In answer to your question, generally speaking, teen models need little experience to become a model.

At such a young age and high school to accommodate, teens have had very little time to gain a lot of work in the modelling industry. However, it doesn’t mean that you can’t be proactive and seek experience to better your chances.

Experts in the field are willing to take more of a chance on a 12-16 year old as they can mould them into a successful model appreciating their youth.

How to Get into Modelling With No Experience

Volunteer Your Time

Have Supportive Parents

Build a Portfolio of Photos

Apply to Modelling Agencies

Don’t Give Up

Take Modelling Classes

Teen Modelling Requirements

How to Get into Modelling with No Experience

Although industry professionals expect teens to be inexperienced, opportunities will not come knocking at your door without hard work from yourself and your family members. There are a few things that you can do to get noticed by model scouts and agents.

Volunteer Your Time

At this early stage in your modelling career, you may have to seek work experience where you are not paid initially. These photoshoots allow for you to practice your skill set such as posing, working with new people or feeling comfortable in front of a camera.

Only accept voluntary work that will benefit your portfolio or that you enjoy. If you are not impressed with the images after a shoot do not work with that photographer again. It has to be mutually beneficial for the sake of your career.

Also, do not be taken advantage of. If you have gained enough experience feel as though you should now be paid for your time, raise the issue. There is only so long you can work for free.

Have Supportive Parents

Your parents or legal guardian have a very big role to play in your modelling success. It takes a lot of time out of their weekly schedule to accompany you to photoshoots. Modelling jobs are most likely to be based in London, which travelling to is different for each teen and parent depending on where you live. It could mean a bus across the city or a long train ride/flight, plus an overnight stay. As your career evolves, you may be asked to travel as far as Paris, New York or Los Angeles.

Your mum and dad needs to be on board to dedicate their time as the logistics of family life and modelling commitments needs to be organised.

Build a Portfolio of Photos

Impress modelling agencies with a portfolio that showcases your talent. Even though a reputable agency will not expect for young models to have much experience, if any at all, showing your dedication to your career and model potential will help you get signed.

Always hire a professional photographer to capture the shots as amateur images will go against you. Ensure that you get full-length photographs as well as head shots to add variety to your portfolio. These images can also be used alongside your contact information for your business cards/comp card too. UK Models offer successful candidates the chance to be a fashion model for the day, which results in a set of high quality images to create your portfolio.

Apply to Modelling Agencies

After hearing many stories where young people are spotted as festivals, shopping malls and airports, it would be wrong to wait for the opportunity to come to you. Yes, these stories are true yet doesn’t happen to a majority of runway models we see at fashion week. They’ve approached modelling agencies to make their dream of becoming a professional model come true.

Therefore, apply to as many trustworthy agencies as possible in the hope to keep your options open. Attend open calls or fill out application forms found on their website to be in with a chance. Your lack of experience will not go against you. If they like your look, you’re in.

Don’t Give Up

Be prepared to not receive responses from agencies. They are extremely busy with a lot of applications to get through. However, do not give up on your dream. The modelling industry is tough to break and only the persistent succeed.

Rejection is hard to take, especially at such a young age. Make sure that you give yourself time to work through your feelings and talk to someone close to you. Pick yourself back up and continue working towards your goal.

Take Modelling Classes

If you would like some help with posing and your model walk, modelling classes may be worthwhile looking into. Make sure they are legit and worth their money. It is a great way to learn the tricks of the industry and feel confident when approaching agencies and casting calls. It is a great way to make a good first impression and to stand out from rivals.

We offer a model bootcamp, which is a two-day course where you can spend the day with our professionals to help you gain experience in all aspects of modelling from catwalk classes to sessions with make-up artists and fashion stylists.

Teen Modelling Requirements

Confidence in Front of the Camera

This is essential. The majority of your job as a model will involve posing in front of a camera. Therefore, you must feel 100% comfortable and confident. This is where experience will help you feel more at home when a camera is flashing at you.

Possess the Ability to Follow Direction

During a photoshoot or fashion show you will be given directions from the organisers, photographers and designers, make sure you listen to every instruction and try your best to deliver.

Sociable with New People

There will be a lot of people that you do not know at modelling gigs. It is important that you make a good first impression by being friendly and positive. It can feel nerve-wracking and intimidating at first working with many individuals that you don’t know but with time you will get used to meeting new people.

Committed in Becoming a Model

As mentioned earlier, it is not an easy industry to break into and only those who are truly committed will succeed. Make sure you really want to become a model as you will need to work hard and be serious about your career.