The Blue Rooms is a service available for aspiring models to help guide, advise and support them during the first steps into the fashion world. 

In such a competitive industry, a helping hand could mean the difference between success and failure. But just how helpful are The Blue Rooms, and are they worth the cost?

The Blue Rooms Photographic Studios are not a modelling agency; they’re a photography studio and advice service that help aspiring models into the world of modelling. The fashion world is notoriously difficult to break into, so an advice service could be invaluable for would-be models struggling to get their foot in the door. 

Unfortunately, the modelling industry is well-known for attracting scam artists and con agencies who attempt to take advantage of those desperate for success. So are The Blue Rooms trustworthy? And just how much help are they able to offer?

What Are The Blue Rooms Studios?

The Blue Rooms Studios owns UK Models, the UK’s leading advice service for aspiring models.

They provide professional photography services at their own studios across the country, where aspiring models can try their hand in front of the camera and experience a real-life photo shoot experience – an incredibly valuable service particularly for those that have no prior experience in modelling.

Photos can then be purchased and used in a model’s portfolio. A model’s portfolio is a vital tool that will be taken to all modelling interviews and auditions; a good one is essential for success.

As well as providing models with a high-quality photography service, The Blue Rooms are also at hand to assist, advise and support anyone who registers with them. Their insider’s knowledge comes from years of industry experience, allowing them to provide model’s with a crucial understanding of a complex industry.

What Do The Blue Rooms Do?

Put simply, The Blue Rooms provide photo shoot experience and advice for aspiring models. It’s not easy to get into modelling; not only is it incredibly competitive, but it also has strict requirements. It’s also infamous for being fairly nepotistic, which means it’s difficult for unknown people to get a look-in. 

That’s where The Blue Rooms comes in. They can answer any and all questions about the modelling industry, as well as provide a high-quality modelling portfolio that can be taken to any job auditions.

Registering is completely free, though you will need to put down a deposit for your time in the photography studio. Your look will be assessed by their experts, who will evaluate your chances of success as a model. 

If you have potential, you’ll be invited to one of their top-of-the-range photography studios to have a go in front of the camera and gain some valuable experience on a proper photo shoot set. The moment you arrive, you will experience the reality of a professional photoshoot. Your hair and make-up will be done by one of The Blue Rooms industry specialists, who will help you get comfortable and camera-ready.

After the shoot, you get to sit down with one of the team members to go through your photos and evaluate them. The best photos can be selected and purchased from as little as £500 for use in a modelling portfolio. Other packages are available should you want additional services.

How Do The Blue Rooms Help Aspiring Models?

The Blue Rooms helps aspiring models in a number of ways:

Realistic. The Blue Rooms are able to help models manage their expectations and be realistic about their ability to succeed in the world of modelling. The reality is that modelling is a difficult profession to enter into; The Blue Rooms can provide honest feedback about the realities of your success.

Experience. Modelling is a catch 22 – in order to get experience, you need experience! The Blue Rooms enables hopeful models the opportunity to try their hand at modelling in a professional studio where they can learn from any mistakes and experience the reality of a photo shoot. This gives them vital experience that they can take with them to interviews, auditions and future modelling jobs. 

Confidence. Modelling can be a scary, overwhelming business, particularly if you don’t know anything about it. It’s an industry that is difficult to understand unless you already have experience within it. The Blue Rooms are able to tell aspiring models what they can expect, and advise them on what to do to give themselves the best possible chances of success. This can be a huge confidence boost.

Support. Models face lots of rejection which can have a negative impact on confidence and self-esteem. The Blue Rooms can provide ongoing support to help models avoid feelings of despondency and instead find the courage and strength to keep going until they find success.

Tools. One of the most important tools a model can have is their modelling portfolio. A modelling portfolio contains up to 20 high-quality photos. All model’s – even supermodels – take their portfolio to each and every audition and casting call they are invited to. It allows potential employees the chance to see a model’s previous modelling experience, as well as their range. A good portfolio is vital; it could make or break a model’s career. A portfolio needs to enable modelling agencies or brands to see the model in the modelling campaign they are planning. The Blue Rooms helps aspiring models take exceptional high-quality photos that can be used in portfolios and z-cards, increasing a model’s chances of successfully landing work.

It’s important to remember that The Blue Rooms are not a modelling agency themselves; their job is to help aspiring models gain the knowledge and tools required to get signed to a modelling agency. Getting signed is no small feat, and having a strong portfolio and the know-how will help a model stand above the rest.

Success Stories

You don’t have to take The Blue Room’s word for it; they have plenty of 5-star reviews.

In particular, The Blue Rooms has exceptionally positive reviews from parents of aspiring child models. Many Mum’s and Dad’s have voiced having an excellent time at the studios with their children. Words like “professional”, “accommodating” and “fantastic” are all commonly seen in the online reviews. As anyone with children can attest, photo shoots can be an overwhelming experience for kids and it can be difficult to make them feel calm and comfortable. This is what The Blue Rooms specialise at; helping beginners navigate and feel comfortable with the photo shoot experience. Kids of all ages are welcome, and if you’re thinking about getting your child or teen into modelling, The Blue Rooms are the best in the business for advice and vital know-how.

Third party reviews from Reviews.co.uk

What to Expect When You Go to the Studios

The process should be professional, fun and – most importantly – it should help to calm your nerves and enable you to get the most out of the experience.

When you arrive at the studios, you’ll be greeted by a member of the team before having an informal chat about your goals for the shoot. This chat will allow you to ask any questions you may have about the process and help you feel less nervous.

Next, you will be led through to get your hair and make-up done by professional stylists and artists. You’ll get lots of creative input here about the sort of look you like, and the stylists will also be able to advise on what will most suit your unique looks and what will stand out most in your photos. You should feel happy and confident by the time they’re finished.

You will have been asked to bring with you a selection of outfits for your shoot. You’ll put your chosen outfit on, and then it’s photo time. 

Some photos are taken outside, but most are taken in the professionally equipped photography studio. This allows you to have a perfectly blank canvas on which to practice your modelling technique and posing. The photographer will help guide you through the process and put you at ease during the entire shoot. By the end of the shoot, you will have had the opportunity to try a selection of outfits, poses and expressions.

Immediately after the shoot, you will get to sit down with a member of the team to go through your photos. With their advice, you can select the best photos to include in your modelling portfolio. There’s no pressure, and you will be given the best advice to help you make the most informed decision. The end photos are entirely up to you.

Your chosen photos can then be used in your modelling portfolio as well as on your z-cards and on your website (if you have one).

The Whole Process

Watch this video to see what it’s really like at The Blue Rooms Studios:

The Blue Rooms Locations

The Blue Rooms have 5 studios around the country:

The Blue Rooms Trinity – Based in the heart of Manchester, The Blue Rooms Trinity is considered one of the leading photographic studios for models. With 18 years of experience, they deliver exceptional service and have helped thousands of hopefuls take their first steps into the world of modelling. 

The Blue Rooms Manchester Piccadilly. The Blue Rooms Manchester Piccadilly has a team of 25 photographers make-up artists and hair stylists, meaning they have plenty of industry experience to turn aspiring models into future superstars. 

The Blue Rooms Wiltshire. The Blue Rooms Wiltshire offers quality and varied portfolio for each and every client, strengthening their chances of success in the dog-eat-dog world of modelling.

Old Street Photographic Studio. The Blue Rooms Old Street Photographic Studio is based in London and is recognised as one of the market leaders when it comes to modelling portfolios. 

The Blue Rooms Manchester. The Blue Rooms Manchester has leading industry experts who have worked with some of the top names in the industry.

What Are the Pros and Cons to The Blue Rooms?

There’s plenty of pros to The Blue Rooms as noted above, but what about the cons?

Unfortunately, working with The Blue Rooms does not guarantee you a future in modelling. Your success depends entirely on you – whether you have the right look for the moment, the drive and determination to succeed, the will to keep going, and the right work ethic. While The Blue Rooms can give you some excellent knowledge and tools to help you along, ultimately your success will come down to how hard you work (and a pinch of luck). The modelling industry is very competitive and difficult to get into; The Blue Rooms will give you a helping hand, but they can’t promise you a career.

Another con is the misconception that they are an agency themselves. While The Blue Rooms are clear to customers that they are NOT an agency and will not be able to guarantee work, aspiring hopefuls often tend to overlook this fact.

While The Blue Rooms is a legitimate company, there are many scam artists out there who attempt to use The Blue Rooms name and scam would-be models. It’s important to ensure that the people you are in contact with are legitimate employees of The Blue Rooms (this can be done via the contact details on their official website.) The Blue Rooms does not contact people who have not registered on their website. Those under 16 will need the consent of a parent or guardian.

After Support

Your time at The Blue Rooms doesn’t end when you leave after the photoshoot. You’ll have ongoing contact with the team, who will be able to help answer any questions you might have. 

Once you have your modelling portfolio, you will want to start finding work or a modelling agency. The Blue Rooms can advise on the best way to approach agencies – what to wear, how to act, which images will give you the best chances of success, how to apply… modelling can be a bit of a mindfield, so The Blue Rooms are there to make things less confusing.

It’s also easy to feel despondent when trying to break into the industry. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed or to feel like giving up. Rejection is an everyday reality for models, especially those just starting out. The Blue Rooms can give you the confidence you need to continue.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a genuine company to help you on the path to greatness in the modelling industry, The Blue Rooms is the place to go. You will struggle to find a company with more industry professionals with insider knowledge of such a secretive industry. 

Not only can The Blue Rooms impart valuable knowledge that will help aspiring models know what they need to do to get started, but they also provide an exceptional photography experience that will be invaluable for those people who have never set foot inside a professional studio.

The modelling portfolio is a vital tool for any model, and anyone without it will find it impossible to find work or get signed. The Blue Rooms gives hopefuls the opportunity to create a top-of-the-range portfolio that will stand out from the competition and increase their chances of getting signed and finding modelling work.

While The Blue Rooms are unable to promise work, what they do provide is a service that all aspiring models want – help, support, the right tools for the job and a friendly voice when things get tough.