Expert: Kitty Kavey - 5/24/2007

Question
I send a photo to a craiglist ad, thinking it was local work, and they sent me back a contract.  The company is called "Worldwide modeling talent" and the President is named Reggie Edwards.  The idea is, the send you clothes and things in the mail, you take pictures with a digital camera, and e-mail them back once per month for a year.  They ask for a $289 deposit to ensure you do not just keep the items and not send the pictures.  They say this is reimbursed through through profit shares each month, but it seems odd they do not simply return the deposit, which makes me suspicious.  Perhaps I could send the contract to you as an attachment to look at?  Here is an excpert, the part about the deposit:

Model, to show commitment, must pay a one-time Security Deposit of $289.00. (This protects our company from models stealing clothes and not modeling the (12) fashions sent. Worldwide lost $40,000 from models doing this in the past. We are sorry we have to ask for a Security Deposit, but please understand we send the work to you. This is not income for Worldwide as it is guaranteed paid back to model through the Lifetime Profit Shares above. Model agrees there are no refunds in any other fashion and agrees that chargebacks shall be considered fraud and prosecutable.

Model may make a first payment of ANY AMOUNT to reserve position and make arrangements to pay monthly payments of his/her choice until paid in full. Model does not start until security is paid in full. Model may also pay by Check or Money Order payable to: Worldwide and sent to our Fashions of the Stars Address: 1400 Market Place Blvd. Suite #186, Cumming, Ga. 30041. Payments are non-refundable until paid in full and then refunded the $289.00 by the Profit Share Plan listed above guaranteed. This is our stated Money Back Guarantee Policy through the guaranteed Lifetime Profit Shares. Model has (3) days to contact us or position will be forfeited!

Please tell me what you think.

Answer
Since they are not an agency, they can operate their business within the federal and local laws that apply under perhaps a marketing, or profit-sharing company.  As such, they can charge the $289., and presumably you would earn that back over your lifetime and/or the year that you are contracted for with them.  
That being said, I believe that if one were interested in a (professional) modeling career, you will need to sign with a modeling agency, or a talent agency with a modeling division.  My friend Chris (independentmodeling.com) disagrees, and believes that models can freelance on their own.  I think we'd both agree, though, that most models and talent don't want to just subsist from job to job, but rather want to reach the top of their profession - a model who is only seen in local, independent media, or only on the Internet, is not where most of us want to be.  But if that is something that you are comfortable with, and do not wish to use an agent for one reason or another, the Worldwide Modeling Talent does seem to be a resource for the totally independent model, or at least one who is also interested in photography, makeup/hair, photostyling, etc.  It wouldn't be something I would recommend getting involved with, but it also does not seem that they are violating any criminal laws.  
Good luck to you,
~Kitty