Modeling 101 - Answering Reader Questions

Anonymous Wrote: Hi Dana, I hope you're okay I have a problem, I live in Latin America and I want to start my modeling career in NY, I mean, I want to go to NYC and meet some agencies but my doubt is: does it is safe to go to the US as a tourist to visit agencies? and if I get signed will the agency be my sponsor for my working visa?  Hi there, Anonymous! I'm doing great, thanks for asking! :-) Despite the political atmosphere going on in the United States at the moment, it is safe for you to travel as a tourist to meet with agencies in the NYC market. As long as you plan in advance for which agencies you'll go to and are able to maximize your time while you're here, you'll be able to hopefully get the results you want out of the trip: an agency to petition on your behalf to bring you over to work as a model. Of course that is easier said than done. There are several important requirements that must be met and specific documents that need to be provided i...

Unknown Wrote (in response to the blog post "Modeling & Tax Season: To Write Off or Not to Write Off?" ): Would you elaborate more about "your income made from modeling also needs to justify the deductions" and exactly what you mean? Hi, Unknown! I absolutely can. :-) If you choose to claim certain expenses as tax deductible because it relates to your modeling career, then the money you report to the IRS that you earn from modeling jobs has to be enough of an amount to show that you are, in fact, making a profit and earning enough from it. For example, if you have a ton of deductions for manicures and spa services (let's say they total $1,000 for the tax year) BUT you didn't make that much or more in income from modeling, that's not going to look good to the IRS. When you show a tax return record too many years in a row where the money you make from modeling isn't more than the amount of tax deductions you are trying to claim, the F...

Anonymous Wrote: Hi, my current mother agency isn't really finding me any new jobs or shoots and I'm thinking about switching to another one. I used to be signed with an exceptionally good agency, which, however, isn't located in my current country of residence (it's 5.5/6 hours away by car or train from where I live at the moment).  Please let me know if it makes sense to sign with agencies that aren't located in your country of residence if they're very good.  Thanks! Hey, Anonymous! Are you considering trying to sign again with that same agency or somewhere else? Having a mother agent in your country of residence is ideal and recommended but if you're able to secure representation with that same agency from before or if you come across other agencies that are non-mother agencies you want to work with, it doesn't hurt to submit, see what feedback/response you get and then make a decision from there. In the meantime, it would also be advi...

Tanisha Wrote: Im Tanisha in I have had alot of people tell me oh my ur so beautiful why u want sign up to be a model in I'll tell them im not that beautiful in down grade myself all the time so I need a little help from anyone because everyone has there in opinion Hi there, Tanisha! Although I don't know you personally or all of the details of your situation, it sounds like you have some work to do before entertaining the idea of pursuing modeling. Because it is an industry that is based on many superficial/physical factors, I strongly encourage you to work on loving yourself first before anything else. I say that because it's not that modeling wouldn't be good for you or that you shouldn't try it BUT entering this field requires a lot of confidence and a thick skin that can handle rejection. Many men and women find it hard to be judged based on their looks and the many other factors involved with the process of finding agency representation and submittin...

Anonymous Wrote: Hi Dana!  Thank You so much for being so helpful to those who want to get into the industry. If I recall correctly, I believe you said you have some recommendations for agencies. I am looking for agencies in Florida, I am in Tampa, Florida. The first one I signed up for was very pushy about paying money upfront and so far I didn’t not have a return on that investment. Please let me know if you have any recommendations? Also, how many agencies in Florida do you think I should be applying to? (Commercial modeling) Thank You so much Dana! I truly appreciate it! Hey, Anonymous! When it comes to seeking agency representation, you want to cast a wide net. It is a numbers game, after all. Submitting to them all around the same time is also recommended because it makes it easier to keep track, especially if you end up getting interest from more than one. I don't live or work in the Florida area so I can't vouch for any agencies I recommend there but based o...

Unknown Wrote: Hi there, just to ask, do models pay to join the modeling agency,your own outfit,make-up and manicure? I’m just curious this could be a scam because I have little knowledge when it comes to modeling and the mechanism. Do I have to pay for the Job? Kindly help  Hi there, Unknown! Models do not pay upfront fees to join agencies. Legitimate agencies will offer a contract, have the model sign it and then discuss whether the agency will cover the costs related to expenses like the test shoot and putting together the model's portfolio and comp cards or if they require the model to take care of it (please see the following blog post that explains this arrangement in better detail:  http://amodelsdiary.blogspot.com/2008/07/deal-with-agencies-test-shoots-for.html ). As for the costs like wardrobe, makeup and manicures, this is the model's responsibility to pay for. It is seen as investing in yourself and your career. In some instances a model may get hired ...

Anonymous Wrote: Hi Dania, About one and a half years ago, I signed a mother agency contract with a modeling agency but decided soon after that I did not want to pursue the opportunity. I emailed the agency, and on amicable terms it was decided that I would not continue though it was not explicitly stated that my contract was terminated. The contract was for two years. Now, I am interested in signing with another agency. Am I in the clear, or will there be legal repercussions? Thank you,  Hi Anonymous! Do you still have the email correspondence you exchanged with the mother agency? If so, then that's a good thing because you'll want to make sure to keep it as well as print out a hard copy for your records. Both serve as proof that you communicated with the mother agency and that an agreement was made by both parties to terminate the contract. Usually you have to put it in writing but since you didn't do any activity while you were with them is more than likely ...