So You Want to Become a Model? (PLEASE READ POST #1 BEFORE POSTING)

[Dido]

Don't worry, I know it was just a 'forum troll'... models.com seems to be full of that . Thank you!

 

[*DiamondQueen*]

Just a general advice: You shouldn't post your digitals or fotos everywhere. Sometimes all you get are opinions from people not working in the business which doesn't make any sense at all. For example "normal people" wouldn't "like" the look of most high-fashion girls. And you risk your own privacy. Make sure you show your digitals or portfolio to a professional agency with experienced bookers Good luck to all of you

 

[BetteT]

Thank you, *Diamond Queen* .. that is exactly why we don't allow model critiques here and aspiring models may not post pics, etc. We are trying to protect their privacy and protect their images so that it won't hurt them in the end.

Having your images all over the net, especially on non pro sites, will be frowned upon by your agency if you do get picked up. They tend to guard the reputation of their models ... and generally it's just not a good idea to post amateur pics anywhere.

Send your snapshots (not amateur "fashon" or test shots) into the agencies ... and go to open calls ... that is the best way to break into the modeling biz. Disregard any advice about your "look" unless it's coming from a seasoned pro ... prefereably a booker at a good agency.

 

[kmodel]

Is it the norm for agencies to own the rights to all photos, etc.. that you do? This is my first contract and we didn't know if that was the case.

 

[BetteT]

Agencies do not own the images ... ever. Sometimes they think they do ... but 98% of the time the copyright belongs with the photographer who took the picture ... even if you paid him to take it. It's extremely expensive to buy the copyrights for an image from a photographer (especially if he's well known and respected) and an agency would not do that. If they do not get something in writing from the photographer stating that they own the copyrights ... then they don't ...period. Since you never owned them to start with ... you cannot sign them over to the agency ... just not possible.

There is usually a written or unwritten contract between photographers and the agency when they shoot test shots for the agency ... that the agency and/or model has "usage" rights to be able to use the image for promotional purposes only. But the photog still owns the images and may do what he wishes with them, unless he signed something to the contrary.

As far as images taken by clients ... you don't own them either, but neither does your agency ... the client does, if they bought the rights from the photgrapher (and they often do).

 

[kmodel]

Thanks! As I have stated in a previous post (somewhere) we are new and learning. The photographer owns the images. It explains a lot things that we (my parents and I) were wondering about. We have a good local agency (from talking to others) they just do not explain things well or expect you to already know them.

 

[Fontenrose]

The photographer owns the photos, but he can not use them for commercial purposes without a release from the model. This is what the agency controls.

 

[*DiamondQueen*]

Is it the norm for agencies to own the rights to all photos, etc.. that you do? This is my first contract and we didn't know if that was the case.

No way! Never!
You should make sure you are the one who owns all photo rights!

 

[BetteT]

The model does not own the rights to her pictures ... they never do ... sorry ... just doesn't happen in this biz. But anything can be arranged by contract ... if the model has hired the photographer.

Fonterose ... you are correct, I forgot about model releases, which is similar to usage rights ... but is a bit backwards.

 

[theBlueRider]

I posted a while back about my situation being located in Washington DC. And here's an update! I finally have a book and a card is in the process of being put together with my mother agency in DC. I have a 7 page spread/tears in there! Because of the DC market and talent, my book has more amateur styling and veers on the commercial range. To be honest, I'm not 100% proud of some of the pictures (which the agency 'loves') because I feel like the styling is cheesy or there's too much makeup (and teased hair : P) that hides my features. In fact, I prefer my polaroids that I sent to my agency at the very beginning.

My issue is that I really want to go to NYC (and Paris, Milan etc) ASAP since winter break is coming up and I have all of January and some of December and February off. I signed a contract saying that they will be my 'exclusive mother agent' and the rest of the contract just talks about how I allow them to 'advise and place' me with a different market.

If I have an 'exclusive mother agent' now, does that mean I can't go on my own to send polaroids to NYC agencies? Do I have to wait for my mother agency to get in contact and negotiate? I've been thinking about doing this because my DC pictures don't represent me as well as my basic polaroids and the agency still hasn't gotten to marketing me (even after a month and a half of promising me so)--but the ambiguity of 'exclusive' is something I want to clear up.

Thanks for reading!

 

[model_mom]

You need to have a lawyer look at your 'exclusive' contract to see how binding it is. Right now,if you decide to send polaroids to NY agencies and you receive a positive reply....you might want to mention your contract. Sometimes they will work with you if you have what they're looking for.

 

[Fontenrose]

It is your agency's job to set up those appointments for you. That is what a mother agent does. They should have the contacts to do that.

If there is some reason they think you are not ready to be shown to the NY fashion agencies, they should explain it.

Why is your book so commercial? If you have a very commercial look an exclusive mother agent doesn't really apply. Why are they getting you cheesy photos? Are you sure they are a good agency?

 

[Dido]

I think I may have an agency... Like, I came there, they looked at my book, filled a form with all my data, said they will arrange a test shoot (for free!) to develop my portfolio, talked about the kind of jobs I'm most suited for... but I think I won't believe it until they actually call me again to arrange the test

 

[BetteT]

Don't beleive it until you get the pics back from the test and the want to actually sign you. (I'm assuming that you did not sign a contract with them yet? At least based on what you said.... )

However, congtrats on getting some serious interest ... that's still a major coup!

If they have not actually signed you yet,the reason they want you to test, may be to see how you look in your photos and maybe see if they can garner any interest in you from prospective clients ... before they actually sign you to a contract.

But, it's all good ... because if you do get some interest from clients, they will sure want to keep you on. And if you don't, you still have the beginnings of a portfolio. It's a win -win situation.

 

[*DiamondQueen*]

I think I may have an agency... Like, I came there, they looked at my book, filled a form with all my data, said they will arrange a test shoot (for free!) to develop my portfolio, talked about the kind of jobs I'm most suited for... but I think I won't believe it until they actually call me again to arrange the test

Dido I'm very happy for you
Sounds this agency has major interest in representing and working together with you.
I keep all my fingers crossed they will actually do what they told you, but actually, why they shouldn't?
Good Luck

 

[cattelia]

One day does not a model make ... so I'd say you need to keep trying, again and again.

If you are not tall enough and you hear this at most of the agencies that you visit ... then that is probably true and this may not be for you. If no one expresses any interest at all ... does not send you elsewhere, does not say they like your look but are nothiring your type now ... then you might not have what it takes. But you've only had one rejection so far ... you need to get dozens before you know for sure.

You need to know ... that sometimes the "lovely lady" at the desk may be a booker herself or knows what the bookers are looking for. Many agency offices are rather open in floor plan where the bookers can see who's in the lobby. They won't tell you that you have already been "seen" ... but you probably have. And they sometimes won't tell you the whole thruth ... that they are not interested in you. But then ... the nice lady could be telling the truth, too. So it might not be a rejection after all. You never know ... they can be sneaky.

And then there's the matter of who is looking for your type at the moment you show up at their door. If you are hearing that you've got a good look and are tall enough ... but they don't need someone like you right now ... that is probably the truth. So go back in 3 to 6 months ... they may have lost a few of the models who have your "look' and need to replace them. It's a matter of timing ... being at the right agency at the right time.

Lastly ... expect rejection ... it's a normal part of the biz. First you get rejected by agencies .... then, finally, when you get an agent, you will start to get rejected on casting calls ... a lot. Get used to it ... learn to let it roll off your back, and keep going. That is a very important trait in a model ... tenacity and not taking it personally.

Great post, and very helpful for me.
I went to this agency here in Copenhagen. Before I went I obviously reasearched what type of model they had, and their deal about height, since I'm, in most eyes, not considered 'model-tall'. I saw they had a few models who were lower than me, so I expected they had a real interest in me (since it's not the first time, they've contacted me. Actually the third.) When I got there, the booker just measured my height and sent me away telling me I wasn't tall enough. Sure she shouldn't waste any more of her or their time, if they really weren't interested, and they were maybe right not to take new test shots of me, but I felt it was a lazy excuse just to get me out of there and for them to get on with their day, since the height issue didn't seem to apply to those other girls. Though she did refer me to another agency, I felt stupified. I wanted to know why they really had 'dismissed' (or whatever) me so I at least had the chance to work on it.
But you're right, you just have to move on and accept the rejection. And maybe one of these days, I'll contact that other agency.

 

[Dido]

About contracts... I have a friend who worked for several years with one of Spain top-three agencies, going abroad to several markets and making a decent amount of money overall... and she never, ever, signed a contract with her agency or payed taxes for the payments. She told me that a lot of models were in her same situation- no taxes paid, but unable to defend herselves legally. Actually, being Spain the chaotic country it is, it doesn't surprise me
And of course, when you work with small, local agencies for hairdressing shows and the like, you never sign a single paper

 

[model_mom]

Except for some of the runway shows....vouchers are required to be signed by the client and the model and then sent on to the agencies in order to be paid. If you have no proof that you worked for a client it would soon be hard to keep track of who paid you and who didn't.

 

[PeaceAndPout]

I met some guy last week who works as a model and he told me I should try sending some pictures to the agency he works for. I've been thinking about doing that a long time but didn't know where to go.
So I just finally done it; I send them a few pictures. The pictures aren't really that good, but they are pretty similar to those 'model Polaroid' shots.
Now hope that they will invite me over....

 

[cold_sun]

^crossed fingers for you, let us know how it turns out