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There
appears to be some misconceptions about
what you should and should not pay for as
a model. As a model of 15 years I feel I
am in a good position to tell you exactly
how it is.
As a model you are self employed, therefore
running your own business, for which you
will need material to advertise your product,
the product being you. No model agency can
guarantee you work, as a model it is your
responsibility to provide a model agency
with photographs to market you with, an
agency can not promote you without any images.
Clients choose models from images, so the
better your images the better your chances
of being booked.
As the photographs are for your benefit
and are your advertising, you are expected
to pay for them. In order to obtain images
a model will undertake a test shoot. As
a new model you should expect to do several
tests with several different photographers
to build your portfolio. Once you are working
as a model then your work shots will go
into your portfolio.
You may be able to find a photographer that
is willing to take pictures of you for free,
but will they be suitable for you and will
they be to the standard required by a reputable and legitimate model agency?
Most professional photographers working
in the industry will require payment. They
too are running a business so why would
they want to work for free?
I am sure that
as a model you will want to be paid for
the work you do. There are exceptions where
a photographer will test a model free of
charge and this will be if they have something
to gain from doing so and it will normally
A client will need to see images of you
and a model agency will promote you visually
to clients for which they produce model
cards, a model book and a website. You will
also be expected to pay for your model cards
and if you wish to appear in the agency
book and/or on the agency website you will
have to pay for it.
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