One of the questions I get asked all the time is, "I've always wanted to model... but where do I even start?"
Maybe you've dreamed about seeing yourself in a magazine. Maybe you love fashion. Maybe someone has told you for years that you should model. Or maybe you simply want to challenge yourself and try something completely outside your comfort zone.
The truth? Every single model started somewhere.
There isn't a secret club you have to be invited into, and you definitely don't have to move to Los Angeles or New York before you can begin. Right here in Sacramento, there are opportunities for commercial, editorial, lifestyle, fitness and fashion models. Whether you're in Roseville, Folsom, Elk Grove, Davis, Granite Bay or anywhere else in Northern California, there are brands, agencies and photographers looking for fresh faces.
You just need to know how the industry works and how to present yourself professionally.
As a Sacramento editorial photographer, I've photographed everyone from first-time models building their very first portfolio to experienced creatives who simply wanted to refresh their work. One of my favorite things about editorial photography is helping people discover a side of themselves they've never seen before.
And one thing I've learned is this:
Confidence doesn't come before you start. It comes because you start.
So let's talk about how to actually get into modeling.
First Things First... What Kind of Model Do You Want to Be?
When most people picture a model, they're imagining someone walking a runway in Paris.
While that's certainly one path, it's actually a tiny slice of the modeling world.
There are models booking campaigns for clothing brands, skincare companies, athletic wear, colleges, hospitals, local businesses, tourism campaigns, magazines and so much more. Commercial and lifestyle modeling especially have become incredibly diverse, and brands are looking for people who feel authentic, relatable and memorable.
That's why I always tell aspiring models not to ask, "Am I pretty enough?"
Instead, ask yourself:
"What stories do I want to help tell?"
Your personality, your energy and the way you connect with the camera matter just as much as your appearance.
You Don't Need a Huge Portfolio to Get Started
This is probably the biggest misconception I hear.
People think they need hundreds of professional images before anyone will take them seriously.
You don't.
You need the right images.
There are two kinds of photos you'll hear agencies talk about: digitals and portfolio images.
Digitals are simple, natural photographs that show agencies exactly what you look like today. Think minimal makeup, simple clothing and good natural light.
Your portfolio is different.
That's where your creativity gets to shine.
It's where you show that you can move, create emotion, tell stories and transform depending on the concept. This is where editorial photography becomes incredibly valuable because you're not just proving what you look like, you're showing what you're capable of creating in front of the camera.
And honestly? That's my favorite part.
Watching someone come in feeling nervous and leave realizing, "Wait... I can actually do this."
That's why I love photographing aspiring models. It's never just about creating beautiful images. It's about helping someone discover confidence they didn't know they had.