If you’re considering a career in modelling you probably already know that one of your most important priorities is to find, and be signed up by, the right modelling agency. The agency you choose will be pivotal to your future success and, with so many modelling agencies operating throughout the UK, it can be a confusing process deciding upon the one that’s best for you – not to mention ensuring that they are keen for you to join them. So before you begin to submit your portfolio, these tips will help you to ensure that you’re doing giving yourself the best chance to become a new face in the modelling world.
Be Flexible: there are several ways of making contact with (and applying to) model agencies that you need to be familiar with. Some ask for you to send a portfolio then invite you for an interview, others operate open castings, and some encourage prospective models to approach them in the traditional way by walking through the doors of their office. You should be prepared for every means of contact, and you should also understand what an agency requires of its new models before you apply.
Be Discriminate: there are hundreds of modelling agencies out there and if you only apply to the top five you might find that it’s a dispiriting process. Similarly, if you apply to each and every one you’ll find yourself totally confused about what each can offer and who you should commit to, so do your homework first. For example, if you feel you have a distinctive, quirky look then you should be searching for an agency that recruits more unusual, less mainstream models.
Be Savvy: Although modelling agencies are there to support their clients they operate as businesses, so you need to develop a business head too. Before you sign a contract you should understand exactly what you’re committing to, how much commission the agency will take and how good their reputation is. Many models are choosing to employ the services of companies like UK Models, which are not agencies themselves but keep databases of the credible modelling agencies and help aspiring models to submit applications, understand the industry and create a great portfolio. This can not only help you to stay savvy but it can also make the whole process of finding a good agency far more smooth running.
