Model Cover Letter Examples
By Mustafa Tarabya, founder of CVBooster · Published · Updated
A modeling cover letter is read in a few seconds by a scout or booker at an agency, or by a casting coordinator at a brand, and it is read next to your pictures. The photos answer whether you have the look. The letter answers everything the photos cannot: your measurements and height, where you are based, what kind of work you want, whether you are already represented, and whether you will be on time, take direction and stay professional through a long shoot day.
Most modeling cover letters spend their space on how long the applicant has dreamed of modeling. Bookers have read that sentence thousands of times, and it does not help them place you. The letters that get a reply are short and practical: stats, location, availability, the work done so far and a link to digitals. Below are three model cover letter examples, from a new face writing to an agency with no professional work yet to an experienced model applying for an in house fit and e-commerce contract, with a note on every paragraph.
Complete model cover letters, annotated
New face, no professional work yet
A university student with no paid modeling work, writing to the new faces division of a fashion agency with digitals attached.
Dear New Faces Team,
I am writing to apply to the new faces division at Harbor Model Management. I am nineteen, based in Manchester and studying part time, and I am looking for representation for fashion and commercial work. My digitals, taken this week in natural light with no makeup, are attached as your website asks.
The opening names the division, age, location and goal, and confirms the digitals follow the agency's own instructions, which is the first thing a scout checks.
My measurements are: height 5 feet 10 inches, bust 32 inches, waist 24 inches, hips 35 inches, dress size 4, shoe size 8. I have brown hair and green eyes, and I have no tattoos or visible piercings.
Stats belong in their own short paragraph so a booker can find them in one glance. Listing hair, eyes and tattoos saves an email back and forth.
I have not done paid work yet. I have walked in two charity fashion shows at my university and shot one test with a local photographer, which taught me how long a shoot day really is and how much of it is waiting. I take direction well, I am on time, and my study schedule leaves me free on Mondays, Thursdays and most weekends, with full availability during holidays.
The applicant is honest about having no paid work, then turns small experiences into proof of professionalism and gives exact availability, which a booker needs to send them to castings.
Thank you for looking at my application. I would be glad to come to an open call or a meeting at the agency at any time that suits you.
Offering to attend an open call matches how agencies actually meet new faces, so the close asks for a step the agency already runs.
Kind regards, Maya Okonjo
Signed commercial model applying to a brand
A commercial model with four years of agency work, applying directly to a fashion retailer for an in house e-commerce model contract.
Dear Ms Barrett,
I am applying for the in house e-commerce model contract at Thornbury Clothing, advertised on your careers site. I have modeled for four years with Linden Models, mostly e-commerce, catalog and commercial print, and I am based in London, a short journey from your studio.
The first lines tie the application to the posting, name the agency and the type of work, and remove the commute question a studio manager will have.
On a typical e-commerce day I shoot between eighty and a hundred and twenty looks for online retailers, keeping poses consistent with the brand guide so every product page matches. I am used to fast changes, steaming and pinning between shots, and working with the same stylist and photographer team for weeks at a time. I also do fit sessions for two womenswear labels, so I can give clear feedback on how a garment sits and moves.
Looks per day, consistency with a brand guide and fit feedback are what an e-commerce team pays for. Specific numbers show the model knows the pace of the studio.
My measurements are height 5 feet 9 inches, bust 33 inches, waist 25 inches and hips 35 inches, and I wear a standard size 8 in your range. My agency has confirmed I can take an in house contract alongside my existing bookings, and I am available from the start date in your posting.
Measurements in the brand's own sizing and a clear statement on the agency arrangement answer two practical questions before the brand needs to ask them.
My portfolio and recent e-commerce tear sheets are at the link below. Thank you for considering my application, and I would be happy to come in for a test shoot.
A test shoot is the normal next step for an in house model, so the close offers it directly and points to the portfolio instead of describing it.
Best regards, Hannah Mercer
Experienced runway and editorial model changing agency
A model with nine years of runway, editorial and campaign work, writing to a new agency to request representation after relocating.
Dear Mr Adeyemi,
I am writing to ask whether North Quarter Management would consider representing me in the London market. I have modeled professionally for nine years, most recently with an agency in Paris, and I relocated to London last month. My previous contract has ended and I am free to sign.
The opening states the request, the market, the experience and the fact the model is free to sign, which is the first question any agency asks a represented model.
My work includes runway for ready to wear and couture shows across four fashion weeks, editorial for national fashion magazines and two international fragrance campaigns. Over the last two seasons I have also worked as a fit model for a luxury house, which means I am comfortable with long fittings and with design teams who need precise feedback.
Runway, editorial, campaign and fit work are listed by category so a booker sees range. Fit work adds a second income stream an agency can book.
I am looking for an agency that can balance editorial and commercial work, and I believe your board fits that. I am reliable on long show days, I travel easily for castings and I keep my book and digitals up to date every season. My current stats are height 5 feet 11 inches, bust 32 inches, waist 24 inches and hips 34 inches, and my book, show list and recent digitals are linked below.
The model shows they have studied the agency's board, then covers reliability and travel before giving current stats and pointing to the book.
I would welcome a meeting with you or your board director at a time that suits the agency. Thank you for your time.
A meeting with the board director is the right ask for an experienced model, and a short close respects how busy bookers are.
Yours sincerely, Sofia Lindgren
What each paragraph has to do
Put the request and your stats first
Say what you are asking for in the first sentence: representation, a contract or a casting. Then give your age if you are applying as a new face, your location and the type of work you want. Put measurements in their own short paragraph so a booker can find them in a glance.
- The division or job you are applying to.
- Location and willingness to travel.
- Height, bust or chest, waist, hips, dress or suit size and shoe size.
- Whether you are currently represented or free to sign.
Show professionalism, not passion
Every model loves modeling, so saying so does not separate you. Show the habits that make a booker comfortable sending you to a client: being on time, taking direction, handling long days and quick changes, and keeping your book and digitals current. Use one or two real examples from shoots, shows or similar work.
Let the pictures do the rest
Link or attach exactly what the agency or brand asks for, usually natural light digitals with no makeup or filters. Do not describe your look in the letter. Point to the portfolio, then close with the next step the agency already offers, such as an open call, a meeting or a test shoot.
- Digitals: front, profile, full length and smiling, no filters.
- A portfolio or book link for experienced models.
- A show list or tear sheets if you have them.
Opening lines that fit your situation
You are a new face writing to an agency: I am nineteen, based in Manchester and looking for fashion and commercial representation, and my digitals are attached exactly as your website asks.
Age, location, the work you want and correct digitals are what a scout checks before anything else.
You are applying to a brand for e-commerce work: I shoot between eighty and a hundred and twenty looks on a typical e-commerce day and keep every pose consistent with the brand guide.
An e-commerce team cares about pace and consistency, so leading with both shows you know the job.
You were scouted or referred: Your scout, Leah Morgan, stopped me at a casting last Saturday and asked me to send my digitals and measurements to the new faces team.
A named scout puts your letter on the right desk and tells the agency they already showed interest.
You are a fit model: For two seasons I have been the size 8 fit model for a womenswear label, giving the design team clear notes on how each sample sits and moves.
Fit work needs exact sizing and useful feedback, and this line proves both in one sentence.
Phrases to cut
Instead of: I have dreamed of being a model since I was a child.
I am looking for fashion and commercial representation in Manchester and I am available Mondays, Thursdays and most weekends for castings.
Instead of: I am very photogenic.
My digitals, taken this week in natural light with no makeup, are attached as your submission guidelines ask.
Instead of: I am passionate about fashion.
I shoot up to a hundred and twenty looks in a day and keep every pose consistent with the brand guide from the first look to the last.
Instead of: I am confident in front of the camera.
I have walked in two charity shows and shot a full test day, so I know how to take direction and hold energy through long waits.
Mistakes that cost interviews
- Leaving out measurements and location, which forces the booker to email back and often means they do not.
- Describing your looks in words instead of attaching the digitals the agency asked for.
- Sending heavily edited or filtered photos when the agency asks for natural light digitals.
- Writing about a lifelong dream instead of the work you have done and your availability.
- Not saying whether you are already signed, which is the first question any agency will have.
- Sending one letter to every agency without checking which boards and markets each one actually books.
Frequently asked questions
What should a modeling cover letter include?
Say what you are asking for, your age if you are a new face, your location, the type of modeling you want, your measurements, whether you are represented, your availability and any work so far. Attach or link the digitals the agency asks for. Keep the whole letter under one page and let the pictures carry your look.
How do I write a model cover letter with no experience?
Be honest that you have no paid work yet, then show professionalism with what you have: charity or student shows, test shoots, sports, dance or acting. Give your stats, location and exact availability for castings, and attach clean natural light digitals. Agencies sign new faces on potential and reliability, not on a long list of jobs.
Do modeling agencies read cover letters?
Many agencies only ask for digitals and measurements through a form, and in that case follow the form. When they accept an email, a short cover letter helps because it gives the booker your stats, location, availability and representation status in one place, which decides whether your pictures go to the board for a closer look.
How long should a modeling cover letter be?
Three or four short paragraphs, well under one page. Bookers read on a phone between castings and want stats, location, availability and a portfolio link straight away. A longer letter does not improve your chances, and important details buried in the fourth paragraph may never be read at all.
Should I include my measurements in a model cover letter?
Yes. Height, bust or chest, waist, hips, clothing size and shoe size are the first details a booker checks, because clients book to exact sizes. Put them in their own short paragraph so they can be found at a glance, and make sure they match the measurements on your digitals or comp card.
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