Getting Started in Male Fitness Modeling
This site offers free tips on how you can get your career in male fitness modeling started. We are not a modeling agency. We have no modeling jobs or opportunities to offer you. We do not submit you to photographers or muscle magazines. We do not want to photograph you. Please do not send us photographs of yourself.
The first and crucial step is to familiarize yourself on the fitness industry and what you can expect. We encourage you to view the video interviews of experienced male fitness models and listen to their advice closely. Below are the tips and advice that might help you in your career path.
The Male Fitness Modeling Industry vs. Traditional Male Modeling
The male fitness modeling industry is different from men's fashion modeling, with different photographers and industry players. Talent agents and modeling agencies are unnecessary in this arena. If a guy is muscular, it is easier to break into the fitness modeling business - at least on a part-time basis - than to become a male fashion model. While male fashion modeling is centered around clothing fashion designers, fitness modeling is geared toward supplements and fitness magazines. Male fashion models show off clothing. Male fitness models show off their muscles.
Male fitness models earn less than their fashion counterparts, but opportunities abound in the fitness industry - even for residents of small cities and towns. While a guy who wants to become a fashion model needs to live in a big city, a muscular guy does not need to live in a major city to get fitness modeling bookings. He simply needs to effortlessly get himself to a big city to pose for a fitness photographer. Professionals will not work with you if traveling requires a lot of their time to schedule.
To learn more about other types of male modeling, visit our sister site, Athletic Modeling.
Fitness Modeling Requirements: Muscularity is Key
You do not need to be a bodybuilder to become a male fitness model. However, guys need to have a lot of muscle compared to the average male. A 5 10" 165 pound will not likely be selected by a fitness magazine. While you do not need to have the body of Jay Cutler, having the body of a marathon runner will not get you chosen. You need a lot of defined muscle, not the body of typical male fashion model. You also need extremely developed abs, not just a trim waist.
To learn more, read our tips on meeting fitness modeling requirements.
Expected Earnings As a Male Fitness Model
Yes, athletic guys with large and well-defined muscles, especially well-defined abs, are in demand as male fitness models. Muscle magazines and fitness photographers are always looking for new faces (or, bodies) for their pages. One reason for this is because new male fitness models who lack experience get paid less than experienced fitness models.
Initial fitness modeling gigs with fitness magazine photographers do not pay much. Most guys want these type of Model Jobs so they can appear in a fitness magazine and possibly impress their personal training clients - they do not appear in fitness magazines to get rich quickly. The fitness photographers either pay you a flat fee at the time of the shoot, or pay you after photos are sold. With the latter payment option, the fitness photographer will submit the resulting photos to fitness magazines and products who advertise in fitness magazines. If the fitness photographer sells a photo in which you appear, he will split the proceeds 50-50 with you.
To learn more, watch a video of a hollywood agent assistant discussing how much fitness models can make.
Becoming a Fitness Model Requires Traveling
If you live outside of the photographer's city, convincing a fitness professional that you are a reliable and will show up at their photo shoot is equally important. Being the most muscular guy in the world means little if you are unable to get to the location of the shoot. Avoid making travel a hassle to the professionals with whom you engage. A busy fitness photographer does not want to speak with your parents, wait until you ask off work from your job, or work with someone who turns visit for a photo shoot into a vacation involving your family and friends. Your role is to get to his studio and then go back home, not ask him to deal with your plans to go surfing or visit Disneyworld while in town.
You May Need to Pay Your Own Travel Costs
If your snapshots and video bio catch the eye of a fitness photographer, he may or may not fly you - at his expense - to be photographed in their studio for a large quantity of photos. If you live outside of a major city like Los Angeles, be prepared to pay your own travel expenses.
It may help a career to appear in a fitness magazine - even if you lose money on the deal due to ravel cost. This means it is smart to pay $400 for airfare to get to a big city to pose for a fitness photographer even if you are only being paid $250 for the assignment. A fitness photographer may not want to pay the added expense for your travel cost if he already has a number of models available in his city and they do not need an airplane flight to get to his photo shoot. The goal is to get your foot in the door by landing in a fitness magazine. What better reward is there for all that hard work in the gym than a pictorial of that great physique for everyone to admire?
To learn more, watch a video of a veteran fitness model discussing how you may need to pay your own travel costs.
If you are ready to become a male fitness model, consider our innovative advice on how to get your modeling career started locally, by teaming with 11 of your buddies on your college campus or at your gym. Our advice breaks from the traditional way of getting your career started and allows you to take a giant leap ahead of other aspiring fitness models!