Modeling 101

The Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator (DE-FI) LLC is committed to protecting the safety, personal information, images, and well-being of our models and those wanting to become a model. We pride ourselves on our professionalism, transparency, and authenticity and believe it is important to advise models of the legitimate dangers that lurk within the fashion industry. Please be careful when dealing with individuals who contact you online through social media or via email. Please be aware that there are individuals who will prey on your modeling ambitions by impersonating agents or other modeling organizations and contact you directly, please take the necessary precautions including:

1.) Always independently verify the identity of any individual claiming to be a representative of an agency or organization.

2.) Legitimate modeling agencies may contact you through a social media application or through email…PAY ATTENTION TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS AND SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES. For example, legit agencies WILL NOT contact you from a gmail, msn, aol and etc account. When in doubt go to the agency’s website to confirm their email address AND Social Media Handles to know if it is a legitimate interaction.

3.) Legitimate agencies NEVER request photos in the nude or lingerie MOST legitimate agencies and organizations DO NOT conduct interviews using Facetime, Skype, and etc.

4) When using apps to book a job, DO YOUR RESEARCH! Model apps are awesome for freelance models and in some cases you pay less in commission than you would if you were signed with a legit agency. #ReadingIsFundamental

The Golden Rule of Modeling: Never pay an agency to represent you and sure as hell don't pay an organization to be in their show or represent a brand, and no, you don't need to buy a book! If they are asking for an upfront fee to cover their production cost or must pay for unsold tickets…RUN!!!!

It’s that simple, it is NOT the models responsibility to make sure that their show goes on and that their expenses are covered. Legit fashion weeks/organization (regional, national, or internationally known) never charge models to participate in their events. #Period

It does not cost money to sign with a legitimate agency. Legit agencies are paid commission, meaning you MUST be paid for work that you do before they EVER are paid a dime. While agency laws vary from state to state most legal limits are 20% meaning if your agency books you on a job and you are paid $500 your agency receives $100. In smaller markets like Dayton, you may be required to pay for your own portfolio, but we’ll touch on that in a few more tips. #WeSaidWhatWeSaid

"You should start with modeling school!" Said no legit agent ever! Modeling School are a waste of time and money. No respectable or legitimate agency HAS EVER recommended a modeling school for aspiring models. Do not be talked into taking the classes to get images for your portfolio either because the images that you receive from a modeling school will NOT be useful for legitimate agencies, you will be told to throw them away and start a new portfolio designed around your newly rebranded image. Besides, almost every Modeling School in Ohio and parts of Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin have reached out to (DE-FI) to see if we'd be willing to work with their models. In short... #JustSayNoToModelingSchools

Model Conventions can be legit AND COSTLY! Truth be told, legit agencies do participate in Modeling Conventions. The key is DOING YOUR RESEARCH DO NOT MORTGAGE YOUR HOME TO ATTEND ONE OF THESE CONVENTIONS they can cost anywhere from $500 to $10,000. Yes these conventions can be fun, however, out of the sometimes week long conventions, only one day is really needed and that’s the day that you meet the agents. If it cost more than $500 it’s not worth it, create a budget, find out how much it would cost you to travel to Chicago, New York City, or Los Angeles and visit the same agencies in person for their FREE Open calls. Which during COVID-19 most agencies are only accepting online submissions at the time.

Keeping in mind that if you did NOT receive a callback after you’ve tried Tip # 4 and 5 free of charge, you need to become more realistic about your future in the industry. If that’s not enough, DO YOUR RESEARCH, how many models can you find that were “Discovered” at a modeling convention? Last but not least, Do NOT Go out and spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on photos for your portfolio IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SIGNED TO AN AGENCY!! Aspiring models do NOT need to have professional images to be considered by LEGIT Agencies!!

Things to remember when taking images for agency submission:

1. Keep it simple use your cellphone camera
2. Do NOT wear Makeup
3. Have your hair pulled back
4. Do NOT wear prints or logos on your clothing
5. Visit the agencies website for specific details on what kinds of images are required for submission.

After you've submitted your images to the agency, if they are interested, they will contact you to get additional information. They WILL more than likely request this next group of images to be taken in a (2) piece swimsuit. Where you will be given specific details of how to take your measurements along with taking a picture of your measurements.

You will NEVER be asked by a legit agency to take these images in lingerie or naked! This information is request to confirm that the measurements that you sent on you application are correct and that your images are current.

All legit agencies will correspond with you via the official email address for example JaneDoe@fordmodels.com or JohnSmith@imgmodels.com. They will not send you an email from a gmail.com or aol.com address. When in doubt go to their website get the phone number and call for confirmation.

Once you've snapped those agency submission images with your cell phone camera. Now you have to decide what is the best market for you!

Female at least 5'7 and Males at least 5'9 look for agencies in the Miami, Florida market.

Female's at least 5'8 and Male's at least 6'0 look for agencies Dallas, TX or Los Angeles, CA .

Female's at least 5'9 and Male's 5'11 look for agencies Chicago, IL

Female's at least 5'10 and Male's at least 5'11 look for an agencies in New York, NY.

Other FAQs If you are at least 16years old and under 5'7 odds are you will not be signed to a modeling agency however...you very well could become the next Kate Moss who. But if you can't cut it as a model, acting may be your true calling and to be completely honest with you, in Ohio, odds are you will get more acting jobs than modeling jobs.

It is important that you do your research first and DO NOT be afraid to ask questions. Most of the agencies in these markets do represent children again you MUST do your research because some agencies will require that the child live within 40 miles of the agency to be represented.

So You've Followed The First 2 Rules and You're Still Not Signed...Now What? You have two options:

1) Resubmit your images to the agencies in the major markets every 6 months.

2) Find a local Mother Agency in smaller markets...like (cough cough) (DE-FI) Models Agency. What's a Mother Agency you ask? A mother agent or agency is usually the first modeling agency you begin working with when you start your modeling career. A mother agent can also be a scout that discovered you and helped you get your start (Hint hint...that's what we do!)

Again doing your research is important, many states, Ohio included have very lax laws surrounding the fashion and entertainment industries which put aspiring talent at risk.

We cannot tell you the number of horror stories we have heard from models that we have worked and are signed with agencies in smaller markets. Anywhere from Mother Agencies blocking models from being signed with larger more reputable agencies due to the overly eager model OR their parents not understanding the exclusive contract that they signed with the smaller agency.

To models scrapping their very last dime together to purchase one- way plane tickets to fly across the country to meet with a booking agent JUST to find out that their Mother agent did not properly arrange a meeting. To models agreeing to pay a Mother agent for 10 years after their contract is over for any paying modeling job that they may receive after leaving said agency even though they didn't book them on that job.

It is important to ask as many questions as you can before signing your name to a contract. Legitimate agencies will not be offended by your questions, if an agency gets angry or pressures you into signing anything walk away and DON'T look back because odds are you are about to scammed!!

Unless you are an established model and well known in the larger markets, odds are all of your old images will be useless for your new agency they will require you to start a new portfolio because they will re-brand you, give you a makeover, and promote you as a "Fresh Face".

Your agency will recommend photographers for you. Depending on the agency and/or market the agency MAY pay up front for your pics BUT please understand once you begin receiving paid work, you MUST reimburse your agency for the images and those monies will be taken out of your pay check on top of the commission. Agencies in smaller markets like Ohio MAY require the model to pay for their images because there is not enough paid work in that market.

In short, before you cough up hundreds or thousands of dollars for a photographer, ESPECIALLY if you decide to NOT use the photographers recommend by your agency...Ask your selected photographer for their portfolio, schedule a meeting with your agency and the photographer to make sure everyone is on the same page. There is nothing worse than spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a portfolio and having your agency throw it away because the images are not useful.

We have an entire list of models, photographers, designers, stylists, etc that we refuse to ever work with again due to lack of professionalism, not being dependable, having poor attitudes, and not being coachable, just to name a few.

As frivolous and vain as this industry may seem, the beautiful picture and 30 second strut on the catwalk is just the surface. This is a $900 Billion a year industry and business minded models are successful models!

Rules to live by:

1) Be on time, if you're going to be late even if it's just a few minutes, be courteous and call. If you are not going to make it notify the correct person and follow the communication process that has been implemented.

2) Listen, make sure you are truly understanding what is being said. We all know that what is being said vs what is heard can often be two different things. So before you storm off in anger or disappointment, ask clarifying questions to make sure you are on the same page.

3) Go where you are told to go, if you are supposed to be at an Open call or Go-See at 11a, don't go site seeing or go hanging with your friends. You'll never book a job by skipping out on opportunities that someone has arranged for you.

4) Watch the company that you keep! Not everyone is going to be your friend even if they are smiling in your face and call you friend. Some people will attach themselves to you to try and gain access to opportunities that they may not have otherwise had and others are there simply to distract you from pursuing your dreams or to keep you in a place where they are comfortable seeing.

Exposure! Exposure! Exposure!

Join us for this...", it's a great way to get exposure? Join us for that..."you'll get exposure!" Question...exposure to what? If the only benefit of participating in a "fashion event" is exposure...you need to ask them:

1) Exposure to who?2) Are you linked to a legit agency or reputable Public Relations company? 3) Will you have industry guest that will be in the audience specifically to scout?4) Will this opportunity help lead to paid work?

In short, if their version of "exposure" is not career advancing don't waste your time you need exposure to the right people. The window for opportunity is so small in this industry please be smart about how you use your time pursuing it.

Agencies want to give the perception of fresh faces, if you have your images plastered along fashion organizations websites and social media pages from coast to coast agencies may not view this as favorable! Believe us, we've been asked by top agencies not to use some of our Model Alums names in Hashtags using old images of them simply because the images that we have of them do not match their re-branded image and narrative of being a freshly discovered model.

This is how the industry works it's an industry of newness, don't blow your chance by being over exposed, learning bad habits, or working with inexperienced talent that makes you look bad ie poor lighting, bad focus, bad makeup, bad hair, bad posing...before being signed. Point: Be selective with choosing your opportunities, opportunities should be mutually beneficial, don't be afraid to ask what the benefits of participation are.

What the heck Does that Mean?

Regional Mother Agencies can be a great way to get your start as a model. However, we are very leery of of regional agencies that sign every model that walk through their door.

Questions you should consider:

1) How are they serving and nurturing all of these models?

2) How many of these models are actually getting paid work?

3) Are they signing all of these models in order to collect legit fees like website fees in order to cover their overhead cost?

If so, how is this fair to models who have put their trust in you to advance their careers and all you see in them is a way to make ends meet for your business. Leaving promising careers in limbo, again this is a here today, gone today industry, working with the right agency and management group is imperative.

Know The Difference

Do you Know the Difference Between an Open Call and a Casting Call?

Open Calls (sometimes referred to as Go-Sees, are simply interviews and mini-meetings between you and the potential client or agency for them to see if and how you may qualify for the opening they need filled. They usually take place during a specific time that the agency/organization sets aside (generally once a week) to see new talent, who are permitted to just walk in without an appointment or prior comp card submission. This is most common for the fashion agencies/organizations in larger markets like New York, Chicago, Miami, and Los Angeles.

Much like with a resume, they look over your portfolio and comp card to get an overview of your previous experience and abilities. (PLEASE NOTE: Professional Images are NOT required for legitimate agency Open Calls. Please visit the agencies/organizations website for details on what is required) After a few questions they may take head shots or a few photos for their reference. If they are interested in getting to know you better or signing you, you will get a call back.

Casting Calls are a pre-production process for selecting a certain models for either a print or runway experience. Think of this as a series of auditions held in order to find a suitable candidate.

The (DE-FI) Models Agency is currently accepting models age 12 and better we celebrate beauty in all of its forms so there are no height or size restrictions.

Models MUST wear form fitting clothes. No wild prints or logos should be worn.

Hair should be pulled back and out of the models face. Little to no makeup should be worn.

All models MUST bring (2) recent images that we can keep. (Note: Images DO NOT need to be professional!! Submission images may be taken with a cell phone and printed off.)

Image criteria:

1) Images MUST be clear

2) Image #1 Full body image

3) Image # 2 Head Shot

We hold Open Calls every Thursday 6p-8p at the House of (DE-FI)ance: A Fashion & Design Co-working Experience.

#KeepingThemHonest #RemovingBarriers #TheFashionPipeline #FashionAdvancement #WhatDoYouDEFI #FirstFlightNowFashion

(DE-FI) Models

Rule #1: SAFETY ALWAYS COMES FIRST

Rule #2 : Put Your Wallet Away

Rule #3 Agency Submission Photos #KeepItSimple

Rule #4: Find the Right Agency/Market

Rule #5 Don't Sign Your life & Career Away with a Bad contract

This is a "Here Today, Gone Today" industry! Don't let signing a bad contract ruin your dreams!!!

Rule # 6: Once signed, NOW It's Time To Build Your Portfolio!

Rule # 7: Agencies and Clients Want BUSINESS MINDED MODELS

Bonus Tip #1: "This Is Great Way To Get Exposure"

Bonus Tip #2: Don't Be a Drop in the Ocean

Understanding The Process of Open Calls and Casting Calls

Preparing for (DE-FI) Open Calls

(DE-FI) Models