Fitness Modeling

When a Marine or soldier receives the coveted Medal of Honor, it is because he went “above and beyond the call of duty.” When someone goes to war, or to his or her job, certain things are expected, and more importantly required, of them to fulfill their job description. Only those who rise above the rest get noticed and move on to bigger and better things.

Modeling is no different; you must go above and beyond the call of duty to stand out in a sea of people waiting to capitalize on your laziness or lack of preparation. It stands to reason that you are expected to show up on time and in shape! Those are the tools of your trade and if you show up any other way, don’t expect to be asked to ever show up again.

What then can you do to earn respect beyond that of your peers? How can you leave an indelible print on the mind of the people who have the power to call you back for repeat work?

First of all, have your bag packed full of clothing changes that make you look awesome. Bright colors, excellent fitting clothing changes free of wrinkles and stains. You may laugh at this, but I guarantee every photographer has had models show up with attire that would befit a trip to the local thrift shop. Never arrive looking slovenly or as if you didn’t get enough sleep the night before, this will show up on the film like a big zit in the middle of your forehead.

Many aspiring models ask me if pursuing a career in fitness is worth the trouble. Truth be told, most people who work really hard to look good in front of the camera pay for marketing materials, like photos and comp cards, and pound the pavement for print and editorial gigs and don't make a lot of money. There's endless dieting, extra workouts, and all the time and money required to get yourself known. It's a lot to sacrifice for a few tear sheets.

There's also the longevity factor. I realized right around my 35th birthday that I couldn't model forever, and that's when I decided that I needed to broaden my horizons if I was going to make fitness a lifelong business instead of just a fun thing to do in my 20s and 30s.

Fitness is my passion, and in addition to modeling, I've made it a point of becoming an expert in exercise and nutrition. I use that expertise to train people, produce videos, and write articles like this one. I'm even working on completing my second book, Spiritually Fit.

I'm really excited about the new book. It focuses on the physical and spiritual aspects of who we are and maps out a complete program of nutrition, exercise and mental focus to help people achieve balance and use their God-given gifts to inspire others. I'm also excited about my new supplement line, which was born out of a desire to deliver high-quality, effective supplements that I could proudly put my name on.

In the past, I’ve written about how working pro bono (that means free of charge) can be a great way to enhance your resume and portfolio. Now it’s time to talk about getting money for your efforts.

Too often, fitness models sell themselves short by working for free when there’s money to be made. Of course, there are obligatory freebie jobs you’ll have to do to work your way up the ladder of fame, but there will come a time when you can ask—and expect—to be paid.

I may ruffle a few feathers among the photographers and publishers out there when I say that fitness models tend to get the short end of the stick, but I’m pretty sure most of them know exactly what I’m talking about. If I were a model in any other industry, I’d be pretty wealthy from the amount of exposure I’ve had over the years.

The fact is, fitness models are usually too eager to get exposure, money or not. I’ll admit to it—I caved in too easily in the beginning just to get my face on the cover of a magazine. I’m sure I’ll do it again at some point if the exposure can help promote my supplement line, my clothing line, or my books, but I won’t sell my soul to the devil just for the sake of being recognized, and neither should you.

Fitness magazine covers seem to be getting more racy each month, and many fitness models ask me if they really have to put themselves in compromising positions just to get a gig.
My advice is never pose for a photo that you’re personally uncomfortable with. I’ve done literally thousands of photo shoots, and if I’ve learned one thing it’s that the results of just a few hours of work will be around forever.

Before you say, “anything goes,” consider how you’ll feel about a photo in ten years. You can also try the family test before agreeing to a job: will your mother, father, children, siblings, or grandparents approve?

Different people have different moral standards, and just because one person is comfortable with something doesn’t mean that you have to be. In the world of fitness modeling, you can still find a lot of fun and fulfilling work that falls within your standard of decorum.

Sometimes you get to a shoot and everything starts out fine, but little by little you find yourself in less and less clothing. All of the sudden, you’re asked to put yourself in a compromising position with all your body parts exposed!

These three words have been the keys to my success in fitness modeling and television.. Being proactive, persistent, and pleasant is what sets working fitness models apart from people who have great physiques and beautiful faces but don’t get jobs in the industry. I’m going to show you how to put the “Three Ps” into practice to increase your odds of success.

Here’s a perfect example: I got a phone call from a friend who told me that a prominent fitness magazine was looking for a model for a video project. I was excited, and told my friend that I’d get my photo and résumé in the mail right away.

He suggested that I put on a tank top and shorts (something that showed off my physique) and drive two and a half hours to deliver my photo and résumé in person. My immediate thought was, “Wouldn’t it be easier to just mail the stinking things?” After all, it would save me five hours in the car, 20 dollars in gas, and potential embarrassment. He insisted that I should be proactive — and he was right!

There’s nothing more frustrating to parents than giving direction in life to children who think they know better. Aren’t they aware that we’ve “been there, done that”?! Caring parents use their own life experiences to help their children be the absolute best they can be, and it drives them crazy when their kids don’t appreciate it!

Fitness modeling is no different, and many new fitness models act like children when they refuse to take direction from photographers. Instead of learning and benefiting from a photographer’s experience, many new models waste their money on spec shoots or ruin their chances of ever being hired again by thinking that they know better. And then they go and blame the photographer!

In all my years as a fitness model, I’ve only had a handful of jobs come my way through a talent agency. This is mainly due to the fact that I had already made the necessary connections to begin with, in order to get work directly on my own. I met with several of the top freelance photographers when I didn’t have an agent representing me, and I was able to get my face and abs on the desks of art directors at major fitness magazines around the country without the services of an agent.

Now, I’m not suggesting that agencies are a bad idea, but it’s my opinion that they’re reactive rather than proactive. I’ve told you several times that you must be proactive in order to land the gigs. Let me explain.

Getting lean doesn’t have to turn you into a candidate for the Most Irritable Person On Earth award. Unless you’re preparing for the Mr. Olympia, it’s not worth it—or even necessary—to offend your friends and ruin relationships just to get a six pack.

Most people think that you have to put yourself through a torturous diet, kill yourself with endless workouts, or use the next magic supplement to get a shredded physique.

Actually, getting in top shape is more about consistency and attention to detail. Sure you’ve got to eat right and train smart, but you don’t have to go crazy in the process.

Being a fitness model involves more than having ripped abs and being able to flash those pearly whites. Sure you have to have a great body and a killer smile, but you also need to practice a repertoire of facial expressions to convey emotions that may be required of you during a shoot.

Most new models get their start on the pages inside the fitness magazines, which call for a lot more variety than the typical “all smiles” cover shot.

Think of the photos that would accompany articles like “How To Avoid Injury” or “Tired of the Same Old Food?” If you’re booked for a shot for an article like that, the photographer may want you to look like you’re in pain or like you’re bored beyond belief.

The other day, I was helping a photographer friend of mine shoot a new female model for an article about how conflicting information makes it hard to choose a training program. I suggested that a fun lead-in shot would be to show the model looking overwhelmed and confused. Not only would this be an interesting visual for the magazine, but it would also serve as a great tear sheet for the model’s portfolio.