Agencies - questions and answers:
What types of people are they looking for?
Example of the categories you might be eligible for are: Model Division:
Aged between 15 and 30, girls need to be a minimum height of 5"7
and guys a minimum of 5"11 with good skin, hair and teeth and
have a classic or unusual look. Specials Division: Aged 15 or over,
you need to have a character or classical look but not necessarily
the model height. Casting Division: Height is completely immaterial
for this division, as is age. Junior Division: Aged between 6 months
and 16 years, children need to be photogenic with sparkling faces,
natural smiles, bright eyes, good teeth, complexions and hair.
They
need to be confident, comfortable, sociable, well behaved children
who can take direction and who have the patience to sit around waiting
for photographers to set up the lighting.
Do I have to be 6ft tall and Size 8?
As the above categories indicate, height can be overlooked if you
have the 'look' or character required for a job. However, for mainstream
fashion work, girls have to be between a size 8 and 12 as designers
always make their samples between these sizes. For commercial work
size is irrelevant as long as you are in proportion.
I am 65 years old and a size 22, have I got
any hope of being a model?
Clients do sometimes look for unusual characters and if you do have
a particularly strong and distinctive character there might possibly
be a chance of a couple of bookings but certainly not on a regular
basis.
Do I need a portfolio before I join an agency?
A portfolio is usually unnecessary before joining an agency. A full
length and head and shoulders snapshot should suffice. Once with
an agency you will build up a portfolio with examples of the work
you do. However, the tools of a models trade are their pictures
and in order to land that all-important first job an agency may
ask you to invest in a test shoot. This will cost in the region
of £50 - £100 and will give you examples of a variety of different
looks which will help promote you as a new face. You may also choose
to get some publicity material such as index cards printed up. If
an agency thinks you have a great look straight away then they may
well front part of these initial costs and deduct them from later
bookings.
How do I choose an agency?
Take time and do your research thoroughly. Check out an agency's
reputation before you part with any money. A well-established and
reputable agency should have a good website and books that they
send out to clients. Never join an agency if they are charging administration
fees. Despite promising you work, these agencies don't usually have
any clients and simply make money by conning would-be models out
of a so-called administration fee.
When I have registered with an agency, can I
simply wait for the work to turn up?
As it costs an agency a lot of time and money to promote a new face,
a good agency will never take you on unless they are almost certain
you will get work. However, even if your agency puts you forward
for a job, it is ultimately down to the client's choice, so there
is never any guarantee that you will be booked. Modelling is rarely
a full time career and work tends to come in sporadically, so it
is always a good idea to have another career option to fall back
on. Part-time or flexible work such as office temping will compliment
your modelling career by allowing time off to do a modelling job
if it comes up.
I have registered with an agency and never had
any work?
You need to re-asses the agency you are registered with. Is it a
reputable and well-established agency? Is the agency getting other
people work? Are your photographs and publicity material professional
enough? If you answer no to these questions then it is a good idea
to come off the agency's books and get an honest opinion from a
reputable agency as to whether you have what it takes to get modelling
work.
Model agency websites that Modelsearch has worked with:
www.sandrareynolds.co.uk | www.trulyscrumptious.co.uk | www.themodelbank.co.uk
www.elliottbrownagency.co.uk | www.adagemodels.net | www.dkmodels.net