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How to Approach Model Agencies

I remember it was a pretty daunting experience to approach a modeling agency like Ford or Wilhelmina. You’re at the point where you need good models for your book and while you’re not exactly booking big money jobs, your portfolio is at a place where pro models are the next step in furthering your work and your career. I am not sure why agencies can be intimidating, but trust me, I do remember those early days and how afraid I was of approaching them. Maybe it’s from the stand point that the agency having something you need and you know that you don’t have a lot of money to offer or jobs on the table to make it worth their while to send good models your way. But you have to start somewhere so making those initial calls has to be done. First of all, remember, not everyone out there is going to fall all over themselves to help you. And not everyone out there is going to think your work is utterly amazing. There will be some agencies that really like you and your work and will want to help you, while others may not show that much interest. That’s okay. Obviously, stick with the agencies that show interest in having you test with some of their new faces and start to develop a relationships with those bookers.

Contacting the Agency

Before you approach any agency you have to have a website to refer the bookers to. First you call the agency and ask to speak to the booker in charge of new faces. After introducing yourself, ask him or her if you can get their email so you can send them your website. In the email to them, keep it short and sweet. Don’t send them paragraphs of personal information about your life and your vision. They don’t care. All they care about is if your work is good enough for them to take a chance with you by sending you some of their girls that need to test for their books. So in your email, introduce yourself, give them the link to your site, offer to come in and show them your print portfolio, thank them for their time and consideration and wish them a good day. That’s all you need to do in the beginning. If they’re interested in working with you, they’ll email you back or call you. It’s that simple, really.

Developing Relationships with Bookers

In the early days, I clicked immediately with some bookers and was able to really start testing with some very good, professional models right away. And then again, there were some agencies that just simply weren’t that interested in working with me. Even today, I click with some bookers and approach them first when I have a job or even if I feel like testing. And then I send out the casting call to the others. Some bookers I’ve met and I’ve known for 20 years. Some bookers I’ve never met in person but we have a strong on-line relationship. I make an effort to go out and meet the bookers at some point because I think it’s still important to introduce myself to people in the industry. It’s not a daunting experience for me anymore but I’ve developed a thicker skin at this point and I know deep down that some people are going to love my work and some people aren’t going to “get it”. That’s okay nowadays. But when I was younger and more insecure, it was really intimidating. All I can say is that after time you will become aware of this fact and it will get easier to approach the agencies.

Facing Your Fears Head On

Most fears are conquered by just facing them down. I have found through experience that overplaying a scenario that intimidates me in my mind over and over again is far worse in my head than the actual situation ends up turning out. Find the best local modeling agencies in your area and then start calling them one by one. You can always ask the receptionist for the email of the booker you wish to contact, sometimes they will give it to you. Or you can ask the receptionist what the agency’s protocol is for potential photographers that want to test. Some agencies have an open call day where you go in during certain times to show your book. It just can’t hurt to ask. And you’re not the first photographer who has called asking to test their models. One thing that goes without saying, and again, this is just my humble opinion but I wouldn’t try to get my foot in the door of an agency you wish to test with by asking to do paid tests. A paid test is where the model pays the photographer for pictures for her book. Start out by offering to test for free and after time, when you’ve built a good relationship with the agency, then you can start asking for payment. Again, all of this is just my own opinion and advice. Other photographers might tell you differently!

By Melissa Rodwell

Melissa is a fashion photographer and the founder of Breed.

After graduating from the Art Center College of Design Melissa Rodwell embarked on a globe-spanning career as a fashion photographer. She has lived and worked all over the world, photographing for Ralph Lauren, Nike, Coca Cola, Honda, NBC Television, and Dell computers. Her editorial assignments have lead to her being published in Harpers Bazaar, Kurv, Jimon, Flaunt, and Playboy.

This article originally featured on Breed.

Breed

Breed is an online educational resource for fashion photographers. Breed writers and contributors are experienced industry professionals teaching and sharing current fashion photography insight through a series of videos, written articles, interviews, product reviews, and more. The Breed community also provides fashion photographers a place to connect, collaborate, share and critique work while learning valuable insight about the historically guarded and highly competitive industry of fashion photography. For more, visit jointhebreed.com.

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One Response to “How to Approach Model Agencies”

  1. September 19, 2014 at 6:05 pm, r c said:

    of course it’s going to be intimidating if this is the approach. it’s far better to make them form the relationship. do this by becoming a preferred client.

    better to create intimidation by those who will make bank, as in securing and working with real clients, then asking the agency for a “pull” for the actual bookings. do that a few times and the agency will call you for tests/portfolio updates rather than going to them with hat-in-hand.

    Reply

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