I want to be a model, any advice?

Question

I have the looks to be a model, but everything i tried it costs alot of money and i don't have that. Are there any free agency's that are helping young people step into the modeling career?

Answer 1

I wrote this back in November, but you will probably find it useful. This is how to get some excellent pics taken and safety tips:

How to get really good pictures of yourself (or start out modeling), for free! Also, Modeling Safety Guidelines
Originally posted to my blog on Sunday, November 13, 2005
I'll leave you to judge the ethics of this idea (a friend actually did it and got the best pics of her life):

1. Take the photos you have, or some cheezy snapshots. Make a free "model's" account OneModelPlace.com or one of those similar "portfolio" places.
2. PRETEND (if you are just after good pics) TO BE SERIOUSLY INTERESTED IN MODELING!!! If you're a larger person, you are an "aspiring plus sized model".
3. Very Important: TFP means "Trade for Portfolio"- where so-called photographer and so-called model get together and shoot with the goal of creating portfolio quality images. You should receive a cd of images or quickly emailed "touched up" images.
4. Browse photographer portfolios and show "desire to work with" and inquire if they would be interested in doing a TFP shoot... Read emails from interested so-called photographers who are interested in so-called shooting with you. Follow safety tips below this list and use your best judgement in working with them.
5. Go on "TFP shoots" until you have the great photos of yourself that you really want. BE SAFE. I've included some safety tips below.
6. Remove your "portfolio" if you're no longer interested in so-called modeling.

Now, Safety is MOST important, because these guys may or may not be on the up and up, and you wouldn't be doing this if you could afford to shell out bucks for Glamour Shots, Olan Mills, or one of those types of BUSINESSES. Photographers are individuals, and there's a portion of poseurs, cons, and talented-but-messed-up ones who are creepy at the least, and rapists/murders at the most (read my blog on "scammers"- there are a zillion more of them, even fairly talented ones, who aren't worth the trouble of anyone working with).

Here are some Modeling Safety Guidelines that I've learned:

1. Take someone with you, or meet in public to discuss the shoot first. Coffee shops are good places to meet. Sometimes it's not possible or comfortable to take along a friend, in that case, you need to be really careful.
2. Ask for details (either on the phone or meeting at a coffee shop beforehand). If the guy is an amateur with good pics in his online portfolio, what is his day job? What are his goals? What are his favorite things to photograph? Why is he interested in photography? What is his idea for a shoot with you? If you only ask one question, ask him how he feels about you bringing along someone and answering your cell phone during the shoot (ask this even if you plan on not bringing a friend, his answer will tell you alot). I've never shot with anyone who had a problem with me bringing along a friend- I don't reccommend you do either.
3. Make him aware that a few friends know about the shoot, have his number and information, and will call if they don't hear from you. This is especially important if you are shooting alone.
4. Give his information and shoot information to atleast one friend.
5. Call a friend and answer your phone during the first shoot, assuming that you're shooting alone.
6. About the "model release", if there is one: Assuming that you didn't get undressed, pose in lingerie or swimwear, it's probably the courteous thing to go ahead and sign it. You might end up as stock photography, though. Some photographers make up TFP "contracts" which just clarify that neither party will profit from the images without the other one's permission. With No Contract, images are legally for portfolio and personal use only.
7. Use your intuition and go by your gut feeling! If something doesn't "seem right" or "click", don't give the guy a second chance. There are too many nice so-called photographers out there who will not give you bad gut feelings to settle for the possible criminal who doesn't "click".


Note on "glamour", lingerie, and nude modeling: If you're wanting some good photos of these kinds, I reccommend saving up and paying a studio operating as a business. If it's your boyfriend's Christmas/Birthday present and you are totally broke, then here are some more safety tips and info, from my own lessons learned:

1. Do not sign away the rights to use your images for any type of "sexy" shoot. This is usually in the form of a "model release". If they want the rights to resell, alter, and commercially benefit from your partially-dressed-to-nude images, make them pay you. In NYC the going rate for nudes is around $100 an hour, in Buffalo it's around $50-$75 an hour, and in Springfield Missouri it's $80-100 an hour (the economy is better in Springfield than Buffalo and fewer girls will get naked out there).
2. Be aware that consequences of signing the typical "model release" and relenquishing rights to your images include: ending up on a porn site (as teaser material if you aren't nude), ending up on sites advertising prostitution and escort services, your pictures portraying a phone sex gal... and any number of ADULT Related Products, Services, and Web-Content.
3. If the photographer starts pressuring you to do more than your limits, which hopefully you've made very clear beforehand, then LEAVE. If your limits were "no spread leg", then the so-called photographer should respect that without questions.
4. I would reccommend asking these kinds of questions before the shoot (in addition to their feelings on you bringing a chaperone): Do they use an SLR camera with a flash and backdrop set up (if they DON'T, then you don't want to work with them- too many guys with good equippment doing TFP- read below).

... and hopefully you have a great experience and come out with some awesome pictures from all of this! If you decide to be seriously interested in modeling- print out your best pictures and send them to actual legit modeling agencies in states that regulate it (New York, Florida, and California). Beware of potential scammers, and that any person from one of those states who calls themselves an "agent" has to be liscenced. If they're NOT in those three states, well- I could live in Missouri and call myself a "model agent" :-)

Please note, that professional photographers are as often creepy as amateur photographers. I think that guys with cameras/amateurs are often as pleasant (and sometimes preferable) to work with; and if they have the money to be spending on good equippment, chances are that they have good employment and don't want to end up in the news as the Morning Rapist, or ruin their professional reputation.

This is all I can think of to write at the moment, but I know there's a ton more that I've learned!

Answer 2

I have heard a lot of bad thing about SOME (not all) modelling agencies and how they make you pay for photos and photo sessions before they take you on then never give you any work. Always check with the local Better Business Bureau in teh US or Trading Standards in the Uk or Similar organisation elsewhere.

I think a better starting place before you go to agencies is if you have a friend who is reasonable with a camera (do not have to be a professional or even that good just okay) Just take 100 photos of yourself in different poses, clothing and backgrounds then pick out 10-20 nice photos. You can then use this as a portfolio, and even better instead of printing them which cost you money every time, host them on a website and get some business cards print with the website address on and just hand these out instead. This is a far cheaper way of doing it and with no RISK. You should never have to pay to get a job if you do there is a high chance it is a scam.

However if you would like a personal portfolio site please contact me and I will set you on up for free. I can design you a fully personalised flash website with as much or little information and then host it for you. This site can contain a gallery of your photos, personal information, list of work, contact details, etc or if you prefer just a couple of photos and nothing else. It can be password protected and all images will be protected as is humanly possible, or the photos can be available to download.


Examples of work can be provided on request. Just message me here if you want, I am a professional website designer but have lots of free time (and enough money) so I am currently doing free sites for small bands, small artist etc, basically anyone who could not afford them otherwise. I have my own hosting server so can offer hosting servers or you can host the site yourselves. No images sent to me will be used for anything other than your site and I will not give anyone your detail or link to the site. You will have complete control and the site can be removed or changed at any time. This is not a scam and I will design a site for FREE, I do not need the money, and enjoy working. If you do want it message me you can tell me what you want and how you want it done and I will help.

Depending how old you are I may require parents permission before i will do any work.

Answer 3

Pet stores, vets, craigslist, obedience schools, dog trainers, dog shows that are local, local free papers with ad sections I would use an ad that allows you to select the dogs and offers one free photo of your(photographers) choice of the pets selected. Have a selection day or days and then schedule appointments (not all dogs get along so you do not want a giant free-for-all dog fight on your hands). You might also set up an email account where people could email you prospective pet pictures that would help you see the dog and select possibilities. Good luck and congratulations.

Answer 4

Get an agency. ANd probably not. Its just alot of hard work and you probably are going to have to drop out of school and get a tutor. Just think of all the sacrifices you have to do.

Answer 5

Basically just get a friend that has a camrea n make some ameture shots 2 make ur own portfolio n go frm there.

Answer 6

No legititmate agency will charge you. The only thing you're supposed to pay for are the photos for your portfolio.

Answer 7

i tryed free to but i never got it so i ask dad lol cause he has money and i didnt so he got me someone and i became a model but i never got it free

Answer 8

I modeled for this store called fashion bug and i just walked in there.Seriously you should just try walking into a fashion bug store if your on the pretty side that is. ;]

Answer 9

no good people will let you in for free. And you have to have ALL the looks. It also depends on age....

Answer 10

balaji and baajaa.com

they recruit online and its free:

http://www.baajaa.com/baajaa/balajitelefilms.baajaa

post ur profile there by clicking on 'post a free ad'

g'luck

here's the link:

http://www.baajaa.com

Answer 11

drop to 75 pounds.