Become a model... official MoneySavingExpert.com ...

[MSE Lawrence]

This is a special discussion as part of the

Boost Your Income

article, all about

Life modelling

which is part of the Work, work, work section

Please feel free to add your comments, suggestions or questions

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[teedy23]

Is there some kind of directory for this, or would you just to down to your local art school/ college. Would be good if anyone knew of a website where artists or schools advertised

[superscaper]

Don't think this is for us self-conscious uglies then.

[supersaver123]

There are a few websites you can join if you want to be a life model. "Register of artists' models" is quite well known. Good if yo live in or near London. Otherwise just ring up colleges or art centres. Once you're in somewhere your details get circulated between artists so work builds up.
Looks are not important. just the ability to hold a pose. Can be hard work but is a good opportunity to just let your mind go blank and relax.

[LizD]

Originally Posted by superscaper

Don't think this is for us self-conscious uglies then.

Actually, 'uglies' are more interesting and challenging to draw, (speaking as an ex-art student!), than a so-called 'perfect' person!

Anyway, don't you know beauty is the eye of the beholder?

[Badger_Lady]

Yeah - my ex did this for ages, found a classified in the local paper (well, I found it for him!). Good money, gentle work... and he was pretty ugly :-D

[starla]

Try contacting local art colleges and art societies and looking in the windows of art shops, especially around the beginning of term times. Make sure you check out the rates on offer before you accept any work as they vary greatly from place to place.

When working, negotiate regular breaks and take a warn dressing gown. Life modelling can be very cold and quite painfull staying in the same position. I used to find music helped the time pass quicker.

[camper_1982]

How much do they pay you for getting your kit off?

[eyelinerprincess]

OH did it for local college and got paid £20/hour

[asea]

Would you ever get a picture of yourself? (i'd prefer that to the money!)

[jarrod1]

i could model balaclava's

[marksta]

I am very interested in doing this as I work as a computer technician for a local college and I know that they do life drawing classes.

However my biggest concern is a rather embarrasing one and is holding me back from applying; what happens if I suddenly start...errr...."standing to attention" as it were? I can't imagine it happening but you never know with these things and most men would agree with me it can happen at any time without warning!!

The last thing I want is to be carted off by the police whilst they try to revive 3 elderly ladies who have keeled over with shock.

Still interested in doing it though as it seems quite easy money.

[FrugalFriend]

I used to go to life drawing classes, models need to:

* be able to stand still in one pose for long periods, (10-20 mins or longer)
* be able to stick the cold/draughts (you're nude, everyone else has clothes on)
* able to be completely relaxed and comfortable naked in front of a group of strangers, all of whom will be looking at every part of you more or less constantly.

I suggest going to a few life drawing classes to see how it's done. It doesn't matter if you're brutal at drawing or uninterested, pretend you are! Practice your poses at home first in front of partner, or mirror. Most important is you need to keep still; fidgeting, moving, shivering or shaking are all absolute no, no's!! Guaranteed to get on the nerves of art students and artists.

[smalltowngirl2010]

Hi all.

I'm aberdeenshire and Is interested in taking up modelling. Not the ones you see in the Sunday paper (haha) but I would love to be drawn or painted by students or early learners. It's something I've been keen on for a while but didn't know who or what to turn to. Luckily I got introduced to this site. And I tell ya it's really worth looking at.

I would not mind if it was at Uni/College or any outside classes. I'm not experienced in this role but I believe there is something special about me.

The problem is I live in a town and there is not much information about it.

Any help out there?
x

[cally6008]

smalltowngirl - get in touch with local unis, local college, adult education centres etc, get asking about, be proactive and go looking for the information you want

[smalltowngirl2010]

Thank you for that. I will go look after the new year. I will check with my local library too.

If there is any part of aberdeenshire you know of that does this, please let me know.

Happy New year, Hope it's a good one!!

[WolfSong2000]

smaltowngirl - you could try robert Gordon University or the local college...pretty sure the former runs an art course as I was toying with the idea of doing a Fine Art Postgrad there, and the latter has a lot of courses going on, so am presuming there's an art course...if you google them you'll probs find contact details .

Hope this helps!

Oh - while I'm thinking about it, Aberdeen Uni did (not sure if it's still around) have an art society, but I think the pay would be low, if offered at all. No idea on that one, I'm afraid...

[Dizzie77]

Just did a quick search and found this -
http://www.abcol.ac.uk/courses/part-...?course_id=728

Contact details on there for the tutor too....!
Perhaps if they already have their models sorted, the tutor might be able to put you in touch with other classes?

Good Luck - it is very liberating...!!

[bluphoto7]

On a somewhat connected note, especially if you struggle to hold a pose for more than a few seconds, then there's a great demand for models to pose (both male and female, clothed and unclothed) for photographic enthusiasts.

Clothed normally gets you some really good images of yourself, though little to no money, but nude will earn you some decent cash, and abstracts, for example, can be very attractive, as well as anonymous!

Choose your photographers and ask for references and some examples of recent work first, of course, to establish that the photographer is above board, though most are, and that the photographers style and ability meets your expectations.

I've been shooting fine-art nudes (among other subjects) for the last five years and rates of pay can vary from £20 for a half day, up to £200 or more for a full day.

If you go to a professional studio for a portrait, then the images you get could cost you £100's, and may simply be "another transaction" to the photographer.
By working with an enthusiast you have a much better chance that the images are every bit as important to the photographer as they are to you.

No photographer wants to show his model in a poor light, so this is also a great way to get some beautiful portraits of yourself, as well as boost your self-confidence.

Check out sites like modelmayhem, purestorm or visit a local camera club.

Guy - Aberdeenshire.

[mateypeeps]

http://www.modelmayhem.com/

http://www.purestorm.com/

Just to help speed up going to the sites mentioned above.