Showcasing a genuine laugh can ooze authenticity and make the atmosphere feel natural and authentic. If though, like most people, you find it a bit of a challenge to do so, here are some tips to help you:

Recall something funny

An obvious suggestion, we know, but an important one nevertheless! You can place yourself in a moment that makes you crack up. It could be a funny memory, a joke, something someone did or just something that always seems to make you laugh no matter how hard you try not to.

Relax!

When you might be asked to laugh on cue, you might find your facial muscles and body tensing up. Sounds familiar? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one! Genuinely laughing on cue is a skill and it’s easier said than done particularly if you’re feeling anxious…but try to relax.

Take care of yourself

Be sure to stay hydrated and to have had something to eat, albeit a small snack, so you don’t feel dizzy in front of the camera. This can happen quite often especially when our models are feeling nervous and would prefer to take on the day on an empty stomach. Take some deep breaths and go for it.

If you’re finding it difficult to relax, you can always speak to your MD coordinator [honestly, you won’t be the first to express butterflies in your stomach]. We’re trained to help you navigate through your modelling assignment as successfully as possible, helping to make it a positively memorable experience for you.

We’ve assembled a mini collection of model reviews where our talent has also expressed their pre-assignment nervousness, but where it’s all ended perfectly!

Jackie expressed her experience with our agency on a Nat West Bank campaign right here:

“Today was a big day for me. My first ever modelling assignment – and for Nat West Bank! I left home feeling excited but nervous about what to expect. It turned out to be a perfect fun day. Stephen Rawlinson and his team greeted me on arrival. They were all very friendly and immediately settled my nerves. I met the four other models I would be working with and found them to be really nice people. We did a mix of photos and filming throughout the day and it all went well. Thank you Nat West for a great first assignment.

Thanks, Molly for all your help. Looking forward to the next one!”

Anne left us this lovely and inspiring testimonial:

“I’ve just completed my first modelling job for Models Direct. Who’d have believed I’d be a model at 57 years old? I was quite nervous when I arrived in the car park but with such a friendly relaxed atmosphere, I had lost my nerves before we started shooting. The lovely team helped me every step of the way and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I look forward hopefully to many more jobs.”

Finally, our male model, Joshua, shared his experience with us:

“My First Shoot With Models Direct…

Yesterday was my first assignment with Models Direct, being a promotional shoot for Greene King Brewery. With it being my first shoot I was a little nervous, but everyone there was so lovely and we were certainly very well looked after, diffusing any nerves that I had. Overall, it was a lot of fun, it was a great atmosphere and I met so many lovely people. Additionally, Gemma had been amazing throughout the whole process, answering any questions I had and keeping me well-informed. Thank you for the experience.”

There’s more for you to read if you head over to our reviews section to see how our models have got on with their gigs.

Bottom line

Try not to overthink the process but do practise laughing on cue in your own time. The more you practise the better you’ll be at laughing naturally. However, if nerves get the better of you, do not worry as our MD team understands that being in front of the camera can be a nerve-wracking experience even for the most experienced of models.

Just reach out to us and we’ll be on hand to help you through, but most of all, try and have fun and enjoy the modelling experience!

Life is an interesting journey and you can make it what it is by having faith in your abilities and dreams. It’s not always plain sailing though because there might be points where you’ll get sidetracked or self-doubt starts to creep in.

Those procrastinating thoughts and remembering past attempts might start swirling around and they’re not so easy to shake off. 

Or you’ll experience peaks and troughs along the way, challenges and obstacles you’ll have to navigate your way around to get through to the other side.

In this blog, we’ll take a look at how the power of self-belief can help set you up for small and big successes in your life, and how you can be a model – not just a one-hit wonder but have a long-term fulfilling career.

Why is having self-belief important?

When we think of self-belief, it might be having confidence in yourself, and while this is true, it doesn’t just stop there. It’s a deep-rooted belief system that shapes who you are – your thoughts, your actions and their outcomes. The great thing is, that having goals and a vision of where you want to see yourself, in a week, a month or by the end of the year gives you a target to reach and having the magic of self-belief can accelerate this. You’ll also embark on a journey of self-discovery and learn who you are and how you handle change.

Having self-belief means you can be:

Motivated

Determined

Patient

Positive

Adaptable

Feel empowered

It doesn’t come naturally to everyone though, and the process can take a lot of conscientious effort to bring to fruition. If you’re looking to become a model, it might feel like you’re out of your depth and a big win won’t happen for you.

So how can you instil self-belief? 

Positive affirmations

Switch those negative or limiting thoughts and beliefs with positive ones. Write them down on post-it notes, log them into your phone, and maybe have a personalised positive quote you’ve composed as your screen saver so whenever you look at your phone, it’s there! Another great thing is to say it out loud. In the mirror or just to yourself in your personal space.

Our agency knows how important this point is for models. Set yourself time in the day to dedicate this to yourself.

Set realistic goals

Don’t overwhelm yourself with the thought of setting goals. They can start as manageable bite-sized chunks and work up to more challenging ones. Remember to reward yourself along the way and recognise your achievements.

Whether you’re a teen, adult or senior model, setting goals will help you keep focused and make successes tangible.

Be around supportive individuals

When you’ve got people rooting for you and encouraging you to succeed, a supportive system will help instil self-belief and increase your confidence in yourself. They’ll suggest, advise and support you along the way on how to voyage across time and achieve positive outcomes.

It doesn’t matter what your age is – if you’ve got a child model, teen model or if you’re a model in your later years – having words of encouragement and praise will always add to your self-belief system.

Read or watch documentaries about successful people

Is there anyone famous you’d like to know more about? Reading someone’s life story or watching about it might help expand your mindset and help you to understand their journey, challenges, setbacks and accomplishments leading you to question how you can action the same positivity and resilience in your life.

And there you have it! Prospective models and fully fledged models, we hope this blog has helped remind you to have self-belief in your abilities and skills. Good luck and we hope that you continue to enjoy working with our MD team who also have the self-belief that you’ll be matched to top-tier clients and create amazing campaigns.

Your skin is amazing!

Your skin is your body’s largest organ. We tend to think of internal organs but this external one is very precious and versatile. Adults carry around 8 pounds of it and has many benefits! It’s our easy-to-move, waterproof superhero, blasting harmful chemicals and deterring bacteria, protecting the body from extreme temperatures, shielding us with insulation, converting calcium into healthy bones and keeping us in touch with the outside world with millions of sensory nerves.

We’re in awe! We rarely get the chance to sit down and soak amazing information like this but we’re glad we did so we could share it with you.

But it’s no fun when your skin is prone to a range of reactions when it meets the abundant solar rays: dryness, itchiness, redness, acne or getting easily burnt aren’t the intended results.

Here are some Models Direct tips to help you keep your skin healthy in the summer sun.

Wear sunscreen

To help beat the harmful UVA (damaging skin causing premature ageing and wrinkles) and UVB rays (skin burning), apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen 15 minutes before you step out into the sweltering heat. SPF 30 is a good starting point and reapply every two hours or more often if you’re sweating or swimming. You’ll have happier sun-ready skin – really!

Moisturise the light way

The light way is the right way particularly when your skin might be feeling parched. You don’t want anything weighing your skin down, clogging your pores and making your skin oily so choose natural (or as natural as possible) skincare that combats oily skin.

Drink lots of water

Drink plenty of water to cool down, replenish lost fluids from perspiration and keep your body and skin feeling fresh and healthy. Having a handy 500ml + bottle will help you know how much you’ve drunk so you can stay on top of your daily intake. You should avoid hot caffeinated drinks, chances are your body will say no anyway, as they make you feel dehydrated.

Leave the spicy foods for another time

Hot and flavour fuelled foods can make you feel even hotter so put down that chilli sauce, pack away the fiery seasoning, and opt for yogurts, fruits and cooler foods.

Avoid going out at the hottest hours of the day

If you can help it, stay indoors so you avoid the sun at its most ferocious period. We admit this cannot always be possible (you might be working on a modelling assignment, say) so stay in the shade to dodge sunburn and possible heat stroke.

Loose clothes, yes, please!

The ickiest feeling when it’s bubbling outside is to wear skin-tight clothes and then come out with a rash! Opt for cotton, loose and free-flowing clothes to keep you cool, calm and collected. Your skin will agree that it’s the wisest choice during a heatwave. Stick on some sunnies too to protect your eyes.

Chilled shower time

Take showers to cool down and help your skin feel revitalised. It can be a refreshing reset from the heat to cool down and enjoy some downtime.

Models Direct hopes these tips help you get through hotter periods so you can take care of your skin in the heat. If you’re experiencing skin-related problems, please seek professional advice from your GP.

Since everyone seems to be on the hunt for a magic potion to look younger, Models Direct have some tips every woman should know to help her look her best regardless of her age.

1.       Take care of your skin

Good skincare is vital. It’s best to start little but often so that you build up to a sustainable beauty regime. Often, you can end up purchasing one too many products (or no products at all) which can end up gathering cobwebs or expiring. Figure out what your skin type is and purchase accordingly. Read reviews to help guide you too because the influence of others’ journeys using the item you’re researching will help you decide whether or not you should be spending your money. Age-defying products? Embrace age, not mask or push it away.

2.       Don’t forget your hair (and teeth)

Hair care and teeth care shouldn’t be neglected either. As we age, our hair changes (texture, condition and volume) as well as the condition of our teeth. It’s good to take care of yourself because not only will you look good on the outside, you’ll feel good on the inside which will boost your self-confidence. If you’re a mature model, being in front of the camera will be no problem.

3.       Out with the old, in with the new

You don’t need to switch your wardrobe up so often because it’s expensive and if you’ve got clothes dated a decade ago which still fit, then perfect. However, your body shape does change over time and sometimes it’s nice to switch things around in your clothes and accessories section to help you feel your best.

4.       Love you

A big part of looking your best is feeling your best. Take time out to pause, reflect and appreciate who you are. By valuing yourself, your abilities and skills, and what you have to offer yourself and the world around you, you’ll kick-start a feel-good journey of self-love. Love you for being you. That’s one of the biggest gifts you can give yourself because it doesn’t matter what anyone else says – whether that’s positive or negative – it all comes from you and how you view yourself.

Embrace your age; life is too short to hide. Running towards new challenges and opportunities, like becoming a mature model, is liberating so fearlessly follow your path and be confidently you, female silver foxes. 40+? Bring it on!

So, what are our Top 5 best foods to eat when the weather is hot?

1. Try to incorporate hydrating foods into your diet during the summer months. We all know how important it is to drink when the weather is warm and eating hydrating foods can help. Cucumber is great because it contains so much water. Try adding it to your sandwiches and salads and have a go at making different dishes with it, such as tzatziki or even cucumber soup – or just slice a wedge up and nibble on throughout the day. Watermelon is also great for hydrating and for giving you vitamins A, B6 and C, as well as lycopene, an antioxidant that might help prevent or slow damage to the cells.

2. One or two oranges a day can be a great addition to the summer diet. They are really easy to pop in your bag and to eat if you make a small hole in the top and suck out all the juice before opening them up. If you are at home and can manage the stickiness, then slice them up and pop them in your glass every time you have some water. It makes for a nice sweet treat at the end of your drink. Most of us know that oranges are also rich in vitamin C, which has a range of health benefits, including protecting the immune system. They also have potassium in them which may help ward off cramp, which can occur when you lose salt through sweating.

3. Summer fruit: strawberries, raspberries and blueberries are among the fabulous summer fruit options that bring enormous health benefits – but again don’t overdo it or you might upset your stomach. Try putting a handful of berries on your morning cereal or in a bowl of natural yoghurt – or make a delicious, cool smoothie to take with you when you go out or to enjoy at home. Among the many benefits of eating summer berries are the fact they are anti-oxidant rich and contain vitamin C and fibre. Raspberries are also a great source of vitamin K, which helps build strong bones and assists in blood clotting.

4. Fresh fish can be a superb addition to any summer diet and is often available in abundance when we head off on our holidays to sunnier climes. It is a great addition to a summer salad when we don’t feel like eating a heavy meal during warm weather or can be accompanied by delicious summer new potatoes and fresh, leafy greens. Try salmon, mackerel and sardines for protein and omega-3 fatty acids that can help with blood pressure, inflammation and long-term health issues such as heart disease. Mussels, oysters, squid and crab can also be good sources of omega-3.

5. Salads are the perfect summer food as they can be the ideal light option for a hot day as they contain lots of hydrating vegetables such as cucumber, radish, lettuce and tomato. Try to make a rainbow salad that incorporates a spectrum of colours. That way you can be sure you are giving your body a good range of nutrients. Make sure you add some protein too – try fish, chicken or boiled egg, or for vegans, a handful of nuts or some tofu. Include leafy greens for their vitamins A, C and beta-carotene, which bring a range of health benefits, including ensuring healthy organs. Try to include some spinach, kale and romaine leaves, which are among the most nutritious. Salads are also rich in fibre, which can help aid our digestion in the summer months when we may not always drink as much as we should. They can help us feel light and energised, when a heavier meal may well bring lethargy and fatigue when the weather is hot. For those trying to lose weight healthily, salads can be a low calorie yet nutrient rich option but do make sure your salad is well balanced and part of a daily diet that offers you all the energy you need. And, finally, salads can be fun – experiment with different ingredients: include some fruit if you wish and take satisfaction in sitting down to a glorious plate of colour that really does bring you some summer joy!

Find more great seasonal advice and tips from Models Direct.