Modelling Advice - Some views on ways to become a model and how to avoid the model scams
You can find some very useful advice below on modelling scams that has been provided by Clive Hurst of the actors union Equity to avoid being ripped off paying thousands of pounds for modelling portfolios that are unncessary.
As of October 2010 the law has changed and model agencies are not allowed to charge any up front fees before they find you work. A genuine model agency will take any fees from work that they find you. The more work they find the more they get paid and the more you get paid. A scam model agency will want you to pay them not the other way round.
Many of the scam and fake model agencies are constantly changing their names so that they are not found out and any complaints listed do not show up against their names. The most important thing to remember is that real model agencies do not conduct castings in hotels based on newspaper adverts. If you see an advert for a modelling agency from a newspaper be extremely wary and do not part with any money to join such an agency as it is very unlikely that you would ever recoup that money from them. We would also advise caution with any photo studio maquerading as a agency or model management company advising you to only purchase modelling photos from them. A genuine model agency will not force you to only use their own in-house photographer. For examples of the type and quality of photos that are required please view the Kent Models page.
Some studios operate non-model agency websites that appear to be modelling agencies using terms such as apply & selected and are considered by many to be scams. We have highlighted these for many years and have seen lots of fake model agencies come and go such as Dynamic Models, Edge Models, Replay Models and Zebra Collection that all claimed to be legitimate model agencies but took models money for expensive portfolios. Studios and the model website names that are used for them/by them:
Candi Models = Mint Brown Studios/Highgate Studios
La Mode Models = La Mode Studios
Form Models = Neptune Studios
Mint Models = Neptune Studios
UK Models = Pure Space Studios/Blue Rooms
Diesel Models = Pure Space Studios/Blue Rooms
Edge Models = Skylite Studios?
Replay Models = Lounge studios / Lightroom Studios
Although models3 is run by Photo3 Solutions there is no requirement to have photos taken by them and suitable photos from any other photographer are acceptable. In Kent we would recommend Brian Brown photography based in Dover who produces very high quality photos for models portfolios. You can find out more about modelling advice and scams on our main website.
Need to know what a model portfolio is and why you need a model portfolio?
Alba Models are a model advice website and have a section on modelling scams with companies such as Go models, models Direct, UK Models, Diesel models and zebra collection named and shamed
For advice of keeping safe while you are modelling click here and advice on avoiding model scams
A few sites from people about different rogue model agencies or photo studios that appear to be agencies
http://thetruthaboutvanitymanagement.blogspot.com/ UK Model Scams
http://whatveidonenow.wordpress.com/2009/05/17/zebra-collection/ http://dieselmodelscomplaints.wordpress.com/
http://modelling-info.blogspot.com/ http://gomodels-scam.blogspot.com/ http://dieselmodel.blogspot.com/ http://models-direct.blogspot.com/
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