How to ID a Model

[modelknowledge]

A lot of people ask me to identify models or ask me information on how to identify a model. I have given advice all over thi forum and felt I should put it all in one place so everyone can access it. Please feel free to share your tips here.

1. Location- Knowing where the photograph was taken helps narrow down the search. For instance, ASOS is a British brand who books their models from London. JCPenney is an American brand who books models from New York, Miami, Dallas, Seattle, and Los Angeles.

2. Booking-

Catalog/Adverisements Some brands book from certain agencies or locations. For example, Saks 5th Avenue books a lot of their models from IMG's Development board. Most swimwear that is shot outside is shot on location in South Africa, US, Australia, or Brazil depending on the client. More often than not, Miami and Capetown are the go to spots. German catalogs usually shoot in Miami or Capetown.

Magazines/Editorial

Magazines sometimes book models from other countries but most of the time they stick to the country they are in. German Magazine's often book models from Miami or Capetown when they are shooting beach editorials. Cosmopolitan Magazine likes to do their beach editorials in South Africa and more often than not will book a model from there regardless of whether the model has in agency in the country in which the magazine is published. Huge Magazines like Cosmopolitan have editions all over the world. It is common for editorials to be recycled so its important to know the photograph and where the editorial was shot. You can usually find three or more version of the same editorial published in different countries. some editions will publish a models name where as another won't. Sometimes it takes some creative searches (ie Google translate) to find a models name.

3. Photographer- Sometimes photographers will use certain models they like over and over again. (the same goes for certain clothing catalog (catalogue). A lot of photographers have blogs or social media accounts where they display their work. Sometimes they will name a model. Even if you can't find the same picture, you might find the same model somewhere else on their site with a name.

4. Photoshop- Understanding how photoshop is done helps you focus on what features aren't modified. Polaroids are the best tool to identifying a model. They are the best thing to use to help you identify a model especially with catalog work. Most catalog is minimally airbrushed. So when you see an image model (editorial model) doing catalog its hard to compare her book to those images as they are super airbrushed. Catalogue companies don't care if the model looks flawless or not. They care about her general appearance and most importantly how the clothes look on her. So use her polaroids. If she doesn't have them, find a headshot with minimal makeup and use the eye shape as a key. Nose are often softened and slimmed. Eyes can change colors. Lips are almost always plumped. Jawlines are either made to be more angular or softened to be more feminine. Checkbones are often higlighted in beauty work. Eyes are often sharpened in editorial or test images to make the model more alluring. When looking at a model, all these factors must be considered. A good airbrushing won't change the shape, color, or texture of a model's features. However, not everyone is skilled and there are times where models don't even look like themselves.

5 Agencies- When searching through agencies, sometimes using search parameters can help you. However, what one agency think is dark blond might be light brown to another. Also, using ON Stay can help you figure out catalog models. If you see one particular model constantly in several catalogs, its likely that the model lives or in on-stay in that region. If an agency has an Intown or Onstay section, look at the first when identifying catalog model. It helps a lot with German catalog models.

6. Facebook - A lot of companies and agencies now have facebook sites. Sometimes they will mention a first name of a model or you might find the company liking a model. There have been times where other facebook users have identified a model or a model liked or tagged their own picture. It's usually a long shot but you never know.

7. Search Bellazon- Before posting an inquiry about a model, search the model id and fashion sections first. A lot of time with catalog models they are identified here, Fashionspot (if its an editorial model), or UMC. Search the clients name. You might have to go through quite a few threads but you will find them. For certain popular catalogs/brands like ASOS, Figleaves, La Senza, Victoria Secret, Triumph, Clarins, Nelly, etc, we have started thread for the identified models in the General Babes Section. Its a lot easier to find them there instead of going through the entire id section.

[modelknowledge]

Photoshop Tip: Eye color

Here is an image of Samira @ Nova Models in Munich. She is listed as having Gray Eyes. Yet every image in her book she has different color eyes. In the picture to the left, her eyes appear a gray]pruple color where as to the right they are sea foam green. You will also notice her jawline is little more square in the image to the right. The images aren't drastically different but the eye color is completely different. Brown are left alone. Hazel or light brown eyes in beauty editorials are always lightened. Green eyes are often made to be blue and dark blue eyes are always made to be that standard blue eye color that you find in every models head shots. With light eyed models, its sometimes better to go by a black and white picture so you don't focus on the coloring.

[awesomexxx]

8. Search Internet

with "Google Image Uploader"

https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi

Unknown Model:

Upload the pic!

result:

[modelknowledge]

Usually Commercial Models look exactly like their Polaroids. High fashion models (editorial/runway models) don't always look like the images in their book. The images in their books vary. Editorials and tests are over airbrushed. Not only that, each photographer and or publication has different mantra's on airbrushing.

This is Billie Jazz. She often changes her hair color. While most of the images in her book look like the same model. Her Polaroids usually don't look like those images.

This is her current head shot. almost every agency she is with is using this image as her icon image on the front page and her most current Polaroids. You can see the shape of her face is very different. Her face is much fuller and her jawline is thinned. The only thing that stayed the same is the shape of her eyes and brows.

Here is a candid from a while ago

This is from a lookbook

This is a test image

From an Elle Magazine (editorial)

In every picture with the exception of the last her jawline is different then the one in her Polaroids.

http://www.bellazon.com/main/index.php?showtopic=35494

[modelknowledge]

8. Search Internet

with "Google Image Uploader"

https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi

Unknown Model:

Upload the pic!

result:

Thanks for the advice but that's only good for popular models and editorial images.

it doesn't work with catalog or runway images because it finds like pictures. If an image isn't popular, it won't yield a result. The only way models get id'd with that is if the person who posted the picture elsewhere has named the model. so be very careful using it. i have also seen it link to things with inaccurate information. SO ALWAYS Double check it.

The way it works is searching through google images and doesn't work with flash sites. Considering a large number of agencies use flash sites, it doesn't always yield information. With a popular image or model, you will get results because Google links back to blogs and picture sharing sites. however, people don't always list the model or list her inaccurately. so unless it links to a photographer, agency, model, or industry professional's website or blog. Assume its wrong until you can prove otherwise.

This site is good if you have a models picture from an agency and want to find a photographer, brand, or magazine it might come from. The same goes for other reverse image sites such as Tin Eye.

edit: I have put images of glamour model and it once told me it was Mona Johansson and they looked nothing alike.

[modelknowledge]

Photoshop: Bodies

Obviously, all models skin gets smoothed out and sometimes "tanned". However, this is an example of a bad photographer/airbrusher can make you look heavier and older.

Here are Lauren Mellor's Polaroids

Here is a catalog she did. Notice that the airbrused photos look worse than completely untouched images?

note this images were taken around the same time.

[modelknowledge]

Skin

Sabriane Brandao for wonderbra. A common complaint about airbrushing is how they make skin look plastic and fake. Notice Brandao's varying bust sizes always as her mid section.

Polaroids

as you can see int campaigns like this almost everything is altered slightly. take this in consideration when identifying. in cases like these go with the eyes.

[JosephAlan]

Hello, a very interesting topic, a lot of interesting opinions and answers, I am the editor cursorinfo, now I am writing an article on the same topic, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow you can look at our website

[Harrypot]

i tried all the methods but not able to find name or even more images of this model. Does anyone know?

[SubhoPriya]

Hi Everyone, 

Can anybody tell me the name of this Fashion Model?

I guess she is from India.

[pikerpaul]

utilise Google Image Uploader ☺️

 

Tutuapp 9Apps Showbox

[tarsier41]

for fashion shows

 

-  image search (bellazon, google ...)

 

-  vogue site (here) :  informations needed: designer, season/year, haute couture, ready-to-wear or else;

starting in 1988 !   up-to-date now and growing (more cities covered for some years now)

 

- models.com site:  same infos needed;  little database in 1990s & 2000s; mostly 10-15 last years;   also frequently updated

 

- fashionmodeldirectory.com site (fmd):

    - option A:   search for the show (here), like vogue site

    - option B:  a combination of information about the show and the model (advanced search)

 

- The Fashion Spot site (tfs) :   showlists & advanced search

 

- bellazon search:  search fashion show and obtain some models names

 

- getty site named some models in fashion shows (1980s to now)

  example:  Angela Lindvall & Karen Elson, back in 1997

 

for a confirmation: 

  - runwaymayhem (2000-2012), vogue, fmd, models.com, bellazon,   tfs

 

after that, at bellazon, add a post in a topic: 

  - vintage topic

  -  1980s topic

  -  1990s topic

  - 2000-2005 topic

  - open a new specific topic

 

[hippoSV]

FaceCheck.ID and PimEye

 

They're a paid service, but with Facecheck they lead to websites with pretty much 100% face accuracy, despite being different images.

 

Just use those search results which contain modeling agencies, and browse the appropriate sections (if you don't want to pay for the actual link and result from those aforementioned services)

[calwatch]

I've found Yandex to be very helpful as well, especially since Google doesn't want to do facial recognition anymore. 

[calwatch]

One trick with Pimeyes is that the URL is embedded into the image file name in hexadecimal, which can be easily converted using a hex to ASCII converter.