Skip to main content

Please Don't Pay


One of the biggest misconceptions is that you have to pay to get an agent or to become a successful model. No...you...don't!

An agency first and foremost, believes in the models they represent. A true and legit agent will sign you without asking for any money upfront. If anything, they may recommend you working with one of their photographers to start putting together your portfolio. That part is up to you, but in general, no respectable and reputable agency will ask you to pay hundreds of dollars upfront for training.

Scams operate successfully because too many people think that if they invest a small fortune into their modeling career, it'll get them more exposure. There are talent conventions, expos, whatever they want to call themselves nowadays, that do give pretty good exposure to aspiring models, but the bottom line is that no matter how much you pay anybody, it won't guarantee you a solid modeling career.

Don't trust companies that advertise models for hire in the newspaper. Don't trust anyone who insist you need to pay in order to have them put together your portfolio, online profile, blah, blah, blah. That's nothing but a scam, scam, scam!

Believe in your true worth and deal with agencies that have a good and consistent track record. Use the Better Business Bureau website to research companies that seem suspect. If you believe in yourself and demand nothing less than perfection, a true agent will see that and take the chance of signing you with no strings attached.
Labels:

Comments

Anonymous said…
Hello,
My daughter is interested in modeling. We have been in contact with a booking agency that has sent us a contract. In addition to the contract they required her to get her own photos taken which we have don. We are to send the photos along with $199. They tell us the fee covers the layout of her marketing materials as well as her feature on their website. Do you think this is ligit? Any advise you can give us would be appreciated.
November 18, 2013 at 9:45 AM
Dania Denise said…
Hi, Anonymous! You'll find the answer to your questions in its own post, titled "Answering a Reader Question #684," which can be found on my other blog: "Modeling 101 - Answering Readers Questions."

Please visit this link: http://amodelsdiary-readerquestions.blogspot.com/ and you can view your post there. Thanks for reading!
November 21, 2013 at 10:30 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Modeling and Weight

One of the first things I hear potential models ask is what the weight requirement for modeling is. Sometimes that is the main issue they worry about when it comes to pursuing modeling. Let me tell you right now that weight should NOT be one of those concerns. Obviously, the height requirement reigns supreme when measuring up to the modeling standards sought out by agencies. If you meet the height requirements--whether it's for fashion and runway or commercial/print--that is the first step towards starting on the path to modeling. How much you weigh shouldn't be your biggest fear. It is rare that anyone can look at someone and say, "Oh, my gosh, he/she looks like they are 5 pounds over our weight requirement!" It just isn't realistic. If you look at many modeling agency websites, they clearly list the age and height requirements--rarely, if at all do they list any weight restrictions. The general rule of thumb when it comes to weight is that for models who
6 comments
Read more

Modeling & Pay Rates: How Much Should You Charge?

(This post is more targeted towards freelance models and not those with agency representation, although it may apply to those that have an agent but continue to find their own work.) A part of being a successful model is making money from the jobs that you book. However, being a freelance model comes with many challenges--figuring out what you should charge is one of them. I will say upfront that there are no established black and white rules when it comes to pay rates. Each modeling job is different, each client is different and budgets vary. Ultimately the factors that should influence what you charge should be the amount of experience you have, the strength of the images in your portfolio and the client's budget/needs. Not every client is going to pay what you want to charge. There may be times when you will be skipped over for charging too much or taken advantage of for charging too little. It's going to happen so be prepared for it and do not take it personally. It
37 comments
Read more

What Are Male Models Supposed to Look Like?

The modeling world is filled with women. That's never been a secret and sadly, that often means male models fall by the wayside. There are successful male models in all categories across the industry but the fact that the modeling business revolves around women can make it challenging for newbies to figure out how to pursue their goals of male modeling. It is important to know that because there are different types of modeling categories out there, that means there are also different types of male models. They aren't all supposed to look alike and what ends up being in demand does change every year. Let's break down the common attributes that come with male modeling in various popular categories, shall we? THE MALE FASHION/RUNWAY/EDITORIAL MODEL These are the typical types of models most of us tend to think of when it comes to men in modeling. What is important to know and understand if you're an aspiring male model is that agencies have all different looks
4 comments
Read more