Do model agencies ever hire photographers?

10 years 7 months ago #297043 by Joan Barnes
I have been trying to get my foot in door with a couple small modeling agencies and not getting anywhere, nor any feedback as to when they are going to be hiring. Does anyone work for modeling agency or have knowledge of their hiring practices?

Joan


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10 years 7 months ago #297051 by Vespista
Hi Joan and welcome aboard.
I've done several portfolio shots for models and found, at least here in New Zealand, that agencies want the models to deal with and pay the photographer directly. The agency just seems to promote the models' portfolios when complete.
So it may be that you are taking the wrong approach. Maybe asking the agency to promote your work to aspiring models could yield more work for you.
Just my thoughts!


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10 years 7 months ago #297063 by Joan Barnes
Oh my goodness. That would have been really good information to know months ago. :pinch: Makes sense why they weren't even calling me back. Would have been nice if they communicated such with me. I really appreciate the welcome to the board and the help. How much of your work is with models if you don't mind me asking? I'm looking to get more into it. So far I have done just portfolio building by hiring models from Craigslist and other sites, hoping my work would catch an eye of an agency.


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10 years 7 months ago #297099 by Vespista
Actually not much!
I specialise in food and wine photography with some architectural.
I did a portfolio for a friend whose daughter wanted to get into modelling and that worked well enough for her to recommend me to several of her friends, so it grew from there. But it did me a bit of an insight into how the industry works here.


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10 years 7 months ago #297135 by Hassner
Here in Cape Town, South Africa (popular location for fashion shoots in our summer), as soon as a model is signed up with an agency and waiting to be chosen for a shoot, young photographers ask them to 'test'. They get the model for free, models get more portfolio shots for free. If you're lucky, you get a make-up artist and stylist for free as well. Everyone gets payed with the images of the shoot. Only when your images stand out from everyone else, will the agencies suggest you to their new girls for their first paid shoot. Tough world.


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10 years 7 months ago #297156 by Carlos
All good advice, drop off business cards to the model agencies to pass onto models who need to update their portfolios.

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10 years 7 months ago #297272 by Jackson Rieger
When approaching model agencies, perhaps offer a discount code for their models. Have a nice post card size card with your details and in clear and easy to read text "Models from ABC Model Agency receives 20% off portfolio packages". Something like that that has the agencies name on it and what ever discount you are offering. This adds value to the agency in the eyes of the model, this will likely score you some points with the agency.


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