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Is this shady or normal?
I responded to an ad on craigslist posted by an agency seeking models. I sent them a sample of my portfolio and they told me to come in tonight for a test shoot. However, they said that since the photos are for their clients and it's a test shoot, I will not receive rights to nor copies of any of these photos, nor payment for my time (though I would for future shoots). Normal or a scam? Aug 13 14 05:19 pm Link I would be very careful with that. It isn't normal for an agency to be taking your photos at all. Photographers take pictures, agencies are there to represent you. Who is doing the testing? Is it a well known agency, i.e. one that is respected in the Portland area? Also, a reputable agency wouldn't generally be advertising on Craigslist. The better agencies normally don't need to go looking for talent. My advice is to look to this with a very cautious eye. There is a small chance this is OK, but a very small chance. Aug 13 14 05:26 pm Link I don't know what kind of agency would post on craigslist and ask for a test shoot at night. that's really sketchy. I would avoid that at all costs. Aug 13 14 05:27 pm Link They posted on Craigslist and they want you to come see them at night. Sounds pretty strange to me. Aug 13 14 05:29 pm Link You don't have the protection of tags reference history etc as you do here. Be alert. Ask for references. Aug 13 14 05:41 pm Link SHADY Aug 13 14 06:00 pm Link Oh Hell no. Not going to happen. Aug 13 14 06:02 pm Link alexzandra wrote: Red flag #1. I've yet to see a reputable agency troll craigslist for models. alexzandra wrote: Red flag #2. Usually you'd go in, meet with someone so they can see if you're a spazz/psycho/etc or not, see how you look in person. Not just schedule a shoot straight away (with the exception of polaroids). And even then, a "test shoot" is handed off to a photographer who tests with them, so that he/she can give them feedback about how you handled yourself on set. It's pretty much for when they're iffy on you and want to see what someone else thinks of you. alexzandra wrote: Major red flag (#3): They most certainly would not be shooting for clients during your "test". alexzandra wrote: This is usually how it works. But again, there's no reason for you during the initial phase to book a client gig straight away...off a craigslist post. alexzandra wrote: Another major red flag: Agencies charge clients rather large sums of money to use the models they rep in said client's commercial endeavors. So either this "agency" is chock full of idiots who don't know to charge for their model's time...or more likely they're charging this client, and not passing on any of that money to you because they're hoping you're a naive girl. alexzandra wrote: Scam Aug 13 14 06:18 pm Link It isn't strange for an agency to do a test shoot and not give you the photos. Some (but not all) legit agencies do that because they want to see how natural you are in front of the camera and see how you move and pose, even if they've seen your portfolio. It is basically an audition. They don't owe you the photos. What is concerning is that this agency was on Craigslist. That right there makes it seem shady. Aug 13 14 06:21 pm Link Be careful. Be very careful. Doesn't sound on the level to me. Aug 13 14 06:40 pm Link Sarah Lynn Modeling wrote: I agree with you except it isn't the agency that would normally do the test. In most situations, they would put you in contact with a photographer and ask you to go test with him/her. Aug 13 14 06:45 pm Link alexzandra wrote: CREEEEPPPYYYYYYY Aug 13 14 06:55 pm Link Most of the "modeling" ads I've seen on CL are porn related, they offer a lot of money to anyone who will show up. I posted one there and made sure to have not porn related in the title. Aug 13 14 06:56 pm Link alexzandra wrote: What agency? Portland is a known market and the agencies in that area are known. They are not as likely to be on Craig's list. Aug 13 14 06:56 pm Link alexzandra wrote: I would be pretty suspicious, does not sound normal. Aug 13 14 06:56 pm Link T-D-L wrote: alexzandra wrote: Red flag #1. I've yet to see a reputable agency troll craigslist for models. alexzandra wrote: Red flag #2. Usually you'd go in, meet with someone so they can see if you're a spazz/psycho/etc or not, see how you look in person. Not just schedule a shoot straight away (with the exception of polaroids). And even then, a "test shoot" is handed off to a photographer who tests with them, so that he/she can give them feedback about how you handled yourself on set. It's pretty much for when they're iffy on you and want to see what someone else thinks of you. alexzandra wrote: Major red flag (#3): They most certainly would not be shooting for clients during your "test". alexzandra wrote: This is usually how it works. But again, there's no reason for you during the initial phase to book a client gig straight away...off a craigslist post. alexzandra wrote: Another major red flag: Agencies charge clients rather large sums of money to use the models they rep in said client's commercial endeavors. So either this "agency" is chock full of idiots who don't know to charge for their model's time...or more likely they're charging this client, and not passing on any of that money to you because they're hoping you're a naive girl. Nailed it perfectly Aug 13 14 09:08 pm Link Agency on craig's list? Maybe someone scouting for adult models for porn possibly. Aug 13 14 09:18 pm Link Yeah, we want you to come shoot at night. Better lighting that way. Oh...just ignore the rope and duct tape in the corner. Seriously! Scam! And possibly dangerous. Most likely its a GWC trolling. Aug 13 14 10:32 pm Link Craigslist, at night= most likely a GWC, scammer, or a troll Aug 13 14 10:35 pm Link Orestes wrote: Hopefully nothing worse. Aug 13 14 10:37 pm Link Unless there's something else we're not hearing about, I doubt it's dangerous. And technically not a scam in that she probably won't be out any money. Sound more like she's going to get used as free labor. Either way it is definitely not on the up and up in that she should probably be getting paid if there is indeed a client. I'm willing to bet it's either a photographer who has a client and they need models for a shoot, so the photographer is pretending to be an agency in order to find naive girls to shoot for free. Or it's a shady agency, that has found someone who needs a model, and they're padding their wallets by charging that person for a model they don't even rep, who they also won't pay. Aug 13 14 10:56 pm Link Sounds totally legit to me:  Aug 13 14 11:30 pm Link Would an Agency use craigslist to find 5'5 models? And when they do be like "ZOMG test shoot, nao!"  (see what i did there?) alexzandra, Your portfolio is nice. Just keep doing what you're doing. Don't let scammers and portfolio mills waste your time or take your money. If you're looking to make money from modeling, there's plenty of Female Models on here, with similar stats to yours that can advise you how. Most of them travel. p.s. You should travel!!!!  Aug 13 14 11:53 pm Link I agree that it's 99.999% sure to be a scam, but just for the record, it's not unusual for a staffer at an agency to put an applicant against a blank wall and squeeze of a quick picture or two. It's called a Polaroid and is for internal use, mainly to see how close the applicant's headshot or compcard is to the applicant's actual appearance. If they all it a "test" or indicate that it will go to a client, you can be sure that it's not a real agency. All IMHO as always, of course. Aug 15 14 05:49 pm Link Sarah Lynn Modeling wrote: Spot on advice from a working agency model. Aug 17 14 12:55 am Link alexzandra wrote: Something doesn't seem right. Aug 20 14 04:55 pm Link T-D-L wrote: alexzandra wrote: Red flag #1. I've yet to see a reputable agency troll craigslist for models. alexzandra wrote: Red flag #2. Usually you'd go in, meet with someone so they can see if you're a spazz/psycho/etc or not, see how you look in person. Not just schedule a shoot straight away (with the exception of polaroids). And even then, a "test shoot" is handed off to a photographer who tests with them, so that he/she can give them feedback about how you handled yourself on set. It's pretty much for when they're iffy on you and want to see what someone else thinks of you. alexzandra wrote: Major red flag (#3): They most certainly would not be shooting for clients during your "test". alexzandra wrote: This is usually how it works. But again, there's no reason for you during the initial phase to book a client gig straight away...off a craigslist post. alexzandra wrote: Another major red flag: Agencies charge clients rather large sums of money to use the models they rep in said client's commercial endeavors. So either this "agency" is chock full of idiots who don't know to charge for their model's time...or more likely they're charging this client, and not passing on any of that money to you because they're hoping you're a naive girl. ^This. Aug 21 14 09:54 am Link I wouldn't touch that ish with a 10 foot pole. Or even a 20 foot pole. Just hearing the word "Craigslit" normally makes me cringe a little. It brings on thoughts of bed bugs, creepy dudes, and people lookin' to rip ya off. Aug 21 14 09:56 am Link Sounds legit to me .. the fact that the OP has not responded since then is .. Umm ... Forget what I said ... well she HAS been on MM since then ... or has she ????? ps. to that other photo one here -- I recognize that room ! ! ! Aug 21 14 01:08 pm Link |
