This information was pulled directly from Dailynewsonline.net — a tremendous resource that we’re utilizing to spread the word about popular scams!
Nina Blanchard, who used to own the top modeling agency in Los Angeles, The Nina Blanchard Agency, which represented famous faces such as Cheryl Tiegs, and was bought by the Ford Modeling Agency, was “the most famous model agent in Hollywood,” and wrote a book for aspiring models, How to Break Into Motion Pictures, Television Commercials and Modeling.
Blanchard has said, “Do not get a portfolio before getting an agent.” [Cited in Erik Joseph, The Glam Scam (Los Angeles: Lone Eagle, 1994), p. 81.]
Blanchard also said, “The agent should not recommend one photographer, and you do not pay the agency, you deal directly with the photographer.”
There are basic reasons for her comments:
1) you don’t need professional photos to get an agent.
2) agents typically don’t want professional photos, just snapshots.
3) if you get comp cards, they won’t have the agency’s name printed on them, so you won’t be able to use them if you do get signed by the agency.
4) even if you can get the slides, the photography may not be at a standard high enough, or of a style suitable for, the agency to promote you effectively.
5) when you pay the photographer directly, it can prevent the price of the photos or prints or portfolio from being jacked up without you knowing. (That’s why, through MODELS OF MIAMI, we are regulating this portion of the transfer — we handle this for you, to prevent prices from being jacked up)
Call any of the licensed talent agencies in Hollywood to discuss these issues further. Ask them what type of photos you should get, when you should get them, when you should get comp cards, and how much you should pay.
Bottom line — be careful when pursuing your portfolio. We believe in protecting the model from scammers, so again, buyer beware!
