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Does a model's height really matter to you?
DJTalStudios wrote: Correction, Stallone and Arnold are both taller than 5-7, 5-10 and 6.0 respectively... Jan 23 06 11:27 pm Link Nerlande wrote: Though this made me laugh, I think I vomited at the same time! Jan 23 06 11:29 pm Link DigitalCMH wrote: Did it make you vomit because you were eating a sandwich with Mayo??? Jan 23 06 11:31 pm Link Patrick Walberg wrote: Depends on what the "print work" is... Jan 24 06 12:04 am Link Jan 24 06 12:17 am Link raveneyes wrote: Pretty good guesses, but not perfect. Andrea is barely 5' tall. Kay Li you got pretty close, she is 4' 11". My point is that we can shoot models to look taller or shorter and that it is not important what their height is at all. I would rather work with models in the 5' 2" to 5' 7" range than those 5' 8" or taller. But that's just me ... I also am not in the fashion traditional industry either. Jan 24 06 03:35 am Link whew...I was getting worried its been like two days and no thread about height requirements. lol  Jan 24 06 04:12 am Link Glamour, porn, fetish, and import modeling are not the only markets for shorter models. There are many commercial/advertisement work where the height is not an issue. In fact, most car companies prefer to use shorter-yet-proportionale models in their ads because it makes the car roomier. Most Shoe advertisements & catalog seek girls that are shorter because they prefer size 6.0 shoes, and most tall models have bigger feet than that. If you are advertising a toothpaste... you need good teeth, not tall bones. If you are advertising a Cell phone... you need models that can the consumers can associate too, not necessarily tall models. If you are advertising a cosmetic line... the beautiful face is obviously more important than height. And, commercial advertisement is where the money is for modeling, unless you are a supermodel making millions on runway and editorial. Most tall agency models do not make so much money doing runway anyway. The first and foremost question is whether the model has something special about her that is marketable. Height is merely one common factor, not the only factor. Jan 24 06 04:15 am Link The problem with assuming that if one isn't fashion height, one may do commercial modeling, is that it's exactly what every other beautiful 5'8" pretty girl is thinking, and they're all competing against the 5'9" 22-year-old over-the-hill fashion models as well. There is a much better chance to work in commercial modeling if one looks like "Madge-the-waitress" than if one looks like an inch-short fashion model. -Don Jan 24 06 04:39 am Link D. Brian Nelson wrote: I can almost guarantee that if a model was really 5'8" to begin with, she could easily gain another inch by good posture, chiropractic, stretching/lengthening exercises and striving for a healthy back/neck hehe. That's probably more worthwhile and healthy than stressing over their 1 inch difference and flooding the commercial market while smoking cigarettes, enforcing radical diets and having dark circles around the eyes from too much partying and drugs... (NOT to say that all models wanting to do fashion is that way) Jan 24 06 05:01 am Link This weekend, when I was shooting in Ohio, I worked with one model who is 4' 10" tall and another who is 5' 10" tall, and 4 others in between.  I don't have any issues with the height of the ladies...Jan 24 06 07:59 am Link My how this thread has meandered... Here's the real deal on height. At the 'net level it doesn't seem to matter. The objectives are not based on client demand. On the street level it does, but not because of the reasons most have written. Yes, height has become a staple for fashion, as designers at the couture level use models that cross over to runway and build for tall models as the clothes appear with greater strength on those with a long legged stride. However, couture and runway are small portions of the modeling industry. The real reason is because the predominance of modeling is commercial print. Models are often paired with men and a 5'4 model with a 5'11 male looks odd, out of proportion. Agencies by design need to limit their rosters to keep everyone working. They build that roster so that models can cross over if called upon for fashion or commercial print, hence those 5'8 and above can be placed in a wider variety of campaigns. As Sascha pointed out, there are "parts" models where height has no requirement and also shorter models can be called upon for certain commercial product lines. She mentioned cars; furniture is also another example. Those campaigns are exceptions and that is also the word to describe street-level agencies taking those on less than 5'7 (also the common size for petite). Non-agency level modeling does not have the stringent requirement because the demand to meet client presentation is not as great a need. 'Net modeling, the adult industry and alternative(?) modeling are examples that come to mind. The thing that must be kept in mind is agencies add to the roster not based on how pretty one is at 5'3, nor how beautifully one photographs at 5'4; they add to the roster based on client demand. Their first and most often only thought is, "will clients accept the look and book this person so the agency can make money." Jan 24 06 08:54 am Link "Ah, hell....they're all about the same height when they're on their backs." - quote overheard long ago at fashion show. Jan 24 06 10:25 am Link I've seen so many fantastic models short and tall of all shapes. I'm 5'3 and I don't think that my height ruins anything. Sure I cant do mainstream fashion runway, but I dont want to so that doesnt matter. All you need to have is a good positive mental attitude, a beautiful face and body. Its all in how far you're willing to take it. The sky is the limit. Rose Noir Jan 24 06 10:33 am Link DaveL wrote: That's WAY too logical and sensible -- strike this post immediately! Jan 24 06 11:05 am Link Sascha wrote: Runway in NYC fetches no more than $750 per show, 7th on 6th put a cap on model fees years ago... As for editorial, the last time I shot an editorial for an Italian Magazine, the model got paid $100.00, and she was from Elite! As far as I can tell, editorials are for Exposure. The big money is with Advertising... Jan 24 06 04:49 pm Link I couldn't care less about height. Proper proportions and a great attitude are MUCH more important! Jan 24 06 04:54 pm Link SarahSVET wrote: We get new people every day, no worries. Jan 24 06 05:00 pm Link Hamza wrote: I think thats what its all about. If someone is proportioned right, you cant tell how short or tall they are. I think also, it depends on what you wear and the angle you take the pic. When I was a little leaner people thought I was taller then I actually was. Jan 24 06 05:02 pm Link Personally, I prefer models shorter than 5'9" - Any time I have to look up to a model, it makes me nervous.... That, and my neck gets a bit sore.... Also, It is harder to sneak in a good kiss on her ..... Or Um...... Nevermind... Nothing to see here..... Move along.... Move along.......... Jan 24 06 05:02 pm Link There are all different types of modeling to fit all different heights. It's important to realize early if you fit the "standard" for the modeling you are interested in. Someone 5'4" is wasting their time thinking they can walk runway. So, I think it would be smart for them to begin looking into other areas. Certainly keep modeling if that's what they want to do but just refocus. All IMO of course. Hell, what do I know? ;-D Jan 24 06 05:03 pm Link For my work I would generally prefer 5-3 and under or 5-11 and above. It's just the way I visualise things. However I dont turn people away if they are otherwise good for the job (I just stand closer/further away) Oddly enough I'm more fussy over shoe size. If you have small feet for your height then I'm more likely to choose you. Maybe I have a foot phobia? Terry (I'm gonna get hate mail from hobbits now) Jan 24 06 05:11 pm Link Actually, why does it matter what WE thinik at all? How many threads have I read that it isn't photographers who pay models it is clients who pay photographers/models. We can debate this all day, but what matters is that clients, in general, want taller models. There are a bizillion reasons, but with some exceptions, for most major fashion and commercial jobs, it is the client that makes the decisions not us. Are there shorter models with a great look? Of course. Are there shorter models that may make it? Sure a few. Are the agencies making any substantive change in what they are looking for? Nope, so this discussion is not really relevant to what is really happening. Jan 24 06 05:30 pm Link Since when have forum posts been relevant? Jan 24 06 05:33 pm Link Plus from a viewer's perspective looking up at the runway makes whoever is up there appear shorter.You can definitely tell if the model is short.The runway seems to make them look like someone bopped them on the head. Jan 24 06 07:11 pm Link I'm not a photog, but I still want to respond. Most photogs that I have worked with have not actually shot many tall models, unless "high fashion" is their thing. Standing at 6'2 I get fewer bookings than many females standing at 5'4 because they fit in print,on the internet,at car shows, and mostly anywhere else you place them. I guess it depends on the photog's niche. Jan 24 06 07:15 pm Link area291 wrote: Good point ... an agency will consider how a paired model couple will look. But also it is possible for a photographer to pose the couple in ways that the size difference will not be so noticeable. I have had many challenges with height differences in shooting weddings! Of course that is a different area of photography, but also consider that in the acting field, you find many leading men that are shorter than the actress paired off with them ... if they can deal with short people in the movie biz, so can we with photography! NitaCashmere wrote: That's a shame! Looking at your pictures, I don't think that should be a factor. I would not know how tall you are from seeing your pictures ... unless you pointed it out. Jan 24 06 07:34 pm Link I am a designer and manufacturer of clothing (I model on the side). I make all my samples in a size medium first, then, and only if I have market interest, I invest the time and money to grade the patterns to other sizes. Therefore, I would rather find models that will fit my prototypes vs. spending extra cash to create special sizes to fit the models. (If Kate Moss calls and want's to do TFP, I will make an exception). Height is not always as important as measurements (My size medium usually runs 34-38/27-30/36-38). Tall models are good because it makes the model look more fit with size medium measurements. - Remember the average medium size in America is really quite big compared to ideal "model" sizes. The reason I don't prototype small sizes is that I do not like to grade up too many sizes, nor do I get a good idea of what my designs might look on normal people. (My fit models are average height) Most other designers work the same way. Jan 24 06 08:08 pm Link Hamza wrote: exactly : ) Jan 24 06 08:12 pm Link |
