Barbizon Modeling

[Daxx]

I keep thinking we should wait until she has her braces out before we do head shots and maybe go from there. Is this more practical? I just don't see teen models with braces, maybe to do with the shots where they want the age to be indetermined.

I've hired teen models w/braces before. So many teens have braces that they're just common and, sometimes, you can't escape them! But, this is entirely up to you!!!! How long til she gets them off? If it's a matter of a year, you'd have to update photos by then anyway. If it's a few months, then wait.

 

[Daxx]

you'll need to get a portfolio

Let me just say to all potential models ... your portfolio can consist of photos that your family has taken of you! I've had many models come to me w/portfolios that had 4x6 photos taken at the beach, in the backyard, etc.

Portfolios do NOT need to contain professional photos. What someone hiring models is looking for is how well you photograph in various situations, wearing various clothing. While it's ok to take some posed photos, it's great to see some candids, too! So, don't go all out and spend hundreds or thousands on professional photos!!!!

What your portfolio should contain are some posed and candid photos, a few close ups, a few full-body shots.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Wow this is all great info!

 

[Daxx]

Take your daughter to the well-known, reputable agencies. They will see her and then they will let you know whether or not she has any potential in their Agency. Believe THEM - they are the ONLY ones who you should be listening to.

Don't tell that to Beverly Johnson! None of the area modeling agencies wanted her *until* she was booked by my agency (loooong before I worked there) for a local department store's catalogs. Anyway, the gal that the local agencies had no use for all of a sudden had them calling her left and right. They didn't see her potential until our agency used her as a freelancer!!!! She later became the first African American supermodel! So, had she listened to the local agencies and not freelanced, she wouldn't have made it as far as she did!

 

[Jynohn]

To the OP:

I'm glad that you seem to have made up your mind against Barbizon. My younger cousins went there and I am being very kind when I say that they had no future as models. Barbizon was ready and willing to take their money though

I also agree about the hotel convention open calls. A friend of mine asked me to go with her to one and there were hundreds of people there. Funny how ALL of them had "great potential" as models. All you had to do was pay a few thousand dollars for head shots, your picture on their website, lessons, etc.

When my DD was around two I had several people tell me that I should try to get her into modeling. We found the name of a local agency in Newton (I see you're in MA) and I think all told we ended up spending about $30 for pictures which we took and developed ourselves. They did end up sending us on some "go-sees" in Boston, but I quickly decided that it wasn't for us. I had to take time off of work, drive in town, pay for parking, etc., only to sit in a room for several hours with 50 or so crying kids and anxious mothers. It is probably different with a teenager, but with a young child it was not fun at all, and we weren't interested in doing it if it wasn't fun for both of us.

Hopefully you will have a better experience. Good luck with your search for a reputable agency!

 

[Miranda Danda]

SCAM!!!!!!!!!

My parents paid $1,500 for me to go when I was in 10th grade!!!! I didn't get so much as my *free* headshot when Iwas done. It was the biggest joke ever!!!!!

 

[Hillbeans]

Granted, this was a long time ago, but in 1984 my 13 year old friend went there to start modeling. She paid huge $ up front, and they told her to lose 20 pounds right away by eating an apples and water diet. She soon became obsessed with her weight and became a raging bulimic/anorexic/laxative abuser.

She barely was able to make it to our HS graduation and was hospitalized with Bulimia for years. I have not spoken to this girl in years, but she was really messed up right after she went to Barbazon on a quest to be a model.

I can't blame Barbazon for everything that happened to this girl, but it sure set the stage for her to be completely obsessed with her weight and fitting into less than a 0 clothing size.

 

[my3kids]

They want my 13 yo dd to go to their school.

What they want is a 13 yo's parents to pay them.

 

[L107ANGEL]

My pleasure! I hate to see people get ripped off by "promises" of modeling/movie/tv fame!!!

You saved my DD and I a ton of money with your knowledge and honesty

 

[jenr812]

In my former life, I used to be a creative director at an ad agency. I would hire models for catalog and tv work as well as a variety of other print ads.

Modeling schools, in my book, are a load of bs. Invest your money in good headshots to send out to potential clients. Headshots don't have to be professional -- just a natural photo w/minimal make up and casual dress or dressy.

Contact every local store or company that use models and ask them if they hire models themselves or use an advertising agency that hires the models. If they hire models, send your head shot to them. Either way, send your head shot to every single advertising agency in your area -- they will pass them on to the creative director or person responsible for hiring talent, who will keep them in a file. I used to go through my files constantly for models. Do NOT hesitate to call the agencies after a week to be sure they received your photos.

More often than not, I would hire "freelance models" -- those not affiliated w/ a modeling agency b/c I didn't have to pay agency fees (which increased my price). I liked the fact that I didn't have to tack on an additional 20%+ fee for the modeling agency and that the agency didn't take money out of the "base pay" for the model.

Your head shots should include pertinent information inc. height, weight, clothing size, shoe size, eye color, hair color and contact information. Send them along w/a nice letter introducing yourself. If you're doing this for a young child, you'll need to update photos and information every 6 months b/c kids change so quickly!

If an ad agency is looking for people, you'll be called in for a "go see" ... which means the ad agency wants to see what you look like. That means NO make-up, casual dress. They want to see your face/body type.

If you are cast for a job, you should bring along a "model bag" which includes (for ladies/teens) a skin tone bra (w/convertible straps) and a few pairs of skin tone underwear (inc. g-strings), shoes (heels, flats - mainly black), pantyhose (nude & black), hair brush, a few hair clips and headbands, classic jewelry (pearls, a gold chain, a silver chain, pearl earrings, gold hoops, silver hoops) and some make-up.

Often, modeling schools will tell you that they'll teach you how to do your own make-up. It is very rare that a photo shoot does not include a stylist (hair and make up as well as wardrobe). You will also be told what the shoot is for (clothing, etc). Sometimes, you may be asked to provide your own wardrobe and they will be specific on what to wear and other times, wardrobe (esp. for a department store or clothing catalog) will be provided. And, no ... you do not get to keep the wardrobe -- and you wouldn't want to. Usually, along the back, it's labeled "sample" or there are holes cut into backs of legs or where ever, so it isn't wearable. If you want to learn how to do make-up, go to a reputable make-up counter and ask them to show you a few tricks.

The modeling school will tell you that they'll teach you how to pose and walk ... just look through magazines and you can teach yourself how to pose. As far as "walking", most places aren't looking for runway models (unless you're in NYC and then you'd be better off w/an agent)!

Remember -- modeling agencies like Ford, Wilhelmina, etc. don't make you take classes!!! They're going to do what it takes to get your face out there so they can make money!!!! Sure, they'll have you sign a contract and get you head shots, etc. ... but they're doing it b/c they expect to hire you out a lot and get paid for doing so!!!!

Should you choose, opt for a modeling agency over a modeling school. And, do NOT fall for those "We're looking for models of all ages -- come to the XYZ hotel for the Modeling Extravaganza where you'll meet top agents from this, that, the other one modeling agencies". These places make you pay big bucks to "get recognized" and to "meet the right people". You don't need them -- just get the head shots and send them out to advertising agencies and your local stores that use models!!! If you feel that you/your child has "something special", you can try to submit photos to the big NYC agencies (Wilhelmina, Ford) and try to get in there. But, again, that's going to cost you a trip to NYC w/no guarantees if they even just want to look at you!

If you have any other questions or advice, feel free to PM me!

Warmly,
Daxx's Wife

Wow! Wonderfully informative post!