How to Model - 40 Plus Model Maryellen Ford

Cristina talks with 40 Plus Model Maryellen Ford about her career as a professional model. Maryellen offers advice to other aspiring 40 plus women who would like to start modeling and talks about the business of modeling.

40 Plus Model Maryellen Ford Cristina: Hi, we are here with MaryEllen and she is a 40 plus model with the Bella agency and I want to talk to you about your career. How did you get started? Mary: That is a good question. Cristina: Anyway when did you started? Mary: I started after college. People have been approaching me my whole life about modeling because I am tall but I did not started until after college and I started dating a photographer. I was actually working in a bank and I started to do some photo shoots from him and then, me a good businesswoman, I said Gee, maybe I should like to make more my money than I waste in the bank. And so, that is what happened. Cristina: That is great. Mary: I went to big agencies that took me. Cristina: Have you done that you know, all of this time or would you have another career in the middle? Mary: The majority of it and I have always get back to where I have been. So I have been modeling for over 25 years now. Cristina: Wow, 25 years, and you still love it? Mary: I do, it is—you know what it is? It is, at this point in my life it is something that kind of gets you out and you have to do something a little bit different than the routine. Cristina: The nine to five, nine and all of that. Mary: That is right. I have worked in television news for a while. I have worked in sales and I just kept this thread built because it is kind of a refreshing fronting to do. I am a mom now, so I really do not have to create— Cristina: And it is a great thing to do in your own life. Mary: Exactly. Cristina: Because you can work a day here, a day there and you can still be home with your kids. Mary: Right and I do not have the feeling to travel overseas like I have used to. So it was a great career in order to see the world, but right now there is still a market for someone like me and only more on limited basis but it works right. Cristina: And what will you say to those people, because I know even for myself, I have been modeling for the last 13 years and at 35 I have people that do not know a lot about the modeling industry. They say to me, you are still modeling? And they kind of give you this look like, I am a low a bit because—what are you talking about? But what can you say about these people. Mary: Oh, I think that there is a market and I think it is a business. You have to handle it like a business. And if you are still modeling, it is good news to you, it is a tribute that you could handle it professionally and you are able to maintain that career. So, you know, anybody can do it if they do it right. Part of it is being photogenic, being outgoing, having fun with it. Not being so self-absorb that you can not get beyond your nose. You know, it has to be—we are very blessed because there is a market for real people. Cristina: And what do you say to that 40 plus women that is out there watching you and saying, wow, I would like to do that. What kind of tips would you give out there? Mary: I suggest and I do—that is a great question because I have a lot of people come up to me very often and said, hey, if you can do it—I can do it. And mind you, these are the moms that see me in school the more. They wear no make up and rolling out of bed—so they do not know that I looked like one and I found the lights. I think you have to get some pictures taken and find out if you are photogenic. You have to be comfortable in front of the camera. Some people think it looks so glamorous and it is so easy and then they freeze. So it is very important to be very comfortable, you know, in order to do it. Cristina: It is great. Well thank you so much. Mary: Oh, it has been a pleasure. Thank you. I am helping out soon. Cristina: We will help a lot of people. This is Cristina Dehart on ExploreModelling.com.