How to source, cast, and shoot international models
Even for domestic brands in the Korean market, we see
foreign models being utilized consistently.
When and with what needs do brands utilize foreign models?
1. when the message the brand wants to send is related to Western heritage.
In fashion, heritage is especially emphasized.
Since most of the clothes we wear these days are European in origin, it's sometimes advantageous to have a foreign setting to capitalize on
's heritage.
For example, if you're paying homage to 50s fashion, it's natural to use a Western background for
.
Recent trends such as minimalism,
ivory look, and preppy look originated in Western cultures, so it's common to use
Western models.
2. when you want to convey a specific mood or image (ex. exotic)
When a domestic designer brand is considering expanding into an international market, or
a brand that is still growing and wants to aggressively increase sales,
often turns to foreign models.
Sometimes the cost of a foreign model is more reasonable, or
you've experienced more sales than if you utilized a local model.
While we may use influencers or regular people for our in-studio photography,
sometimes we have a specific vibe we want to convey with our brand,
and we'll book an international model to fit that image.
How to hire foreign models
In Korea, foreign models are mainly divided into freelance and agency models.
You may also come across the term fly-in model,
which means a model is hired from overseas and flown in to Korea for a shoot.
The freelance model is,
- While the lack of management means you can negotiate a relatively low model fee,
- It's also a pain to have to search and contact them on Instagram.
- Often, contracts are not written, making it difficult to protect yourself in the event of a unilateral cancellation.
- I also hire interpreters on an individual basis when there are language issues.
So, instead of spending a lot of time and money, small and medium-sized brands can use the
Sometimes you may choose to shoot with a freelance model for a relatively reasonable cost.
Agency models contact a foreign modeling agency in Korea and receive a comp card,
- Because it's managed, it has the advantage of being low-risk for cancellation, and the
- Interpretation is available, but
- The higher the model fee, the higher the price.
- There are a lot of foreign modeling agencies, so it's just a different target audience, and you have to contact them individually.
Medium to large brands or high-fashion brands often prefer the agency model for
time savings and expertise.
If it's a big campaign, you can reach out to an international agency like
to fly in models,
As much time as agencies send models, it can be time-consuming to pre-qualify them, and it can be difficult to find models that fit your
schedule.
Tip. How do I use Spotlite to find models?
Spotlite saves clients from having to hunt and peck, and helps
meet the diverse needs of the brand.
Domestic foreign models or mixed-race models,
Freelance models and agency models,
international fly-in models
With just a few clicks, you can see
any kind of model
at a glance, at once!
Even if you haven't decided on a model that fits your brand image yet, you can start envisioning your shoot by accessing the
Spotlite, where you can see multiple models at a glance at
.
How to physically cast foreign models
Casting is done to see the actual mood and image of the models.
If it's a fashion show casting, we'll go through the fittings and catwalk, and if it's a
lookbook or campaign, we'll do a quick shoot with the fittings.
It usually lasts between 10 and 30 minutes per model, and often takes place at
brand offices or agencies.
Tip. Request a physical meeting in Spotlite
With Spotlite, you can easily request a physical meeting and casting with
via KakaoTalk or web request .
Instead of having to reach out to multiple agencies or freelance models, let the CX team at
in Spotlite help you manage your schedule directly.
Leave your request on the request page when creating your quote!
Go to Spotlight KakaoTalk
Working with foreign models
Once you have your models, you can go to
to begin the process of garbuckling and fixing them.
This is usually followed by a very hectic and repetitive process of confirming schedules directly with modeling agencies or models and coordinating with
photo / hair makeup / studio.
During busy seasons with multiple shoots, it can take hours and days just to keep
on schedule.
Tip. Gathering and shooting at a glance, and model availability
Spotlite makes it easy to request gabookings and shoots with a simple click, and
models can see in advance when they're available, saving
time and money.
Especially for small and medium-sized brands, the process of finding a creative artist for a
shoot is just as complex and difficult as finding a model for
.
At Spotlite, we offer an all-in-one package
to help you shoot at a reasonable cost and good quality!
**The all-in-one package will be available as a web service soon.
For now, you can reach out to us directly on the page
and we'll help you schedule all your casting with ease and ease in Spotlite
Visit the Spotlite channel
How to prepare for a shoot with a foreign model
Foreign and mixed-race models in the Korean fashion market
are in high demand for the reasons mentioned above, as well as
depending on the situation of various brands.
However, the process of sourcing, casting, and filming was still very
analog, with the responsibility and burden of
in between often falling entirely on the brand.
That's why we've made it easy for all types of brand needs to be addressed with
!
- A pool of domestic, international, and hybrid freelance models
- A pool of domestic, international, mixed-race, and foreign agency models
- International Fly in Model Pool
- Creative Artist Pool