Strike a Pose

Walking the walk to be a model

by PRAVAT J GURUNG

FROM ISSUE # 156 (December 2008) | IN THIS ISSUE
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Doesn't getting paid to look good sound too good to be true? But it gets better - add to that, instant fame and the chance to be the trendsetter as a part of the profession, modeling sounds like a lucrative career. But if the recent Bollywood release Fashion is anything to go by, modeling is so much more than what meets the eye or should we say the camera. WAVE, this month, talks about the right way to strut your stuff and get noticed in the world of modeling, a fun and fast growing career option for the young. So how does one become a model? What is modeling? How many different types of modeling are out there? Who should you get in touch? Can you pay your bills with this career? We talked with the professionals and got the information right out hot.

What does it take?
"Having the right move and the perfect body isn't that important when it comes to being a model," revealed Dipankar Kasaju, MD and Fashion Photographer of cybersansar.com. You can be a model if you've got the right expression on print advertisements and even some selected television ads. Though there are different types of modeling out there, in terms of Nepal, print, television ads and ramp modeling are the only three that are popular. "Ramp modeling is seasonal and very rare in Nepal, while television ads are expensive to produce, hence they aren't that many. So the most profitable area in modeling would be in print," expressed Dipankar, "we haven't reached that stage yet where we can pay ramp models like in the international arena." But its not just the face that the clients are after. If you have perfect hands or feet or neck, for that matter, one can even model for adverts and this is called body parts modeling. So perfecting your walk or just being thin aren't the only requirements for being a model. But if it's the ramp where you see your dreams becoming a reality, then one needs to have a figure and walk like that of Naomi Campbell's. But like every other profession modeling too is all about having the right attitude and understanding the requirement of the assignment and being able to project it. It's a profession that puts a chameleon to shame as it requires one to easily fit into the look of the copywriter in terms of advertisement and designers. A good understanding of your face and body and knowing your 'angle' too makes life easy for a model. 

Consequences of being a model?
There are no consequences as such of being a model. In the past, modeling wasn't taken as a profession and when people started taking it up as their daily bread and butter, people took it the wrong way. It still is seen that way by some but the majority, definitely, has a different perspective now. "Some girls come without their parent's permission and some depart from their family to be in this field," said Jayan Subba of The Ramp, a renowned modeling agency. "It all depends on how the model will act, confront and portray him/her self in front of the media. There are no consequences as such after being a model but if you don't like people looking or staring at you when you walk, shop or eat in a restaurant then that's definitely a consequence," believed Dipankar. It puts you in the public's eye and in some ways you will be looked up to and act in a certain way.

Get it rolling:
Ok, you know what it takes to be a model and the consequences too. Now you got to know how to get started. The first and the only stop is at the studio of a good fashion photographer to make a portfolio. This is important because you'll have to send this to the modeling agencies. Taking pictures for your portfolio can cost you anywhere from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 20,000 if done lavishly. "It's really not important to spend that much money on your portfolio. All the ad agencies need to see is whether you're fit or not for an ad and that's about it. So this can be done within a few thousand rupees," said Dipankar. Adding onto that he said that cybersansar.com was previously established also to give a platform to upcoming models and has launched modelsansar.com for aspiring models. "One can upload photos and details there."If an ad agency wants a model, they go through our website or come to us and we provide them the details and we don't even seek for commission," said a smiling Dipankar. So while you get a portfolio ready, you can also upload the same on modelsansar.com and try your luck. Some of the happening modeling agencies in Kathmandu to get in touch with and send your portfolios would be The Ramp, Dreams Unlimited and Galaxy Entertainment.

Though modeling, as a profession, hasn't come to its climax yet, the payroll in the field is not so impressive but definitely will get better in the next few years if it grows in the same rate as it is now. All in all, modeling is a safe bet and can be as profitable as any other career. But remember you are your own master and how you deal with the fame or the lack of it should be all thought of before entering the field which our society still raises eyebrows at.