Online Agencies...
There are a number of on line, web based “agencies”. Lets get one thing straight; some of them are networking and glorified dating sites. Have a look through them, look at the forums, look at any advice they have to offer, you have to make a judgment call here and maybe select one to try.
You should never ever have to pay to register; some ask you to pay to “upgrade” to a Pro account or to allow you to contact photographers or MUA’s (Make Up Artist).
Initially, don’t pay a penny to the web site. You should be able to upload a few photos of yourself. If you do upload photos, don’t submit photo’s taken by yourself on a camera phone in a mirror or taken at arms length. Get a friend, with a digital “point & shoot” camera to take the photos. If using a flash, don’t stand in front of a window or mirror as the flash will reflect and produce a bright spot hi-light as a reflection. Take plenty of photos, and choose only the really really good ones to submit. Pro Photographers will sometimes reject 19 out of 20 photos… so remember ONLY the really good ones!
Don’t expect a web based agency to promote you to clients. A quality client will go to one of the established agencies with a brief on the proposed shoot, and the agency will supply them with a short list of models – usually their Comp Card or their own internal model marketing photos. Agencies on the internet, are usually for models to link up with photographers and MUA’s to develop their craft together. This is a great tool for amateur photographers, but unfortunately, the models are usually left with a set of average images from lack of proper direction in front of the camera.
WARNING: Some “agencies” will say they want to put you on their books and ask you to pay for a photo shoot to get a portfolio with “their” photographer. Often these charges will amount to several hundred pounds! Please be careful, there are some top agencies that require this, but in general, most don't.... as always, check out all your options first.
Also beware of any agency that want’s you to “pay” to go on their books..... Again, a few top agencies request this, but the majority don't. Check out your options and do some serious research about any agency you are thinking of registering with.
Any agency that is interested in you will pay for the shoot... if they think that they can make money out of your face/body, they will invest in you up front!
OK, Some of the on-line agencies...
These are in no particular order and I make no warranties for there effectiveness or any of their claims. Before you decide, take a look at quite a few.... hopefully you can get more of an idea from their web site, but remember, in the world of modeling, sometimes what you see is not real life!
| http://www.jurgita.com/ | Jurgita |
| http://www.modelmayhem.com | Model Mayhem (my MM No. 527969) |
| http://www.uk.modeljobspro.com | MJP |
| http://www.onemodelplace.com | OMP |
| http://www.net-model.com/ | |
| http://www.modeloverdrive.com | |
| http://www.models1.co.uk/ | |
| http://www.skysangels.com | Sky's Angels Agency (fairly new) |
| http://www.stormmodels.com/ | STORM (OK... THE agency to be with!) |
| http://www.modelcruz.com/ | |
| http://www.assetsmodels.com/ | |
| http://www.purestorm.com/ | Pure Storm (my Pure Storm No. 150399) |
| http://www.lookmodelagency.com/ |
Please note: I have recently (6/1/09) removed two links from the list above due to adverse reports about them in the media. If you know of any adverse reports for any of the agencies listed, please let me know. I don't wish to list any one that is found not to be operating in the best interest of the model.
This list is not intended to be the ultimate in agency's. It is a short selection of the ones I know about and a couple of them I use. Searching on Google for "Model Agency" will bring up hundreds and hundreds of links. It will also bring up lots of web sites that offer services that "will train you to become the next top model" again, like anything on the internet, be careful. A lot of these sites will have adverts for courses that guarantee success.... nothing in life can be guaranteed.. except that someone somewhere will try to part you from your money!
