Is There an Industry Height Requirement for Modeling?

The question on the lips of any man or woman interested in entering the modeling industry: “Is there a height requirement for modeling?” It's commonly believed that a model must be of a certain height in order to get work as an agency model. And, in the case of fashion modeling, this is absolutely true.

Joyce Anderson, a fashion photographer in New York, explains the facts about becoming a model for all prospective models assembling their portfolio. In the fashion industry, models are much like mannequins in that they must be similar measurements in order to fit in the designer clothing that must be presented. While height requirements may vary slightly from agency to agency, a woman interested in fashion modeling must be 5'10” - 5'11” and her measurements must be 35-25-35.

However, fashion modeling is just one small fraction of the entire modeling market, so don't fret! Ladies with gorgeous features that do not quite reach the fashion modeling requirements can still find plenty of work in commercial modeling, which makes up 90% of the modeling industry. Commercial models come in all shapes and sizes, as the commercial market has countless niches for models to fill.

Instead of focusing solely on your height, consider your stand-out features and figure out how they can be applied to commercial modeling. Models with an exception smile can find great success modeling for toothpaste advertisements and, likewise, ladies with thick shining hair can model for shampoo ads. Even women with a corporate look can find their niche in modeling for lawyer and nurse advertisements. The market can become as specific as hand and foot modeling, which of course requires no height requirement.

At Joyce Anderson Photography, models interested in all aspects of the industry can have their portfolio developed by a professional fashion photographer in New York. From the editorial and glamor staple shots of fashion modeling to bubbly and athletic looks common to commercial, prospective models can get their edge in the industry with Joyce Anderson.