01 / Model tips guide
Model Secrets: Habits Models Don’t Talk About
The model tips that matter most are rarely glamorous. They are small, repeatable habits that make someone look at ease on camera and on a runway. Here are seven.
Save this guide to Pinterest7 quiet habits
- 01
They walk to a count
Models learn to walk to a steady beat, usually the music. Off the runway, many still count in their heads when they are nervous. A count stops you speeding up and keeps your steps even.
- 02
They practise in the actual shoes
Never the day of. Models wear new shoes around the house, on hard floors, until they are steady. Shoes change your stride, balance and posture, so they get practised like any other skill.
- 03
They know their angles
Experienced models have seen thousands of photos of themselves and know which angles work. You can build the same knowledge by filming yourself often and noticing what you like.
- 04
They reset their posture constantly
Nobody holds perfect posture all day. Models reset it many times an hour: before a shot, walking through a door, standing up. A two-second reset beats trying to hold it for ten minutes.
TipTripod feet, tailbone down, ribs closed, crown up. Two seconds.
- 05
They rest their face
A relaxed face between shots keeps it from tensing when the camera is on. Models often let their jaw hang slightly loose and their forehead go soft when they are not being photographed.
- 06
They slow down
Everything a nervous person does fast, a model does slowly: walking in, turning, moving between poses. Slow movements look intentional and photograph better.
- 07
They look at one point
On a runway, models fix their eyes on one point at the end. Off the runway, they use the same trick to walk into rooms calmly. A fixed point keeps the head still and the walk straight.
Why habits beat talent
Most of what makes a model look at ease is repetition. A steady walk, a relaxed face and a good sense of angles all come from doing the same things many times. That is good news: none of these habits need a particular height or face, and all of them can be practised at home.
Start with two
Pick two habits from the list and use them every day for two weeks. A good pair for beginners:
- Reset your posture every time you walk through a doorway.
- Slow down your first three steps whenever you walk into a room.
Once those are automatic, add two more. Trying all seven at once turns them into a checklist, and checklists make you stiff.
The habit behind the habits
The one thing every model does is look at themselves honestly: photos, videos, a coach’s notes. You can do the same by filming your walk once a week from the same spot. Read film and review your own walk for how.
For more places to start, see model tips for beginners and the that girl walk and posture routine.
Questions
Do models really count their steps?
Many learn to walk to the beat of the music, and some count to stay steady when nervous. It is one of the simplest ways to stop rushing.
What is the most important habit to start with?
Filming yourself. Every other habit gets easier when you can see what you are actually doing.
Common mistakes
- Believing it is about looks. Most of it is practice.
- Holding your posture rigidly instead of resetting it often.
- Rushing to get out of the spotlight.
- Practising only when you have an event coming up.
Défilé · Walk score
Build the habits, then check them. Film a walk and see your walk score.
Film a walk and Défilé scores it out of 100, shows you the one thing holding it back and gives you a short drill to fix it. Your video never leaves your phone.
On Android? Défilé is coming soon to Google Play.
