MODELING AGENCY SCAMS


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Models
Earn $100 per hour or $500 per day as a fashion or commercial model.
Full or part time. No experience necessary.
Real people types, such as children, grandmothers,
college students, and construction workers welcome. No fee.


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If you have dreams of becoming a model, this kind of ad may be
tempting. But before you sign a contract, learn how to sort out the
legitimate modeling agencies from the scams.

This report will give you tips on how to detect and avoid fraudulent
modeling schemes and tell you where you can go for help if you become
a victim of a scam.

How the Scam Works

Scam modeling agencies often advertise in newspapers to encourage
potential models, both men and women, to meet company representatives
for group screenings. The ads usually state, "No fee." At follow-up
interviews, however, "selected" applicants are asked to sign a
contract agreeing to participate in classes and to pay more than $1000
in advance for the photographs that are required before they can work
as models. In the end, most of the would-be models receive no
photographs and no job leads. The companies simply pack up and leave
town.

How To Spot the Scam

It may not be easy to recognize a modeling scam because many of the
advertising claims and practices resemble those used by legitimate
modeling agencies. However, below are some common advertising claims
that should make you suspicious:

"No Fee."

If a modeling agency advertises that there is no fee for its services,
you should be wary any time you are asked to pay. Most legitimate
agencies make money only by taking a commission from their models'
work. (An exception, however, is that you may be charged for your
picture to be in an agency book that they send to clients who hire
models.) Make sure you pay only your portion of the printing costs.
Also, ask to see a copy of the agency book before you pay any money.

"Earn high salaries."

Only experienced, top models can expect to receive large salaries.

"Work full or Part Time."

The hours of a model are uneven and sporadic. You will not have the
flexibility to choose your own hours.

"Real people types should apply."

Some ads encourage people of all shapes, sizes, and ages to apply for
commercial modeling work that involves the sale of a product.
Opportunities do exist for "real people" models, but they are rare.

Since it may be difficult to determine modeling agency scams only from
their advertising claims, watch out for agencies that:

Charge you money to take their classes, before you are eligible for
modeling work.

A legitimate modeling agency may provide instruction on applying
makeup or walking, but most do not charge you for classes. An
exception to this is when a modeling agency also serves as a modeling
school. A modeling school does charge for classes, but that is a
separate function from finding you work as a model.

Conduct an unprofessional photo shoot.

Once a modeling agency agrees to represent you, you will need
photographs for your portfolio. In the larger modeling markets, such
as New york or Los Angeles, the photographs typically are taken in
separate photo sessions, each using different clothes, makeup, and
hairstyles. And often a model's portfolio is put together with
photographs from more than one photographer. In smaller markets, all
photographs may be shot in one session by one photographer, but you
should still look different in all your photographs by wearing a
variety of cosmetics, clothes, and hairstyles.

Require a particular photographer.

If the modeling agency requires you to work with a particular
photographer, chances are the photographer is working with the
modeling agency and they are splitting the fee. A legitimate modeling
agency may recommend that you work with a certain photographer, but be
skeptical if they are insistent.

How to Protect Yourself

The best protection against losing money to a phony modeling agency is
to take precautions before signing a contract or paying anything. Here
are some ways you can reduce your chances of losing money:

• Realistically assess your chances for being a model. Ask yourself:
was I chosen by the agency because they believe I can make money for
them--or just because I can afford to pay money to them?

• Check out all claims made in agency advertisements, sales
presentations, and literature. For example, if they say they are the
largest modeling agency in the country, contact other modeling
agencies and ask if this is true.

• Ask for the names, addresses, and phone numbers of models who work
through the agency and clients who have used its models. Contact the
models and clients to verify the information.

• Ask if the agency is licensed and bonded, as is required if they
claim they will find modeling work for you. If so, verify this with
the State Department of Industrial Relations.

• Get a reliability report on the modeling agency from the Better
Business Bureau.

• If you sign a contract, be sure to get all verbal promises in
writing. Keep a copy of your contract and all other important papers,
such as agency literature. You may need these if you have a dispute
with the agency.

• If you cannot verify the agency's credentials and the agency is
asking for money in advance, you may be better off saying no.

Where to Go For Help

If you have paid money to a modeling agency, and believe they are
involved in a scam, first contact the company and request a refund. If
you are not satisfied, register a complaint with the Better Business
Bureau.

Also, contact the advertising manager of the newspaper that ran the ad
you answered. For ethical and practical reasons, the advertising
manager want to know about any problems you have had with the agency.
You may also want to write the Federal Trade Commission,
Washington,D.C. 20580. Although the FTC cannot represent you directly
in a dispute with a company, if the Commission finds evidence of a
pattern of deceptive or unfair practices, it can take action.

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This is Brian Please read What's Posted on
http://www.modelingscams.org/modelingphotographyscams.html
About Modeling Photography Scams


Modeling Scams
Modeling Photography Scams

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"Our prior modeling cases were all about photos; you thought you were
being selected as a model, but all they were trying to sell you was
photos, these expensive comp cards." -- Robin Spector, Attorney,
Federal Trade Commission


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"The number one problem we see is big money wasted on useless photos
that were sold to an 'unsuspecting' model thinking he/she was getting
great photos." -- GO International Modeling Agency


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"A legitimate agency does not charge money to be a model. You may pay
for some test pictures, but it won't be more than $300 for the entire
shoot and everything." -- Joel Wilkenfeld, President, Next Model
Management, New York


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"If you are signed by a model agent, they will recommend 'test'
photographers for your portfolio. Test photographers charge a lower
rate since they are looking to build their own fashion portfolio." --
Nina Blanchard, The Nina Blanchard Agency


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"Consumers may submit snapshots to agencies for review; however,
agencies themselves do not produce portfolios 'in house.'
Additionally, consumers should always pay the photographer and the
printing company directly for any work done." -- BBB


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"The agent should not recommend one photographer, and you do not pay
the agency, you deal directly with the photographer." -- Nina
Blanchard, The Nina Blanchard Agency


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"According to talent agents, portfolios are developed over the course
of a person's career. Therefore novices do not need expensive
portfolios." -- BBB


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"Do not get a portfolio before getting an agent." -- Nina Blanchard,
The Nina Blanchard Agency


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"Beware of photo pushers. They are seemingly legitimate talent
agencies who make money by receiving kickbacks from photographers. The
agent's advice may sound helpful, but the photo 'deal' will cost an
exorbitant amount of money." -- Erik Joseph, Author, The Glam Scam


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"If a so-called talent agent sends you to a particular photographer
for pictures, hold your wallet tight and run for the nearest exit!
Chances are the 'agent' is a phony who makes money splitting the
photographer's fee." -- Los Angeles Office of the Consumer Protection
Agency of the Federal Trade Commission


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"Steer clear of modeling companies that require you to use a specific
photographer. Compare fees and the work quality of several
photographers." -- Federal Trade Commission


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"Never spend money on a portfolio for a baby or young child. In three
months they will look different. The pictures in your wallet will do
just fine." -- Eve Matheson, Author, The Modeling Handbook


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"Don't let anyone sell you a thousand-dollar portfolio. You only need
a couple of snapshots to find out if an agent is interested. Then a
good headshot is all you need to get started." -- Tim Tew,
Photographer, Orlando, Florida


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"Think your child is model material? Bogus talents scouts do. And
they'll gladly set up a professional photo shoot to allegedly help you
get modeling and acting jobs for your tyke. Of course, they don't tell
you that the market for infant models and actors is very small. What's
more, because an infant's looks change quickly, the photos become
outdated. In truth, few infants are marketed with professional photos.
Legitimate agents, advertising agencies, casting directors and
producers generally ask for casual snapshots of infants that have been
taken by family members or friends." -- Federal Trade Commission


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Some of the biggest modeling scams are modeling photography scams.
There are modeling scam artists making millions from modeling
photography scams. They travel across the United States, hitting many
cities, finding 100 people in each city to pay $1,000 for modeling
photos.

The basic idea of modeling photography scams is potential models pay
for modeling photos but they do not get modeling work. The bottom line
in all modeling photography scams is aspiring models pay for photos
which do not pay for themselves.

Modeling photography scams are probably the modeling scams most likely
to trick model hopefuls. Aspiring models already know or quickly
recognize the importance of photos to launch their modeling career.
Photos, after all, are what modeling is all about. However, many times
the models and their parents know neither how many photos they need to
get started, nor the kind of photos required.

There are four basic quality and quantity issues at the heart of
modeling photography scams: photo quality is too low; photo quality is
too high; photo quantity is too low; photo quantity is too high.

How many photos do you need? What is the necessary quality?

The fundamental issues which determine the necessary quantity and
quality of modeling photos is the purpose and target audience. There
are really only two purposes and two targets. The purposes are model
discovery and model promotion; and the targets are modeling agencies
and the clients of modeling agencies.

Model Discovery

One of the big myths which drives modeling photography scams is
professional photos are needed to be discovered by a top agency.

Professional photos are not needed to be discovered by a top agency.
It is the same for agencies which are not top agencies. Photos taken
by a professional photographer are not needed for an agent to
determine if the agency would be interested to represent a model.

A good agent only needs a few Polaroids, one of the face (headshot),
and one of the body (bodyshot).

Top agencies do not ask for professional photos. They don't need them,
and they don't want them, and they may even prefer not to have them.

Joel Wilkenfeld, President of Next Model Management, one of the top
modeling agencies in New York, has said they don't want professional
pictures because they can hide the real person.

There is usually makeup on the model in the professional pictures
which were taken in a studio or elsewhere, but they don't want to see
the model with makeup.

Polaroids of models without makeup do not hide the flaws. They supply
what the agencies want: an accurate representation of the model.

Asked where aspiring models could go to seek representation, Joel
Wilkenfeld said: "If you live near a major city where there are
modeling agencies, you can go in and see them or send Polaroids to the
modeling agencies."

Asked about the type of pics to send into an agency, and whether they
needed to be professional, he said: "Agencies do not look for
professional pictures, nor do we want them. We would like to see
Polaroids with your hair pulled back and no makeup!"

After saying they preferred Polaroids, he was asked "Why do you only
prefer Polaroids for pictures?" And his response was: "Because on
Polaroids we can see all of the imperfections and we can see what you
really look like. If you send us regular pictures, we will ask for
Polaroids."

Model Promotion

Model promotion after a model is discovered does require professional
modeling photos. There are basically three kinds of photos used to
promote models: comp cards, portfolios, and tear sheets.

Clients of modeling agencies want to see comp cards, portfolios, and
tear sheets. Comp cards are an industry standard; so are portfolios;
and so are tear sheets. Therefore modeling agencies ask for them.

There are modeling photography scams at both stages: model discovery
and model promotion.

When models are trying to get discovered by a modeling agency they may
be offered the opportunity to get professional pictures, which are not
necessary.

When they are trying to get promoted after being discovered they may
also be told they need to get professional pictures, which are
necessary.

The difference in this second case is the claim is true (professional
pictures are necessary), but the agency is not willing or able to find
the models work.

Agencies which make money from modeling photos may be running modeling
photography scams. Instead of getting money from commissions after the
models get work, they are paid from photos before the models get work.
This is the same as being paid up front.

It is a huge conflict of interest. Modeling agencies should not make
money from modeling photos. They should only make money from the work
models get.

Scam modeling agencies make all their money or a significant amount of
their income from modeling photos, not modeling jobs.

Thus the scam is recruiting models to get signed by the agency knowing
they will not get work, and the amount they pay for photos will never
be paid for by modeling work.

Scam modeling agencies therefore have low standards on the type of
models they select. They do not have to be selective. It becomes a
numbers game: the more people they sign up, the more models will pay
for photos, the more money they will make.

The incentive for an agency to find models work when it earns money
from their photos even if they don't work is not the same.

The modeling photography scam of requiring professional photos to get
discovered by an agency is not very subtle. It is a black and white
issue, and it can easily be disproved by contacting an agency, or
reading what agency leaders have said.

The modeling photography scam of requiring professional photos to be
promoted by an agency is very subtle. It is not a black and white
issue, and it cannot easily be proved by contacting the agency.

The difference between these two scenarios is the difference between
proving the present and the future. You can prove if at present an
agency requires professional photos to be discovered. You cannot prove
in the future an agency will not get a model work after the model paid
for photos.

That difference makes the second modeling photography scam much more
insidious. It makes it very easy for a modeling agency to scam the
model, and very easy for the agency to get away with the scam.

They may add the disclaimer in the contract, "There are no guarantees
of work." But this is not the issue. The issue is what percentage of
models the agency represents already got work. How many of the models
who signed with the agency found work through the agency?

Modeling Photography Expenses

One indication of a modeling photography scam is modeling photography
expenses which are not commensurate with the type of modeling the
model intends to get. Not all modeling pays well. Not all modeling
agencies can get models high-paying work.

Paying $1,000 for comp cards to an agency which is a promotional
agency, not a modeling agency, is ridiculous. Promotional "modeling"
pays $15/hour. Therefore The model may never make more from modeling
than the cost of the comp cards. In fact, the model may never even
make anything. The model would have to work for more than 65 hours at
$15/hr just to break even and to pay off the $1,000 comp cards.

Paying $1,000 for comp cards when represented by an agency which gets
many of its models high-fashion or high-paying work is not ridiculous.
The cost of the photos can be paid by the first modeling job.

There are modeling agencies where models do not have to pay for their
photos until after they work. It comes out of their first paycheck.
This is the only way to check and balance expensive modeling photos.
It does not put the model at risk or in a financial hole.

Child Modeling Photography Scams

In her book, The Modeling Handbook, Eve Matheson writes: "Never spend
money on a portfolio for a baby or young child. In three months they
will look different. The pictures in your wallet will do just fine"
(p. 120).

Tim Tew, a photographer in Orlando, Florida, has this advice for
parents: "Don't let anyone sell you a thousand-dollar portfolio. You
only need a couple of snapshots to find out if an agent is interested.
Then a good headshot is all your need to get started" (p. 155).

Photographers

The credibility of a modeling agency and the possibility of a modeling
photography scam can be evaluated to some extent based on whether only
one photographer is required or recommended. Reputable agencies should
give a list of top photographers but they will not require one
photographer.

The credibility of photographers can be checked by looking at the
history of the photographer who is required or recommended. Get the
photographer's name. Find the photographer's experience. Visit the
photographer's website. Look at samples of previous work.

Photographers Split Fees

There are unscrupulous photographers who split fees with modeling agencies.

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This is Brian Again


If you've think you've been scammed by a bogus model or talent scout,
contact your local consumer protection agency, state Attorney General,
or Better Business Bureau. They're in your local directory assistance.


The Same goes for a Headshot Photographer that Scammed you, an Acting Class
That Scammed you, an AGENT that forced you to use their High Rate - Low / No
Quality Photographer or Acting Class. ANY TIME WHAT YOU RECEIVED WAS
NOT WHAT YOU "PAID FOR"

You have to complain often and Everywhere or they have gotten away with it.
If you live in VA & their Office is in MD -- YOU have to complain in both Places

Better Business Bureau http://www.bbb.org
File A Complaint https://odr.bbb.org/odrweb/public/complaintlink.aspx

Delaware Attorney Generals Office http://www.state.de.us/attgen/
Delaware Criminal Division: (302)577-8500, Fax: (302)577-2496,
Fraud & Consumer Protection Division: (302)577-8600 ,TTY: (302) 577-5783
Email: Attorney.General@State.DE

Maryland Attorney Generals Office http://www.oag.state.md.us/
Maryland (410) 576-6300 or 1 (888) 743-0023 toll-free in Maryland,
TDD: (410) 576-6372

New Jersey Regulated Business Section Dept of Consumer Affairs
http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/home.htm
Consumer Complaint Form http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/ocp/ocpform.htm

Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/
File An online Complaint http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/contact/index.cfm

Virginia Attorney Generals Office http://www.oag.state.va.us/
Consumer Assistance
http://www.oag.state.va.us/Protecting/Consumer%20Fraud/consumer_assistance.htm
Consumer Fraud
http://www.oag.state.va.us/Protecting/Consumer%20Fraud/default.htm

Complaint Forms: http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/consumers/oca-form.html

As you Can see I do not have any info on Washington DC
If you have it Please Forward it to me so I can add it to the List

In MD & PA If your complaint involves not getting paid or not getting paid on a
timely Basis you Complaint goes to:

Maryland Division Of Labor & Industry
http://www.dllr.state.md.us/labor/empa.html
(410) 767-2228
FAX: (410) 767-2220

Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
http://www.dli.state.pa.us/landi/site/default.asp
Call Linda: (717) 787-4134

I do not have Information on NJ, DE, DC & VA
If you have it -- Please Send it to me

And do not Forget

Easy Background check
National data Base of Complaints against Companies & Scam Artists
http://www.easybackgroundcheck.com/

E-mail your Complaint to info1@easybackgroundcheck.com

You can e-mail enquiry's about Agencies to them as well./