emodel.com, Options Talent Group
To Whom It May Concern:
After reading the tragic (I can't think of any other
word) stories posted on your website, I decided to share
my own story.
I grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and was scouted by
a real scout from Ford Modeling Agency at the age of
13.
By the time I decided I didn't want to model anymore,
I had made about $50,000 after investing about $500.
I modeled for places like MTV, Elle, Mademoiselle, several
campaigns, and a commercial.
I was never a top star, but I did make a good living
for a teenager, and was able to help my parents make
ends meet.
Over my time in modeling, most people I would tell "I
am a model" would ask me, "Do you think I could
be one?"
The sad truth is no, most people —however beautiful
they are —can’t and won’t be professional
models.
It has to do with a lot of things, like height, weight,
and God-given features no one can change. IT
DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE NOT A BEAUTIFUL PERSON.
However, most people don’t understand this. And
as such, people who are frauds and don’t know the
first thing about the industry (for example, “Options
Talent”) will take advantage of these people.
When I visited their website, it is clear that most
people on there could NEVER be models,
because they do not have the look.
If you are convinced that you do (and there are fairly
strict parameters), the best thing you can do is visit
open calls for top agencies, such as Ford, Elite, Next,
etc., or bring your best snapshots. That should be enough
to get you started.
If you are rejected, but believe you should not have
been (be honest with yourself), visit smaller agencies,
or hire a photographer to test you.
Remember, a reputable place of business will never charge
you money, because they can make A LOT MORE by
simply finding you work.
An agency may, however, ask you to share expenses for
testing. That is only fair.
My own contact with “Options” came in a
form of a “help-wanted” advertisement. They
were looking for scouts, and I got very excited, because
they looked great.
However, as soon as I visited the website, I knew they
had to be a fraud. As it turned out, they were.
So do your research.
As for myself, I think I will try to become a scout
after all, but an independent one, one who gets money
by finding agencies that will in turn find jobs, not
robbing aspiring models.
V.A.
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