Answering a Reader Question #162

Samajo Wrote:

Hey Dania,
I found your blog a few days ago and it's amazing thanks for all the great tips :)
I've always had an interest in modeling and many people have told me before that I could easily do it... so the other day i was "scouted" by a small agency here in Munich Germany and asked to come to a casting where they would be taking pictures of me for a sedcard and there would be a professional styling before hand. However the whole thing costs 40€ (57$) and I am only a high school student... is this really reliable and do i have any chances with such a small agency? Or should I try larger ones by myself by just sending photos of myself to them? They did say that they would take me straight up into their portfolio after the shoot. I'd really appreciate your opinion. Thanks so much. x
Btw I am a 16 year old girl and 175cm tall (5'9'')

Hi, Samajo! Thanks for the question! While I'm not sure how different modeling agencies in Germany operate compared to those in the USA, I will say that you should always cast a wide net when applying to agencies (both big and small...don't limit yourself to just the large ones or just the small ones) and not jump into joining the first one that offers you a deal--especially if they are trying to charge you before giving you a contract.

Right now don't make a decision with that particular agency and instead submit to the other ones in your area in the meantime...remember, both large and small to increase your odds. From there see who responds and figure out from there which one would be the best at getting your career started. If the agency that scouted you recently tries to pressure you into paying them or other sales tactics, this is a red flag and should be a sign that they are not a good company to be with.

It is best to look up the official website for each of the agencies you're interested in because it will contain information about what kinds of pictures to send (professional or non-pro, digital snapshots), as well as if they have open casting calls where you can go in and be seen by the agency's staff. That will help you decide how to handle submitting your pictures so that you don't invest time and money on pro images if you don't need to.

I hope that helps and good luck to you!

Comments

Samajo said…

Thanks for your great advise! I already sent my pictures to a few other agencies and gotten a positive reply :) I'm really learning a lot from you! Thanks again, Sarah x

July 21, 2011 at 11:35 AM

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