14 Simple Ways to Become an Instagram Model

Co-authored by Ramin Ahmari and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: February 2, 2023 References

Do you love sharing your latest outfits on social media and wish you could make money doing it? With Instagram, you can start modeling without even stepping foot on the runway. While it can be competitive and take a while to build your personal brand, there are a lot of things you can do to jump-start your modeling career. We’ll start off with tips on making your profile stand out and move on to how to interact with other people and brands to start your modeling career!

1

Pick a niche you’re interested in.

Choose a style you’re passionate about to base your posts around. Your Instagram feed looks a lot cleaner and more uniform if all of your posts follow a similar pattern. Make a list of the styles of pictures you like and the color schemes that you want to experiment with. Take a few pictures with each style that you wrote down to see which ones you’re the most comfortable doing. Remember that most, if not all, of your posts should fit into a similar niche, so pick a style that you won’t get tired of.^{[1]
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- For example, if you want to model fitness wear, you may focus on posting pictures of yourself playing sports, hiking, or being active.
- As another example, if you want to make your profile feel warm and inviting, try incorporating reds, oranges, and yellows into each of your photos.
- If you already have pictures on your Instagram feed, delete or archive the ones that don’t fit in with your style

2

Put your info in your bio.

Tell your followers what to expect from your feed in a few sentences. Start your bio with a short introduction and some of your hobbies so potential followers learn more about who you are. If you have any representation or contact information, be sure to include it as well.^{[2]
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- For example, if you’re modeling fitness wear, you could write something like, “25, Model, Fitness Junkie, and World Traveler. Business email inquiries here: ameliajames_model@gmail.com.”
- Emojis can add a fun pop of color to your Instagram bio. Include some that are relevant to the information in your bio, such as an airplane if you said you like to travel.

3

Always be camera-ready.

Dress well so you can take photos whenever inspiration strikes. You never know when you’ll find a cool new place to model for pictures, so always dress to your best. Put on makeup, do your hair, and plan out a nice outfit so you can jump in front of the camera at any time. Whenever you come across a location that matches your page’s aesthetic, don’t be afraid to snap a few pictures of yourself there.^{[3]
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- You can always plan some locations ahead of time too. For example, you may plan a visit to a museum or garden so you can do a photo shoot there.^{[4]
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4

Focus on composition for pictures.

Try out different poses and angles to make your images interesting. You can take your pictures with a digital camera or with your phone as long as it produces a high-quality image.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Annie Tao
Professional Photographer
Expert Interview. 3 March 2021.} When you find a location that you like, ask someone to take your picture or use a tripod if you’re by yourself. Pose yourself off-center in the image to create a more interesting composition. Try an action pose, like picking a flower or dancing, or go for a more traditional model pose to see what you like best.^{[6]
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- Take a lot of pictures so you can always choose the most flattering one.
- Make sure the background isn’t too busy, or else it will distract people from your look.
- Play around with different angles. For example, if you want to look taller, position the camera closer to the ground.^{[7]
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  Annie Tao
  Professional Photographer
  Expert Interview. 3 March 2021.}

5

Post to your feed regularly.

Try to add something to your feed every day. Choose your favorite pictures to edit and post onto your feed. When you’re first starting off, add a new image to your Instagram page every day. Once you have a more established following, it’s okay to cut back to posting only 3–4 times a week.^{[8]
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6

Write captions.

Captions help inform and engage your followers. Include a fun or informative question with every one of your pictures to help your images stand out. Mention where you were when you took the picture, state what brands you’re wearing, or try asking questions to encourage your followers to respond. Make each caption unique so your posts are fresh.^{[9]
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- For example, you could say something like, “In love with this new sundress from H&M. It goes perfectly with these bracelets. What’s your favorite accessory to wear with a sundress?”
- As another example, if you’re a fitness model, you could share a post-workout photo and say, “Really felt the burn today with my core exercises. What workout do you always include in your routine?”

7

Use popular hashtags.

Boost your posts’ visibility to reach new followers. When you post your pictures, write a few hashtags that match the style and niche you’re in. Hashtags like “#model” or “#modellife” are always safe choices to add. For more specific hashtags, check out other models who have similar styles as you to see what they’re using on their posts. Then add a few of them to the end of your caption to help other people find your account.^{[10]
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- Other specific hashtags you can try include “#fitnessmodel,” “#plussizemodel,” “#guyswithstyle,” or “#altmodel.”^{[11]
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  Expert Source
  
  Ramin Ahmari
  Social Media Expert
  Expert Interview. 5 April 2019.}
- You can always edit your caption or add hashtags in the comments on your post if you forget to put them in when you first post.

8

Tag photographers and brands in your photos.

Give credit in your posts so they promote your profile. If you had someone else take your pictures, either tag them directly in the photo or mention their Instagram account in the caption. If you’re wearing specific brands, be sure to tag or mention them as well. That way, people who visit those accounts might find your page and start following you too. The account may even repost your image onto their own feed.^{[12]
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- It’s never a guarantee that another account will repost your pictures even if you tag them.

9

Share your feed to Facebook or Twitter.

Reach new people by reposting your pictures to other social media. If you have a lot of friends and followers on other social media accounts, share your most recent Instagram post to the feed. Be sure to include a link to your Instagram page so people are more likely to go back and follow you there.^{[13]
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10

Socialize with your followers.

Stay connected with your followers so they visit your profile more. Rather than ignoring everyone on your posts, take time to respond to them and talk with your followers. Read through the comments on your pictures to answer any questions they have.^{[14]
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Research source} If someone sent you a direct message, take the time to read it, thank them for following you, and give a thoughtful response.^{[15]
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Expert Source

Ramin Ahmari
Social Media Expert
Expert Interview. 5 April 2019.}
- It’s okay to ignore and block trolls who are being rude or mean in your comments. You don’t need to put your energy into trying to please them.

11

Engage your followers in Instagram Stories.

Ask questions to keep your followers involved. Instagram Stories are great for showing your life behind-the-scenes and involving your followers in your daily life. Ask for their opinions about outfits, post polls about what you should do for the day, and share links to products and things you’re excited about. That way, your fans feel like they’re a part of your life and are getting to know more about who you are.^{[16]
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- For example, you could ask or create a poll for, “What should I have for lunch today?” with a couple of options. Once you get enough responses, post more stories about you making the meal.

12

Build relationships with other models.

Connect and collaborate with others in the same space as you. Look for other models that are in a similar niche as you and follow their profiles. Reach out to them in the comments of their posts or message them directly to start making your connection. As you get closer with other models, ask them to collaborate for photo shoots or Instagram Live sessions. That way, some of their fans will follow your page and your followers will visit theirs.^{[17]
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- Ask other models to be in an “engagement pod” with you, where you like each other’s photos within a few hours of posting them to help boost your visibility.

13

Put together a media kit.

Show off your profile stats and photos so brands see if you’re a good fit. A media kit is your portfolio that showcases your feed’s aesthetic and statistics to convince brands to pay for posts. Gather professional images of yourself that have the same colors and styles as the pictures in your feed. Write a few paragraphs about yourself and what you post on Instagram. Then, include how many followers you have and how they actively engage with your content.^{[18]
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- Save your media kit as a PDF and upload it to a website. That way, you can easily link to it in an email to a brand’s PR or marketing department.
- You can link your media kit directly to your profile or send it out to potential brands that you’re interested in representing.

14

Connect with brands that fit your aesthetic.

Reach out to see if they’re interested in sponsoring your posts. If there are brands that you really want to showcase in your posts, send them a direct message or find their email contact on their website. Let them know about your Instagram page, how many followers you have, and how engaged they are with your feed. If they’re interested in working with you, they’ll follow up and give you more details.^{[19]
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- When you’re first starting off, you may only get freebies from a company in exchange for posting about them. As you get more popular and gain followers, then they may pay you per post.
- Don’t take it personally if you don’t hear back from a brand. Be polite in case you want to work with them in the future, but look for another interested brand in the meantime.

Community Q&A

Question

Do you get paid for Instagram modeling?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

You can, but it may take a while to start making money. Most Instagram models make money by partnering up with brands and advertising their products. Brands are more likely to notice you if you have lots of followers and a distinctive style!
Question

How do models get noticed on Instagram?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

First of all, make sure your account is viewable to the public. Agents and brands won’t notice you if they can’t find your content! Post high-quality pictures that reflect your personality and unique traits. Be creative, too—don’t just post a bunch of selfies. Try adding things like videos, behind the scenes shots, and collaborations with other models or influencers. Use plenty of relevant hashtags to make your content easier to find.
Question

Do modeling agencies look at Instagram?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Yes—in fact, most agencies now are looking for models who are active on social media and have a strong following. Having a good Instagram account is a great way to boost your chances of getting scouted.

Warnings

Avoid posting inappropriate photos or using bad language since it could bring down your online reputation.^{[20]
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Don’t take any rude comments from online trolls or spam accounts to heart. Don’t be afraid to delete their comments, block their profiles, or report them.^{[21]
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