Whether you like it or not, our looks take up a lot of our time and energy. Rather than see this as a drain on your finances, why not make money from your appearance instead?
Don’t worry, you don’t have to have model looks to be able to make money from your appearance. Although, modelling of course is one of your options!
- Make Money From Your Appearance in TV and Film
- Make Money Modelling
- Become a Hand or Foot Model
- Make Money From Your Appearance as a Life Drawing Model
- Become an Influencer or Vlogger to Make Money
- Try Personal Training Online
- Become a Celebrity Lookalike or Impersonator
Make Money From Your Appearance in TV and Film
There’s plenty of ways to make money from your appearance in TV and Film – and who doesn’t want to see their name in lights?
Become an Extra
Becoming an extra is remarkably easy. You don’t need any professional training, just a few well-lit photos of yourself, and an idea of your measurements and you’re good to go.
It’s not always glamorous – you’re often working for long hours, with early call times, and wrapping late – but it can be great fun and a good way to make some extra cash.
Usually as an extra you’ll only be needed for a maximum of a couple of days on each production and work is booked on day-by-day requirements.
You can usually expect to make between £80 and £100 for a 10 hour shift, but this can increase if you’re needed to work nights or have any interactions with the main cast.
For more information on becoming an extra click here.
Be a Body Double
Body doubles are models that act in scenes that actors don’t want to do, like nude scenes.
To be cast as a body double you must share the basic physical attributes of the actor, such as height, weight, body type and hair colour.
If you are interested in being a body double, your first step should be to join an agency who can help you find work. For UK-based roles, GBM Casting is a good starting point.
Become a Stunt Double
OK, this one isn’t for everyone and won’t happen overnight. But, if you love an adrenaline rush why not try stunt doubling?
You’ll usually need to apply to the British Stunt Register’s Stunt Grading Scheme. You’ll need qualifications and skills across at least 6 different sporting areas in 4 of the following groups:
- Fighting – martial arts or boxing
- Falling – trampolining or high diving
- Riding and driving – horse riding, driving cars or riding motorcycles
- Agility and strength – gymnastics or rock climbing
- Water – swimming or sub-aqua
Make Money Modelling
Modelling is the obvious choice when it comes to making money from your appearance. Don’t be put off by the Victoria Secrets runways, though. You don’t have to be Cara Delevingne to make money from modelling.
For most agencies where good looks are required, requirements are generally height (for women, the shortest height requirement is around 5’6” and for men it is usually 5’10), slim for catalogue modelling, toned and rubenesque for plus size.
Character modelling is excellent whatever your size if you have interesting or unique features from being very short to having a lot of tattoos or piercings.
Agencies will state on their website how to contact them. Usually, you fill out an online form with your measurement details and attach a photograph.
Rates vary wildly depending on your experience and the client you are working for, but you can make around £40 an hour.
Unfortunately, the industry is rife with scams, so stay alert. Fake photographers and scouts are always taking advantage of wannabe models. Never agree to pay to get a job!
Do your research and don’t be sucked into any scam agencies or studios. Think their client list is too good to be true? It probably is.
Become a Hand or Foot Model
All it takes to be a hand or foot model is blemish-free skin and even nail beds.
But you will need to check with specific agencies, such as Hired Hands. Body modelling agencies can also work with bottoms and legs for advertising campaigns, jewellery, accessories or retail products.
Your body parts need to be well maintained. A paper cut on your finger will mean you won’t get the gig!
Body part modelling also uses models as faces for makeup campaigns, so you can even model your eyes or lips alone.
Make Money From Your Appearance as a Life Drawing Model
Life modelling is simple. You get your kit off and pose while artists paint you. You can make around £10 an hour doing it.
Before you jump in however, you need to consider if it is really for yo
- You’ll have to be comfortable with people staring intensely at you whilst you’re naked!
- Sessions tend to go on for about three hours, with a couple of breaks, so you’ll have to be ok holding the same position for a while.
It’s not uncommon to be asked to model with someone of the opposite sex.
If you’re happy with all of this, then your first port of call should be local art colleges and education centres. Also keep an eye out for adverts in shop windows, newspapers and online.
Many are currently running sessions on Zoom, so you’ll be able to pose from your own home.
There’s also a great website – The Arts Model Register – which acts as a sort of unofficial modelling union and features jobs from all over the country.
Make Money from your appearance as a social media influencer
This will take some commitment and won’t make you thousands straight away, but it can be a great way to make money from your appearance.
If you have a social media following of 1000+ you could class yourself as a micro influencer.
From here, you can start reaching out to brands to collaborate on partnerships. Not all brands will pay you, but you should at least get some free samples.
As your following grows and you become more established brands might start reaching out to you directly and offering a larger payment.
Developing a niche helps you gain a following and means brands are more likely to want to work with you. To make money from your appearance you could focus on makeup or fashion perhaps.
Try Personal Training Online
This is the perfect option for anyone that loves to keep themselves fit. Personal training allows you to share this passion with others, while making some cash. Of course, it will be easier to get clients if you’re physically fit yourself.
Gyms may be closed at the moment, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still become a personal trainer. There’s a lot of demand for online sessions.
You MUST be legally registered with insurance and be fully qualified to protect yourself from claims.
The National Register of Personal Trainers recommends certain companies who offer personal training qualifications.
It is also worth checking out the Register for Exercise Professionals, who offer qualifications and can equip you with all the tools you need to get started.
Become a Celebrity Lookalike or Impersonator
If you’re friends are always telling you that you look like a certain celebrity, then this could be the job for you. If not, a bit of makeup and some props could have you looking the spitting image of a celebrity in no time.
You’ll need to get into character and take some pictures first, to make sure you resemble the celebrity and to promote your services.
If you’re serious about getting started, check out the agency Lookalikes. You can contact them and they may then take you on and help you get bookings as a lookalike.
Pay can range from £350 upwards for a day’s work. This will normally depend on your character and how popular they are, but will also be down to your location.
To make the top rates you will need to be a very close likeness to a celebrity and maybe even have some special skills, like being able to sing, too.
More Ways to Make Money
If you’re not confident with your appearance, there are plenty of other ways to make money! One of the best approaches is to invest your spare capital in various ways – it’s a long game, but the payoff is worth it (compared to low interest rate savings accounts).
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