Wilhelmina Denver asking for money upfront?
Question by Dakota: Wilhelmina Denver asking for money upfront?
Hello, I was recently offered a contract by Wilhelmina Denver, but they also wanted $ 1100 upfront for classes, portfolio, comp card, etc. Yet, according to almost every website dedicated to modeling safety this is a serious red flag. Even more interestingly, I have found quotes from the president of Wilhelmina also warning about these things. I’ve included a few I’ve found:
“There are several ways for parents to protect themselves from scams. First, you should immediately be wary of anyone who asks for money upfront”
- Natasha Esch, President, Wilhelmina Models
“Agents who ask for money upfront — whether it be for a photo session, composite, head sheet or any other promotional tool — should be avoided.”
- Natasha Esch, President, Wilhelmina Models
Obviously, there is something that just doesn’t add up.And before all of you just scream scam, you must understand Wilhelmina is a huge agency so there lies some kind of reason. Please shed some light on the situation?
Best answer:
Answer by Gray Area
No. What YOU must understand is Wilhemina was ONCE UPON A TIME a huge agency. It is now a hollow shell of its former self, subsisting on luring in the unsuspecting, naive, ignorant and too lazy to do their own hustling and research. Wilhelmina Denver???? Come on. Do you not know what a franchise business is? Whoever runs this place has merely purchased or leased the use of the name. Since when has Denver been the hotbed of the modeling industry? It isn’t and never will be.
While you will certainly have to invest in your own modeling career via pictures, cards etc, you do so under your own power. You find your own photographers to work with to build you book. A good portfolio is made up of many different photographers, not just one. Eventually, it is made up of actual “tear sheets” (an old term, might be something different now) of your former work. Meaning you can tear the sheet out of the catalogs or magazines ads you’ve done and your book is mostly comprised of that.
Show some initiative and do some real research into what it will take to build a career as a model. Now more than ever the resources exist in book form, online, via blogs in the many ways a modeling career can be built.
Give your answer to this question below!
I have been a model for many moons and just saw this question online and thought I would shed my industry experiences with you.
I recently signed with W Denver, as well as being represented by agencies across the country and pond, and they are doing it right. They told me everything any other agency I am signed with told me. I have to pay for marketing collateral (comp cards, portfolio book, website exposure) but I don’t have to pay for a test shoot because I already have really strong images.
If you do not have strong images and/or you are new to modeling, you need these to even have a chance to model. It is a very competitive industry and you must work hard to break in which also includes owning/buying your own images. Hardly any agency will front those costs and if they do, they will charge you interest and take it out of your earnings until it is paid off, if it ever is.
Obviously W Denver are allowing you to work with their agency to take get tested for a really good price and you own the image rights which means you can use the photos to market yourself through the agency without the photographer who took your images being able to sue you for unlawfully using their images. W Denver also told me that if I don’t want to use their recommendations for a photographer, a model could use any photographer they like as like as their work is up to snuff.
Hopefully that helps a bit. Just know that modeling is like becoming your own company and when you are a company (i.e. a brand) there are costs associated in getting that company up and running. You need test images to market yourself through an agency who does get you work and that cost you money.
BTW – I am already booked on a job with W Denver that will pay off my initial investment right away. This is the industry, nothing is handed to you, you have to pay a little int he beginning to give it a shot. If you want your little man to play little league football or your little girl to figure skate you are going to have to pay for equipment, league fees, etc. and modeling is no different to get started. W Denver does not charge you money to be a part of their agency but in a mid-major market, they will hardly ever pay for your test images, that is something you will have to invest in to give it a shot and once you have, their are no guarantees but a positive attitude and an easy going demeanor go a long way if you have the right look…Good Luck!