MODEL CASTINGS • SELF-TAPES • LAGOS

How to Make a Model Casting Video in Nigeria: What to Say, Wear & Avoid

A model casting video does not need cinematic lighting, a professional camera or complicated editing. What it does need is to let the casting team see you clearly, hear you clearly and get the information they actually asked for.

This is where a surprising number of aspiring models make things harder for themselves.

A casting asks for a 30-second introduction and someone sends a two-minute speech about how modelling has been their lifelong dream.

Another person adds transitions, slow motion and trending music. Someone else records with a beauty filter so strong that the casting team cannot even tell what their skin or face currently looks like.

Meanwhile, the person who simply followed the instructions may already have made a better first impression.

At DXC, we want models to understand one thing early: the casting video is not where you prove how good you are at CapCut. It is where you make yourself easy to assess.

First, What Is a Model Casting Video?

A casting video is a video requested by an agency, casting director, designer, production company or brand to help them assess you without necessarily meeting you in person first.

But not every casting video is the same.

You may be asked for a short introduction. Another casting may ask for a runway walk. A commercial job may want you to read a line or perform an action. Some applications require a video created specifically for that particular job.

That is why the first rule is not “record a good video.”

The first rule is:

Read the casting brief before you record anything.

1. Give Them What They Asked For, Not What You Feel Like Sending

A recent Nigerian example was the GTCO Fashion Weekend 2026 virtual casting. Applicants were asked to introduce themselves with specific information and follow clear wardrobe, grooming and video instructions. DXC covered those requirements when the casting was open, including the instruction to state your name, height and country of origin. The 2026 GTCO casting is now closed, but it remains a useful example of how specific an online runway casting can be.

Compare that with the current Entertainment Week Africa 2026 model application. The live application asks models for details such as height, portfolio and social-media links, but it does not currently request an introduction video on the form. :chatgpt-content-reference{index=”0″}

That difference is important.

Do not learn that casting videos are useful and then start attaching one everywhere.

If the application says “upload three photos,” upload the requested photos.

If it says “send a 30-second introduction,” send the introduction.

If it says “show your walk,” show your walk.

Following instructions is already part of the audition.

2. Know Which Type of Video You Are Recording

Aspiring models often call every video a “self-tape,” but there are a few different things you may be asked for.

A Model Introduction Video

This is usually simple. You stand in front of the camera and state the information requested, which could include your name, age, height, location, measurements or agency.

It is not your autobiography.

A Runway or Walk Video

The focus here is movement. The casting team needs enough space to see your full body, posture, pace and turns.

A Brief-Specific Casting Video

This is created for one particular job. You may be asked to wear something specific, demonstrate a product, smile, turn, show different profiles or perform a short action.

A Commercial Self-Tape

For some advertising jobs, you may need to speak, act, react naturally or perform a simple scene. That is different from standing still and announcing your measurements.

Do not use one old video for every opportunity simply because it is already on your phone.

3. What Should You Say in a Model Introduction Video?

Say what the brief asks for and stop there.

If a casting requests your name, height and location, your introduction could genuinely be as simple as:

Hi, my name is Ada Okafor. I am 5 feet 9 inches tall and I am based in Lagos, Nigeria.

Done.

If they also ask for age and measurements, add them.

If they ask why you want to participate, then answer that question briefly and naturally.

What you should not do is turn a simple introduction into:

Hello everyone, my name is Ada and modelling has always been my passion since I was a little girl because I believe fashion is an expression of who we are…

Unless the casting actually asked you to explain your motivation, nobody requested the TED Talk.

A Simple 30-Second Casting Introduction

If the casting asks for a general introduction but gives you some freedom, this structure works well:

Name → age if requested → height → location → relevant modelling information → finish.

For example:

Hi, my name is Teni Adebayo. I am 21 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall and based in Lagos. I am currently developing in fashion and runway modelling. Thank you.

Say it like a human being.

You do not need the fake “presenter voice.”

Speak clearly. Look at the camera. Let your personality come through without performing too much.

4. What Should You Wear?

There is no universal casting outfit because the brief should always come first.

If the client says white tank top and blue jeans, that is not a suggestion to interpret creatively. Wear the white tank top and blue jeans.

If no specific outfit is given and the purpose is simply to assess your current look, choose clothing that allows your shape and proportions to be seen without becoming the main attraction.

For a basic fashion-model introduction, that usually means clean, fitted and simple clothing.

Avoid oversized clothes that hide your body if the team needs to assess proportions. Also avoid turning the tape into a styling competition with huge accessories, complicated layers and an outfit that attracts more attention than you do.

For commercial casting, the wardrobe may be completely different depending on the role.

Again: brief first.

5. Do You Need Makeup?

Follow the instruction given.

Some fashion castings specifically request no makeup because they want to see your current natural appearance. The GTCO Fashion Weekend 2026 casting was one recent Nigerian example where applicants were instructed to appear without makeup and without beautification filters. :chatgpt-content-reference{index=”1″}

If the casting does not specify, avoid using makeup to completely change how you look.

The person in the video should still look like the person who would walk into the physical casting tomorrow.

That is the standard.

6. Your Phone Is Good Enough, but Your Setup Still Matters

You do not need to rent a production studio to record a basic model introduction.

A modern phone is usually more than enough if you handle the basics properly.

Stand somewhere with good, even light. Daylight from a window can work perfectly well. Avoid standing with a bright window directly behind you so that your face disappears into darkness.

Use a clean background. It does not need to be an empty white studio, but nobody should be trying to inspect you while also looking at laundry, ten people walking behind you and a television playing in the corner.

Keep the camera stable. Prop the phone securely or ask somebody with steady hands to help.

And please clean your camera lens.

It sounds obvious until you see how many videos look foggy simply because someone’s fingerprints are sitting on the lens.

Portrait or Landscape?

Do not create a universal rule where the casting has already given you one.

If they specify portrait, use portrait.

If they specify landscape, use landscape.

If they provide a sample, follow the sample.

When no orientation is specified, choose the framing that allows you to show exactly what has been requested clearly. For a full-body walk, the important thing is that your entire movement remains visible without your head or feet constantly leaving the frame.

How to Record a Runway Walk Video

A runway video needs space.

If the camera can only see you from the waist up, the casting team cannot properly assess your walk.

Position the phone far enough away to show your full body from start to finish. Make sure there is enough distance for several confident steps and a clean turn.

The floor should be safe and relatively clear. Do not practise your big runway moment beside a bucket, extension cable and dining chair that you now have to dodge halfway through the walk.

Your walk should also be appropriate to the casting. A fashion runway walk is not the same thing as walking naturally in a commercial self-tape.

If runway is still something you are developing, read DXC’s guide on runway modelling and walk fundamentals.

Should You Add Music?

Usually, not unless the brief asks for it or the submission format clearly calls for it.

If the casting team needs to hear your introduction, Burna Boy should not be competing with your voice in the background.

The same applies to dramatic sound effects.

You are not making a Reel.

You are submitting assessment material.

Should You Edit a Casting Video?

Basic trimming is fine when all you are doing is removing dead space from the beginning or end.

The problem starts when editing changes the person being assessed.

Avoid:

• Beauty filters
• Face reshaping
• Skin effects that completely change texture
• Body editing
• Heavy colour effects
• Distracting transitions
• Slow motion unless specifically requested
• Text covering your body or face

A casting tape should look clean, not produced within an inch of its life.

What About Your Background?

Simple wins.

A plain wall, clean studio corner or uncluttered room is usually enough.

You do not need to go and stand in front of a luxury hotel because you think it makes the video look more professional.

Professional is not the same as expensive.

Professional means the material does its job.

The Mistakes DXC Wants Beginners to Stop Making

One of the most common problems is trying too hard to impress instead of trying to submit correctly.

Do not change your height because a casting has a minimum requirement. If you are 5’7″ and the brief says 5’9″, a camera angle will not rescue the situation when you eventually attend a fitting.

Do not send old videos where your hair, body or overall appearance has changed significantly.

Do not ignore a requested outfit because you believe your own styling looks better.

Do not send a two-minute video when they asked for 30 seconds.

And do not wait until five minutes before the deadline to discover that your voice cannot be heard.

Record early enough to watch the video once before submitting it.

A Casting Video Is Also Testing Whether You Can Follow Direction

This part gets overlooked.

Imagine a casting team writes:

“State your name, height and location. Wear a black fitted top and jeans. No makeup. Maximum 30 seconds.”

Then your submission arrives at 1 minute 45 seconds, you are wearing a flowing dress, and you never state your height.

Even if you look fantastic, what have you just shown them?

That basic instructions may be difficult to get from you.

Professional modelling involves direction constantly. On set, the photographer gives direction. The stylist gives direction. The designer gives direction. Production gives call times and wardrobe instructions.

The casting starts before you get the job.

Do You Need to Smile?

Only when it makes sense for the brief.

A commercial casting may specifically want warmth and friendliness. A fashion casting may want a more neutral presentation. Some applications may request both neutral and smiling expressions.

There is no need to force one “model face” into every tape.

Do You Need to Mention Your Instagram?

Only if requested.

If the application already has a field for your Instagram or TikTok link, you do not need to spend part of your 30 seconds announcing your username unless the instructions ask for it.

Use the time for information the casting actually needs.

Should You Send a Casting Video When Nobody Asked for One?

Usually, no.

This is where being prepared and over-submitting become two different things.

It is useful to have current material ready. But professional submission means respecting the format the casting team has chosen.

The current Entertainment Week Africa 2026 model application, for example, asks applicants for information including height, portfolio and social-media links. It does not currently request a video on that application form. :chatgpt-content-reference{index=”2″}

So your job is not to invent an extra requirement.

Your job is to complete the application properly.

What Should You Have Ready Before the Next Casting Drops?

This is where aspiring models can make life much easier for themselves.

Keep your basic information current:

• Correct height
• Current measurements
• Recent polaroids or digitals
• A simple professional introduction when useful
• A clean walk video if runway is your market
• Your correct contact information
• Current portfolio or profile link where applicable

Then when a casting opens, you are adapting existing professional material rather than starting your entire modelling career at 11:48 PM on deadline day.

What Happens After You Submit?

Sometimes you receive an acknowledgement. Sometimes you only hear back if you are shortlisted. Some castings move into physical callbacks, fittings or another round of video assessment.

And sometimes you hear nothing.

That does not automatically mean your video was terrible.

Casting decisions depend on the specific brief, available slots and the other talent being considered.

DXC explains that part of the process in What Happens After a Model Casting?.

A Quick DXC Casting-Video Checklist

• Have you read the full brief?
• Are you eligible for the casting?
• Did you give every piece of information requested?
• Are you wearing what was requested?
• Can the team clearly see your face?
• Can they see your full body where necessary?
• Can they hear you clearly?
• Is your height and other information accurate?
• Have you removed filters and unnecessary effects?
• Is the video within the requested length?
• Have you watched it once before submitting?

If the answer to all of those is yes, stop recording it 47 more times because you suddenly dislike how your left eyebrow moved.

Submit the video.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I say in a model casting video?

Say exactly what the casting asks for. A basic introduction may include your name, height, age or location, but requirements differ. Do not add unnecessary information simply to make the video longer.

How long should a model introduction video be?

Use the duration stated in the casting brief. If the organiser gives a 30-second maximum, stay within 30 seconds. When no duration is stated, keep a basic introduction concise rather than turning it into a long speech.

What should I wear for a model casting video?

Follow the wardrobe instructions provided. If none are given and the purpose is to assess your appearance or proportions, simple fitted clothing is usually more useful than complicated styling.

Can I use a beauty filter?

Avoid filters that change your current appearance. Casting teams need to assess the person who would actually arrive for the job.

Do I need professional equipment?

Not for most basic online model introductions. A good phone, clear lighting, stable framing and clean audio can be enough unless the production specifies otherwise.

Should I add music to my casting video?

Not unless the casting asks for it or music is relevant to the required submission. The team should be able to hear and assess you clearly.

Do I need a walk video?

Only when the casting or agency requires one. Runway opportunities commonly need movement assessment, while other castings may select initially from photos or different material.

Can I reuse the same casting video?

A general introduction can sometimes be kept current for appropriate uses, but a brief-specific tape should follow the instructions for that particular job. Do not reuse a video that no longer reflects your appearance or does not answer the new brief.

Should I send a video if the application does not ask for one?

Not automatically. Follow the stated submission process. Being professional does not mean sending every piece of material you own.

Important: Casting requirements vary. Always follow the current instructions issued by the agency, client, designer or production running the opportunity. A general guide should never override a specific casting brief.