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

[Lea]

Yes.

 

[secondly]

You shouldn't pay them to represent you, but they often do make you pay for test shoots. Mode Calgary does, I know, and they're very reputable.

 

[tristan]

It depends on the agency and the market. Agencies with larger budgets will front you the money and take it out of your earnings, but regardless, a model will pay for prints always, while smaller boutique agencies (and even larger ones like Elite Toronto) have the models pay upfront. The shoot itself is either a paid test or just a test. The rest of your book is built on either Tear sheets(ripped from a magazine) or from tests (in Toronto they're called creatives) which are free and where the agency has no artistic direction. Standard rates for print purchases in Toronto are 35-50 dollars (CAN) for models.

 

[softgrey]

the real honest truth ...at least in the ny market...is that if you are good...meaning your look, etc...people will test you for free..

and if you aren't...then you will have to pay...i never do paid testing because it usually means i won't be able to use them for my book becuase the girl won't be strong enough...

 

[secondly]

I guess it depends on whether you mean simple shots or like stylized portfolio shots...

 

[evexa]

Yes.

NO! But that isn't the whole answer... If you are signing to a GOOD agency they will pay for it for you then deduct the sum from the money you earn in the future.

If you are signing with a lesser known agency/commercial agency they might make you pay - but in that case you may aswell find our own photographer.

 

[A la mode]

Thanks for the info everyone! Its been very helpful!

 

[Dutchgirl]

How do models get discovered?

Hi everyone,

i'm sorry if there is already a thread about this, but i've searched and i couldn't find anything.

but how did al the models discovered? by sending pictures, or scouted at school, or modelcontests?

par example:
natialia discovered at the market..

 

[Nueva]

- Daria's friend's mother owned a modelling agency... and she encouraged Daria to join that agency...
- Marija Vujovic won a modelling contest in her country (Montenegro)
- Hana Soukupova won a modelling contest in her country (Czech Republic)
- Tiiu Kuik was discovered in a food market in Estonia
- Julia Stegner was discovered at Oktoberfest in Germany
- Cameron Russell was scouted several times while hanging out in New York City
- Ujjwala Raut won Miss Femina competition in India, moved on to Elite Model Look of the Year
- Caroline Winberg was scouted in Sweden
- At the encouragement of friends, Doutzen sent her pictures to an agency...
- Nicole Trunfio won Australian modelling contest
- Erin Wasson's father entered her pictures in a modelling competition
- Angela Lindvall entered a local modelling competition
- Nataliy Gotsii won Ford Look of the Year...
- Claudia Schiffer discovered at nightclub in Dusseldorf
- Christy Turlington discovered while "riding horses" with her sister...
- Cindy Crawford discovered by local photographer while "schucking corn"...
- Linda Evangelista won Miss Teen Niagara pagaent
- Naomi Campbell was discovered after school in London's covent garden
- Stephanie Seymour entered Elite Model Look of the Year

 

[OlgaKorbut]

- Mini Anden was a children's model and then got signed with Elite at 15.
- Caroline Winberg was discovered on her way to soccer practise.
- Adina Fohlin was scouted in Stockholm.
- Filippa Palmstierna-Hamilton's mother sent her photos to an agency.
- Madeleine Blomberg was discovered at a horse riding competition.
- Devon was Discovered at a Rancid concert.
- Kate Moss was scouted at JFK airport.

 

[Zimdor]

- Shalom Harlow was discovered at a The Cure concert in Toronto

 

[Ella]

-Gisele Bündchen's mom sent her on a modeling course to São Paolo where she met with bookers and got signed with a model agency
-Karolina Kurkova's friend encouraged her to send photos to a model agency and she then got signed
-Ines Sastre won Elite Model Look at 14
-Carmen Kass won some beauty contests in Estonia ( Miss Paide and Miss Jarvamaa County) and was discovered in a supermarket by an Italian scout
-Natasha Vojnovic was discovered by a scout in Belgrade
-Linda Vojtova won Elite Model Look in 2000
-Daniela Pestova was spotted by a scout on the streets of Prague
-Alyssa Sutherland was discovered at a shopping center in Brisbane
-Estella Warren was scouted at a fashion show at her school
-Liliana Dominguez was scouted on the streets of Mexico City and she then won a local modeling contest
-Alessandra Ambrosio won Elite Model Look in 1996
-Ana Beatriz Barros was spotted by an Elite scout and also took part in Elite Model Look (she came in second)
-Adriana Lima took part in Ford Supermodel and came in second
-Jeisa Chiminazzo joined a modeling school and then signed with an agency in São Paolo

 

[Acid]

erin oconnor and alek wek were scouted by Ellis, a top top scout

theres a russian guy who finds tonnes of models too.....cant remember his name

lily cole was scouted in soho london while shopping with a friend

 

[jeffreyuno]

Euguenia, Knesia, Natalia, Marta: were all discovered by some guy named Giya? (I think is his name) at this mother agency in Moscow,Russia: www.grace-models.com

Euguenia supposedly dates the guy that disvered her and they live in Paris together. I believe this agency has a good conneciton with Viva Paris/DNA NY

 

[Ella]

-Karen Elson was scouted in her hometown near Manchester when she was 16
-Gemma Ward was discovered by Vivien's Model Management

 

[yourbestfriend]

-Liliana Dominguez was scouted on the streets of Mexico City and she then won a local modeling contest

Didnt her models.com interview say that she was discovered at a party by a london agent?

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]MDC: Now the story is you were discovered by a British agent at a party in Mexico City. What was that like?
Liliana: I was just a fifteen year old without a clue! You cannot imagine how naive I was. I was very lucky that the agent was nice enough to bear with me. [/font]

http://models.com/model_culture/tales_model/liliana/pg4.html

 

[Surfbunny]

Luca Gadjus was scouted on the street in Hamburg

 

[Ella]

Didnt her models.com interview say that she was discovered at a party by a london agent?



http://models.com/model_culture/tales_model/liliana/pg4.html

Maybe both, maybe after winning the modeling contest she was discovered by a British agent?

 

[tiffany]

-Gemma Ward was discovered by Vivien's Model Management

Just to elaborate on that: in an interview she said that a scout spotted her at a fashion contest where she went to see some friends compete (I'm guessing the scout was with Vivien's Model Management)

 

[Surfbunny]

-Louise Pederson was discovered on a train in Denmark
-Heidi Klum won a modeling contest
-Claudia Schiffer was dicovered in a club
-Isabeli fontana was a finalist at Elite Model Look 1996
- Maria Carla Boscono discovered at 17 by a family friend who was a photographer
- Carmen kass Discovered in a supermarket at 14 in her native Tallin, Estonia
- Adriana Lima won the Ford Supermodel of the World contest in 1996