Expert: Kitty Kavey - 11/5/2006

Question
Hello again.  I recently had an appointment at a modeling agency, and they told me that they offered a ten week course which would teach me skills from walking to working with different props.  They also have a professional photographer and makeup/hair dresser who will prepare a certain type of card with maybe four pictures on it.  The ten week course costs about eight hundred dollers and the photographer also costs a few hundred on his own.  My question is do I really need to do all of that? (meaning the classes) I mean is it really necessary to take those classes, or would I be wasting my time and money.  I think its a good idea, but I've been getting feedback from friends and family that make me question my opinion.
thank you.
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
I've started to become very interested in modeling, but I've heard a lot about it being very expensive.  If my mother cannot afford the high price what should I do?  I know I have to take pictures, find an agent, and devote a lot of my time if I actually want to pursue this, but I'm just not sure how to start it, and what to do if I can't afford it.  I have already called a local modeling agency and plan to make an appointment for a free consolidation, but I know they will tell me of the high price as well.
-----Answer-----
If you're speaking of fashion modeling, the only requirement is a couple of snapshots to submit to agents for consideration, and they need not be professional.  Commercial print agents may want you to have a modeling composite card - for which the printing costs can be in the hundreds of dollars if you use a professional printing company.  For example: comp cards usually run around a dollar each, with a minimum order - on www.ggphotoscan.com/colorcomps.html they are $1.25/each with a minimum order of 100.  That's certainly enough to get you started, though - since initially you'll most likely be mailing them out one at a time with a cover letter to agents for consideration.  Make sure you take into account postage and mailing fees.  Photos are easy to get; you can do Time-for-Prints (TFP) with professional photographers, or contact your local schools and colleges that offer photography courses.  Most of them will let you announce your availability as a (free) model to their students, and in exchange they'll give you prints you can use.  There are also commercial print agencies that will accept snapshots as well for consideration from new faces, and do not require you to have a composite card to begin with.  Many agencies now have websites that list what they want to see from new models, and what criteria they have, or you can call and ask.  Some of the modeling agency directories (such as the Ross Reports) also list what the agency is looking for.
Good luck to you,
~Kitty

Answer
To answer your question simply - no.  You do not need all that.  Models do not use resumes, so unlike acting, you do not need to amass credits and training to progress.  If you're going into high fashion modeling, the agency that signs you can give you a few catwalk pointers, or can arrange training if you're not that great at it.  If you're planning to go into commercial print modeling, you have no need to learn catwalk at all.  Props is something more for acting than modeling, unless you're going into parts modeling (perhaps hand modeling).  In that case, perhaps it would be useful, perhaps not.  Every photographer you work with will have their own unique style and way of working.  If you come to them with a preconceived way of posing, or even a particular way you learned to hold an item, then you may well miss the whole point of what they want you to do.  The only times I've witnessed "modeling classes" as being a good idea, is for young persons who are shy, not confident in themselves as a way to explore their beauty/outer image and catch up the inside to match.  However, confidence-building can be accomplished with a number of activities, sports and other accomplishments, not all of which are quite so expensive.  But if you have the money to spare, and keep an open mind so you don't get "stuck" in only doing what you are taught, then by all means, have at it.  It ultimately has to be your choice, as to what works best for you.  If you feel you're not ready to work, and need to do something else first to build your confidence, taking classes can certainly accomplish that.
Best of luck to you,
~Kitty