Highlite Modeling and Casting Agency
To Whom It May Concern:
My neighbor's son (age 25) was "selected" over
the weekend by Highlite Modeling and Casting
Agency to be a model.
So was his friend, when they attended what I guess you
would call an "open call" for models in Burlington,
Vermont.
Her son was told he would need a portfolio, and he could
either find his own photographer, or their own photographer
would do it for $200.
That immediately raised a red flag for me. I thought
that if a legitimate agency wanted to contract you, they make
the investment in whatever is needed, not vice versa.
I found the following location information on the internet:
Highlite Modeling and Casting Agency, Corporate Headquarters
at 415 N. 8th Avenue, Scranton, PA 18504, 570-346-3166/NYC
212-779-9668/FAX 570-347-0195, operated by Jerry Sangiuliano.
They also operate as Models Net and Models Net International,
and have a website at www.highlite.com.
The Better Business Report includes this statement:
- Highlite Modeling mainly promotes their models through
their website (www.highlite.com), and mails headsheets
to advertising agencies throughout the country.
-
- Highlite Modeling voluntarily wishes to inform
consumers that the probability of obtaining a modeling
assignment through their promotional service is small.
I was just wondering if you had ever heard of them or
their reputation.
My neighbor seems quite excited that her son is going
to make it big as a model, but I've tried to temper her
enthusiam with a "be wary, investigate first" approach.
Thank you for any information you might be willing to
share.
C.
C.,
No complaints have been sent to Modeling Scams Research.
Highlite Modeling and Casting Agency features a BBB
logo and link prominently on its website home page.
At the other end of the link, i.e., on the BBB website,
it does confirm they meet the standards of the Bureau.
- Highlite Modeling & Casting Agency meets all
BBBOnLine Reliability participation and Better Business
Bureau membership standards and is authorized to display
the BBBOnLine Reliability seal.
You said: "I thought that if a legitimate agency
wanted to contract you, that THEY make the investment
in whatever is needed, not vice versa."
This is sometimes true, but it does not always happen
like that. It is most likely to happen with a big agency
which can afford to foot the bill for photography.
The photography prices of Highlite are quite low. You
said it would cost $200 to use their photographer. The
red flag is when the prices are high and they require
you to use their photographer.
The price of photos for a modeling portfolio can often
range from $500-$1,000. So if there is a flag, it could
be that the photography is not high quality, if it is
costing only $200.
Now sometimes these companies will have additional fees,
which they do not state up front, splitting the charge,
first for the photographer taking the pictures, then
for developing them.
The best thing would be to say you don't know which
photographer to choose, theirs or another photographer,
then ask for the name and website address of their photographer.
It is not unreasonable to say you would like to see
his/her work. Most photographers are now online, because
the internet is an exceptional visual medium for photographers
to advertise.
If a photographer does not have a website, it could
suggest they do not have much experience (new photographers);
they do not want others to see their work (it's so bad);
or they are so good, and so in demand, they really don't
need a website for advertising and marketing. Their reputation
precedes them. (You can probably rule that one out in
this case because the cost is only $200.)
Another good sign about Highlite Modeling is they are
not new; they were established in 1985; they are also
licensed and bonded in three states. Or so their website
said.
Regarding the potential for promotion. You mentioned
the BBB quoting them: "Highlite Modeling voluntarily
wishes to inform consumers that the probability of obtaining
a modeling assignment through their promotional service
is small."
It would be difficult after reading that to remain "quite
excited," as you said your neighbor was.
Still, if there are no hidden costs paying only $200
is one of the lower risks you might find in the modeling
industry, where aspiring models in the beginning often
shell out $500 to $1,000 —or more.
If you were to investigate further, you could try to
find out their success rate. If you cannot get their
success rate, read their success stories.
A reputable business is one thing: a successful business
is another. You could have integrity but still not be
able to get anyone work.
But it is good to look a little deeper than how much
work a modeling agency gets. The two things to look at
are both quality and quantity.
One agency, for example, could get models a lot of work,
but it could be all promotional modeling. The pay for
promotional can be far less than print, sometimes similar
to the minimum wage.
Big agencies in New York will get models high-quality,
high-quantity, and high-paying modeling jobs. Small agencies
elsewhere may only get models low-quality, low-quantity,
and low-paying work.
It varies from place to place. The point is you can't
assume anything, but the aspiring model has a right to
know.
One of the best things a potential model needs to know
is the right questions to ask and the right answers to
the right questions.
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