Can You Make a Career Out of Instagram Modelling?

The Instagram model is a recent phenomenon. Social media has allowed thousands of people to bypass conventional methods of finding success and fame. Instead, these people have worked hard to self-market themselves and create careers on Instagram. 

It does take a bit of luck, being in the right place at the right time, and determination to succeed on social media – especially now that it is so competitive. But there is lots of money to be made for the few who make it to the big leagues. 

Read on to find out what you need to know to become an Instagram model. 

What is an Instagram Model/Influencer?

An Instagram model, also known sometimes as an influencer, is a person who models and shares these modelling photos on the social media app Instagram. These photos can be self-taken, or they can be taken by professional photographers. Many beginner Instagram models and influencers have a friend or family member take their photos for them.

Instagram models build a large following via the social media platform, and are then commonly approached by brands for brand endorsements, advertising campaigns and other paid opportunities. Instagram models who are able to build a great reputation may then be asked to be part of ongoing collaborations, which can be very lucrative.

As an Instagram model’s fame grows, so does their influencer potential. That’s why Instagram models are sometimes known as influencers; they have the ability to influence sales and purchases by their followers. 

Technically, anyone with a phone and internet access can be an influencer/Instagram model. But don’t be fooled – it’s a full-time job that requires you to be a photographer, editor, shoot manager, fashion/make-up/hair stylist, marketing wizard and more. 

Top Instagram Models

There are models who use Instagram, and models who have found fame and success because of Instagram. 

Top runway models who use Instagram include Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Josephine Skriver, Ashley Graham, Cara Delevingne, Emily Ratajkowski, Miranda Kerr, Chrissy Teigen and Candice Swanepoel – basically, most of them!

Instagram models who have found fame because of Instagram include:

– Cindy Kimberly

– Sommer Ray

– Alexis Ren

– Sierra Skye

– Jen Selter

– Ana Cheri

– Laci Kay Somers

– Claudia Alende

– Tammy Hembrow

– Abigail Ratchford

The In’s and Out’s of Instagram Modelling

Instagram models must rely heavily on one thing – being popular. The more popular they are, the more fans they will get, and the more capable they will be of attracting brands. 

This doesn’t mean just having a large following; many brands now look specifically for post engagement. They want to work with influencers who have a lot of it. Brands used to work with Instagram models based purely off their follower count, but unfortunately there are now too many people paying for fake “bot” followers and it has become quite difficult to tell who has real followers, and who has paid for theirs. So brands take the time to really analyse an account before choosing whether or not to work with it. That means there is no point in paying for fake followers or engagement – you’ll soon be found out.

Here’s what you need to be an Instagram model:

– Lots of REAL followers

– Lots of REAL post engagement (likes, comments and shares)

How to Build Your Instagram Account

Unfortunately, building an Instagram account isn’t easy. It requires some technical knowledge so you can beat the Instagram algorithm. Annoyingly, this changes constantly and the public are not privy to the updates – so we can only guess and use trial-and-error to find out what works. 

Usually, the following helps:

– Post regularly and consistently. Once a day is a good goal. 

– Try to get as much engagement as possible within the first few minutes of posting. 

– The more followers you have, the more your post will have the ability to reach new people. 

– Avoid buying fake followers or comments as Instagram can “punish” these accounts by restricting their reach or even suspending them.

– Interact regularly with other Instagram accounts.

How to Start

Now you’re aware of what Instagram likes and dislikes, it’s time to get posting. Your profile should be as attractive as possible to the viewer. That means having high-quality photos that people will stop to view and even like or comment on. Many Instagram models use their phone camera to take their shots as phones now have excellent-quality cameras, but if you have a professional DLSR, that’s even better – though it will take you more time to edit and post. 

Choose a profile name that reflects you. Many people choose their first and last names, though others prefer their nicknames or a profile name about what they do – for example, MattDoesFitness.

Get started by following some accounts you like the look of and by selecting a great profile picture. Remember, these can be changed later. 

Be patient while building your account – it will take time. Try to post once a day and engage with other accounts. Many bloggers/influencers have a bank of ready-to-post photos. Add an engaging caption and use some hashtags to increase your reach. Post lots of photos of yourself – if you want to be a model, you’ll need to be excellent at posing and creating beautiful imagery of yourself. Feel inspired by other Instagram models and supermodels on Instagram, but don’t directly copy another creator. There’s plenty to share – exotic locations, make-up and skincare, amazing food, workouts, as well as photos of yourself. 

Try to space out images taken at the same photo shoots and mix in other interesting content to keep things fresh. 

You can link your Instagram account to other social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

Patience is a Virtue

You won’t find success overnight, so it’s important to be patient. Instagram fame is a fickle thing, but the best way to to find it is through hard work and determination. Be realistic about your expectations; you’ll likely be running your Instagram account alongside your work or school life, and you may find it difficult to manage everything at once. 

If your follower count doesn’t seem to be going up, take a step back and re-think your approach. Are you posting at random times, or when the app is busy? Are you engaging with other users, and replying to comments? Are your posts interesting, beautiful, funny or otherwise engaging? Unfortunately, Instagram has become so popular that the millions of users on it are all posting fascinating content – it’s difficult to stand out from the crowd. If you want to be a model, don’t forget to apply to modelling agencies too as this is a more sure way of finding paid work – and you can then post this work on your Instagram account.

Are you interested in becoming a model? Register with us today!