Here it goes............................ Whilst I agree that it is not the job of a model agent/agency to arrange and pay for your own portfolio pictures (remember models and prospective models - youre self employed, this is your business - its up to you to give your agent your best marketing tools) - I do think its the role of your agent to signpost you and help point you in the right direction. Some agents (myself included), and only if its required, will arrange an initial test shoot. You wont be expected to pay anything upfront for this, but once you start earning, you will be expected to pay this back to your agent (normally over your first few jobs). If youve been approached by an agency and told that they will organise a free shoot with hair and make-up - please look into them first. Especially if it involves you travelling the length of the country. I cannot believe, in this day and age, with all the information thats out there, how many hopefuls are still being conned by these companies. They are not agencies or agents. They are (I stole this fantastic saying from a lovely photographer a few months ago) - PORTFOLIO MILLS !!!!!!! They dont offer you representation, and they dont find you work. They are there to make money from you and by the time your day with them is done, your shoot is most definitely not free! Some of you will know the type of companies that Im talking about here, and already given them a wide berth. And some of you will have unfortunately already been down that road and are now in the region of anywhere between £500 - £1500 lighter in pocket because of them. There is no casting agent in the land will take a book full of photographs that were clearly taken by the same photographer, in the same studio or location - and think that you have a portfolio. A portfolio is made up of different shoots and tear-sheets - its meant to show your diversity. Its not meant to show you posing in the same 2 / 3 outfits over and over again - with mediocre hair and make-up and terrible lighting. Much like Rome - Portfolios are not made in a day. If you are paying more than the £200 point for a professional photographer, make-up artist and images - then you have indeed been conned. You could have had six or seven various shoots by numerous photographers for the price of your one portfolio mill book. If you think youve gotten yourself a great deal because their package also gives you comp cards and a website - again, remember, they are using the same pictures that make up your shiny generic portfolio. Your full package, that you (or your parents / grandparents / aunty jeanie) paid for, will look surprisingly similar to thousands of others who fell for the same sales pitch. These packages are churned out daily - they are not unique to you, and they will not help you within the industry in any kind of way. Nothing in life comes for free. If you want to be a model - its time to wake up and start taking control of your career. Its not a cheap industry to get started in - but its definitely not £1600 in one day expensive!
Posted on: Wed, 05 Nov 2014 08:04:29 +0000
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