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Experience with UK Media Models Agency?
After passing audition (my satisfactory "skin, hair and ability in front of the camera" according to UK Media Models CEO Scleena) and being offered a contract I'm told it's "semi-exclusive" so I'll have to pay for my own portfolio separately from a company who's representative was situated within the UK Media Models office on a separate desk, or anywhere else I want to within 14 days due to the Data Protection Act. Does this sound correct? I can't find anyone who has experience with them. They are based in London and the Photographers and MUAs I worked with were all part-time or free-lance (according to them when I asked). Any knowledge of this agency would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! Jun 10 12 11:39 am Link Can't say definitely,but smells like b.s. to me! Jun 11 12 08:31 am Link "...passing the audition"? That screams scam/portfolio mill to me. I don't even need to look them up. You will most likely be asked to pay a few hundred pounds for your 'portfolio' and they will never get you any work, ever. Here's a list of reputable UK agencies who won't rip you off:- http://whoistesting.com/blog_article.php?blogID=15 Just my $0.02 Ciao Stefano www.stefanobrunesci.com Jun 11 12 08:35 am Link Mate, this is a scam. There are model agencies and there are media agencies, there is no such thing as a "Media Model agency". There is no such as "semi-exclusive" as well. Call up the 3rd most influential model agency in the world, Storm models and see what I mean, there's no exclusion going on at all. They are lawful, friendly, polite and experts who are happy to give advice and information. They're conscious of the PR value. Any agency at all which is suggesting you need to pay money for shooting, is scamming you in some way. It's their job to introduce to you to excellent editorial photographers who need models for tests. If they fail to do that, they aren't worth being with. Here are reasonable deductions from earnings: Portfolio book (Maybe about £35 max) Courier bikes ( don't forget 15 other portfolios on the same bike) Prints bought from tests. Agency fee of 25% on jobs. Anything else is scam scam scam scam scam... Jun 11 12 08:55 am Link Hi, Came across your post. I am currently with this agency and havent had any issues with them, they have already secured me a couple of paid llamaing jobs. so sorry I do not agree with the two previous comments as they didnt ask me to pay a penny to them personally for anything. Jun 21 12 04:20 pm Link Sabrina Mc wrote: Thanks Jun 21 12 07:18 pm Link Thanks for the advice everyone! I had a bad experience with them after this point, after informing them I would have them done externally (instead of paying, I think it was approximately £1300 for a 20 image portfolio from images taken on the day plus publication via their website, this was in their office but I was told it was a different company) they said they had deleted me off the database a week later, before there two week deadline. Having paid an audition fee around £70 I was a little miffed. Thanks for the advice with respected agencies. I find it highly immature that models have been attacking me via personal message because of this form, I was simply requesting advise and posting about my experiece, grow up. John Jan 12 13 08:16 am Link -B-R-U-N-E-S-C-I- wrote: Me too. I always love it when a sockpuppet with one post miraculously appears when a portfolio mill is being exposed. Jan 12 13 01:50 pm Link Dear John I have noted your remarks on the forum dated 12th January 2013 aimed at UK Media Models Agency, firstly I'd like you to confirm and prove that they actually tried to sell you a portfolio, secondly where on earth did you get the £1300 from? It's interesting to see you contradicting yourself from what you stated in your remarks 10th June 2012 where you clearly stated had the option to get your own portfolio complied! Please note it is immature to spread lies and can be seen as defamatory remarks which can lead to legal action against you. Would you like to retract your fictitious remarks or should we contact UK Media Models for their comments?! Jan 28 13 11:17 am Link Either way, here is some info from the UK Government site on agency working: www.gov.uk/agency-workers-your-rights/e … g-agencies Jan 28 13 12:48 pm Link JamesL87 wrote: That sounds like a brilliant idea, long shot but i don't suppose you know how we could get in touch with them? Jan 28 13 12:54 pm Link JamesL87 wrote: Dear James, Jan 28 13 01:45 pm Link JamesL87 wrote: I was simply leaving a small note of MY experience with the agency, there are no lies and I know another model that had the same sales pitch a week or so after my audition. Jan 28 13 02:25 pm Link John Cowan wrote: John, you do NOT have to defend yourself. From what I can see, if he is really in Singapore, as he claims to be, it's none of his damn business anyway. Jan 28 13 02:29 pm Link Mar 08 13 06:04 am Link PatiencePending wrote: An "assessment shoot"? Mar 08 13 06:07 am Link -B-R-U-N-E-S-C-I- wrote: No no they have not asked me for £1000 - that was one of the comments earlier mentioned and on other sites that people have had to pay to get a port put together very quickly. The assessment shoot is to see if im any good in front of the camera - they have seen some of my pictures but said they would need to see how I behave with people etc. The £60 is half of the amount for the assessment thing. They pay £60 and I paid( Mar 08 13 06:12 am Link Is there anywhere/one I can call to discuss do you think? Earlier someone mentioned you could speak to Storm - was this an actual you could call storm and ask them or is it just a storm would say if they had the chance... ha Mar 08 13 06:15 am Link So let me get this right, two people that seam to think this is a legit agency and the rest say its a scam. Both way off from agency standards, one whom lives thousands of miles away and the other with only 2 images, but has received work from them, and who should get booted from the site for not having the minimum profile??? Mar 08 13 06:36 am Link PatiencePending wrote: I don't know if Storm has the time to give advice about other "agencies", but I've never heard of this agency except via people asking about whether they're legit or not here in the forums! And the fact that they're asking you for money for an "assessment" when you'e only 5'5" is very much a red flag. Mar 08 13 09:15 am Link Following a lengthy conversation with one of the people from UKMM I have no reason to suspect them of any foul play at all. In fact, despite my being a bit aggressive with my questioning and not being as polite as I should have been; they were very helpful. They explained everything I had queries with and they said that the maximum they would ever expect anyone to pay for a portfolio would be £500 and that it depends on the type of modelling you would be doing - most girls pay much much less. They offer financial and legal advice for models that have been scammed in the past too. Unfortunately owing to my defensiveness and what was a panicked poor attitude I may have passed up being able to be represented by them anyway. and FYI - 5'5" models do get contracted by agencies. Please don't pm me telling me I am too short. It's not appreciated I am quite aware I am too short for fashion modelling - Thanks. Mar 08 13 10:01 am Link Specifically addressed to Patience Pending My own personal impression is that they are NOT, NOT, NOT operating within the law. They are among other things charging what appears to be an unlawful up-front fee, and that's probably just for starters. Seems like no matter what good advice you are getting you still want to be, are determined to be, a 5'5" "scam magnet". So be it. But don't come back later whining. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- QOTD "After you have encountered, several times, a person with an enthusiasic determination to cut their own throat you are entitled to stand back and observe them do it." - - - Field Marshal Kesselring Studio36 Mar 08 13 11:45 am Link PatiencePending wrote: smh studio36uk wrote: +1 Mar 08 13 12:14 pm Link Rollo David Snook wrote: Agreed. I thought that legislation had been brought in that made this sort of operation illegal. Legitimate agencies will spot you, send you out for test shoots to produce your portfolio and, if they do charge you it will be reasonable rates deducted from your earnings, not money up front from you. Mar 08 13 12:22 pm Link Those that have concerns about this "agency", should go have a poke around here - http://www.albamodel.info Mar 08 13 12:38 pm Link I am not ignoring any of you. Your advice is not falling on deaf ears. For those of you who are trying to tell me I am stupid for ever thinking a 5'5" model could be represented... Look at agencies such as Ordinary Models - these are the sorts of agencies I am looking at. People that are a bit funny looking, a bit short, a bit tall, a bit ordinary... that are used for things that will appeal to the general public. I have no delusions of being on the front of vogue anytime soon. Yours Sincerely, Short arse. Mar 08 13 01:12 pm Link "Suspect". Haha, I was a professional model for 8 years before quitting and yes, I used to live in Singapore before I moved to London (no, not in Brixton either) in 2009 and hadn't been on MM since until recently to have a lurk around so obviously haven't bothered to change my information. I only replied to this as I personally know a few models who are signed to this agency and they are happy with them and the work they've provided so I don't see why the need to badmouth agencies who aren't as mainstream as Storm, Models 1, etc, is all. All the best everyone! P.S - And yes, 5'5 people can model. Just not Fashion. Mar 20 13 05:10 am Link JamesL87 wrote: Because - - - it is not because they are small or boutique agencies, it's because some of them, and the one mentioned in this thread specifically, do not appear to be operating within the law. And if that's what can be discerned right out in the open, one must always then start to question what's going on in the background. Mar 20 13 06:04 am Link Is it a coincidence that the only people defending this 'agency' are llamas with suspiciously low post-counts...? Or am I just being paranoid as usual... Mar 20 13 06:42 am Link Mr Dingo has left the building... Mar 20 13 06:52 am Link Kent Art Photography wrote: That's MIZZ DINGO to you. Now, maybe it should be MIZZING DINGO. LOL Mar 20 13 11:45 am Link John Cowan wrote: james dont let them try and intimadate you they tryed that with me, but they dont frighten me at all, i have also had bad experience with them, and im putting it up on here to what they have done, they said that to me they will take me to court cos im telling the truth about them and they dont like it to cos they are con merchants that scam people cos there just after your money i would never reccommend them to anyone STAY AWAY FROM THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mar 31 13 09:05 am Link John Cowan wrote: I have had a bad experience with ukmmagency they expect u to pay £60 for test shot then another £10 when u get there if u dont turn up they expect u to pay another£60 and when u go there it doesnt mean they will accept you, plus if they do take u on they charge a percentage on the jobs u get what a rip off ive been telling people not to go to them and i even posted on there facebook page a warning to other models not to pay now they recon if i keep slandering them they will take me to court so i said go on its not slander cos its all true perthetic bunch of people, they thought by saying we will take u to court it will frighten me well it hasnt infact id like it to go to court to see if the magistrate will sue them for being a rip off told them if u do take me to court i will be contacting all the papers about it which will give u more bad publicity im already going to trading standards about them and putting them forward for rip off britain and other tv shows that can expose them for being what they are Mar 31 13 09:07 am Link RKD Photographic wrote: its probably people that work for them Mar 31 13 09:17 am Link -B-R-U-N-E-S-C-I- wrote: how much did they pay u to say that lol Mar 31 13 09:18 am Link AJScalzitti wrote: who cares about not having min profile we are on about a scam agency Mar 31 13 09:20 am Link crystal waters10 wrote: I was quoting the post so that it couldn't be deleted. Mar 31 13 01:49 pm Link crystal waters10 wrote: I will not say who, but you are not the only one that was contacted and told that. Mar 31 13 02:32 pm Link whoah this thread is hurting my brain  So, an obviously fake agency scamming people into believing they will take them on and get them paid jobs etc. People start complaining, and out of the woodwork, random "models" defending this scam because they're not sockpuppet accounts at all  Why are we still trying to figure this out? Mar 31 13 02:32 pm Link -B-R-U-N-E-S-C-I- wrote: +1 Mar 31 13 02:32 pm Link |
