Warebi Martha on the African Fashion Week 2010 Ramp in David Tlale
It’s not just about striking the perfect pose to be a supermodel! Mahogany’s Sola Oyebade reveals the business side of things.
Firstly, models need to understand that this is a very hard industry to succeed in and with the advent of such popular TV programmes as America’s Next Top Model, it seems that every young girl now wants to be a model but they do not realise how difficult and critical an industry it is.
As a model you are a self-employed and an independent contractor, so you are considered a sole trader in your own small business. Remember, you are not an employee of the agency you may be signed to. Whether you are a freelance model or signed to a top modelling agency you will incur basic start-up costs and as such you will be required to cover all of your own promotional expenses such as composite cards (Z Cards), agency books (portfolio), and for some agencies they will charge you to be on their website.
I advise all models that I come across that they should not pay an agency to represent them. Agencies earn their money from commissions or royalties directly received from their clients or via the fees from the work that the model does.
Top professional agencies do not charge a joining fee and neither do they insist that you use one of their photographers to do your portfolio, however with the top agencies it is advisable to follow their recommendations on what photographer to use to do your portfolio as that way you are more likely to get the right type of pictures that the agency needs to promote you and get you work. We advise all models that if an agency asks you to pay a fee to join them, insist you must do an expensive portfolio before you join or pay an administration fee, then simply say no and walk away!
Models must look after themselves from their skin to their body and ensure at all times they have all that they need to succeed as a top model. They must have a never-say-die attitude, be confident in their own abilities and understand that they will suffer lots of rejection before they finally make it. They must be professional and be on time for castings or jobs and have a professional attitude at all times.
Models must find out about the business side of the modelling industry as that is where a lot of models get into trouble.
Finally, I would say to models that they must research into how the modelling industry works, what is involved and what it takes to be a top model as well as research into agencies before they apply to them.
SHF credits Simon Deiner (SDR) for the image.
