The term “shoe model” is commonly used to describe a male or female who’s found success modeling shoes like high heels, cleats, flip-flops, loafers, boots, sandals, monk-straps.
The term is often used to describe how men/women star in the ads for the shoe companies’ products, which usually promotes their stores.
To be a true model, one must have the ability to walk for hours on end, look great in the shoes, and then be able to work with the shoes for many hours before leaving or getting bored.
This is the type of modeling that everyone should aspire to do.
Here are 10 ways to Become a Shoe Model
- You must love shoes
- Work on your feet and legs
- Pick a niche
- Be self-confident
- Create an eye-catching online profile for yourself
- Move with the latest trends
- Connect with a Modelling Agency
- Be Persistent
- Regular Practice is important
- Attend Modelling School
You must love shoes
It’s a common truth that you can’t show off what you don’t like. Modeling is beyond just showcasing fashion.
Successful models in the industry do modeling with enthusiasm and passion, they love what they do and not because of the pay.
Shoe modeling is a niche in the modeling industry and to become a model in this area, you need to be a lover of shoes; it’s design, quality, brand, color trends, and style.
A Podophobia can’t be a shoe model, as they have a phobia of exposure to feet. A shoe lover must keep up with popular brands and different types of styles. Must always be ready to try new brands.
Do not show off your love for a particular brand on your social media portfolio. Be neutral in your choice of brands and designers you post online.
If you are the type that loves shoes, trying out many of them for modeling will be fun. Clients need models that are driven by passion and not gain.
When you love shoes, it also boosts your confidence about modeling them.
Work on your feet and legs
Feet come in all different sizes and shapes. Some people are born with wide feet. To become a shoe model you need a slim foot, have a size 6B foot (or very close to it), toned, and clear skin.
Designers also prefer their models have a slim or large ankle depending on the shoe type. For instance, modeling for a sports brand, you need an athletic figure. This will require you as a model to take gym training exercises.
Also, you need to protect your feet from rashes, foot deformities, swelling, wider feet. Know your shoe size and regularly measure your foot size. Also, regularly shave leg hair And avoid injuries.
Learn how to perform great leg posture for photoshoots. Especially female models, learn how to work with shoes like high heels, wedges, Boot and flip flops with balance and confidence.
Train your legs to take different poses. Be physically fit, exercise your legs to have stamina. Shoes like these especially demand you have to stand and walk in them.
It won’t be funny when you are to try out a heel in an audition and you started staggering and falling.
Other ways to work on your leg and feet are:
- Pedicure
- Avoid deep injuries on the leg
- Avoid standing for a long time
- Stretch your legs often
Pick a Niche
There are different categories of shoes according to their usage and types; we have sports shoes, fashion shoes, dinner shoes, beach shoes, skating shoes, flat shoes, heels, trainers, and so on.
The shoe modeling industry is crowded but you can stand out by focusing on a particular type of shoe modeling.
For instance, if you pick sporting shoes as a niche, you only model shoes like trainers, sneakers, cleats (also known as soccer boots).
Picking a niche in shoe modeling will help you to and aim at brands and companies producing shoes in that area. It will also help you to concentrate on a particular line of interest.
It will help you to develop faster. For instance, if you focus on heels you learn faster and become professional in modeling heels.
Be Self-Confident
To be a shoe model you need to have self-confidence in yourself do not be anxious, nervous, and unsure of yourself in an industry that demands confidence.
Be prepared for interviews, meetings, and auditions. Be organized; an organized approach to your life and modeling career will allow you to be more confident in situations that naturally bring nerves and anxiety.
Have positive thoughts about yourself, avoid pessimistic feeling about your life, decisions, and activities that involves modeling.
Critics abound in the modeling industry, so, do not let it affect you, overlook them, and do not give a second thought to them.
When attending a photoshoot or meeting that induces nerves put on your favorite outfit and style your face and hair.
Entering an audition with a smiling, happy face will make you appear powerful rather than shy and meek.
Brands are looking for models who are confident and can sell a product convincingly.
If you’re not naturally confident, consider using one of the many self-help books or online motivation channels that can help you to build up self-confidence.
Create an eye-catching online profile for yourself
You need to create an online profile where you showcase what you have as a model. Social media is a good place to do this.
Post stunning pictures on Instagram to get followers and ensure to tag any designers who you are wearing and use relevant hashtags to get your photographs viewed by more people.
Creating an online portfolio will also help you in networking. Online portfolios such as Instagram pages, TikTok accounts can help you show your modeling skills to your followers and anyone visiting your wall.
An online portfolio can also attract modeling agencies to sign you up for auditions. You can link up with modeling sites through social media.
Your social media modeling posts and activities may give you an edge during cast selection and audition screenings.
Move with The Trend
To become a shoe model, you have to stay up with the latest trends and know what’s going on in the shoe industry. Trends are influenced by climate conditions; summer, spring, winter.
Celebrities, designers, and innovation also influence trends. Therefore as a modeling prospect, you have to move with fashion trends. Be current and flexible to changes and innovations.
You need to know about the latest designs of brands. For instance, Nike shoes have Air Force designers and Air Force 1 designers.
These designs changes and brings new innovative design not just knowing them you must also rock them. SSENSE’s sneakers help you to keep up with the latest trends in the world of sneakers.
Sign up for training courses on shoe modeling. Follow pages and accounts on shoe modeling on Instagram or Twitter to see the latest updates on shoe modeling. Keep tabs on your favorite shoe model.
Connect with a Modelling Agency
this is the simplest way for a beginner to search out work, even if it means giving away part of your earnings. These agencies help you to find modeling jobs and take some percentage from that job.
They are just the link between you and the company. There are many agencies in your locality and the city you reside in that you can approach. Agencies are working with high fashion firms while some are with a local firm.
As a beginner in the modeling profession, joining local fashion agencies near you is a good start. Most agencies are owned or run by formal models.
Also, renowned modeling agencies scout social media; particularly Instagram for potential models. Modeling agencies do search for unique, new, and fresh talents. However, be mindful to connect with agencies that are more relevant to shoe modeling to get the best mentoring and the best job.
One of the importance of modeling agency is that they help you get jobs, discuss the pay, gives you good representation, and help you to be professional.
You might be wondering, what and what are to be in your portfolio?
- Your height
- Shoe size
- Weight
- Skin color
- Age
Nice photo shots with different shoes or brands if you major in a niche, e.g Nike, Jordan, Puma, etc. You can also include a full-body shot with a focus on the leg part or from the waist down to the leg.
How to connect with modeling agencies:
- Attend fashion events, parties, exhibitions, and shows, these are the perfect time to network with some modeling agency.
- Meets with photographers, as they work with agencies and brands
- Visit Modeling Networking sites; you could meet some influential contacts that will be useful in your career.
- Follow modeling agencies online.
- Create an online modeling portfolio; Social media is an advisable platform to showcase your talent as a model. Instagram to be precise, is known for its high-quality image preferences compared to other platforms.
Therefore it has become a favorite place for models to showcase their talents and beauty. Consequently, most modeling agencies and the fashion industry scouts Instagram for potential models to hire.
Online portfolios such as websites and Instagram attract modeling agents for job consideration and partnership.
Be Persistent
Persistence is a trait every model must possess. It takes a lot of work and persistence to be a good model. Models experience rejections, criticisms, and disappointments.
Imagine, preparing for weeks for an audition and in the end, you were not selected for the job. Therefore not giving up is an attitude every successful possess.
There could also be times when opportunities don’t present themselves and models are rejected. you have got to develop tough skin, never to quit.
Persistence in modeling generally means looking beyond all odds; focusing on the goal, smile in the face of rejections. You have to try some activities again and again until you are perfect.
There may be times you won’t be paid for some work but you don’t feel discouraged.
Also, try to correct your mistakes after every rejection as this brings about improvements and perfections.
Therefore to be a shoe model you must be persistent in seeking opportunities that may launch you into the profession. Such opportunities are:
- Go for audition: register for many auditions as possible you never could know the lucky ones.
- Never get uninterested in updating your social media portfolio
- Apply for many auditions as possible
- Sign up with modeling agencies
- Never get bored with a regular body workout
Regular Practice
Just as the regular saying, practice makes perfect. If you wish to become a shoe model you should practice always; learn how to pose with your feet, find out how to face the camera correctly. Beyond just positioning, your feet must sell the shoe.
How do I mean by that? Your feet evoke feelings that will make target customers want to shop for the shoe. Also, how you stand and pose in these shoes will affect how good the photo looks.
Most companies or brands don’t need a newbie model as they believe they lack enough experience for the task. That’s why you should practice often to master the art of modeling.
When you are perfect at your practice, it would be easy to convince your agent, and the brand company that you simply are capable, to take the work.
Regular Practice also will boost your confidence as you’ll make lots of mistakes and errors during practice. However, you get to form corrections before interviews and auditions.
Shoes like heals, flip-flops, boots, would require enough practice to square and go in these shoes.
For example, ladies who don’t seem to be accustomed to wearing heels and sandals need practice and excellent their walking and pose in them before the audition.
There’s no excuse as “I am not accustomed to it”. It is required of you, as a shoe model to be able to run any shoe during the audition, except you have a niche.
You should also practice with the camera. Learn how to take self-shots, pose and make a shot video for your online portfolio.
Attend Modeling School
Modeling school is not a must; you don’t necessarily have to attend modeling school to be a model. But modeling Schools are good for starting your career as a model.
There’s nothing bad in enrolling in a modeling course to understand the fundamentals of modeling. the most purpose of modeling schools and taking modeling courses is to assist you to be professional.
Shoe modeling may be a course in modeling school. it’ll facilitate your want to satisfy new folks that have identical interests as yours. Also, modeling schools bring about a network circle among student models.
Modeling school sometimes serves as a linking bridge between big fashion firms, agents, and potential models. It helps build models into professionals.
It adds experience and certification to your portfolio. It creates a network circle among student models
Modeling school will teach you important things within the modeling industry, such as:
- Shoe modeling; basics, intermediate to professional
- Videoshoot or photoshoots; a way to pose, positioning, how to use the camera
- The business side of the industry i.e. Contracts, pay, etc., auditions, model bags, portfolios, exposure to shoes.
- Nutrition, fitness, and a positive body image
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