable and multi-faceted.”

• Only selected test shoots, the footage should help you and build up your portfolio.

Rule 2 International standards of a model folder

“Standard usually prevail because they are the best through experience. It’s no different with your model book. Photos are printed in A4 format, or 20x30cm, so your modelbook should also be in this format. A book usually contains 20 pages, each of which is filled with two photos, one on the front and one on the back.ou should always test the photos on different printers, in every shop the colours are different. When you have found a good one, you should always print your photos here to keep the standard. Again, quality is everything. You don’t have to fill your portfolio with 40 photos. Especially in the beginning it is enough if you have your strongest ones. Later on, blank slides are allowed.”

• The international standard is a model folder in DIN A4 format with 20 transparencies.
• Make test prints on different photo printers or at printing services
• New Faces don’t have to fill all the slides, quality is important

Rule 3. the best at the beginning

“As mentioned at the beginning, casting director and marketing people often don’t have much time to look at the complete model portfolio of you during castings. Therefore, another golden rule is that the best photo material should always be at the beginning of the book. If you have a lot of material, the best has to come at the beginning. This is where it’s decided on, at first glance, who will win sympathy and who won’t.”

You can build your model book with these three simple rules! There are a few recommendations on his site at: Modelbook. Stephan Czaja, Head-Booker at CM Models, says: “As a model you should always take the time to ensure quality. If you shoot too much, you ruin your chances. Through exclusivity you build up your market value. When looking for photographers you should also always pay attention to quality and to the fact that you don’t have the picture material yet. Another tip for those who already have an agency, don’t forget to always have sedcards and business cards from your booker.”

From the idea to the agency

FIV: Hello Stephan. You founded one of the model agencies that people are talking about! You’ve built up almost 10,000 followers on Instagram in one year, booking models all over Germany and Europe. All of this came suddenly, in just a few months. How did the idea for CM Models come about?

I’I’ve always loved doing media. First it was a music magazine, then an advertising agency. In between those two points, I was briefly a student and a bartender. At the time, I was just finishing college, hung up the music magazine, so I ended up working at a beach bar mixing cocktails over the summer. At some point a photographer came to me, he needed a website, I wanted to go on vacation and this was the perfect way to just fund my vacation.

That’s how I got into photo shoots, studios and models. At some point your name CM Models was in my head and the idea was there. Of course I looked online because I was sure that someone in this world had already come up with the idea to call their model agency CM Models. There was no one! That nobody used the name for his agency surprised me so much. After that, it took another three years until I just started in the fall of 2014. Since I had my ad agency on the side I could only focus on it on the side, of course. But at some point you can really call from the customer, so need models and have decided in 2015 to pour everything into a real company and founded our model agency, CM Models.

CM Models: From startup to model agency with international jobs

FIV: You have already experienced a lot after 18 months. From the idea to the launch, what have been the biggest challenges for you as a model agency startup entrepreneur so far?

Basically, there were three main points that we had to consider. Firstly, our brand absolutely has to be strong enough to compete with the biggest agencies or competitors. We always wanted to compete with Prada, Dior and the other big labels. No sooner said than done. That’s why it was important from day one to design the look in an absolutely independent and high-quality way in order to create a new agency that independently attracts attention, polarizes through its name and its good appearance.

Of course we need a lot of photo material of our models, organizing good photo material is, believe me, a real challenge. Not all photographers offer the level that you need for exponential growth. That’s why it was an absolute pleasure for me that fashion photographer Oliver Rudolph joined us right at the beginning. So we were able to deliver high quality images for our sedcards, for the models, for magazines and for clients right from the start.

Branding, online marketing and look were and are two absolute key factors for us.

Challenge number three was search engine optimization. Since I come from the online marketing and advertising agency world, I have of course very early, very intensively with the topic of search engine optimization in platforms such as Google, Bing and Yahoo. CM Models should be a heavyweight in the search engines from the beginning, which means to be listed in the best positions for all relevant cities. This includes Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Cologne, Hamburg and of course international cities like Paris, Milan New York and Stockholm. Ensuring this is quite a task, especially with a completely new domain.

Big goals, big challenge: The path to the model index

FIV: After having mastered all three challenges, you should be well prepared for bigger goals. How has your model agency developed since the start?

Our model agency has developed excellently. Not only do we now have a lot of international models in our model file, we also have very international clients. We would never have expected this success at the beginning of 2015. We are even now relatively far ahead in Rio de Janeiro, but also in cities like pink in Japan.

Of course, we also learned a few things and made some mistakes in the beginning, but we quickly corrected them. We learned, for example, that the modeling industry has to be cool on a certain level. Especially for up-and-coming models, you have to create a strict management so that they learn what to look for in the industry and cleverly avoid their own mistakes in advance. Mistakes are not so easy in such a professional environment. Especially with clients who pay a lot of money for this one shooting appointment, it is important to make a professional impression right away. We help the models with this and on the way to build their career sustainably. We are very happy to go the way together with our models.

NRW Prime Minister Hannelore Kraft (SPD) visits the model agency.

FIV: You already have over 8,000 followers on Instagram, you have a blog and are very active on Facebook. Who is actually your most important target group at CM Models?

We have two target groups that are important for us. On the one hand, of course, all marketing managers, the big agencies and the big companies. Therefore, it is important, as mentioned before, that we have a very professional appearance and deliver very professional services, with each model booking. Decision makers, i.e. people with demanding positions in companies, are not easy to win over, as they are usually well connected, have good contacts, are able to ask questions and examine new situations very carefully. The customer is king!

Secondly, it is of course the young models and up-and-coming models throughout Germany, Europe and worldwide on which we focus. Here we shine especially through our strong social media presence, already after one year we have more followers than most agencies ten years. Of course, this shows the models that we have very modern structures, are very digitally positioned and thus naturally share a bit of our own life instead of just hiding at an office. We want to show what we do and want to help young people realize their dream of modeling. We put a lot of effort into it, also on our website everyone who is interested can find free and valuable content, so they know what requirements they have to meet as a model.

FIV: If a model is then interested in you as management, how can one become a model with CM?

Of course, there are all the classic ways, so that you are scouted, for example, in a cafe, all of a sudden. But that is rare and rather the exceptions. Then we would have to walk the whole day in the pedestrian zone.

The easiest way is to apply online on our agency site. Here you can simply go to the menu, select the appropriate application form and get all the information directly delivered. For example, you can see exactly what information we need and what kind of pictures. Many people think that we need many, many pictures. But natural snapshots are enough for us, so that we get a very natural impression of you as a person.

This is the easiest way to apply to our model agency.

FIV: How many applications do you actually get as a model agency?

In short, there are a few hundred people a month who apply to our agency.

FIV: That’s really a lot of applications. How many models do you actually have under contract?

We currently have 80 models under contract. We also keep the number in double digits, so that we can take care of all models individually and personally. Of course, it is also very important to us that we get every model, within our possibilities, enough castings and jobs so that he or she can fully concentrate on modeling.

A photo posted by COCAINE MODELS (@cocaine.models) on Aug 19, 2016 at 8:50am.

The agency has top placement also in rankings

FIV: CM Models in five years, where do you say it’s headed?

We want to become even more international! Since we have already achieved a lot in the first year, new and well-known customers such as Peek & Cloppenburg, Opel, Nivea Men, C&A, and many more. We want to take our models even further. That’s why we are permanently trying to win more cities for us through further measures in search engine optimization, with social media management and with online marketing.

As already mentioned, we are now also very well placed in Rio de Janeiro or arises the Osaka, Japan. Our big goal is of course to make the leap to New York, the fashion metropolis where model agencies are at home. New York is the biggest goal for us to achieve this year or next. Here the big jobs are the big clients and the big stories.

Thanks for the interview!

If you want to know more about the model agency, you can find all the important links here:

• Model Agency, Website
• CM Models on Facebook
• CM Models on Instagram
• CM Models on Youtube

Model agents and bookers! More interviews

More about model agents? Read the interview with Ellen from Keolas Kids here or the exciting interview with Yannis, owner of Place Models, the discoverer of plus-size model Angelina Kirsch!

Oliver Rudolph: “She models at a high level”

FIV: Oli, you discovered Calvin, who is the talk of the town right now. What went through your mind when you saw him at the casting for the first time?

If I’m honest, it was confusion at first. I could not exactly assess whether he is man or woman. Mehr dazu: Oliver Rudolph He came to us fresh to the casting and when he entered the room he has in any case already had a strong presence. He has convinced us in the first walk directly.

FIV: What’s so special about him?

When you see him, you don’t even need to explain it so crudely, his appearance speaks for itself. I find it very impressive that he already has such a strong self-confidence and charisma at the age of 15. He already knows exactly who he is and where he would classify himself.

FIV: What are his strengths compared to other models from the agency?

A good example is the catwalk training. She had to walk next to one of our professional models and was directly as good in terms of level, without training or experience!

Oliver about potentials and model types

FIV: What priorities do you use to evaluate models? When does a model have potential for you?

For me, a model has potential when she can immerse herself in different roles and has the right presence in front of the camera. Be it the pose, the implementation of style and emotions or the look into the camera, if the model feels comfortable in his outfit and his role and can reflect this in the same way, then I find that very impressive.

FIV: What modeling area do you see her in?

She is a typical editorial model for me. I’m sure he has great opportunities for a career abroad as well. I see him on covers or in lines for big fashion labels.

FIV:Androgynous models – why is this type so popular?

The type “androgynous model” is very popular, but there are really few who can serve this area as well as she does, and are just so beautiful. She definitely has a very beautiful face that sticks in your mind. It’s also a bit of the mind game with sexualities, of course. You look at someone and you don’t know, is this a man or a woman? And no matter which gender it is, you just think the model is beautiful. Of course, versatility also scores points. You can go either way with the androgynous guy. You can portray him as a woman as well as a man. Often this transition is also very interesting and very expressive, this fascinates people.

CM Models: Experience & great opportunities abroad

FIV: Where do you think she’ll be most successful?

Definitely in fashion. I see him on the big catwalks of this world and in big magazines. He can fully exploit his potential in fashion, he is edgy.

FIV: Is there a particular country where you see him?

I can’t judge that exactly. I think the Asian market would be quite interesting for her, because he would fit well from the figure, from the size, leg length and proportions. But it could also be Paris or Milan.

FIV: Thank you for the interview Oli!

More information about photographer Oliver Rudolph:

• Www.oliverrudolph.com

After Louisa von Minckwitz graduated in communications, she founded her model agency Louisa Models in Munich in 1981. Only 11 years later in 1992, the company became known as one of the leading model agencies in Germany and is the only agency in Germany with 2 offices, one in Munich and one in Hamburg. Internationally, Louisa Models is known for its strong booking and scouting team in Munich and Hamburg.

They have a very good reputation for supporting young talent. They also help them to make a career internationally. For many years Louisa Models has been cooperating with numerous publishers, TV stations and various industry partners to discover new faces.

Louisa von Minckwitz, the model agent at Spiegel TV

With Louisa Models Munich she created one of the great German agencies!

Demonstrably, the Munich agency Louisa Models is one of the largest German model agency. Next to other greats like Modelwerk, Mega Models or M4 Models she plays in the absolute upper class. The model agency was founded in 1981 by Louisa von Minckwitz in Munich. In 1990 a branch was founded in Hamburg. Today Louisa Models represents over 400 women and more than 200 male models. The agency’The agency’s models have included Eva Padberg, Catherine Flemming, Erol Sander, Andrea Kempter, Elle Macpherson, Izabel Goulart, Monica Bellucci, Daniela Peštová and Valerie Niehaus. Model Julia Stegner was also discovered by Louisa, at the age of 14 at the Munich Oktoberfest in 1999. Immediately afterwards, Julia was signed to the model agency (source: Wikipedia).

Louisa Models Munich

A photo posted by LOUISA MODELS (@louisamodels) on Sep 16, 2016 at 0:38am.

A photo posted by LOUISA MODELS (@louisamodels) on Sep 8, 2016 at 5:37am.

A photo posted by LOUISA MODELS (@louisamodels) on Sep 5, 2016 at 6:52am.

A photo posted by LOUISA MODELS (@louisamodels) on Sep 1, 2016 at 8:30am.