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Approaching an agency.
On another thread (https://www.modelmayhem.com/po.php?thread_id=928231) I have asked for critique on my portfolio. I'm happy to take critique here but clearly MM mods may object (it's solicited if that makes a difference). Outside of the critique portion I have some questions for those of you who have worked with agencies. I'd like to begin testing with agency models. Nothing against the models here, nearly all my portfolio is done using models on MM/CL or Kijiji. I just want to broaden my horizons. (a) Do agencies typically accept requests via email (with link to portfolio) or do they prefer face-to-face meetings. (b) If it's face-to-face, is this walk-ins or is it accepted that you need to make an appointment. I'm around an hour outside of Toronto, so I was thinking of getting on the train and trying to hit as many as I can in one day. (c) In terms of what I should bring, I've read various threads that suggest a simple tablet (screen size?) and around 10-20 images is all they are looking for. Is this the case or is a printed portfolio the norm? (d) Do they expect you to have a crew available (MUA, MUA/HS, ...)? (e) If I should contact an agency, with whom should I ask to speak (the booker? photography dept?) (f) In terms of deliverables, what's the norm. I usually do around 3 looks and produce 5 images for models that I work with, will agencies expect more/less? (g) If anyone here has knowledge/contacts of a few agencies in Toronto, Hamilton, etc. you are welcome to PM me the details if you are comfortable doing so. If there's any other info you feel would be helpful, I'm all ears. Any assistance would be incredibly helpful and gratefully received. Brhum Jul 11 14 08:33 am Link I can say there is no norm. A email and maybe a call first with links, if they are interested in a face to face they will ask. Some do, but I know here in Atlanta if the top two agencies it's split. One booker does and one doesn't. As for a book, I don't do tablets. I have one for extra images but I feel there is far more impact from a large 11x144 printed book. Again the agencies are different, some don't mind digital but some don't like it. It's always safer IMHO to use printed as of right now. Besides if you are not investing in your work why would anyone else? As for a crew, again I have been asked to provied my team information by one agency but not by another. They said they can tell just by looking at the images if my team is decent or not  but I would still have names and websites handy if asked. On the phone call, you want whomever handles new faces. Deliverables are also all over the place. Ask first and try to have some conversation about each test, electronic is fine. You need to know how they plan to market the model to know what looks to shoot Jul 11 14 08:39 am Link A - yes. I've done it with success. The best thing to do is to go to their website and most of the answers to your questions are there. If they like your work they will send you a test packet - it's a form with images and you chose the models you like and they use it to check against the models availability vs yours. I've done everything via email and never actually met anyone in person. The only advantage I had is that I tested with many of their models and they already use my images so I'm not a total stranger to them. Jul 11 14 08:39 am Link I shoot with a lot of agency models. In general, an agency just wants to make sure you are legit, and that your work is up to par for their standards. I have never had an agency say no. Just be and act professionally and have a good body of work to show them. I will ad that most agencies don't care for glam or pin-up. They want to see fashion looks. Jul 11 14 08:41 am Link One last note - they like mood boards to see what you plan on doing, that's been my experience, it may not be true for all of them. Jul 11 14 08:55 am Link DBVE Imaging wrote: Well, no not necessarily. It's best to ask the particular agency what they want to see. Jul 11 14 09:30 am Link Send in an email with a link to your portfolio or send in samples of your work. I was asked to meet with only a couple of agencies after I emailed them. I've never walked in cold into an agency to show them my book. I have better luck shooting agency models here on MM than going to the agencies themselves. And after I shoot with their models, they use my pictures.  Jul 11 14 09:40 am Link Thanks everyone for the feedback (here and on PM). I'll sit down this evening and review all the info, it seems like email + online port is an acceptable first step so I think I'll get my portfolio trimmed and get a nice web page together specifically for the agencies, I have this right now http://www.bbimagery.com/model-and-actor-portfolio/ but maybe I'll do something a bit bolder and direct them to it. Cheers, Brhum Jul 11 14 10:24 am Link Mac Intosh wrote: Just look through their talent online and you can tell what they want to see before you even need to ask them. Jul 12 14 08:11 am Link Andrew Thomas Evans wrote: Well, no not necessarily. It's best not to assume what they want to see by looking at their talent online. It makes much better sense to arrange an appointment with a booker if possible and during your face to face meeting, ask him/her what they want to see. Making a personal connection with someone always has a more powerful impact. If, for some reason, you can't arrange an in person meeting, a phone call. It's basic business 101. Jul 12 14 08:33 am Link Mac Intosh wrote: Lmfao Jul 12 14 08:46 am Link Andrew Thomas Evans wrote: This response makes perfect sense, considering the source. Jul 12 14 08:53 am Link Mac Intosh wrote: I get paid for this, you're doing it as a hobby, yes, people need to consider the source. Jul 12 14 09:06 am Link Andrew Thomas Evans wrote: Mac Intosh wrote: The reason for the laugh, if I'm reading through the condescension correctly, is that bookers just don't have much time on their hands for meetings with random photographers. Jul 12 14 09:10 am Link Andrew Thomas Evans wrote: Things aren't always as they appear. Jul 12 14 09:20 am Link Andrew Thomas Evans wrote: Considering the source....... wow. Jul 12 14 09:22 am Link James Jackson Fashion wrote: Well and that we shouldn't do research on agencies to see, in general, if the images they have up of their talent match what we can give them. Jul 12 14 09:50 am Link Andrew Thomas Evans wrote: looking to see where I said 'we shouldn't do research on agencies'..... looking.....looking..... mmmmmm nope, not finding it. Maybe you can help me out mr. 'i get paid for this'? Jul 12 14 09:54 am Link
Post hidden on Jul 16, 2014 11:15 am
Reason: violates rules Comments: Outing, hijacking, and other stuff that distracts from the subject at hand. Jul 12 14 09:59 am Link The single biggest thing you need when approaching an agency to test with, is showing models that, at the very least, look like the could be with an agency. Might be commercial, might be fashion depending on the agency. But they have to look like they could fit in. After that, styling is critical. Jul 12 14 10:13 am Link Andrew Thomas Evans wrote: Hold on..... I'll get to the bottom of this!!!... Jul 12 14 10:18 am Link Call, as opposed to just sending a blind email. Ask for the booker in charge of new faces. If you can get it, ask for the director, as opposed to a random booker as they'll have more longevity with the agency. They'll just ask you to email them links to your website or where they can view your work (don't send them an MM link). But, they'll likely chat with you for awhile, which will start a connection and give you someone to followup with directly. Don't include nudes - a fashion topless or two in your presentation is ok - but be prepared that out of the gate they probably won't want you doing any nudity with their girls until you have a track record. Show them work comparable to what they have on their online boards - don't show them weird stuff. If they approve you and the conversation comes to deliverable time - be realistic, don't over promise - two weeks is fine generally. Be prepared to present a mood board with your concept when you first start shooting. Have an MUA who has specific experience doing makeup for agency girls. Good luck. Jul 12 14 01:36 pm Link Thanks John, appreciate the answer. Someone else has mentioned that it's important to work with agency-approved or agency-standard models so that your portfolio gives them an idea of what you could do for their talent. I have no problem picking up the phone and chatting, I used to work in a call centre and that's all I did all day and I did sales way before that which was all about the personal touch. I actually quite enjoy getting out and about and meeting folk. Thanks for all the advice. Brhum Jul 16 14 06:43 am Link A lot depends on the agency, and can largely be thought of in terms of the quality of the agency and their models. A bottom end agency is usually desperate for any even half decent photographer to approach them, a really poor agency will actually go with just about anyone, test shoots are about all they can offer their models whoever it is. A decent agency will of course be more selective and it also once again depends on their models. Usually its only the new untried models who they'd be willing to test, after all they need to test them too. But they'll want a pretty decent photographer. Then of course the top agencies will only be testing with the very best photographers with a whole team, MUA, hair, stylist, decent locations, ideas and everything. The big question for a photographer is how much good will this testing do you? If its with anything other than top agencies its a major gamble, and for the average-ish photographer that may be accepted in the middle range you'll most likely be getting average-ish models and therefore only creating average-ish photos. not that great for you portfolio. Jul 16 14 07:24 am Link Brhum wrote: Emailing works just fine for me. That's how I currently work with 4 local agencies. It helps if you can qualify yourself in the email a bit. Don't just say, hi I'm so and so, here is my work. Tell them who else you may have worked with, perhaps a model currently in an agency, perhaps a magazine they supply to, etc. Brhum wrote: I would avoid face to face. They are generally too busy and running around to set aside time for anyone just wanting to drop in. I have had face to face meetings because a lot of the models I shoot are under 18. The agency wants to ensure I am not a creep. But they will set the meeting on their own time. Brhum wrote: A tablet will suffice. To be honest, the meetings, if any, were a formality. Since I always email first they are already aware of my work. Brhum wrote: They don't expect, but it is good to have some contacts. The agency will be happy to refer some to you if you like. I've had a few do that before. Brhum wrote: Speak with a booker. Brhum wrote: If shooting tests, than most times I deliver 2-4 images. Usually 2 looks. They don't need 100 images from you. Jul 16 14 07:35 am Link Thanks Riddell / Peter, There's a ton of useful information in this thread. I've started the process of getting a clean page on my site with just the images I think will appeal to the agencies. I'm fortunate in that I'm shooting quite heavily over the next 10 or so days but once that's all done I'll finish it up and email some of the agencies in the surrounding area. I appreciate everyone who has taken the trouble to offer their advice in this thread. I hope other folk find it as useful as I have. Cheers MM'ers. Brhum Jul 16 14 01:25 pm Link J O H N A L L A N wrote: My experience matches that which John is suggesting. Be prepared to tell the agency you have a makeup artist available for the shoots (a stylist would be great, but.....). And now the grand surprise, don't be shocked if they ask for at least one test for free. Agencies do not pay much for tests, it is the entry level into the business (because you are working with actual agency models). You do tests to create a better personal portfolio to show commercial clients (and to learn to shoot in an editorial style, but I'm not going into this now). No one makes a living doing tests for real agencies. Write that down. Jul 16 14 01:54 pm Link |
