People ask me this all the time and the answer is not as simple as it seems! The strange thing about the best photographic models is that most of them do not look in real life like the public conception of a model. Most people have this vision of a contestant in a beauty pagent which typifies the public image of a photomodel, it is true that many visually attaractive girls sometimes with the aid of theatrical makeup and "Shopping Mall" hair also model, but I am talking about qualities that contribute to a talent that is photographic modelling which some girls instinctively have and other attractive women will never grasp.
A true phtographic model is someone who is naturally at ease with their body and makes movement look effortless, this is why so many trained dancers, gymnasts and girls who use their bodies physically for work each day make the art of posing in front of the camera look so easy, add to this a good figure, slim - not thin, but with shape, a defined waist is more important for glamour that a bottom or bust as a model who can move can create a great deal of shape as long as she has a waist to create the "Golden Mean" that is Hips, Waist & Bust. Of course it goes without saying that all the above attributes are important but of most importance for a good model is a face that can convey emotion to the camera and which the camera "likes" that certain special rapport which is also intuitive and can not easily be taught. How many times have you seen a model portfolio where the locations, styling and photography are great but you could paste the models head from one shot and put it on any of the others in the portfolio and it would look the same, a fixed expression when the model is the one element not contributing to the mood of the shot, she is just a passenger or a shapley clotheshorse!
Being a good model as in all professions is not easy and is a learning curve as in any other creative field, you lear from experience and mistakes. I remember some time ago a well known swimwear and figure model who decided to move behind the camera and become a photographer before gravity took it toll on her amazing physique told me that the crulest thing about modeling is that you are at your best as far as experience and professionlism goes just when it is time to get out of the buisness! She did go on to say also that one good reason for retiring is when you realise that you are older than the photographer and in some cases have more technical experience than the people that you are working with and know how to solve the photographic problems that they can not
On location the shere physical demands on a model can be hard particularly when the location is remote and creature comforts become sparse! In some parts of the World heat, humidity, cold and local food and insects all contrive to make a models job even more difficult since thay have to put on makeup and look good whereas the photographer can look wrecked behind the camera and nobody cares.
At the end of the day it really is "horses for courses" models come in all shapes and sizes with different attitudes to work some girls like working within the time frames and comfort of a studio while others love travel adventure and can handle a certain amount of discomfort and deprivation of essentials like an internet connection or a good signal on their cellphone!
