I never thought this would happen to me

[sytaylor]

I started putting a photo of me out to modelling agencies on the advice of a few peeps for a laugh and before long i had quite a few interview offers and a lot saying they'd like to see me if i could travel half the country to do so!

So then last week i went for an interview and the agency I went to see although young had a lot of excellent talent already (lots of major campaign work etc as well as a doing Paris last year). Thing is to start my portfolio they want to do a shoot thats gonna set me back £375!! Thats a crap load of money. Anyone had experience in this area, and know what warning signs to look for? I can usually figure people out pretty well and they seemed willing to invest time and effort in me and they feel I can go far.

The thing that swings it for me is that they did offer to check out any photographer I could find and make suggestions etc.. Sounds reasonable to me at least, any weary old foxes out there disagree?

I'm a model! LOL

 

[RussSchultz]

As long as its not their photographers they want you to use, I don't see any real warning bells.

Oh yeah, and don't pay them money to consider you.

 

[sytaylor]

Oh no, they've already said they want me and would be happy to have me. The first part of me working with them is that I need some photos to promote myself with, and theyve offered to do them.

 

[London Geezer]

Oh no, they've already said they want me and would be happy to have me. The first part of me working with them is that I need some photos to promote myself with, and theyve offered to do them.

I have some experience in the field. In the end it's your choice, some agencies will take you on and do it all themselves for free, some others will ask you for money. The fact that they're telling you that "this great photographer can take ur pics and make ur portfolio for this much money" is the same thing as them asking you for the money directly.
They shouldn't by the way. But hey, if you think it's gonna help you, and you have the money, i think you should do it, in the end they will be NICE pictures you will be able to keep to advertise yourself to other agencies.

I'm meeting someone from an agency this weekend, pretty cool coincidence, he has done lots of commercials, and maybe i'll get something out of it. to be honest, i was like u, i tried it just because i was tired of my friends telling me how stupid i was for not giving it a try, so what the hell...

 

[London Geezer]

What agency is it anyway? Storm asked me for money and i told them to fuck right off. (which i guess is not exactly the right way to break into the business, but who cares!)

 

[Diplo]

Oh no, they've already said they want me and would be happy to have me. The first part of me working with them is that I need some photos to promote myself with, and theyve offered to do them.

Sounds like a scam. If they want you that much then they should be happy to pay the relatively small cost of portfolio. Do not be deceived by flattery. See http://www.modelingadvice.com/Scams.html

4) "We are interested in you but you need to test shoot with our photographer and it's going to cost you". Legitimate agencies will provide you with a list of photographers that you may go to. Many will have a place by the front door for photographer's business cards that you can take on your way out. You should be free to go to any photographer you want to. If the agency tells you that you must use their photographer, watch out. A new twist on this same theme is where the agency does not charge for the photo session but you have to pay a high fee(an example $700) for a "professional make up artist." You will need photos at some point but you should be free to shop around and find you own photographer and make up artist.

 

[sytaylor]

Diplo, the crutch for me is that they were happy for me to build my portfolio without pictures by them, they simply recomended it for best chances. They also showed newspaper clippings of their visit to Paris last year.. Although you guys have managed to place enough doubt in my mind to ask around some other agencies who showed interest.

lb: thanks for yor pov.