Scammers

Unfortunately like almost every other type of job or business opportunity there are plenty of scammers out there willing to take advantage of young and unexperienced models.

Ok, so you are now asking I hope HOW! Well if the ad or offer sounds too good to be true it most probably is. The ads or offers targets the inexperienced offering paid work for people who what to gain experience and get on the first rung of the ladder in this hard market to enter. All shapes and sizes just regular people we can get you paid acting or modelling work. That sounds great however what these companies do is charge an admin fee and then forget about you. Alternately they will ask you to come along to a photo shoot, you will be photographed but you will be asked to buy the portfolio of photos at the end of the shoot. This portfolio will cost you dearly.

Most reputable model agencies when signing up new models will give the model a list of photographers that they recommend and have used for some time. It’s then your decision as to which photographer to choose. Remember to take a chaperone and don’t be forced into posing for shots for which you feel uncomfortable with. With your first photo shot under your belt you will need a Composite card this is around 8 x 6 inches approx. in size and has a number of your best shots i.e. one large head shot with three or four smaller shots along with your stats and the model agency that is representing you. Since you have no money coming in at present through modelling it makes sense not to have too many cards produced, you can always have more printed later.

Most model agencies will not ask you for an upfront fee for work they claim that they can get you. Model agencies work by getting you the job, being paid by the client and then paying you. It’s simple really they take a commission so the more work they get you the more money they make.

A really good source of information can be found at http://www.modelingscams.org/