Expert: Kitty Kavey - 2/19/2010

Question
hi im kellsey im 16 years old and im writing you to ask you a qusiton about my sister lanay she is 5'11 and one of the prettyest girls ive ever meet not even kidding when she was around 13 people would tell her she should be a modle so she listened around 14 we went to in audtion that was in sanfransico that had hudreds for agents a couple like it but said she needed to be alittle older but sanfransico modling wanted her she went there and had a photoshoot to make promotion card and after my gradma spent money on that they never called again my sister slowly started to fade out of the modling thing but i really think she need it shes 19 now whats a good way for her to start again?

Answer
You can tell your sister if she's still interested in modeling, she'll need to contact a modeling agency.  I'm assuming because of her height, she'd most likely be looking for a fashion modeling agency.  If so, once she is signed with them, they will take care of helping her develop a portfolio and anything else she needs to start out with.  

Stay away from model marketing and placement companies, conventions, modeling schools and similar businesses.  You don't need them to sign with an agent.  The way an agency should be earning their money is by taking a percentage off of the money a model or talent earns through them (usually 10-20%).  If they are earning money in another way, such as offering classes, printing or photography services, etc., then I would choose another more legitimate agency.

There are modeling agency directories available in your local library, bookstore and online.  Your sister may have more to choose from if she looks in the Los Angeles area for a fashion agency if you're still in California - but ideally she should submit her information to the New York modeling agencies.  Some of the top agencies allow one to submit their information over the Internet.  Most will take mailed in submissions, and/or have open calls which are free to attend.

The following link has the top NYC fashion agencies.  You can check to see if any of those agencies also have another location closer to your sister.  The list is updated from time to time, and she can submit her information to any of them.  She will only need a couple of snapshots, and most agencies have websites that detail submission instructions for new faces.  Just use your favorite search engine to locate the website of any of the agencies your sister is interested in: http://models.com/agencies/top/

Good luck to you and your sister,
~Kitty