Taking Proper Measurements: For Your Modeling Profile

Filling out your profile and statistics can be a little daunting, especially when it comes to measurements

Fear Not!  Here's an easy -to-follow guide to help you out.

Why You Need Accurate Measurements

There are a few reasons why accurate measurements are so important. When casting directors are looking at submissions, they are often going through hundreds of applicants. If your measurements are left blank they will likely pass over you completely. If your measurements are listed but not accurate, it could mean showing up for a shoot only to get sent home when the clothes don’t fit.

In addition to casting directors, other members often search the various Modeling Online Listing sites. This allows them to find members with very specific measurements and if yours are not accurate you won’t show up in the search results and will miss out on potential job opportunities. By the way, this is also the case with age. If you’re not 100 years old and yet still want to show up in search results, you should enter your true age.

Getting Started

To get set up, grab a measuring tape and a friend. For accuracy, we recommend recording your measurements in swimwear or very fitted clothing. Unless otherwise noted, measurements will be most accurate if taken standing straight up with arms relaxed to your side. When you measure, you want the tape to lay flat across your skin, but not gap, pull or pinch.

How to Take Your Measurements

Height: While this one is rather straightforward, there are a couple things to remember. Height, in this case, refers to your height barefoot.  Measure yourself against a wall with no shoes on.

Weight: This should be less of a problem. Step on a scale and voila! You have your weight!  

Here is where things get a little tricky

Female Models

Bust: The trick here is that in modeling, your bust measurement is not always the same as the number on your bra. You want to measure at the fullest part of your bust without ‘smooshing your boobs with the measuring tape. For example, you may be a 32C but have closer to a 35-inch bust.  Wear a supportive UNpadded bra. 

Cup: Use the cup size you use to buy your bras.

Waist: When most people think of waist, they think of the size on jeans or where their pants sit. For modeling measurements, you want to measure around the smallest part of your waist. For you, this might mean at your belly button or an inch or two above it. Just look in the mirror, see where your stomach goes in most, and measure there.*

Male Models

Neck: Measure around your neck, starting about an inch above where your neck connects to your shoulders, right around the Adam’s apple. Rather than taking the tight-to-skin measurement, place an index finger inside the tape, loosening it slightly, and record that number.

Waist and Hips:  Follow the instructions given for women.

Chest: Measure just under your armpits around the fullest part of your chest.

Sleeve: For the sleeve measurement, start in the middle of your lower neck between your shoulders. With your hand placed on your hip, extend the tape over your shoulder and then over your elbow to your wrist.

Inseam: Wearing only briefs, measure the inside of your leg from just below your crotch to your ankle.

Note:  *If you are submitting for a jean designer, they may want to know your low waist size as well. For this measurement, let he measuring tape rest flat in the area just below your belly button and just above the start of your hipbones.

Using these measurements on your comp card?

Don't forget your SHOE size, DRESS size, HAIR color, EYE color....
And of course, your CONTACT Info!

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