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So recently I have seen a lot of talk on some of the modeling facebook pages about being scammed. I even had a reader send me an email asking my advise on what he should do to try and make some of his money back. There are so many of us that fall for that high pressure sales pitch offering rewards in fame and money if we just take an agencies classes of pay high dollar for pictures. I say (we) because it happened to me as well when I was about 16. I went to a place called John Robert Powers and paid about $1200 for classes and was told I would audition if front of dozens and dozens of agents and become a golden child star. Did I become a star? well no but I did learn a valuable lesson. Not until 10 years later did I decide to start pursuing a career in the media again
If you have been scammed by an agency there are a couple of steps you can take to try and get reimbursed. The first is to call the better business bureau which handles situations like this. No agency wants to have a bad rap with the BBB because complaints are logged and can be seen by the general public. The second step if you are truly after teaching an agency a lesson would be to discuss options with a lawyer who can look into the contract you signed and hopefully find an out for you, so that you do not get sent to collections. Also, when an agency scams you then make it known we live in a time that social media is amazing. Write a post on facebook about what they did and rate them on any and every site you can. Once an agency in an area has enough complaints their talent base will start to minimize and hopefully they will eventually go under.
Once you have been scammed don't be scammed again. Do research before signing any paperwork. Make sure the agency is legit. Ask questions during your interview and go in knowing that an agency should be making 20% on bookings and that should be their main source of revenue.
If you don't want an agent then find work on your own start out by doing Trade For shoots with photographers. Call companies you want to model for especially if they are smaller businesses and local send them your comp card and head shot take initiative. There is a modeling sight I really like called modelmayhem. Sign up with them its free you will see casting calls on there for models some will be TF shoots some will be paid. I have even seen work posted on Craigslist. The only downfall to being an independent model is that you may get paid less but once you have experience better agencies will want you. Such as TMG in Salt Lake City and I have also heard great things about Mc.Carty. Stars isn't as big but they are also good. If any of you know of a great agency please put it in my comments.
Also research your photographer many agencies will recommend photographers but they shouldn't loop hole you into using a certain person. I found a great photographer who gave me an awesome deal on photos for half the price the agency photographer would have charged. He actually took the image above and its on my current comp card. Better yet my second shoot with him was a trade shoot so I got many images for free. If you don't have good photos already and are an older model such as myself expect to pay at first but not thousands of dollars. Head shots usually run anywhere between $30-$150 don't overpay at first because most agencies will tell you to get new headshots after signing you. Images for a comp card will usually cost $100- $500. Anything more isn't worth it because there will be a very slow return on investment especially if you aren't well lets say a Ford Model. Know what type of model you are and market that. I am a commercial print as well as lifestyle model. I can also do some high fashion. My images on my comp card reflect that.
Photographers I know that are amazing in Utah!
Rick Wallace
http://www.rickwallacephotography.com/#!gallery/c1t44
Charles Uibel
http://www.uibel.com/
Tiffany Fuller: A Pictures Worth Photography- She is great for child models!!
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