why does it always take so long to hear back from a modeling agency? Answered!

Hey Girls,

I was recently asked on my Facebook by an aspiring model, why does it always take sooo long to hear back from an agency??

My reply might also help your own pursuits:

Well, they might not have any work that fits your stats right now, they receive a lot of submissions, they might not be interested, they might be holding onto your comp card /images and waiting to see if any work comes in for your look, before they call you.

The best thing to do is keep striving and keep submitting your comp cards out to other agencies, and to stay busy. :)  After you've submitted and submitted, if you don't get any interest you may feel doubt but remember modeling is competitive and legit print modeling agencies are not going to waste their time working with you if they can't market you and book you work. Keep moving on, keep submitting and even re-submit to the agencies again a new comp card with new photos. As a striving self-made model you are always striving to improve your photos and prepare as best as you can for creating your opportunities.

It's true, hence my memoir Almost 5'4" (it's also an ebook for $3.99, make sure you have your Kindle and Nook and iBookstore apps, for reading on your phone at night when you can't sleep!)...anyways, it took me some time (a couple years and some mistakes later) to get my stuff together with the right photos, comp card, and the right mindset. Targeting the right agencies with the right photos is so important. Make sure you are creating marketable photos that are realistic for your realistically ambitious modeling goals. Here is more on photos and also more on the marketing mindset as a model.

~Isobella

P.s:  Love finding $15 in my rain coat pocket, was on my way to TJ Maxx and Marshalls today on Sixth Ave, both stores have a nice selection of petite sizes which is nice, and made my rounds also to Pippin Vintage Jewelry, I bought a cute pair of Jade earrings (wink).
http://pippinvintage.com/

I'll have a video up soon featuring the earrings and some of my recent finds shopping bargains.

A short model seeking a modeling agency tips

It all comes down to what YOU do for yourself, how hard you work, how you market your self. I had to strive to get my own tearsheets in magazines, experience and strive to work with professionals at the early days, months and years of my pursuits, it was true work. Not overnight. It was a journey. Building yourself as a model, your modeling portfolio, your compcard, and getting opportunities takes a lot of your own work. It comes down to what you want, and how you seek it out.

I think having some experience, and professional photos that show you have personaltiy, and your assets can help you get opportunities sooner. Especially if you can get some experience through your own self promotion.

When I was starting off modeling, I met a professional photographer through my own self promotion that shot for magazines, he ended up thinking of me for a job for a beauty editorial and it become my first modeling tearsheet, having that experience helped me get an agency to work with me. But that didn't mean life was sweet, it was still a lot of work, to perfect, improve my photos, and the self-hands-on-work that goes into working as a model really comes down to knowing YOURSELF, not having someone tell you what you could do, but YOU knowing.

Getting some experience modeling for a local magazine or with an aspiring brand can help you get opportunities to work with a print modeling agency, especially since a print modeling agency loves to see that you DO have experience.

However, the goal you have should not end with just "getting a modeling agency." The work is not done even when you do have an agency working with you, and as a shorter model often you end up freelancing with a few agencies all at once until you build your portfolio and can seek out exclusive representation later. I always think, no matter what, you have to have a focused mindset, be a positive person, confident and have a marketing mentality and be your own best agent as well. If you do not know what photos print modeling involves then research it, google it, learn about what print modeling is, study lifestyle ads, and this blog! :) There is not one thing that will you find opportunities and find your own success, because finding opportunities to model when your short involves a lot of your own work, many collective days, months and years usually.

Your own hustle makes stuff happen.

Finding a modeling agency for all sizes tips

Often on my model-blog: petitemodelingtips.blogspot.com I feature Agencies by city, like here Modeling Agencies in Chicago and Modeling Agencies in Baltimore, Maryland. I decide what agencies are best for all sizes by focus on looking for a few different things:

1. Does this agency show models with smiles, and personality and all ages, from teens to grandmothers, because that is a pure sign it is not just a high fashion agency that only works with tall models.

2. Does the agency accept postal mail submissions? This is a sign the agency is legit and doesn't have time, and is too busy booking their models to deal with online submissions and amateurs. However, of course, sometimes in this Internet-age some agencies do accept submissions by email, (but the Internet-age is not an excuse not to get a comp card made or a headshot produced your self) and I would ONLY send photos that reflect commercial print modeling, and showing that you have personality within the photos is best. A photo that is too fashion styled, or too sexy can be a turn off to a print agent. Only send pegs under 100 KB. Do not direct the agent/agency to your facebook or online profile, that is consider amateur. Keep in mind you must physical marketing tools, and can't rely on the Internet soley. Usually the website will ask for comp cards, and headshots to be mailed by postal mail, and you should.

3. I am looking for an agency that DOES NOT have testimonials or the words "be discovered", these words are a sign of scams. A legit agency doesn't need a testimonial to prove they are a legit agency.

4. I Google the agencies name and then put a plu sign (+) and the word "scam".

5. A legit agency does not charge you to join their agency or send in a check to review your photos, a professional agency will at least "work with" your comp card that you have if they like your energy and personality and look and think they can book you. They will not force you to work with their photographer and printing service, but they will advise and suggest often. Don't feel it is the end-all if you are getting a bad vibe, there are legit agencies out there and you can find one, but beware of scams.