Why You’re Not Getting Booked In 2026 (And What to Do About It)
Lately I’ve had a tonne of new models reach out to me, mostly because a few girls I’ve worked with recently have gotten signed or picked up paid work from the photos we’ve made together.
It comes down to one key thing. I focus heavily on creating a vibe.
That can mean anything, but when you look at my work, it feels effortless because we focus on getting into a state of flow. Finding a visual language together. Losing ourselves in the process.
We talk about the feeling. We reference. We chase light. We adapt to the time of day, the weather, and the location. We aim for movement that feels natural, not forced.
The same applies to how your Instagram and portfolio should feel. It doesn’t have to be a book of polished modelling shots, but it also can’t just say “I’m pretty and having fun on Instagram.” It has to say, “I have a unique look, a clear sense of self, and my world is an interesting one to be a part of.”
People always talk about development like it’s this formula:
Submit your digitals
Get signed
Get a test shoot done
Book a few more shoots
Have a portfolio put on the agency site.
Land a job where you make less money than what you spend on transport.
Do that again
And again
Oh look, an ecomm day rate!
Attend a casting call as terrible as this one and have yourself photographed doing it (link).
Maybe a campaign.
Congrats, you’re now a working modelling
But by the time that happens, you’ve probably already been told you’re too skinny, too short, too big, not a sample size. Too much boob. Too much thigh gap. Not enough. You’ve had your eyebrows picked apart. Your walk criticised. You’ve had someone on set comment on your posture, your body hair, your personality. You learn to let it all slide off you. You become smooth. Polished. Blank.
There’s nothing to grab onto. You’re a glass wall. Unclimbable.
Agencies in Australia that want to develop girls for fashion work overseas won’t tell you upfront, but they want your hips under 89cm. Is that achievable? For most women, not without starving. I’ve seen the messages. I’ve lived with girls who survive on cranberry juice and egg whites. It’s brutal. And I hate it.
I’m saying this because I don’t agree with it. I don’t like what this industry does to girls. I don’t like how quickly it erodes self-worth in the name of being aspirational.
Why is weight still such a focus? Because if the look were accessible to everyone, it wouldn’t feel exclusive. And exclusivity is what high fashion sells.
But I take a different approach. One that doesn’t require destroying your body or your spirit. You can still be that glass wall. Still be untouchable. But you can have personality. A story. An edge.
Great models build a visual world around who they are. Through the work they share, the clothes they wear, the photographers they collaborate with, the way they curate their presence.
The girls who get booked consistently might have baby photos on their feed, next to party shots, a beach holiday, a BTS from a shoot, a lunch with friends. Their world feels real. Lived in. Like a place you’d want to visit.
I don’t love the idea that we all have to be a brand. And yes, that’s hypocritical coming from someone who built one and hides behind it. But it’s true. These days it’s not just your follower count that matters. It’s what you say without saying it.
I’ve looked at plenty of modelling portfolios that left me cold, then clicked on the girl’s Instagram and immediately wanted to shoot. And the opposite too.
One of my favourite long-time collaborators caught my attention with a mix of poetry, daily life, and a few killer images. It felt like her feed had texture. That’s what you want.
So what should you actually do?
Build a vision board
Use Pinterest to collect mood, styling, and location references
Follow models who move you, and study their presence
Save imagery that feels aligned — not just pretty, but intentional
Ask yourself what these images are saying, and why they feel right
Because imagery isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating feeling.
It’s the start of 2026. Make a vision board. Get on Pinterest. Start moodboarding. Follow models whose work moves you. Pay attention to the ones that align with your energy and story. Ask yourself what they’re saying without words. Because images are meant to make you feel something.
That’s the point.
Instead of booking another three test shoots with photographers who might not even see the same vision you do, spend some time getting clear on what that vision actually is. That way, when you do shoot, it’s with real intention. And that makes all the difference.
Outs for 2026
Eating disorders disguised as “discipline”
Passive aggressive messages from your agent
“Just be grateful for the opportunity” energy
Shoots that feel like punishment
Creepy photographers (you knew from the first message)
Working with people who treat you like you’re replaceable
Photos that don’t feel like you
Feeling pressured to post nudes you didn’t even want to shoot
The cool girl act (you can have boundaries and still be chill)
Looking at castings and wondering what’s wrong with you
Ins for 2026
Curation (yes, your IG is a moodboard whether you like it or not)
Long-term collaborations with creatives who get it
Building your circle of people who actually support you
Having a point of view (you don’t need to be loud, just clear)
Pinterest spirals that end in real ideas
Shoots with meaning, not just content
Saying no and meaning it
Knowing when to ghost a vibe
Letting people earn access to you
Comfort, chemistry, and good snacks on set
