Model Kane Herald was personally chosen by artist, designer, and earth ambassador for Green Embassy Zuhal Kuvan-Mills to be an in-house model and the first male ambassador in Canada for her company’s bowtie and tie collections. Kane considers this his most significant accomplishment, among many others in his career in modeling.
Kane wants to see young models succeed in the industry, so he shares his thoughts and tips on surviving and making it big in the world of modeling.
“There is a lot of things to do before you become a model. The basic requirements are in terms of physical attributes, age, training, representation, photos, and multiple talents. And more importantly, good attitude, personality, and confidence,” shares Kane.
Kane explains that there are different categories or types of modeling: Editorial Fashion Model, Fashion Catalog Model, Runaway Model, Commercial Model, Print Model, Glamour Model, Promo Model/ Promotional Model, Catalog Model, Petite Model, Freelance Model, Fitness Model, Parts Model, Plus-Size Model, Art Model, Pinup Model, and ALT/ Alternative Model. He says that some models fit into one category, while others may fit into multiple.
Regardless of the category, an aspiring model must be a devoted follower of fashion, as Kane is.
“I am into it and very open to different trends for men, from high end fashion, street style to sports wear,” adds Kane.
Being fit and healthy is another non-negotiable. According to Kane, models must stay healthy by eating healthy and nutritious food, getting 6 to 8 hours of sleep every day, drinking 8 to 12 glasses of water every day, and working out/exercising regularly.
Because there are thousands of models to choose from, Kane says one should him/herself apart from the rest in any way possible, whether it be poses, a physical characteristic, personality, or whatever it is that can set them apart from the competition. Professionalism is a must.
“Male models should act professionally and maintain a professional attitude. Prepare for your photo shoots. Invest,” he says.
By investing, Kane means that there are items that a model will need to invest in to be successful. These include building up a good portfolio, having composite cards, and hiring professional photographers.
“Portfolios are necessary to show agencies and clients what you really must offer. These can be roughly $50 to $100 Canadian dollars. But if you could agree with photographers that it’s a give-and-take photoshoot, you could be a model for the photographer’s portfolio and at the same time he or she can do your photos and you can use it for your portfolios as a model. Composite cards are basically a model’s business card and these are left behind at castings/auditions for clients to remember you. Depending on how many you order, you can expect to pay roughly $100 to $200 for these. And what would a portfolio and comp cards be without strong photos to put on them? This one is truly important as the better photos you have, the better your portfolio and comp card will be. A professional photographer can cost anywhere from $300 to $1000, but think of this as an investment. A model can make lots of money from a few great shots. If you can swing it, pick a couple of great photographers, and set up a shoot with them. This will literally make you a better model by giving you legit experience and photos,” says Kane.
Modeling classes or workshops can help, too, but Kane says they can be expensive. He personally does not believe that they are completely necessary.
“If you have the money and want to learn everything now, then take the classes. Otherwise, save your money and use your connection from fashion and modeling to help you and mentor you. But, because of our technology now and social networks like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc., scouts usually look at your photos there, too,” says Kane. He believes that being yourself, confident, and positive will impress clients more.
“In the end, be confident and keep trying. Like any job, sometimes it just takes time to get to where you want to be,” he encourages aspiring models.
Modeling is not Kane’s full-time job, but if there are more opportunities and more designers and modeling agencies who want him to work with them, he might consider going full-time. He also wants to experience different types of modeling as he is exposed to Fitness, Runaway, and Editorial Fashion Modeling.
The fashion field is also a pathway to other careers, particularly in the entertainment industry and business. And this is what Kane is looking forward to, to be a successful businessman in five years’ time.
“Models become actors, open boutiques, start fashion labels, create their own brand. The world is at your feet once you become a model and even if you are not famous, there are job opportunities and career paths that you can take once your modeling jobs end or slow down. Modeling gives you the unique advantage of being at the pinnacle of the fashion evolutions and trends in society. You will be exposed to various new colors, trends, looks, styles and fabrics before anyone else, and you can start using to your advantage. If you are a model that loves fashion, you can branch off into running and organizing fashion shows and events. You can become a fashion coordinator or even a stylist for other people who need someone with an expert eye and knowledge of the latest fashions. You can use your photographic skills to teach others. You can hold your own modeling courses and classes on deportment to give young girls and guys more confidence. This can lead to plenty of work with agencies and even for fashion shows and designers,” suggests Kane.
He adds more insights, “If you become better known and want to really make an impact, you can open companies which will be a great investment. You can use your name for clothing brands, and other accessories and even for jewelry or perfume. Most experts in the manufacture of these items will be only too happy to have you as a partner because it will be great exposure for their products, and for you it will give you a simple, brilliant business that appeals to you. Once you have started in this industry you can opt to branch out into something else or keep modeling until your career ends. The life of a model is not a very long one, but it also depends on how well you age and how good your body looks. Once you get older you can also shift your modeling focus to part modeling where they usually require all ages for hands and feet, and there are some ad campaigns that look for older and more mature models for certain products.”
Kane is a respected model who is generous enough to share his experiences to help others. He describes himself as hardworking, optimistic, understanding, loving, and trustworthy. And these traits will all bring him to greater success, in modeling and in life.
