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

[avitar]

Is there certain times of the year agencies are really scouting or looking for girls? I was told August was a slow month and a good time to see agencies.

I'm planning on going in April or June, or both, and just wondering if that's a bad time.

From experience with my daughter I would say that August is a decent month to go to open calls; however, make sure you go early in the month to avoid fashion week madness (many agencies even temp. stop their open calls at the end of August) Good Luck

 

[avitar]

Are all agencies really looking for girls that are 5'10+ now? I'm 5'9.5 and I was told I'm actually "kind of short." Is this true?

I do not believe so at all. In fact, when my daughter went to open calls they didn't ask her about her height until the end. If you have the look they will want you, 5'9.5 is no where near too short

 

[avitar]

does anyone know if q model managemt and mc2 in nyc are good agencies?
thanks

I think that Q is a fairly good agency, not top ten but they still know what they are doing. They have Cordula Reyer who does very well and their guys division does excellent. Also, they were on Americas Next Top Model!

 

[tayloryepp]

@Avitar

You said your daughter..so your daughter is the model? I am having some trouble with my mom accepting this is what I want to do or pursue, do you have any advice about possibly getting my mom to accept I really want to become a model?

 

[Miss-V]

Getting around Milan Fashion Week, Castings, Shows any advice?

Hi! I have a query not sure if this is the right place to post but can't find a topic on it. My friend is a model and she is going to Milan for fashion week this season, she speaks no italian and has never travelled abroad alone. Does anyone know how models get around? do they travel with a parent/guardian? do they get cars? how do you know where everything is? is Milan easy to get around to during fashion week? Where are the main shows taking place? What are the castings like?

thanks! hope someone can help

 

[miss_nyc]

If she really is a model then surely her agency would provide her with all the information she needs.

This sounds totally bizarre.

Many people travel to countries without speaking the language and they get by.

I've seen models during fashion weeks and they are either driven to shows or they get public transport.

 

[Miss-V]

oh yeah i know her agency will give her basic info but she was wondering about the rest, like getting to 20 castings a day in a different country is hard! plus shes young, not everyone can find ther way around...

 

[Miss-V]

Please could you give me some advice...

I had a test with a modeling agency in london but then they decided they didn't want me. I then went to 2 agencies the other day with my book and they said 'I wasn't right for them'. It has all knocked my confidence a little.
I am just under 5'8" and I do have a more commercial look.. but I'm not sure where to go from here. I still would like to pursue modeling but not sure which agencies are best for me in the Uk.
Please could someone help?

try nevs, they are commercial but good commercial you know, you'll get to do a bit of everything but mainly commercial modelling. its good pay and they are reputable. i would say if they don't say yes then try fm, profile and then if they say no then oxygen models..

tbh best agency for commercial modelling is probably nevs or profile. but it doesnt mean you should give up trying for high fashion, what agencies did you go see? maybe i can help with why they said no..

 

[Miss-V]

when you are signed with an agency and they take your polaroids and put you on their website...after they send your pictures to international agencies, if they decide to sign you, how long after that do you travell abroad, is it like a week, two or months?

once you get signed you could wait anything up to one day to one year to head over to that country! it all depends on when you have no more options/work in your mother country and then what time is good for you to go over. e.g if your from london, just got signed for nyc by img you will prob go over in time for fashion week which is in a few weeks no point going over now!

 

[Miss-V]

Alright, thanks for the information and advice.
But I know i'm not a typical pretty girl. I know I have the bone structure. I look different. I think I have the model look.

I got two more responses, no. I'm so nervous. :/

my friend got scouted loads and every single time rejected her, then she got accepted once and BAM look what happened! same with tyra banks

dont worry if its meant to be it will happen
if not then you know its not the right path for you
modelling kind of 'chooses' you in a way
you know how they say that the best girls are the ones who 'found' well maybe that may be the case but dont give up or be disheartened,you can change your destiny if you really want something, no?

 

[TwentiesDream]

Hello,
I'm in need of advice. I've had a mother agency (in a smaller market than NY or LA) since I was 15, but my parents would not support my career at all and wouldn't even pay for a test shoot. I sent polaroids to some agencies, though, just to see if I had a chance in the industry. I got requests for more photos from Elite and Ford Chicago, Factor Atlanta (formerly Elite), One, and Wilhelmina. I never sent them in, though, because I knew my parents would never let me sign a contract even if any of those agencies did accept me. I just turned 18 and still haven't done anything except some local charity fashion shows. Since I'm 18 now, and I just moved to Los Angeles, I've been thinking about going to open calls, but I know that 18 is late to start modeling and there's so much competition. Do I still have a chance to sign with an agency or should I just give up?


****Edited**** please do not post stats, per thread rules.

 

[cologne_rocks]

3 things. Firstly, do never pay for a test shoot, only scam agencies ask their girls to pay for tests etc. Secondly, being 18yo is totally fine. In case of "emergency", the agency will lie about your age without missing a beat....***Edited*** Removing respsonse to edited comment.*** Give it a shot at Vision Model Management Los Angeles, Ford Models in Los Angeles and PhotoGenics in Los Angeles. Hope this helps!

 

[TwentiesDream]

Thank you for the advice!
My mother agency is actually a legitimate agency... since it's in a small market, it costs about $400 including hair and makeup for a test shoot, but my parents refused even that. But there have been models from my agency who have gone on to top NYC agencies, so I think it's just that it's too small of a market for them to give free tests.... I don't know. But thanks for the warning anyway

 

[ModelMommy]

I disagree about the test shoots...it is perfectly reasonable to have to pay for test shoots when you are with a legitimate agency and you're lucky when you can get quality pictures for free. They need pictures to start your book to be able to send you out to clients. There are legitimate expenses that many agencies may ask you to pay up front like web fees, your book and the prints in it. If you are with a great agency, these will all be explained to you so that you are well aware of it when you are getting started.

If you haven't already, read www.newmodels.com.

 

[BetteT]

Correct ... Never pay an agency directly for a test shoot. But you often must pay the photographer and hair, makeup, stying, etc. to test for your portfolio ... if a reputable agency sends you to do some tests to start a portfolio.

Since the agency sent you to get it done ... that sounds legit to me ... as long as it wasn't a photographer who was working for the agency. It even works that way in L.A.


Sometimes, if the model is very lucky, there is a good fashion photog who looking for models for their own portfolio shoots ("creatives") and if the agency likes their work, they will send their a sampling of their new faces or girls they are considering repping and the photographer will pick one of them to shoot at no charge. So, it's a win-win ... no one pays anyone, and everyone (including hair, makeup and wardrobe styling) get something for their portfolios. But if the agency doesn't have a good photog in the wings, wanting to test a few of their girls for their own portfolios, then they send them out to a seasoned and relieable fashion shooter who charges about $100 a look ... plus additional fees to the stylists (hair, makeup and sometimes fashion). So it can cost from about $400 to about $800 ... depending on how many looks are being shot (averge is 3 to 4) and whether or not you hire hair, makeup and fashion stylists.

He's right ... the agency might opt to say that you are younger than you are ... if you look it. If you have a great look ... and it's something they like or need ... you still have a chance at 18. Do it right away ... the sooner the better ... you are not getting any younger. You have nothing to loose.

Also in L.A., some other legit agencies that I've worked with ... off the top of my head

L.A. Models www.lamodels.com/
Click www.clickmodel.com/
Otto www.ottomodels.com
Brand (In Orange County) www.brandtalent.net/
Wilhelmina www.wilhelmina.com/
Elite www.elitemodel.com/
Q www.qmodels.com

 

[TwentiesDream]

thanks BetteT

 

[juliahearts]

my friend got scouted loads and every single time rejected her, then she got accepted once and BAM look what happened! same with tyra banks

dont worry if its meant to be it will happen
if not then you know its not the right path for you
modelling kind of 'chooses' you in a way
you know how they say that the best girls are the ones who 'found' well maybe that may be the case but dont give up or be disheartened,you can change your destiny if you really want something, no?

thanks so much, and i agree.

 

[juliahearts]

B1 Models contacted me, and wants me to do a test shoot before they sign me.
What does anyone know about this agency?
And they said since I can't afford the $500 it costs, they're going to figure something else out, and contact me tomorrow. What do you think this means? Does anyone have experience with this?

 

[BetteT]

I don't know about the agency, but maybe someone else in NY does and can tell you what they know.

As long as they did not tell you that they do the shoot and that you will pay them, they are probably legit. It's a huge red flag that they are not a legit agency ... if they make money off by selling photoshoots, portfolios and the like. Never pay an agency directly for a test shoot. You should pay the photograher.

If they are legit, I would say that "figure out something else" probably means that they are calling a few of the photogs that have contacted them looking to borrow models for their own portfolio work and see if they are interested in you enough to do a free test shoot. And if that's the case, that's good ... it means they really do think you have potential and they just need to see how you look in pro photos.

Sooner or later ... you will have to pay for some test shoots ... it's part of the cost of doing business. Models are actually self employed and must pay for their own marketing expenses and getting photos and building a portfolio is one of the most important parts of it.

So you know, agencies are hired by models (I know, this sounds strange) to find them work and earn a commission when they do that. But, they don't "work" for just any model ... only those that they think can actually make some money. So the models bears the expense of marketing materials, photos, portfolio, comp cards, and the cost of sending them out to propective clients. You need money to start your business.

So, if they can get you a free photoshoot, consider yourself very, very lucky.

 

[juliahearts]

I don't know about the agency, but maybe someone else in NY does and can tell you what they know.

As long as they did not tell you that they do the shoot and that you will pay them, they are probably legit. It's a huge red flag that they are not a legit agency ... if they make money off by selling photoshoots, portfolios and the like. Never pay an agency directly for a test shoot. You should pay the photograher.

If they are legit, I would say that "figure out something else" probably means that they are calling a few of the photogs that have contacted them looking to borrow models for their own portfolio work and see if they are interested in you enough to do a free test shoot. And if that's the case, that's good ... it means they really do think you have potential and they just need to see how you look in pro photos.

Sooner or later ... you will have to pay for some test shoots ... it's part of the cost of doing business. Models are actually self employed and must pay for their own marketing expenses and getting photos and building a portfolio is one of the most important parts of it.

So you know, agencies are hired by models (I know, this sounds strange) to find them work and earn a commission when they do that. But, they don't "work" for just any model ... only those that they think can actually make some money. So the models bears the expense of marketing materials, photos, portfolio, comp cards, and the cost of sending them out to propective clients. You need money to start your business.

So, if they can get you a free photoshoot, consider yourself very, very lucky.

Okay, thanks SO much for this information. Really helps.