Modeling school: what it gives, what it costs and do you need one

"Modeling school" is one of the most common searches among people who dream of modeling, and among parents looking for an after-school club for their child. Lithuania has quite a few of these schools: some have been running for decades, others were set up next to model agencies, others run children's contests and fashion theatre. But two different things are often confused: a school that teaches, and an agency that represents a model and finds them work.

In this guide we explain how they differ, what a modeling school really teaches, what it costs in Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda and other cities, whether you can become a model without a school, and when a short training with an agency is the better choice. We checked prices and facts on the schools' websites in October 2026.

How a modeling school differs from a model agency

A modeling school and a model agency sometimes operate under the same name, so they are easy to confuse. But their purpose, the way they work and what you pay for are completely different.

	Modeling school	Model agency
Purpose	To teach posture, walking, posing, style, confidence	To find the model work in Lithuania and abroad and represent them
Who pays	The student or the parents – for lessons, courses or by the month	Clients; the agency keeps a commission on the model's earnings
Who gets in	Almost anyone who wants to, often from age 3–6	Only those whose look fits the market
Contract	A service or club attendance agreement	A representation contract with a commission and a term
Result	Skills, confidence, shows, photo shoots	Bookings, travel, work with agencies abroad

The key point: finishing a school is not a ticket into an agency. An agency looks at your measurements, proportions, face, skin and personality, and at whether you have prospects in a particular market. A good walk and good posing help at a casting, but a certificate is not what decides. How agencies assess new faces is covered in our story on how to become a model.

What modeling schools teach

Programmes differ, but most modeling schools in Lithuania cover the same things:

• Posture and walking. How to stand, how to walk a runway in heels and without, how to turn and stop.
• Posing. How to change poses for a photographer, what to do with your hands, how to work in profile and three-quarters.
• Style and image. Putting outfits together, basic fashion history, stylists' tips.
• Make-up and hair. The basics, how to look after yourself and prepare for a shoot.
• Etiquette and communication. How to behave with clients, how to introduce yourself, good manners.
• Acting, stage and dance movement. Especially at children's schools, where some lessons resemble fashion theatre.
• Photo shoots, shows and contests. Students take part in shoots, fashion shows and children's model contests.

For children these classes are often more of a hobby: they build posture, courage and self-confidence. For teenagers and young people who want to work as models, the practical skills matter most – the walk, posing and being able to present yourself on camera. These are exactly what agencies look for at castings.

What a modeling school costs in Lithuania in 2026

Most modeling schools in Lithuania are for children and teenagers, and you pay by the month. For school-age children many of them accept the non-formal education (NVŠ) voucher, which depending on the municipality is worth about 15–25 € a month and lowers the price. Below are the schools' prices and terms as the schools publish them.

School	Cities	Age	Price	Format
DUO Kidz	Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai, Panevėžys and other cities	6–18	40–65 € / month, NVŠ accepted	once a week, 90 min
Mažoji Mis	Vilnius, Kaunas	3–18	100 € / month (90 € when paying for 9 months), NVŠ accepted	Saturdays in Vilnius, Sundays in Kaunas
Catwalk	Vilnius, Kaunas	children, teenagers, young people	on request	weekends
MPodiumas	Vilnius	3–18	on request	classes, the Mini Model Look contest
Supermodels training	Vilnius, Kaunas	from 14	69 € group, 89 € one-to-one lesson, 239 € three-lesson course	hands-on lessons with the agency team

Over a year a children's modeling school costs roughly 400 to 900 €. Before signing up your child, ask what the price includes: whether photo shoots, costumes, contest and show fees are paid separately.

Modeling schools by city

Modeling schools in Vilnius

Vilnius has the widest choice. For children and teenagers there are DUO Kidz, Mažoji Mis, Catwalk and MPodiumas. For those who want to prepare for modeling work or for an agency casting, Supermodels runs hands-on training in its studio in Vilnius.

Modeling schools in Kaunas

Kaunas has DUO Kidz, Mažoji Mis and Catwalk classes, as well as Deimantė's model agency and school, founded in 1994 by choreographer Deimantė Ūsienė: it teaches runway, acting and photo shoots and has boards for babies, children, adults and seniors. Supermodels training also takes place at the agency's Kaunas office.

Modeling schools in Klaipėda, Šiauliai and Panevėžys

Smaller cities have a narrower choice. DUO Kidz runs classes in Klaipėda (65 € a month), Šiauliai and Panevėžys (55 € a month), as well as in Alytus, Marijampolė, Mažeikiai, Tauragė, Telšiai, Palanga, Druskininkai, Utena, Jonava, Kėdainiai and Ukmergė. Klaipėda also has the long-running New Model school of modeling and aesthetic education. If you want to work as a model, where you live is no obstacle: agencies accept applications online.

Do you need a modeling school to become a model?

The short answer is no. Professional model agencies take new faces with no experience at all. Many models started without any school: an agency spotted them, invited them to a meeting and prepared them for work itself – arranged test shoots, taught them to walk and pose, sent them on a first trip.

That does not mean learning is useless. If you can stand, walk and pose at a casting, the agency sees your potential sooner, and your first shoots go better. But be clear about what you want:

• If you want a club for your child where they build posture and confidence and try the stage and photo shoots, a modeling school can be a great choice.
• If you want to work as a model, apply to an agency first. If the agency sees potential, it will tell you what you are missing and help you learn it.
• If you want to prepare for a casting or for work, choose a short hands-on training taught by people who work with models and agencies abroad every day.

You can apply to Supermodels for free on the application page. How applications are assessed and what happens next is described in our story on the Supermodels open call.

How to recognise a good modeling school

A good school says clearly what it teaches, what it costs and what it does not promise. Before signing up, ask a few questions:

• Who teaches? Have the teachers worked as models, stylists or choreographers, and does the school work with agencies?
• How many students per group? Walking and posing are easier to learn in a small group where the teacher sees everyone.
• What does the price include? Photo shoots, shows, costumes, contest fees.
• Does the school promise contracts? If you are told that work abroad or an agency contract is guaranteed after the course, be careful: no one can promise that, because clients and agencies decide.
• Do you have to pay for a mandatory shoot or "portfolio"? Plain digitals are enough for agencies at the start; an expensive portfolio is not needed.

And the other way round: if what a "school" offers is really representation and job hunting, but you are asked to pay for it upfront, it is neither a school nor a professional agency. How to tell a real agency is covered in our guide to choosing a modeling agency.

Training with an agency: how it is different

Training with an agency is not a club you attend for a year. It is short, practical preparation for modeling work: in one or a few lessons you learn what agencies and clients expect from a model at the very first meeting. Supermodels training is taught by the agency team that has prepared models for work in Milan, Paris, London and Asia for more than 20 years.

• The runway walk: posture, stride length, rhythm, arms, the turn and the stop.
• Posing: how to change poses without pauses, work in profile and three-quarters, read a photographer's directions.
• Digitals: front, profile and full-length pictures – the way agencies ask for them.
• Camera and presence: how to feel at ease on camera and introduce yourself in 20 seconds. An intro video is filmed.

You can choose a 90-minute one-to-one lesson (89 €), an intensive course of three lessons (239 €) or a four-hour group intensive for up to 8 people (69 €, from age 14). Training takes place at the Supermodels studio in Vilnius or Kaunas. More on the model training page.

Frequently asked questions

Do you have to finish a modeling school to become a model?

No. Professional model agencies take new faces with no experience and prepare them for work themselves. A modeling school can help you learn posture and walking, but an agency decides to take a model based on their look and their prospects in the market.

How much does a modeling school for children cost?

In Lithuania in 2026 children's modeling schools cost roughly 40 to 100 € a month. For example, DUO Kidz costs 40–65 € and Mažoji Mis 100 € a month. For school-age children the NVŠ voucher can often be applied.

From what age can you attend a modeling school?

Children's modeling schools take children from age 3–6. Model agencies usually look for new faces for international work from 14–16, and Supermodels training is for ages 14 and up.

Does a modeling school help you get into an agency?

It can help you prepare, but you get into an agency through an application and a selection. Some schools work with agencies, but no course guarantees a contract. You can apply to an agency without going to a school.

What is the difference between model training and a modeling school?

A school is usually a long-term club you attend every week. Training with an agency is short, practical preparation for work: in one or a few lessons you learn the walk and posing, and get digitals and an intro video.

Are there modeling schools in Klaipėda, Šiauliai and Panevėžys?

Yes. DUO Kidz runs classes in Klaipėda, Šiauliai, Panevėžys and many other cities, and Klaipėda also has the New Model school. You can apply to a model agency online from any city.

Can a modeling school also be a model agency?

Some companies in Lithuania run both a school and an agency. In that case, be clear about what you are paying for: paying for lessons is normal, but a professional agency charges nothing for representation and finding work.