When we hear the word male model we tend to think of attractive young men with chiseled abs and hair that would put a lion’s mane to shame. But the truth is that male models, just like regular men, come in all shapes and sizes. And yes, we’re talking about older men too.
In fact, modelling agencies in Australia are experiencing a huge spike in demand for older male models as marketers look for the right men for ad campaigns targeting an older demographic.
And believe it or not, with demand at an all-time high, becoming an older male model isn’t quite as hard as you might think. Of course, we’re not saying it’s easy, but if you have a genuine interest in becoming one, then these tips will certainly put you on the right track.
Ask yourself this question
And that question is—do you really want to be an older male model?
You need to be honest with yourself as being a model is no walk in the park. Regardless of the demand for models, it takes time and effort to get your first gig.
You also need to be available to attend photo shoots at the drop of a hat. And more often than not, those shoots are held during office hours. If you already work full-time, then you need to be sure that your boss is understanding and supports your efforts to get into modelling. Otherwise, you may end up turning down gigs because you can’t get the time off work.
Get a good headshot
We can’t stress enough just how important it is to get a good headshot. Remember, that a casting director or photographer will choose models for a shoot based on their modelling portfolio, so it’s crucial that you have an excellent headshot that highlights your best features.
And no, a photo taken with your smartphone will not do no matter how great it might look. A casting director or photographer wants to see what you look like in a professional studio setting with the right lighting. Even if your friend or family member is a whizz with a camera, we still recommend that you hire a professional to take yours. This is because a photographer will know the best angle for your shot and will be able to help you edit and retouch your image to bring out your best features.
Learn how to pose
Okay, so everyone knows how to pose in front of a camera, right? Well, you wouldn’t be the first to think so, but when a photographer asks you to try something a little different to your go-to camera face, you’ll soon learn that there’s a lot more to posing than smiling.
Take a look at some older male models in ad campaigns and see the types of poses they use in front of the camera. Pick a few that you feel comfortable with and start practicing in front of a mirror.
We’re not going to lie; you’ll feel silly doing this at first, but you want to be able to drop in and out of poses without having to think too much about it so this is a necessary step.
You might even consider taking one or two modelling classes. These will help point you in the right direction and give you a little more confidence in your abilities when in front of the camera.
And that brings us to our next tip.
Get comfortable in front of a camera
Because once you land a role, there’s no time for bashfulness or awkwardness in front of the camera.
The simple fact is that a photographer won’t have the time nor the inclination to make you feel at ease in front of the camera so it’s your job to make sure that you’re camera-ready before you get to the studio.
A headshot or portfolio session is a good way to get some experience in front of a camera in a professional studio environment. That said, as you are paying for the session, you won’t have much time to set yourself at ease.
Ideally, you’ll ask a friend or family member to spend an hour or two with you taking photos as you practice your poses. Just be sure to remind them that this is the first step in your career so if they’re going to help, they’ll need to take it seriously and not make fun of you as you pose.
Join a reputable agency
While there’s nothing wrong with working alone and managing your own career, it’s a good idea to look for professional representation with a reputable agency.
There are many benefits to joining an agency, but the one that you should care most about is the fact that it will give you a much better chance at success. This is because photographers and casting directors often come straight to an agency to seek out modelling talent. In fact, a lot of modelling jobs don’t even get posted on jobs boards or casting portals at all.
But you can’t just sign with any agency, you need to find a reputable one. This means an agency that has a proven track record in the industry and that has worked with major brands and photographers. They should also have an application process that doesn’t just involve a phone call where you hand over your credit card details. Yes, as hard as it is to believe, there are a few such modelling agencies in Melbourne, Sydney, and across Australia.
Thankfully, here at Hunter Talent, we’re not like that at all—we just want to work with models that we feel have a genuine chance of making it in the industry. So if you aspire to become an older male model, get in touch with us or fill out our application form and we’ll see if we can help you take those first steps in your new career.
Good luck and just know that we’re rooting for you all the way.
