Model?

[djenna]

I was approached by staff from a model agency and i was req to come down for the interview. I heard a lot of rumours that most agency would wants us to pay for the portfolio and the grooming courses. Isnt a must to pay all these in order to get into the commercials? Can anyone tell me more info these issue?

[hillview2006]

Yup, very normal to pay for the portfolio and the grooming courses maybe optional for some agent. This happen to my little boy

[djenna]

Yup, very normal to pay for the portfolio and the grooming courses maybe optional for some agent. This happen to my little boy

Oh wow! your boy must be very damn cute! but do we really earn tt much from modelling? ive only heard peple doing it for freelance but not full time unless you are doing for foreign commercial. tts where the big bucks comes in.

[hillview2006]

He’s only a boy. We don’t want him to spend more than 4 hrs per session and we don’t want make use of him to make big buck. (An agent spotted him during our shopping trip! That’s how he become one)

Yes most people do it on freelance basis. The pay is really depending on what’s company/product/brand you working with. Since now we are living in Singapore we are not interested to continue it here.

Go for it and have fun! Do locally first.....

[Ian100]

Hi I am a photographer in the Uk and will soon be living in Singapore doing another career.
With regards to what you wrote.....be carefull about these things, in the UK i would never every recommend people pay for what you are describing, I dont know what it is like in Singapore but I doubt it is any different. I tried to PM you (but I am a new user looking for a place to live) and that service is not available to me. PM me and I will explain what I know...

Ian

[ksl]

Yup, very normal to pay for the portfolio and the grooming courses maybe optional for some agent. This happen to my little boy

Not quite true, however there are many model agencies, that do try it on! If they can get away with it, My daughter and myself have been approached several times, our portfolio isn't large, although it is made up from the jobs we have done.

One video shoot was also for a No1 Pop Group from Taiwan called F.I.R for a new record that came out a while back, on MTV.

We was told by those in the industry, that many would try it on to make you pay, because normally mums and dads, are very keen, to get their child in the limelight. so the shoot they pay for goes on record, and sent out to clients.

But if they really want someone here and now, that fits the picture, they will even give a pay rise to get you. I almost turned a shoot down at the last minute, because I thought they was offering me, kind of a back hander, like they were doing me a favour!

Up yours I said, if you want me, you pay me enough to get out of bed!

Then I was asked what I thought was reasonable!

I got what i wanted.

So you must be careful, although if you or your child wishes to model, then why not pay for the portfolio, go freelance, register with the well known ones.

but I think you earn every penny in this humidity.

My daughter and i was also photographed from long distance, by a freelance photographer, who had sold the photo's on, we only discovered this by accident, when a property developer was giving away the sales brochure, with our photo's in it.

I contacted the company, because they never had our permission, to take photo's, after a few phone calls, we had the photographer by the short and curlies, it got settled in the end.

[Charlatan]

Hi I am a photographer in the Uk and will soon be living in Singapore doing another career.
With regards to what you wrote.....be carefull about these things, in the UK i would never every recommend people pay for what you are describing, I dont know what it is like in Singapore but I doubt it is any different. I tried to PM you (but I am a new user looking for a place to live) and that service is not available to me. PM me and I will explain what I know...

Ian

I completely agree with this... there are all kinds of scams that can be run.

A real agent doesn't charge you money to take pictures or groom you. They suggest you go and get this done with a reputable third party.

[djenna]

Hi I am a photographer in the Uk and will soon be living in Singapore doing another career.
With regards to what you wrote.....be carefull about these things, in the UK i would never every recommend people pay for what you are describing, I dont know what it is like in Singapore but I doubt it is any different. I tried to PM you (but I am a new user looking for a place to live) and that service is not available to me. PM me and I will explain what I know...

Ian

Thanks for the advice,Ian! Its my first time experiencing it so you can imagine how's my curiousity was. I dont have any confidents with the person who approached me eversince he asked me whether i also do social escort?? Im not sure whether he's trying to be funny with me but he did left me his namecard,surprisingly. isnt sumthing to do with modelling or what? nd ur advice. tanks

[hillview2006]

What my son’s agent does is, she charged us a very small amount of registration fee SGD$23 (converted in SGD) for life. They also have grooming class for new people especially for teen/adult who are keen in modelling e.g catwalk etc etc..

First of all, you must check the background of the Agent.

[djenna]

What my son’s agent does is, she charged us a very small amount of registration fee SGD$23 (converted in SGD) for life. They also have grooming class for new people especially for teen/adult who are keen in modelling e.g catwalk etc etc..

First of all, you must check the background of the Agent.

tanks for the advice!

[Ian100]

Hi again

From what you said in your reply.....do not do it is my advice! Basically it works like this.....if an agent from a reputable model agency sees you and thinks you are what they are looking for they will tell you straight away. They would invite you to a studio where you would be photographed free of charge...why would they want money from you if they think you are good enough to be a model ie. you are good enough to make money for them!
I often photographed a euroasian girl in the UK (family friend) and some of the pics were great, she had no plans to go into modelling so she never approached an agency but one day she was spotted by an agent from Elite Model Agency....they did not ask for money!! She now models and studies.
Alternatively, you could approach an agency - now this is the important part - the agency you approach DOES NOT WANT a profession portfolio of images. A good agency will want VERY SIMPLY UNPROFESSIONAL snap shots - one shot of your face looking at the camera, one shot in profile and one shot full length body...these can be taken by your friend. Why do they want such simple shots? Because if you look good when you have not been professionally shot or have pro make-up then you will look good when you have a full shoot.
Another possibility that could help you is to find a good amateur photographer (or a pro photographer who maybe is expert in another area of photography and wants to practice photographing fashion/glamour whatever)......this is something I did. My expertise was not fashion/art photography, it was social documentary, so I would sometimes photography friends or strangers who would like free photos....TFP = Time For Portfolio. email me if you like = shoreian at hotmail dot com

[mesa]

Oh, No!

I should have read these. It is too late as I already paid S$380 for the portfolio for my son. He was approaced by IMI Pte Ltd and went down for the interview and 2days later for the portfolio.
But as long as they offer a job, even just once, we wouldn't feel bad.
Is there anybody knows this company?

Regards all

[ksl]

Oh, No!

I should have read these. It is too late as I already paid S$380 for the portfolio for my son. He was approaced by IMI Pte Ltd and went down for the interview and 2days later for the portfolio.
But as long as they offer a job, even just once, we wouldn't feel bad.
Is there anybody knows this company?

Regards all

I shouldn't worry, they will send photo's out to clients, they also need the money, if you get no offer within a certain period, i would request proof, that they have fulfilled their obligations. since you have paid the money upfront. if they haven't sent your sons photo's out, then i would think you have a claim.