For Models

This is the formula to judge an agency. If even ONE of the answers is yes, then you do NOT have a good, legit agency.

• They have a great photographer — only one that they recommend but he is very good. (This is because they probably take a cut of his payment.)
• You are less than 5'9" and they tell you that you can be a fashion model (you are surely the exception because of your outstanding face).
• They tell you to lie about any of your stats.
• They cannot wait to talk to you and sign you up even though you have never made a dime modeling and no one yet has offered you a paying job. They are never too busy to talk to a potential model. (Because they have no paying clients, they need to make money directly from you!)
• There is a small sign up fee for paperwork and whatever. (You can't expect them to foot the cost for paperwork.)
• You will need a few classes to get you started. (Of course that will cost you.)
• You will need to go to some meeting somewhere to meet all the great agents at one time. This is where all the great talent is discovered! (Of course it will cost you — ahhh, the price of fame. And you know the big agents have such a hard time finding models that they have to go to conventions to scout them out.)
• Someone approaches you at a mall and just happens to have a card with them that has the word "scout" on it.
• Someone very important is in town and looking at models, you better get those photos done right away! This is a major opportunity. (The less time you have to think about the money you are spending, the less likely you are to come to your senses.)
• They will supply the makeup artist for your shoot, or a professional artist is never mentioned. (OK, this last one is a shameless plug for myself and other artists like myself, but most good agents do recommend you use a professional artist and have a list of good ones in town.)

Did you answer yes to any of these? If you did you need to keep hunting for a good agent!

I hate to tell you that it's a waste of time and money. It's not necessarily a scam but they DO NOT get models work — they may say they do but they do not. Most paying clients go to agents rather than websites to find models. They may go to an agency website to look at models but then they hire them from the agency.

These are things to look out for — warning signs that you have a scam or what we call a photo mill:

• Charging for anything: web listing, photos, etc.
• Referring you to a particular photographer for pictures, or taking pictures for money themselves. (This means they are probably taking a kickback and you are getting a photoshoot worth nothing to about $200.00 while the company keeps the rest. This is how many of these companies stay in business.)
• Offering classes of any kind. (Models don't need classes, even for runway — these are things a real agent will instruct you on for free as you move along your career.)

I suggest that you take Polaroids with no makeup and send them to legitimate agents with her stats and ask for an appointment. After you send the Polaroids, call them and ask if they did receive them and ask for an interview.

If your daughter does not have self confidence and doesn't take rejection well I would advise you not to do any of these things, because models hear "NO" most of the time. They hear: you are too short, too fat, too skinny, your nose is big, your feet are ugly. They all go through this and it does hurt; even the really strong girls can be devastated by some of the things they hear.

Also, never pay for portfolio photos until an agent tells you to. A legit agency will give you a list of recommended photographers, and if you don't go to one that the agent prefers you will probably end up re-shooting because they won't like the shots. If there are not at least 2 or 3 photographers on that list, or if the agent collects money for the photoshoot — run.

Beware: this business attracts all kinds of shady types. They see girls and guys that dream of being a model and prey on them.

Mary