Modeling with Braces

Is modeling with braces impossible? No. But is it possible? Rarely. Before you start rattling off the models you've seen in publications wearing braces, let me just inform you that they are far and few in between. Of course there will always be exceptions to the rule--the modeling industry is famous for that, but generally speaking, modeling with braces may not always be an option.

If you currently have braces and wish to pursue modeling, you may encounter some difficulties. Models wearing braces are not in high demand. Yes, there are those print ads for dentists and other specialists who do braces but there isn't enough of that type of work to keep the small number of models with braces busy. You'd end up seeing the same faces over and over again for those ads. If you're hoping for agency representation, don't be surprised if an agency decides to pass on you. Marketing a model with braces is just too hard and time consuming.

However, you may find an agent who wants to sign you...as soon as your braces come off. And that's great so don't despair if you're on the waiting list. The agency knows that once your braces are off, they can begin to market you right away with your brand new killer smile. If anything, just be patient and pursue your modeling career after you get your braces taken off. But if you just can't wait, it doesn't hurt to go to open casting calls to ask different agencies what your chances are. You never know, you may be that exception to the rule.

Is your smile not as perfect as it should be? If you're thinking about getting braces or if your dentist has stressed that you do so and you currently have an agent, you need to talk to them about this first before making any decisions. Your agency may not want you to have braces. After all, they did sign you as you are and if they saw your teeth as a problem, they would have pointed it out. If it is something that you are determined to do, you may have to take a break from modeling during the time you have the braces on. This may frustrate or disappoint your agent because if you get braces, then they have to redo your photos...maybe not all of them in your portfolio but definitely your headshots. There's no use in sending a client a picture of you without braces, right? At best, they could start to market you in a different direction towards clients that need models with braces, but it does severely limit your agent to the amount of work they can book you for. So be sure to talk things over with your agent in order to find a happy medium.

My dentist has been bugging me to get braces for the past year. Unfortunately, I never wore them as a child so I'd be a grown adult sporting braces, which I don't mind except that I've got a modeling career to think about. My agent has never requested that I get braces (some agencies may ask this of you so don't be surprised) so I've never bothered with them. Even though they do have clear braces, they can still show up in pictures and I would feel bad for any photographer who has to Photoshop those out! haha. After giving it some thought, I've come to love my non-perfect smile. I don't have a horrible smile, or missing teeth, gaps or a snaggletooth. I simply have a slight overbite, which you can't really see, and a few of my teeth on my right side are spaced a little but other than that, I've got a perfectly healthy smile. And that's what matters. I have no reason to get braces at this point, especially since my contract with FORD isn't even a year old and I've got about 2-3 years left with them. As I always say, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."