They say we’re supposed to be grown, but why do I feel like a child? Looking out the window, searching for something exciting, something new. All the while apathetic to the gorgeous present moment, standing at the edge of a moutain waiting for the wind to blow.
You say I’m supposed to be healed, but the pain is still there. Festering until the valve gets opened again. And still, the sun shines, hand-in-hand we spin in its late-day glow, interlocked, even if in a dream.
I say I’m supposed to be more like you. Like an open book with no cover, no shield, and free for all to see. Yet when the quiet comes and the urge to move nudges, I sit still and feel it all, inviting the thunderstorms with open arms, because only after can the sun shine.
Imagine being a rockstar: a carefree, confident, counterculture innovator, and most likely someone carrying more than a few personal issues. Let us introduce our rockstar, a character we created inspired by 1970s big-hair rockers. We see this man going through the creative process, pondering his next music lyrics, seeking inspiration from both the inner and outer worlds, and testing those new ideas on an antique piano.
What did this character have to do to become the larger-than-life presence he so sought his entire life? And once he got there, was it everything he thought it would be? Looking out the window of his rural childhood home, what dreams propelled him to live this out-loud life in the big city? He has his fair share of secrets, some of the deep, dark and unrelenting, and others trivial, but to him, they are huge wounds. He protects himself, partially because he is afraid of anyone really knowing him.
After all, if they really knew him, would they stay?
This is the feeling we begin with for this editorial. A moody, vulnerable, and almost-brooding peek into the total-package rockstar from the 1970s in all his messy humanness and then transported into an eclectic, modern-day Bushwick, Brooklyn artist’s loft.
We channel the relaxed confidence and borderline-dazed state of our rockstar, sitting by the window and soaking in the light from the mid-afternoon glow. Wearing a simple pair of jeans and a suede jacket only, and with minimal editing, we showcase the natural sex appeal of the male body.
Going through the creative process can be challenging and bring up a lot of unresolved emotions. We see our rockstar laying on the floor amidst deep thought, staring up at the ceiling, thinking of the lyrics for his next hit. Or maybe he is going through the Rolodex of regrets for past decisions he’s made in life and love.
Then, he moves to the piano to test his new ideas, maybe even releasing past traumas with each keystroke in the therapeutic process of writing music, trying to bring the inner turmoils and sagas of his life to the surface in beautiful sound. In the background, we can see the eclectic setting of an inner-city artist, a deep thinker, someone spiritual, and connected to nature and knowledge with an abundance of books and plants.
The inner torment of the creative person can be complex. We see our rockstar on the couch, transfixed with thoughts of where to go next. Is he having a deep thought about his past and trying to translate that into his next hit song? Maybe he is stoned and simply being, allowing his mind to wander with the soft fuzz of a few puffs.
Maybe he just came back from a meeting with his manager or an executive of the record label, as we see him in a blazer and opened button-down shirt. The natural light from the mid-afternoon glow is shining against his tan skin and the leather of the sectional couch.
Sitting on a bureau, he rests his elbow against an empty birdcage and peers out the window. Like his mind wandering out into uncharted territory, we also have to wonder if a bird ever lived in that cage, or if it symbolized something more.
A cage, like his human mind, can be empty and open, allowing the light and breeze to pass through freely, or closed and harboring a loud animal, unrelenting, on repeat, and looking for a way to escape.
Lastly, we see a modern, gritty, casual Brooklyn artist on his way to the train station, hair blowing in the wind. The train tracks above are structural and unmoving, a juxtaposition with his free-flowing hair being caught by a passing wind gust.
In this editorial we see warm, natural light paired with simple yet classically sexy styling. The male form is accentuated by the light and dark. With minimal styling and relaxed poses, we see our rockstar for who he really is: a vulnerable young creative becoming unstuck before our eyes. Or maybe he’s becoming even more stuck, close to coming undone. The secret lays in his next hit.
Don’t let all the 18-year-old fresh faces plucked from Eastern European villages fool you: there is a huge market for male models over 30-years-old and beyond.
The first step to starting your male modeling career after age 30 is creating a portfolio. You can begin by using a free website like Model Mayhem to connect with local photographers and build your portolio.
Next, you should showcase your images with high-resolution prints for a physical portfolio to show clients, and also create a website to be hired from. I’d recommend a sleek site like Pixpa to showcase your portfolio beautifully.
The next step is making sure your online presence is up-to-date and showcases your best self. Make sure you have an Instagram and Facebook modeling page at the very least. Post your professional photos, but also post everyday selfies because audiences like to see the “real you,” too.
While there are many ways to find work as a male model over 30 on your own, it can also be helpful to sign up with a modeling agency. Do a quick Google search for modeling agencies in your area and find out if they have an open call, what their submission guidelines are, and any requirements.
If you do get a chance to go meet with a modeling agent, make sure you wear form-fitting, clean clothes free of large prints and logos. Simple well-fitted jeans and a t-shirt work great. Make sure you are groomed according to your look and get a good night’s sleep before.
If you are booked on a modeling job, make sure you arrive on time and bring a book or some form of entertainment because a lot of the day could be a hurry-up-and-wait situation. As a model, you are one part of the creative process, but there are many different people on set doing different jobs to make the images/videos come together perfectly for the client. Be ready and available to shoot when the director/photographer calls you over and listen carefully to their direction.
Preparation is key to becoming a successful male model over 30, so make sure you’re mindful of your diet and are eating whole, nutritious foods and exercising regularly. Stay consistent with a skin care routine, which includes a face wash, moisturizer, eye cream, and any other products you feel called to.
Remember, there are a lot of modeling jobs out there for male models over 30, so stay consistent in your efforts and don’t get discouraged. Modeling careers are sporadic and jobs come and go randomly: some months you may book 5 jobs, and then you won’t work again for 3 months. So, keep your side-hustle or flexible survival job. That way you won’t have desperate energy when you walk into any room because your bills will be paid.
Follow me here or on my Instagram at @myles.ellison to follow my journey as a working male model over 30 in New York City.
