Check Out Damien Macnamara’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Damien Macnamara

Damien, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started off in Ireland in 2016 when I won a Search for A Model competition and signed an agency contract. I slowly then started getting portfolio shots and building my confidence and learning poses and how to present myself better. I spent the first few months just getting whatever test shoots I could & styling myself differently each time to have some variety in my portfolio.
From there I actually relocated to Germany as I knew people there so I thought this could be the potential next step for my career. Ireland doesn’t have a massive fashion industry so my career would be very limited there.
Once in Germany I built up the courage to cold call into agencies and show them my portfolio. I found this a better way of being remembered and leaving a lasting impression than just submitting standard photos on the website. I was super nervous but thankfully an agency saw enough in me that they offered me a contract. From there they arranged more test shoots, helped build my book more and started showing me out to their clients. This is when I started getting booked for clients such as Adidas and Puma. Once I started doing jobs for them I took the approach of listening, building relationships and learning on the job as much as I could.
By 2019 my portfolio and confidence was much better and again I took the same approach and started cold calling into agencies in London because this was again the next level up in terms of career and industry. I got signed with a London agency and they again took the steps of arranging more test shoot photos for me tailored more towards the market and fashion scene there.
Having a reputable London agency helped me loads not only in terms of confidence but also being more established. Through my London Agency I was able to model in Milan & Seoul South Korea.

Once I felt I had established myself in Europe the opportunity to live and model in Los Angeles appeared. I moved over just towards the end of the pandemic in Nov 2021 and since then I have been able to model for Jacques Marie Mage, Birkenstock and also appear in an Amazon Prime TV Series called ‘Criminal’ and a movie called ‘Out Come The Wolves’ which will be released later this year.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Being rejected directly to my face is never easy but I eventually learned that it isn’t personal and to try to pick points on how I can improve as a model.
I also had some struggles working with photographers and not being able to provide them with certain looks they required or pose fast enough to get through an entire collection of looks. This happened at the beginning of my career and again it initially knocked my confidence a little but I definitely grew from that situation and made me realise I needed to improve in that area.

Of course it’s great getting jobs but what people don’t see is all the effort i put into the castings that I don’t get. It can be hard to not hear anything back or no that I haven’t been successful but I always try my best and ask for feedback so I can improve going forward.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a fashion model from Ireland and began modelling in Europe from 2016. I moved to the states in 2021 where I have continued to model and I also I took up acting classes to help with my public speaking and castings and this as lead me to getting selected to work on a movie and tv series.

I am most proud of having been able to model in multiple countries like Ireland, England, Italy, Germany, South Korea and the US.

I’m proud of being Irish and to represent my country when Im working in other countries, think that sets me apart. There aren’t many Irish models so when I get booked and work with people it always helps that they are interested in visiting and mention my accent. I love sharing stories from home and pictures and maybe in a way thats why people remember me after a job.

How do you think about luck?
I think I have definitely experienced both good and bad luck in my career.

Like a lot of people around the world I was affected by the COVID Pandemic. I was at the height of my career and it all definitely happened at the worst time for me. The model industry was affected and it took a while for things to get back to some bit of normality but I feel it definitely changed how castings are done now. Before it was mostly in person, now it’s all video submissions.

The good luck played in my life was winning the search for a model competition and being able to keep the momentum going with that. Also having friends that work in the industry as designers has helped me understand the industry from a production creation standpoint.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://onemanagement.com/Los-Angeles/Men/Main/DAMIEN-MACNAMARA/Portfolio
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damienmaca/

Image Credits
Jacques Marie Mage, Birkenstock, Adidas, Descente, Puma, COS