How to Become a Hand Model

Has anyone ever told you what nice hands you have? Or perhaps they’ve even gone a step further and told you that you could very well be the next J.P. Prewitt AKA ‘The World’s Greatest Hand Model’. If that’s the case, then maybe it’s time that you genuinely considered becoming a hand model. And no, we’re not kidding.

Hand models are much sought after and while they may not bask in the fame that many other types of models do, they can make good money and enjoy a steady career from simply taking care of their hands. Of course, there’s a little more to it than simply using plenty of moisturiser which is why we decided to hook you up with this detailed guide on how to become a hand model.

So whether you’re already doing some modelling or you’re a complete novice, here is how you can get started.

Can I be a hand model?

Much like typical modelling, the hand modelling industry needs all kinds of hands. Regardless of your age, ethnicity, gender, or size, there’s a good chance that there is a company out there that wants to use hands just like yours for their next campaign.

Of course, there is more demand for certain types of hand models. For example, clients may ask for unblemished skin free of moles, scars, or tattoos. This is because in some cases the client would prefer that the attention of the audience is firmly on their product and not the model’s hand. For example, a tattoo may draw the eye away from an engagement ring while a calloused hand might not work quite so well for a hand cream. Then again, it all depends on the target audience.

So the short answer is that yes, you can be a hand model.

What kind of jobs do hand models get?

Okay, so it seems quite obvious what hand models land jobs that are primarily focused on hand products, right? Had creams, rings, bracelets, watches, manicure products, nail products — you know the type of things we mean.

While this is true, believe it or not, there are quite a lot of other campaigns that also require a good hand model. The food industry is one area where hand models are often in demand. Think of all of those ads you’ve seen in the past of a hand holding a burger or a piece of fruit. And what about household items like vacuum cleaners or dish cloths? Then we have all of those tradie products like tape measures, drills, screwdrivers. In fact, just about anything that you can hold in your hand could require the talents of a hand model to promote it.

How much do hand models get paid?

Now we get down to the nitty gritty. As we mentioned earlier, hand models can get paid quite well but it depends largely on the calibre of the client. A local custom jewellery store will have a much smaller budget than a major brand. For this reason, it’s incredibly difficult to put an exact figure on it.

Generally speaking, a hand model can expect to make somewhere in the region of $350-$600 per day. If it’s a full day shoot. The truth is that unless you make the right connections and have a good agent, getting paid the big bucks is going to be tricky. But as with all modelling, if you’re patient and put in the hard work, your opportunity will come.

How to start hand modelling

Any type of modelling career starts with finding the right agency and representation. Yes, we may sound a little biassed here, but the simple truth is that unless you have a solid agency behind you, finding hand modelling work is going to be extremely difficult. This is because for this type of modelling, clients tend to go straight to agencies in their search for talent rather than putting out an open casting call.

They will often have very specific requirements and asking the agency to recommend suitable talent is much easier than wading through hundreds of applications from unsigned models.

So how to find the right agency?

What you’re looking for is an agency that has worked with major brands in the past and that can show you samples of the work they have booked for their talents. In many cases, you don’t even have to ask to see this as most busy agencies will announce their wins on social media or have a website page that lists their clients. The agency should also have a clear policy of meeting with talents prior to signing them. This can be either in person or through a Zoom call. If the agency just wants to sign you immediately, you can tell they’re probably just in it for the fees and won’t do much to help you land any work.

If the agency has experience booking hand models, that’s great. But don’t get too hung up on this. Once the agency has worked with major brands and has verifiable success stories for its other models, the chances are you’ll be in good hands — sorry, not sorry for the pun.

Create a portfolio

Some might recommend that you do this step first. But we don’t think that you should spend too much money on professional photos until you’ve at least had the chance to speak with someone who works in the industry first. A quick chat with an agent will give you a better idea of whether or not it’s worth your while investing.

So if things are looking positive, it’s time to get those photos done for your portfolio. You’ll want these taken by a professional as that’s what clients will expect to see in your portfolio. They want to know what your hands look like in a studio environment so no images taken with your smartphone.

Take a look at a hand model’s portfolio and see what positions they hold their hands in and try to emulate those poses for your portfolio shots. We would also recommend including at least one shot that features your face. It’s always good for a client to be able to put a face to a name and besides, they may even hire you for a campaign that features both your hands and face!

Practice your steadiness

Steady hands are often required of hand models and this can be quite hard to manage if you’re stuck in a studio for four hours. So practice keeping your hand steady but holding onto something and keeping as still as you can for bursts of 20 seconds or so. You’ll notice that the more you do this, the steadier and stronger your hands become.

Take good care of your hands

Manicure? Yeah, go for it, especially if you have a shoot coming up. But you can also do a lot more than pamper your hands to take good care of them. Keeping your nails clean and trimmed and moisturising daily will help a lot, but that’s not all. Start being more careful too. Try not to nick your fingers on scissors or anything sharp and wear gloves when washing dishes or doing any other type of work with your hands. Oh, you should already be doing this but we’ll just remind you to always use sunscreen.

As with all types of modelling, the key to becoming a successful hand model is to be patient. In fact, while there are opportunities for work, there are much fewer than in regular modelling so you’ll need to turn your patience into something of a superpower. But trust us, once you stay positive, the opportunities will come. And remember, if you’re looking for reputable representation, then look no further. Get in touch with Hunter Talent today or apply to join us and we’ll get right back to you.