The Business Of Modelling

Ellen Burton is an international beauty and fashion model whose career has taken her across major markets including Milan, Paris, LA and Australia. In this episode, she reflects on starting out as a teenager in Norfolk, the early experiences that helped build her confidence, and how a dramatic haircut became a turning point in her career. She talks about being introduced to top photographer Rankin, shooting for Hunger magazine, working on a Prada story, and how those opportunities helped open doors internationally. Ellen also discusses the different sides of modelling, including beauty, editorial and commercial work, and what it takes to adapt across markets, clients and creative teams. This conversation also touches on what she believes makes a good model, why ego has to be left at the door, the importance of trusting your agent, and how the industry continues to change with social media, longer model careers and the growing conversation around AI. www.businessofmodelling.co.uk  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Antony Fitzgerald is a classic model and the founder of New Silver Generation, a community he created to champion older models and talent, particularly older people of colour. In this episode, he reflects on coming into modelling at 50 years old, after earlier careers in PR and teaching and he speaks about his view of how the industry was shaped by his father and sister who had both modelled before him. He talks about the lack of visibility he noticed when he first started for older models of colour who did not fit a narrow commercial stereotype. Antony explains why New Silver Generation was created, not as an agency, but as a space to be seen in a more individual and expressive way. This conversation also looks at how older models are often boxed into limited roles, and why age should not be treated as a restriction in casting. Antony speaks about confidence, personal style, personality and life experience, and challenges the assumption that older talent should only be shown in quiet, grey or “grandparent” roles. He also discusses the importance of international visibility, how working in different markets helped shift how he was seen, and what agencies, brands and clients may be missing when they fail to look beyond age, statistics or stereotypes. www.businessofmodelling.co.uk www.newsilvergeneration.co.uk   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jody Furlong is the founder of The Eye Casting, working across fashion, advertising and commercial campaigns, with a focus on casting that feels current and grounded in relatable people. In this episode, he reflects on how he built his career in casting - from early work in the industry to establishing an agency and developing a clear approach to finding the right talent for each brief.  He talks through what casting involves day to day, from interpreting briefs to managing clients’ expectations, and explains why understanding what a brand is really asking for is often more important than what is written down. He also shares the realities behind casting decisions, the challenges that can come with unclear direction, and the importance of communication, organisation and experience in delivering a job properly.  Alongside this, Jody discusses how the industry has evolved over time, including the shift towards more inclusive and real people casting, changes in how briefs are written, and the growing need to balance creative ideas with what is achievable in practice. He reflects on working closely with agents and production teams, the pressures of delivering at pace, and why getting the right fit remains central to any successful campaign.  www.businessofmodelling.co.uk www.theeyecasting.co.uk   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Natalie-Amber has built a commercial modelling career whilst living with Crohn’s disease and an invisible disability. Having entered the industry at a young age, her experience spans across fashion, lifestyle and brand campaigns, alongside navigating years of misdiagnosis, emergency surgery and returning to work with visible scarring. Her perspective is shaped by firsthand experience of how health, access and understanding impact a model’s ability to work safely and confidently on set. In this episode, Natalie talks about growing up in the modelling industry, the realities of managing chronic illness alongside work, and the physical and emotional challenges of coming back to set after major surgery. She explains why honest conversations, preparation and clear communication are essential when health needs are involved, and how support on set often goes beyond what is visible on the surface. She also discusses the difference between token representation and genuine inclusion, how brands and production teams can do better in practice, and why consistency matters more than one-off gestures. Natalie reflects on advocacy, responsibility and the importance of treating health, disability and real bodies with understanding and respect, rather than as a moment or a message. www.businessofmodelling.co.uk  www.natalieamber.co.uk   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian Boddy is a children’s commercial and editorial photographer with extensive experience working across fashion, advertising and editorial projects. His career has been shaped by a clear understanding that photographing children carries a responsibility that goes far beyond getting the shot.   In this episode, Ian reflects on how his approach to working with children has evolved over time and why trust, calm and communication are key to every successful shoot. He talks openly about the importance of creating the right environment on set, respecting a child’s pace, and recognising that young children cannot and should not be treated as small adults.   Ian discusses the role photographers play alongside agencies, parents and production teams, how industry expectations have shifted, and why preparation and experience matter when working in fast-moving commercial settings. He also shares his view on responsible practice behind the camera, balancing client expectations with a child’s wellbeing, and why the experience a child leaves with is just as important as the final image.  www.businessofmodelling.co.uk  www.ianboddy.co.uk   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kiki Minwegen is an international model represented by Seeds Management in Berlin, whose career spans working in Paris, Milan, Cape Town and Germany. Alongside modelling, she is trained in nutrition and has gone on to become a life coach and mindfulness teacher, building a more holistic, purpose-led way of working alongside her creative career.  In this episode, Kiki reflects on entering the fashion industry at a young age, the pressures of perfection and constant comparison, and why modelling was never meant to be her final destination. She talks openly about identity, body image and mental health. Her transition into nutrition and coaching, and the importance of community, routine and self-connection. Kiki also shares how she defines success beyond image, money or status, and why finding purpose alongside modelling, rather than making it your whole identity, has been key to her wellbeing.  www.businessofmodelling.co.uk  www.katharinaminwegen.com  www.seeds.de  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sally Andrews casts actors and models across commercial, fashion and digital campaigns. Her career spans in-person castings and the shift to self-tapes, giving her a clear view of how casting decisions are made, how talent is assessed, and how the process has changed over the past decade. In this episode, Sally breaks down how casting works today, what casting directors are looking for when reviewing self-tapes and Spotlight profiles, and why many strong performers fall short for reasons that have nothing to do with talent. She shares practical insight into authenticity, preparation and presentation, explains common mistakes that stop talent progressing, and offers a grounded perspective on what genuinely makes someone castable in an increasingly competitive landscape. www.businessofmodelling.co.uk   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brandon Andre is an LA-based photographer, model developer and scout whose work has helped hundreds of new faces to build their books, take strong digitals and sign with major agencies. His career spans agency testing, portfolio building on-camera coaching, high-impact social media series and the creation of new scouting formats.In this episode, he discusses the mindset required for a sustainable modelling career, the technical standards that models overlook, and why confidence comes from performance, not perfection. He also shares how social media transformed his business and reshaped how aspiring models are discovered today.www.businessofmodelling.co.ukwww.brandonandrephoto.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.