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

Model coach: Training with a model professional

Lutz Marquardt has been a professional male model, musician, actor and model coach for over 25 years – the perfect contact person for you and your modeling career. A gifted coach, who approaches the models openly and funny and tries to ease the tense atmosphere. Exclusively for CM Models, he works with the girls for a whole day. In advance we were allowed to have a short talk with him and ask some questions:
I love to improve people and to make them happy and to give them something to take with them on their way, social intelligence – inner joy – charisma are things that the youth of today needs more than ever.

How important are modelcoachings for beginners?

Model coaching as such does not really exist. It is important if you want to achieve success quickly, to educate yourself further, to draw knowledge from your experience. I would have wished that there had been such coaching in my early days.

What do you have to be able to do as a model?

At the beginning the question is asked what you should be able to do as a model. The models answer briefly: Self-confidence, openness for new experiences, motivation, thoroughness and being able to sell yourself. But with Oliver Rudolph and Lutz Marquardt we learn that there are many more points a model should stick to.

Model photographer: fashion & advertising photography

Oliver Rudolph is a professional fashion and advertising photographer, accompanies the girls at CM Models as a scout and gives some tips for model coaching.

What belongs to the model to become a model?

The motivation of a model is the A&O in this industry. You don’t become a Heidi Klum or a Gigi Hadid overnight. You need a lot of patience and discipline – with yourself and the industry – to get closer to your dream. Communication with the agency is advisable. Your agency wants only the best for you and can only get you work and jobs if you are motivated and show initiative. They expect 100% from you and as soon as they notice that you are no longer actively involved as a model, they quickly lose interest and the cooperation becomes weaker. With shyness at shootings or castings, you take the interest of the employer. Your charisma is responsible for how often you are booked and how often you gain in success. Especially test shoots, as a beginner, are a perfect opportunity to train and learn how to deal with photographer, team etc. Models are often booked abroad depending on their success. Not every model has the prerequisites, but many have very good chances. As a young model, you should think about this important topic. To become better as a newface, modeling must be your number 1 priority. Training, studies and foreign countries are an important topic for the future, especially in young years. But as soon as you are registered in an agency, you should know that you have to give 100% in order to work for Burberry or Philip Plein later on.

Training & Tips: Become a model

Lutz Marquardt wants to show the most different girls, with different training units around posture, voice, looks and sportive units, how versatile you can present yourself as a model. Especially as a professional actor, Lutz Marquardt knows exactly how to stage his body energy. It starts with an introduction round for all participants. Each girl has to present her name, her age and a hobby to everybody. No matter if shy, crazy, open, sexy, loud or tough – Lutz Marquardt tests each model and tries to bring out different sides of the girls. Aura, arrogance, shyness or the look – something you always find to present yourself, you just have to find out what presents your strength.

Posture: Castings & Jobs

Posture works immediately. Especially for commercials or castings a certain acting talent is required. Your energy has to appeal 100% to you. Depending on the topic of the job – you have to be able to switch and be changeable. You should be able to handle your body and also dare to look ugly or ridiculous. At castings it is important to make contact in the round and force yourself to move your head and get out of yourself, so that only everyone can see that you are important. Everything else is uninteresting – the energy should go into you. Lutz Marquardt makes the girls dance or do sports. Thereby the girls become relaxed and present. Especially with different camera angles it is important to emphasize different body parts well. For a close-up, for example, it depends on the head position. As soon as your chin is higher, it looks more arrogant. Feet and hands make the room bigger and involve everyone.

Voice: Commercials & Castings

As soon as your voice is clear and loud, you appear confident. So you can make the room big and fill it with your presence. For example, shy models can show self-confidence with a loud voice, although their posture may be less advantageous.

Look: Posing and acting

In everyday life you can practice different looks. Eyes play an important role and present yourself in the way you want to present yourself when you make eye contact with the person opposite you. Sexy, shy, attractive, interested – no matter which emotion you want or should present – there is much more to the eyes than you think.

Become a model: Posing tricks

Photography & Posing

Photography is part of the models’ everyday life – with every click of the camera, you should be able to change the pose. The photographer assumes that the models know how to deal with gestures and facial expressions. The couch as a shooting location – Lutz gives instructions how the girls should pose. Whether alone, in pairs or in a larger group. The girls have to manage to pose with the keyword of Lutz. A special flair is created as soon as you invent a story for the shooting, which makes it easier for you to show the different poses.

Speciality in posing

In-between – the movement or talking while posing, brings the photographer a lot of material. Everyone knows the typical poses, but it becomes more individual as soon as you start acting while taking pictures. It is said that 98% of in-between poses are useless, but the 2% of the photos become perfect footage for the photographer. During a longer shoot, models often get empty eyes. No matter which pose, the eyes always look the same. The trick is to look at the ground every second time you look at the camera, to change your view to camera every time you look up. A picture often becomes exciting – as soon as the golden section exists. As soon as the pose is no longer stiff and straight – but becomes softer by coordinating legs or hands or looks differently than usual – you create an extravagant shooting!

Present fashion at the shooting

Fashion shootings are not directly about the models, but about the product, such as a bag, jacket or cap. Especially experienced models know how to put the product in the right light. Often designer pieces have logos or bags or other patches that the photographer should photograph. Catalogues or online shops usually show pictures in portrait format. Therefore the space is limited during the shooting. Practice – Your mirror in the room is your best friend. You can practice poses in front of the mirror. The more posings you like, the better you become in front of the photographer.  Especially test shoots are great for practicing and trying out which pose is best.

Model training: Catwalk exercises & tips for beginners

Catwalk

Conquer the catwalks! Running elegantly is not so easy. Especially if you wear 12cm high heels. What looks relaxed and well-organized for a spectator at a fashion show is more stressful behind the scenes than you might think.

Choreography

Mostly there are choreographers for fashion shows who explain the process on the catwalk to the models, down to the exact second. Especially at high fashion shows the models do not just wear one outfit on the catwalk. Backstage the models have to change their clothes and adjust to a new choreography.

Basic rules

• The right shoulder crosses the right shoulder of the other model – whether the catwalk is narrow or wide
• The first step on the catwalk is always on the right
• on dismounting, first put the right foot back
• A lunge at the front of the catwalk tip is advantageous, because the press photographers need time to take a picture of you and the outfit
• Tact is very important in this business, otherwise it can happen that the choreography is changed and that everyone gets out of step

Where can a model still work?

It doesn’t mean that you have to look good as a model only in photos. If you want to work on an international level, you will also be booked for high fashion shows, road shows, trade shows or showroom presentations.

3 important tips for beginners

• Love yourself #1
• Work on your charisma #2
• Be with everything you do right now #3

With Lutz Marquardt you choose the ideal partner, who can provide you with the necessary know-how and support. No matter if it’s a catwalk or presenting clothes and accessories, he always has some good tips for you.

• Instagram: Shawn Johnson East 
• Youtube: Shawn Johnson East 
• Blog: Shawn Johnson East 

Youtuber, Influencer, Athlete and future mother

FIV: Hi Shawn! With more than 1.7 million followers on Instagram, you are part of the most appreciate influencer from Nashville. When did you start blogging and what central message do you hope to impact to followers through your posts?

Shawn; I started blogging 3 years ago and have tried to focus on being as real and vulnerable as I can with my followers. I feel like we live in a world that only accepts perfection, Andrew and I are almost anti that, showing that life isn’t perfect but it can be beautiful in its own ways. I think overall, we do our best to project positivity in all of our posts.

FIV: As an American gymnast and the 2008 Olympic balance beam gold medalist, you are a successful and amazing athlete ! What have been your keys to success? What advices could you give to people who dream of making their dreams come true like you?

Shawn: I would say you have to fall in love with something in order to succeed. Falling in love with it means you accept all the challenges and sacrifices that come with it. As far as my keys to success, having fun and working hard have been rewarding to me. Always remember to have fun, always.

https://www.instagram.com/p/ByBt_64hrKa/

FIV: Youtube is one of your favourite playground. What are the biggest challenges of being a Youtuber?

Shawn: Some of the biggest challenges would be sharing your life with the world and still trying to save some of it for yourself. It’s tough to find that healthy balance of sharing the appropriate amount without giving everything away. On top of that, it’s difficult to maintain relevancy and continue making videos that our audience wants to watch!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvA4ghAOpc0

Beauty tips – The best products to get the perfect skin

FIV: You are used to work with beauty brands like Estee Lauder to get the perfect skin. Which products do you recommend?

Shawn: Although I love all of Estee Lauder’s products, the Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup has been one of my favorite foundations for a longtime! It’s full-coverage and lightweight so really makes my skin look amazing.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwxihyMB71x/

Sport training – Daily workout routine

FIV: One part of your instagram account and youtube channel is about sport training. What is a good daily workout routine for you?

Shawn: I’ve gotten into a routine where I try to workout at least 30 minutes a day. I find that doing High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) has been the most rewarding for my body. It helps relieve a lot of the aches and pains that come with pregnancy!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsYxOtJBfqO/

Love – How to make a couple last ?

FIV: You and your husband are so cute and beautiful! How did you meet each other? Do you have any advices on how to make a couple last?

Shawn: Andrew and I actually have a pretty crazy love story. Oddly enough, we met through Andrew’s bigger brother, Guy, who was an Olympic Cyclist. I met Guy at the London Olympics, where I spoke with him about considering to attend Vanderbilt, and he instantly thought to connect me with his younger brother, Andrew. It only took a few special dates for me to know that Andrew was the one for me. If you guys want more details about our love story, check out our Youtube page – we actually did an entire series about our relationship! The advice Andrew and I always give is know that a relationship is not not easy and you have to be committed to working at it. We do our best to show people that relationships aren’t perfect – that being said, if you’re willing to work hard and love that person and all of their flaws, that’s when a relationship truly grows.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwaP0GChxgS/

Pregnancy – How to prepare yourself for childbirth ?

FIV: Congratulations on your pregnancy! Do you realize that you are going to be a mother? How do you feel?

Shawn: Thank you!! I honestly still can’t believe it, it’s the biggest miracle and Andrew and I couldn’t be more excited to meet baby East.

FIV: On your Youtube channel, you have shared many videos about your pregnancy. As an athlete, what is your daily sport routine to prepare yourself for childbirth?

Shawn: I just try to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I’m focusing on eating, sleeping, and working out a healthy amount. I try not be too intense with my workouts, but getting at least 30 minutes in each day is my goal. I want to keep my muscles fresh throughout this pregnancy. The healthier I keep my body, the healthier the childbirth will be!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLIjWetSyUk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVPxzgkWPwc

• Instagram: Shawn Johnson East 
• Youtube: Shawn Johnson East 
• Blog: Shawn Johnson East