Don't Fall For That Crap! Avoiding Scams

Ladies and Gentlemen, I see scams all the time. People love to have your money. Some people deserve to have your money because the bring you something of real value. The photographer who can really build your portfolio and give you great advice on the things that should be in included. The agent who gets you a job ( a real agent, more on that later), a publicist that gets your name out there and noticed, your skin and hair care person, etc.

But there are those that really want your money and will try to make you think that there is a good reason for you to give it to them. You have to think carefully about each "opportunity" and evaluate it for yourself, but here are a few scams for models that I see over and over.

The "agency" that you have to pay. Often they will send you to a "required" photographer who will often charge much higher than the local standard rates. Often I hear models complain that months and months later, they still have no images. Then the agency charges the model a large fee. Total crap. An agencies job is to collect two things and then hook them up together. When a connection happens because the agency was in the middle, the agency gets paid a commission on the modeling fee.  What does the agency collect? 1. Talent and 2. jobs or auditions.

An agency will send out several models who best fit the need expressed by someone who needs to hire. If an agency is asking you to pay them, then I don't believe that they have any paying jobs to send you to, so they have to make their money from you. Stay away.

Another scam I see are contests. I personally have not yet used a contest to promote my work, but I probably will at some point. But there are some contests that are just a big money grab. When a "contest" sends you to get and pay for photos from a single source and you have to pay their photographer to get photos to enter a contest, it is just a bag of moist brown stuff.

Another scam is an "audition". Again, where the model has to pay, there are limited numbers spots open. If it is a real audition for something that they need and are in short supply of, then a legitimate organization will go to the agencies to get talent and or will post an audition without asking those applying for a job, to pay to apply for the job. An audition is a job application.

If you have to pay to audition nude, WTC? There are so many people who will pay you to model nude that there is never a need to pay to audition nude or partly nude. For nude work, the other side, not you desperately wants nude models. GWC's (guys with camera) who's images look like crap are not people you should pay a pile of your hard earned money to be naked in front of. They should pay you. Duh!!!

Beginners Should Just Shoot

My work is primarily in developing new model portfolios or rebuilding established models ports.


I often see amazing growth with some models and then sometimes pitifully little growth with others.

What makes the difference? Well, how much raw talent is one factor. You can't change that. You have what you have. Brains is another factor, you can change that. Okay, your IQ is pretty well set, but you can learn, observe, think, and study. Another factor is time in front of the camera. You can control that too.


Brains: I watch models get started and some of them are actively studying the craft. They look a magazines, practice posing and working their face in a mirror. They look at the photos from their shoots and figure out what they did right and what they could improve. They ask other models, photographers and other industry professionals questions and they learn. Smart models figure out what they are good at modeling and go after that type of modeling. They learn to understand if they have a unique look or way of expressing that is different than everyone else. They understand the being pretty is not enough.

Time in front of a camera: This is easy. There are going to be different groups depending on where you live. Find them. Your area may be active in Model Mayhem or One Model Place or other online modeling groups. Perhaps there are Facebook groups for modeling in the area you live. There are often meet up groups or "creative" groups. Find them and participate. Shoot often, even if you are not getting paid. If you find a photographer that is building his/her portfolio that is willing to do a TF shoot, do it. Get experience.


These photos are of Shauna and Jeremy. Jeremy is just starting out, Shauna is kind of new, but she is out there getting more opportunities and every time I shoot with her, she has gotten better and better. She is a good example of someone who is thinking about her craft and learning all she can, and getting all the practice she can.

Find Shaunna on Facebook

Find more of Shauna and Jeremy's shoot here.

Be Safe!

So, I just posted an article on my blog for photographers about keeping models safe and having a positive work environment. But as I was presenting to a group of models on Saturday, the topic of escorts came up. I am always surprised at the number of models who show up with no escort.

Here are some of my thoughts on the matter. 1st. ALWAYS have an escort to work with a solo photographer. If you are on a commercial shoot with a number of other people such as AD, director, MUA, photographer, costumer, etc, then an escort will be in the way and just ad to the confusion and most likely will not be welcome. But when you are modeling for a single person, by all means, have an escort. It could be your brother, mom, dad, boyfriend, girlfriend, your hair or make up person, etc.


Your escort does not need to be physically close to where you are modeling, but close enough to keep you safe. If you are working with a photographer who does not want you to have an escort, it is not worth the risk to shoot with that photographer.

This 16 year old brought her mom to the shoot. Bravo.

If you are a teen, under 18 years old, you should have a parent with you. At the very least, take an adult escort and make sure your parents know what you are modeling and where you are going to be and when to expect to to return. Your safety comes way before any cool photos you might get.


Some photographers will complain that escorts get in the way, ruin the mood, or cause other problems. In four years, I have had only one escort cause any kind of creative problem. One in 4 years! So that excuse is bull. It's just an excuse. Don't give in. Nobody is that good or that influential to risk your safety.