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Do NOT waste money on an expensive portfolio no reputable agency would touch
This piece of model is first on the list as it undoubtedly the most frequent and (in many cases) the most expensive mistake many would-be models make.
Many aspiring models often make the costly mistake which is to put the cart before the horse rather than the other way round. Ask yourself this question: would a top hospital seeking medical doctors accept medical qualifications from doctor applicants – from any medical school? Of course they wouldn’t. In seeking to recruit pilots, would British Airways accept flying licences from any flying school? Of course they wouldn’t. So why would a reputable agency accept pictures from any old studio with scant regard to the quality of the pictures?
The simple point being made here is that in modelling, what an aspiring model should normally do if they’re seeking to get onto the books of a particular agency (they like the look of) is firstly apply to the agency with normal pictures and then having been approved, ask them to suggest a good recognized studio.
This way, the model applicant is rest assured in numerous ways. Firstly, they are in a win-win situation in that firstly, they’ve succeeded in getting onto the books of a reputable agency. Secondly, they wouldn’t have wasted their hard earned money buying a portfolio no serious agency would touch. Thirdly, there is a high likelihood that they’ll not only succeed in recouping back their investment via modelling work but also, hopefully make a healthy return on top.
Will any studio/photographer do?
If you were an employer looking for new employees with a particular qualification, would you be a bit selective when it came to choosing the establishment the employee applicants obtained the qualification in question? Of course you would. Likewise, when applying to an agency with a collection of pictures of yourself, do not adopt the mistaken belief that any pictures will do as they will not. If you’re applying to a reputable agency with high profile clients, why compromise your application by applying with shoddy and substandard pictures designed to represent your portfolio?
Would you go to an interview for a high profile job in a cheap suit? Of course you wouldn’t! This is another erroneous belief many aspiring models have which is that as long as they have some pictures taken in a studio or by a photographer, they should be adequate to accompany their modelling application. Any reputable agency is highly unlikely to risk their reputation by submitting inferiorly taken portfolios to their clients. And for this reason, they are highly unlikely to accept inferior portfolios. So if you’re seeking to become a model, getting the cheapest pictures is not always the best option as it may well cost you in the longer run. In the same vein, choosing a studio simply because it is the closet one to you could see you making a huge and potentially costly mistake. The quality of the studio ALWAYS excels over its proximity. In choosing a company you wish to work for, do you look more at its salary and prospects or more how close it is to where you live? If the answer is the latter, why choose a studio simply because it is the closest to you?
Ask the agency that has accepted you to recommend a decent studio as it should mean you’re virtually guaranteed to achieve your end objective which is be on their books.
Beware of model advice and Portfolio companies
The UK modelling industry is akin to an island surrounded by an ocean full of sharks out to take your money. Without naming names, there are numerous companies out there who portray themselves as companies out to give independent modelling advice yet, in doing so, ask you to come in (having paid them a deposit of course) so they can see whether you have modelling potential.
Other companies advertise themselves as professional portfolio companies and tempt you in (to part with your money) on the premise that their portfolios will be good enough for any agency. Run a mile is our advice as in many cases, you’ll simply be wasting your money. For goodness sake, if you’re going to part with your hard earned money for a professional portfolio, at least do so with some guarantees at the end such as that the company concerned will actually get you onto the books of an agency.
How do you spot a good and reputable agency?
As to what constitutes a good and reliable modelling agency is open to debate. For example, do you judge it on its clientele or how long its been in business? Do you judge it on its location or whether it offers you guarantees of work? Or perhaps you judge it on its accessibility in terms of how easy it is to contact them?
The answer is all of the above albeit in varying degrees. Our advice is to judge it on the following albeit non-exhaustive points:
- Does it have a contact number and address stated on its website?
- Does it have a list of clientele some of whom you may recognise?
- Has the agency demonstrated some type of activity happening such as models actually getting work?
- Are you able to contact it and have your questions answered?
- Does it charge any joining or subscription fees? If it does, run a mile as reputable agencies only make a commission if usually between 20 an 25%
Do NOT pay any money to an agency (e.g. joining fees)
Reputable agencies should only make money when they make you the model money. If they charge you a joining fee of any sort, be rest assured the agency is a con as in charging you, the agency is in effect not motivated to effectively represent you. After all, they make their money regardless of whether they get you work or not.
Submitting an application to an agency you like
When applying to an agency, do NOT be tempted to run out and fork out money on a supposedly professional portfolio. If you have some already then submit a few of those (as dictated by the particular agency’s application rules) along with a covering letter that should ideally include your vital statistics and contact details). If you do not already have a portfolio, simply submit ordinary pictures as these should be more than enough at this early stage to enable the agency to make a decision on your modelling potential when on their books.
Also, when submitting your pictures, do NOT take the lazy route of sending multiple emails at once in the hope you will hit it lucky with one agency. Such an approach shows you are lazy and stupid which in many cases will simply serve to put off the agency. Also, do NOT send links to your social networking site (e.g. facebook or myspace) for the agency to link to and hunt for your pictures as this also shows laziness and stupidity. Instead, treat your application like you would if applying for a professional job and in doing so, simply be professional in your approach. Remember, first impressions always last.
Makeover pictures are NOT portfolio pictures
In line with the mistaken belief many aspiring models have which is that any pictures will do, makeover pictures are NOT portfolio pictures. Professional portfolio pictures are designed to show you in a modelling orientated light rather than a ‘…hi, look how pretty I am when made over’ light. Makeover pictures from a makeover studio are just that – makeover pictures. These may be good for your private album or wall at home but in many cases, a proper modelling agency will not touch them. So next time, you are looking to get a professional portfolio, do NOT rush to a makeover/pampering studio as it could prove to be an expensive mistake. Rather, simply ask advice from the agency that has accepted you on board.
I shouldn’t have to fund a professional portfolio OR if the agency like me, why can’t they fund it?
This is one of the ongoing and mistaken assumptions many would-be models make based, one assumes on watching too much TV and assuming this is how modelling works in the real world.
Make no mistake whatsoever, the vast majority of agencies (and one is referring to the reputable ones), will expect you to fund your own portfolio. After all, 000s of would-be models get portfolios done every day in the same way would-be glamour models seeking to make a decent career in modelling get expensive breast enhancements which they pay for. Take another example, if say you applied to British Airways to be a pilot for them and they felt you had flying potential, would you expect them to fund your flying school costs but be quite happy to earn the subsequent high wages that comes with the job?
The simple point being made here is this. Only the top 2-3% of agencies will fund your portfolio costs but these agencies are extremely picky (as you’ve probably seen on TV) and why shouldn’t they be? Like anything, there’s no such thing as a free lunch as the saying goes.
In being very picky in what models they give the red carpet treatment to, such agencies know they’ll be able to charge their clients £000s a day and thus do not mind footing the cost of a professional portfolio for the lucky few (models).
Modelling is very popular simply because it potentially pays a lot for relatively very little effort. However, to potentially enjoy these lucrative rewards, you WILL need to pay out for a professional portfolio other wise you’re simply wasting your time. To think you can simply stroll in to a decent agency and earn a lot of money without investing in a portfolio, is a fool’s dream. The old adage which is you need to speculate to accumulate is very apposite in this industry.
Lastly, at Dynamic Models, we often hear lines from new models such as “…my friend told me that I shouldn’t have to pay for my portfolio” or “...my friend is with an agency and didn’t have to pay…”, our response is simply this: Why not go to them then or why can’t your friend not suggest a good agency as well then?
What’s the real deal behind Time for Prints (TFPs) and Time for CDs (TFCDs)?
Many reputable agencies such as Dynamic Models do NOT accept images with © on the bottom or the name of the photographer/studio or indeed any writing for that matter. The principal reason is because this usually means that the photographer owns the images. It also means that he/she has done you what is known in the industry as TFPs (Time for Prints) or TFCDs (Time for CDs). The photographer does free images for the (wannabe) model and in return, he/she affords them their time. However, the snag in this is that the photographer essentially owns all the copyright and thus any income that arises from these images in the long term. Many agencies do not get involved with these as experience suggests that down the line, it not only causes multifarious problems for all concerned but also, it usually ends in tears for the model. Put another way, whilst saving you (the model) money in the short term (i.e. not having to fund your own portfolio), in the longer term, you lose much more.
You see, we as an agency firmly believe that the model should earn all the income from his/her photos and do well from them rather than everyone getting embroiled in legal technicalities concerning who should earn what based on who owns what. Whilst one accepts getting photos done for free (whereby the model does not own the copyright) helps them in the short term as it saves them having to fork out for a quality portfolio of their own, in the longer term however, the model tends to lose (when he/she starts getting recognition and thus income from the photos). Thus, he or she is likely to regret this initial money saving decision.
Should an agency be able to guarantee me work if I invest in a portfolio?
No agency worth their salt should be able to guarantee work as they have no way really of knowing what future work is coming in. the reason for this is simple which is that it is the client who ultimately decides which models are hired – and NOT the agency. The agency can only put you forward for castings and in doing so, leave the decision as to who get’s hired up to the client concerned.
Indeed, not even Kate Moss or Naomi Campbell is guaranteed regular work. What we would say however is that in investing in a professional portfolio, you’d ideally need to see it as an investment and not a cost. You would also need to bear in mind that like anything in life, you need to take risks albeit calculated ones in the same way you’d invest time in your education without any guarantees of work upon its completion.
What types of pictures usually constitute a good professional portfolio?
When it comes to photos, agencies look at several factors including lighting, make-up, enhancement (if done), resolution, setting in relation to the model and photography direction. Also, if the images appear more makeover than portfolio, they are more than likely to be rejected as well as there is a distinct difference between the two although many would-be models do not know this.
If any questions you have are not answered here, please feel free to send an email direct to me in which case, I would be more than happy to answer them on behalf of the agency. Send to helen.cundy@dynamicmodels.co.uk