In modeling, you don’t just step in front of a camera and succeed. You should make sure that you’re running a smooth, well-oiled machine outside of the shoot. Agencies and clients are going to expect to see you looking camera-ready. So, it’s smart to build some simple daily habits across three key areas: skincare, fitness, and wardrobe. The good news is that none of these need to break the bank or consume a large chunk of your day.
Skincare: Keeping It Simple Pays Off
Healthy-looking skin photographs well under any lighting conditions. Your skin can also help you to stand out on a set. No one needs a million skin care products. Here’s a simple 3-step routine morning, night, and weekly while using minimal products.
In the Morning: 1) Clean your face with a gentle cleanser. 2) Moisturize with a lightweight moisturizer that has a decent SPF. And, nothing else. The SPF is a must. Sun damage is a total nightmare to fix, and it can be a real pain to retouch.
In the Evening: 1) Clean your face with the same gentle cleanser to get rid of all the grime built up through the day. 2) Then, apply a moisturizer. Step 0, before 1 and 2: If you were wearing makeup, then grab a micellar water, a skincare product that uses micelles (tiny cleansing molecules) to gently cleanse skin and remove makeup, or an oil-based cleanser first to break it down before washing your face.
Each Week: 1) Exfoliate. Give your skin a good exfoliation once or twice a week to stop it from looking dull and to prevent clogged pores. No need for harsh scrubs, just a chemical exfoliant with alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) or beta-hydroxy acids (BHA) will do the trick.
Ditch those 10-step skincare routines. They aren’t worth the hassle and you’ll be overthinking things. Hydrate daily. Drink plenty of water and get a good night’s sleep because no product is going to replace either of these two health factors.
Fitness: Staying Lean with Functional, Realistic Workouts
As a model, you most likely want to look toned and fit. Bulky muscle is just not going to work for you here. Your fitness plan should really be all about building up endurance and keeping your flexibility intact. This isn’t about turning up to the gym and transforming into a completely different person, a muscley beefcake.
Cardio: Aim for 3 or 4 times a week and do some moderate exercise. You can choose to walk, cycle, swim, or dance. Or, you could mix it up a bit. Depending on how your day is going, you might want to keep things at about 30 minutes at a time when you don’t want to over do it. This will keep your energy levels up & keep you looking camera-ready without totally draining yourself for the day.
Strength: Your strength workouts should be about 2 to 3 times a week using light weights or bodyweight exercises. You can exercise your full body by focusing on big movements like squats, lunges, planks, and push-ups. Choosing these exercises should help to give you that long lean look that models are known for. Pilates and yoga are also great because they work on your core and help you stand up straight.
Posture: It’s one of those things that often gets overlooked. Try standing up a bit straighter with your shoulders back, your head held high, and your weight spread evenly between both feet. It makes you look loads more confident in my opinion, and it’s a lot easier to get a good photo of you from any angle when you’ve got your posture right.
For goodness’ sake, don’t try to drop significant weight or do some crazy diet before a photo shoot. Agencies want to see the real you, not some airbrushed version that’s got nothing to do with you. The real version is probably the version of you they booked in the first place.
Wardrobe: Getting the basics right
You don’t need a lot of clothes to cover the basics. The clothes you should have are just a few decent basics that will serve you well for castings, test shoots, and all those dreaded “go-sees” – which are just meetings where a model shows up to meet a potential client, like a photographer, an agent, or a client. These clothes will make a good impression in the hopes of getting some future work. You don’t need a ton of designer labels.
The wardrobe essentials to own:
2 good-quality T-shirts one in black & one in white. Get one that fits well.
A good pair of dark jeans. Get skinny jeans or straight-leg jeans.
Neutral heels. Get nude or black heels, about 3 to 4 inches high.
Some comfy flats for walking between appointments.
A simple blazer or jacket.
A few decent pairs of underwear that disappear under your clothes.
Maintenance habits: Keep your casting wardrobe clean, iron it, and make sure that it’s ready to go at a moment’s notice. Check for any loose threads, stains, or pilling on a weekly basis. You should want to keep things looking sharp.
Fit is everything: I would take a pair of cheap clothes that fit perfectly over some expensive ones that don’t fit well. Fit clothes are much more flattering through the camera lens. And, they let you show off your body.
Putting it all together
That’s really all it takes: 15 minutes a day on skincare, 30-45 minutes on exercise, and a few minutes making sure you’ve got a good outfit for the next day. It’s not a huge ask, and it will make a big difference in the long run. You’ll be camera-ready without stressing about last-minute prep before a casting.
