What is it and is it for me?
First of all, you need to decide if this is really for you – this is important regardless of whether you are squeamish about your body or not. Be aware that a bunch of complete strangers will stare at you for hours on end, while you’re naked. Expect life modeling sessions to last around 3 hours, with a couple of breaks to rest.
One of the ironies of life shaping is that you’re more likely to be in demand if you have an interesting or unique body shape (remember Lucian Freud’s ‘Sleep Benefits Supervisor’?). Life modeling is about looking cool rather than being beautiful or in tip-top shape. Don’t let paranoia about your appearance stop you.
However, you should be comfortable with both nudity and a certain amount of awkwardness and boredom. You may also be asked to create your own poses – practice in front of the mirror, and if you’re thinking of life modeling regularly, consider taking some life modeling lessons to get an idea of what the art directors might want. what do you do It is also quite common to ask two models to pose together; you may be asked to pose with a member of the opposite sex, so honestly ask yourself how comfortable you are with the idea.
How much can I do?
The salary varies widely, but you can expect, on average, between £8 and £12 an hour.
Here is a helpful breakdown of hourly rates for life models by country:
- London: £11.06
- Rest of England: £9.77
- Scotland: £8.48
- Wales: £7.80
These days life modeling is a professional occupation and most employers consider life models as employees; You’ll probably find that there aren’t many jobs that pay cash, so be prepared to work at PAYE and provide a national insurance number.
How do I start?
Your first port of call should be the local art schools and educational centers. Here are some contacts to get you started.
- the art academy
- Royal British Society of Sculptors – contact them for a list of figure sculptors in your area
- The London Sketch Club – contact them to offer their services to members
Keep an eye out for ads in shop windows and the local papers too – your local Gumtree may also be throwing out the odd model-of-life job, so check back from time to time. It may also be worth posting on Gumtree yourself stating your availability for life modelling.
There is also a very useful website, The Art Models Register (RAM), a sort of unofficial union for life models, which features jobs all over the country. All jobs are restricted to RAM members only, but membership is only £31 per year, so it’s probably worth signing up if you’re struggling to find work elsewhere.
Being on the public list of RAM members could make a big difference. Some universities and private art groups will only employ RAM members and the Bare Facts model booking service for London also only accepts RAM models. Applicants from London must audition at life drawing workshops in Holloway or Richmond, but RAM says most applicants are accepted. Outside of London, you don’t need to audition, so you’ll initially join as an associate member. Then, once you’ve submitted two job tutor referrals, you can become a full member at any time, at no additional charge.
If you decide life modeling is not for you, there may be work as a hand or foot model. Visit the ‘Hand Models 1’ and ‘Derek’s Hands’ websites for more information.
One for the girls…
Do you fancy a different bachelorette party? Why not mix culture with a bit of mischief and book a life drawing session with a male model? Yes, a nude male model!
There are many companies that will offer you a life drawing session for your last days of freedom. Many are very flexible and will adapt to your needs. Sessions last from an hour to 90 minutes and prices vary between £65 and £100 per session or around £20 per person.
Most companies are also flexible with the location. You can arrange it yourself at a hotel or your own home, or they can do it for you. Take a look at the henlifedrawing and hennites websites for ideas and more information.
