Modeling 101 - Answering Reader Questions

Anonymous Wrote (in response to the article, "Can Modeling Harm Your Career?" : What if it is a male can they be fired for their modeling careers? Hey, Anonymous! Similar to female models, doing risque types of modeling that are overtly sexual in nature and/or showcase partial or actual nudity could potentially jeopardize a male model's career if they have a more traditional occupation. But it completely depends on the actual job/profession that male model has outside of modeling.  Anything similar to the modeling field like acting, hosting, fashion design, etc. shouldn't affect things too much since they fall under a similar umbrella or fashion and entertainment. However, a career in the legal, medical, education, government field, and so on could be a bad mix. As mentioned in the original post, any modeling done that's family friendly or even a little romantic in nature but not super sexualized, shouldn't pose too much of an issue, especially if you aren...

Lisa M. Wrote: What if they don’t offer a buyout rate at all? I’m working for a PR company that’s been hiring my son for the last year. They usually offered $200 because it’s 50 minutes each way. But now want to pay $150 & no buyout. But apparently it’s going to be on packaging, tags & website. We were told only website before, however it never got on there. My son doesn’t do a ton of work but they are 1 of 2 clients that keep booking him. Hi, Lisa M! Yikes. That doesn't sound like a good deal. The fact that you're commuting -- we all know how gas prices are looking these days -- and they want to pay $50 less is maddening.  It sounds like the amount of usage for his image/likeness could be extensive so for them to decrease the pay rate doesn't sound fair at all.  I don't know that a buyout rate would apply here if the goal is to keep having him come in to shoot. Buyouts are usually applied in situations where the client doesn't plan on using the models again...

Anonymous Wrote: My child received a W-2 for a modeling job he did and the total wages he is being taxed for is prior to the agency directly taking their cut out. My question is whether he should be taxed for the full amount before they took their cut or the amount after they took their cut. He was only paid the amount after his taxes were already removed and after the agency then removed their cut. Howdy, Anonymous! As my post that you commented on states, I'm not a CPA and not giving legal advice as such, but after speaking with a talent agent who does have experience dealing with W2s and underage talent, this is the information I can share with you for informational purposes: The info on the W2 you received is correct. They will always tax the full/gross amount before anyone takes their cut. This is because the funds for the original amount paid out contains the agency's cut. And since the funds are being distributed by the client and not the agency, the full amount is what...

Eric Wrote: Hi Dania, We are gearing up to set our daughter on her path to working as a model. She is 15 and the French only want models 16 and older. (She will start in Paris) Her birthday is in July so we have a few months to get her ready. The first question is: are the do’s and dont’s for snapshots the same as in 2015? Thank you :) Eric Hi, Eric! What an exciting time for your daughter, I love that you've got some time to prep her before making the big jump into the Paris modeling market. To answer your question, yes, the requirements for dos and don't of snapshots is essentially still the same even all these years later. As the saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Agencies still need to see what potential models look like in their most natural state. My biggest piece of advice -- if you haven't done so already -- is to make a shortlist of the Paris agencies you're interested in submitting your daughter to and visiting each agency's ...

Charlie Wrote: I just had a conversation with my mother that modelling pays really well. And she straight up went like "it's a dirty business , you don't know what works models have to do to get on the top " . It was my way to tell her that I want to pursue modelling but before I could even tell that to her directly , I lost all my gathered up courage and I can see all my dreams dying right infront of my eyes. Hey, Charlie! I'm sending you the BIGGEST virtual hug right now...you are not the only one who has had the wind taken right out of their sails by a parent who simply doesn't want to risk their child being disappointed, possibly taken advantage of, or wind up as an example of why people shouldn't get into modeling. I don't know your age or what the situation is but if you are under 18, it's gonna be a bit of an uphill battle to try and convince your mom since it sounds like she's already made it clear how she feels. However, that doesn...

Anonymous Wrote: Hi Dania, so kind of you to do this and support us young in the biz. I did a print spot for a well known company as a NU model last Oct. for $2500 1 year buyout. They are considering renewing for 2nd year $2500 and 3rd year $3750. I’m unrepresented atm. I am union now. I’m on hold for my first scene in a feature and I just worked a Chanel commercial (featured BG, let’s not roll out the red carpet here). But, one: I think, even with the strike, I’m moving on up, and two: isn’t 2nd year buyout rates supposed to be more? Could you help me on what an appropriate response would be or a fair counter-offer would be? Again, you rock. Thanks for helping the wide-eyed! Hey, Anonymous! You're SO welcome, thank you for being a reader and reaching out...congrats on the recent bookings you've gotten so far, that's awesome...and yeah, you are definitely moving on up. :-) As far as the buyout rate for the print job, I've been in the same scenario where the renewal rate...

Anonymous Wrote: I had a model agent say " but you are not the right type for us at this moment ". What does that really mean. Hi, Anonymous! Typically, that phrase is "agency speak" for politely saying you aren't what they're looking for. If you don't meet the physical requirements stated -- for example, if it was a fashion agency you were talking to and you weren't within their stated height or size range, that would be a common response. Or it could mean that your look isn't one that they feel is currently in demand at the moment and they don't want to take the chance of signing you, only to have you sitting on roster the entire time without any traction.  While it's not a great response to receive, it is their polite way of saying no, thank you. Now that you have a definite answer from that particular agent, you can move on to submitting to others and hopefully find the one that you are the right type for. Best of luck to you!

Katt O’Flaherty  Wrote: Hi dania! I know this post is kinda old and I’m commenting years later so you might not see this but IF you do that’s amazing. I recently got an email from EMG models to meet with them and she said she wanted to build my portfolio. She then scheduled me a shoot to build my portfolio next week with a whole team of MUAs and a photographer. There were no prices discussed and nothing brought up about paying. They didn’t offer me a contract YET, but want to help me build my portfolio first. I’m not sure if you ever heard of this situation? I don’t know whether to be happy that they want to help me and I don’t know if that means that they possibly really like me and possibly WILL offer me a contract once I do build my portfolio? If you could give me some comments and opinions that would be amazing! Much love xoxo Katt Hi there, Katt! It doesn't matter how old my posts are, I'm always available to respond to questions/comments as they get posted so thanks for t...

Anonymous Wrote: Hi. A model agency contacted me via email saying they were interested in setting up a zoom Meeting to meet me and my three children. This was one week ago. What is an appropriate time frame to follow up with them? Thank you Hi, Anonymous! The short answer is that you should respond back to any agency email within 24-48 hours if you know you're dealing with a legitimate agency.  Waiting as long as one week could give them the impression that you are not interested. If you haven't been in touch with them already, reach out ASAP! Best of luck!

Unknown Wrote: Is it normal for you to get the check then pay the stylist and make up artist? Hi, Unknown! It depends on who hired the stylist and make up artist. If they were booked by the client and/or photographer, then typically they are the ones who take care of the payment after the shoot is done. If you as the model was the one who hired them directly to be part of the project, then you'd be the one who needs to pay them.  In a majority of cases, the stylist and makeup artist would receive payment that same day after the shoot is complete. Unless you made an arrangement to pay them at a later date and time. Getting paid by the client/photographer on the same day as the shoot doesn't always happen but when it does it's great because then you're able to pay for their services right away. However, some projects require you to invoice the client/photographer, which means you'd need to wait however long it takes for the funds to arrive. Electronic payment methods ...

Kailee Davis Wrote: I have no piercings at all, no tattoos, and long virgin hair. I'd love to go into modeling, but I am barely 5' tall. How should I go about applying to agencies? Hey, Kailee! Without knowing your age and based on your height alone, commercial/print agencies would likely be your best bet.  An online search for agencies within a 2 hour's drive from where you live will give you a starting point to see which agencies -- if any -- are within your area. Make sure to stick to the agency websites and not blogs or other types of sites that might have different information or lead you to other avenues you're not interested in.  The agency websites will clearly state what types of divisions they represent. If you are under 18 (I'm assuming you're in the US), then you could also consider their Teen divisions, which typically do not have a height requirement either. I hope that helps and best of luck in your agency search!

Anonymous Wrote: Hi! I submitted to an agency last week and they contacted me immediately to ask me a video of me talking about my life, then I sent us the video back and they wanted to do a zoom call with me. I did and they said they'll get back to me. Its been 2 days now and I still have no response. Do you think its a bad sign? Hey there, Anonymous! I wouldn't see it as a bad sign. It is common for things to be fast paced in the beginning but then slow down or come to a halt altogether. It's the nature of the business side of the industry. When it comes to making a decision who to bring onto an agency's roster, it isn't always up to one person.  Sometimes it takes several meetings for the agency to agree on who they want to move forward with presenting a contract offer to -- not to mention the steps needed to prep for bringing on someone new, including paperwork and other legal documents necessary to make things official. So it's a process. It could take 1-2 ...

Laura Wrote: I’m older, but interested in foot modeling. How to break in? What are expectations? What do they look for in foot modeling? Hi, Laura! I would suggest checking out my post on the very topic of parts modeling: Parts Modeling It'll give you a crash course on the subject. Chances are you'll have to do an online search for agencies within a 2 hour drive from where you live that have either a parts modeling division or specialize in parts modeling only. Los Angeles and New York are two major markets where there are agencies that focus specifically on parts modeling.  I don't know where you're located but even just Googling "parts modeling agencies Los Angeles" or "parts modeling agencies New York" will introduce you to the websites for those agencies. It would be a good idea to visit the websites of those agencies -- even if they're not near where you live -- simply so you can see the types of models they represent, learn more about the a...

Anonymous Wrote: Hi Diana, So I have three agencies (1 in SF 2 in LA) that want to sign me. I’m pretty confident in which agencies I want to sign with in SF and LA (I have done my research and am aware that I cannot sign to two agencies in the same market). What i’m curious about though, is that each agency in these cities says they would be my mother agent when I sign. Let’s say, for example, that I sign with the LA agency first making them my mother agency. Would the SF agency still be interested? Or would the contract need to be altered? Also would i have to wait some time to sign with my secondary agency? They are aware of my interest in each and have a really good relationship between the two. They actually have a model that is signed to the same two agencies that I am planning on signing to. I have been very open and honest during this whole process and so have they, I just wanted another outside perspective since i’m new to the industry and still learning. Thank you! Hey, Anonym...

Anonymous Wrote: I'm 14 but i really wanna do modelling but my parents are totally against it and there's this audition that i really wanna do but they are totally against it and idk what to do Hi, there, Anonymous! Ugh, what a bummer. You are definitely not alone...there are countless model hopefuls who want to pursue a modeling career but have parents who are not on board. As far as the audition goes, without parental consent, you wouldn't be able to participate, nor would the agency be able to work with you unless they have your parents' approval. I wouldn't suggest doing the audition without their knowledge (I think it would be hard to do that without their involvement anyway) because that will make a bad impression on the agency, not to mention get you in major trouble with your parents. If you haven't already, the best piece of advice I can offer is to really research the modeling industry and write down your goals and why you want to model (i.e. would you...

Anonymous Wrote: Hi, should I let my agent know before accepting the job they didn't book for me , and can I find job alone even if I'm in an agency. For example, Some designer contacted me the other day and told me can I be on their runway, should I let my agency know Hey, Anonymous! How long have you been signed to your current agent? If you're fairly new and haven't been with them long, it's a good idea to err on the side of caution and let them know about the designer contacting you and what the details are of the modeling gig they want you for. It's easy for people to contact models directly and if you're not experienced enough in those types of situations, not having the guidance of your agent could open you up to be taken advantage of in a variety of ways. In nearly all modeling contracts, it states that you either cannot or should not engage on your own with booking work outside of what your agent submits you for. Do models always follow that? Defini...

Anonymous Wrote: Hi, do you have any advice on first time model. What should I wear for my first shoot? Hi, Anonymous! Since I don't know your age, gender or other details, I'll have to answer pretty broadly so hopefully some of the info below applies to your situation. As far as what to wear, that all depends on what the purpose of the shoot is: Is the shoot for putting together your portfolio for an agency you just signed to? Is the shoot for yourself for fun or because you're attempting to become a freelance model? Is the shoot an actual modeling gig you booked and you're preparing for that? Based on which of the scenarios the shoot is for, below is basic information you can use for reference/to keep in mind: Portfolio Shoot for Your Agent The agency you sign with typically provides some kind of guidelines as to what wardrobe you should bring for your first portfolio shoot, as well as reference images. If you haven't received this type of info, email your agent t...

Anonymous Wrote: My mom thinks that even doing a modelling program breaks young girls heart when they don’t get gigs and stuff like that😭 What should I say to her? I’m 12, and I really want to at least attend a modelling program. Hi, Anonymous! If you haven't already, I would suggest doing your research and finding a modeling program that clearly states their purpose/mission and present that information to your mom. Many programs do state that in addition to teaching skills related to modeling, they also focus on positive mindset, developing self confidence and how to feel comfortable in your own skin. Now, not all modeling programs focus on this, however. Many -- especially if they're labeling themselves as a "modeling school" -- will just take your money, teach you basic modeling walks, poses, hair and makeup tips and set you up with either photoshoots and/or have you participate in a fashion show and that's it but these days, there are others that combine a ty...

Randomix Wrote (in response to the blog article, " How Old Is Too Old To Model? "): Hello. Thanks for an informative article. I'm just wondering, if 23 is the cut-off point, how come models who were famous in their young years (Snejana Onopka, Gemma Ward) still do runway shows and they are now in their 30s? So you think for a runway show you can't be over 23 when starting if you look young and have no wrinkles? Hi, Randomix! You're super welcome, glad you enjoyed the article. The names you mentioned belong to the elite 1% of runway models that reach "Supermodel/It Model" status.  The age ranges I describe in my post refer to the every day, average working runway model's career. Once you hit Supermodel/It Model status, your career longevity is basically set. Unfortunately, this is not the case for so many. There are certainly a number of models who can easily pass for younger. But to start a runway career in your early to mid 20s isn't standard--a...

Anonymous Wrote: Hey, I visited an agency just about 3 weeks ago where we took some Polaroids and they said they would contact their international offices and let me know the news by the end of the week, however I haven’t got any news yet. I was wondering should I send a follow up email in case I wrote my email wrong or should I give it more time in case there is a delay and instead wait a bit longer til they contact me Many thanks 😊 Hey, there, Anonymous! The waiting part can be the hardest and when an agency gets busy, it's easy for them to forgot who they're supposed to get back in touch with. I would say give it another week and if you don't hear back by then, you can follow up with an email. Usually, I discourage sending follow up emails/calls BUT your situation is different because you already met with them and have an established line of communication. So sit tight for a week and then send an email to your designated contact person at the agency and go from there. F...