How to spot the scam

Many people wonder if they are getting scammed I hope this post helps you:

"The agent should not recommend one photographer, and you do not pay the agency, you deal directly with the photographer." -- Nina Blanchard, The Nina Blanchard Agency

"Beware of photo pushers. They are seemingly legitimate talent agencies who make money by receiving kickbacks from photographers. The agent's advice may sound helpful, but the photo 'deal' will cost an exorbitant amount of money." -- Erik Joseph, Author, The Glam Scam

"If a so-called talent agent sends you to a particular photographer for pictures, hold your wallet tight and run for the nearest exit! Chances are the 'agent' is a phony who makes money splitting the photographer's fee." -- Los Angeles Office of the Consumer Protection Agency of the Federal Trade Commission

Paying $1,000 for comp cards to an agency which is a promotional agency, not a modeling agency, is ridiculous. Promotional "modeling" pays $15/hour. Therefore The model may never make more from modeling than the cost of the comp cards. In fact, the model may never even make anything. The model would have to work for more than 65 hours at $15/hr just to break even and to pay off the $1,000 comp cards. There are modeling agencies where models do not have to pay for their photos until after they work. It comes out of their first paycheck. This is the only way to check and balance expensive modeling photos. It does not put the model at risk or in a financial hole.

http://www.modelingscams.org/modelingphotographyscams.html

1. A truly interested agent will never ask you for money.
2. A legitimate modeling agency will never ask you to pay up front for your own test shots or pay to build your own portfolio.
3. Another thing that models legitimately need but should never be expected to pay for is a comp card.
4. Becoming a model should not cost you any money up front, even for things that sound legit like professional modeling lessons.
5. Finally, but very importantly, no legitimate modeling agency or agent will ask you to take nude or suggestive photographs, no matter how “tasteful” the presentation.

http://teenadvice.about.com/od/adviceexpert/a/newmodel.htm

Modeling Conventions: Modeling conventions is a way to cheat aspiring models out of thousands of dollars. This is how most of these scams work; they will have an open modeling cast for aspiring models. Once you arrive, they will look at your photos and give you a weak line about how you have the potential to become a model. They may take a photo and ask to keep the picture for their own references. You then are sent back home and told that they will call you if interested. Once they do call, they will send you an invitation by mail or phone to attend a modeling convention. They claim that in this convention, you will get picked by modeling agents that are desperately searching for fresh new models. There is only one thing; they require a "small" one time fee of $5000! This should yell scam. These are only scammers out to profit from young aspiring models who never have the attention of signing you. Stay away from modeling conventions. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/649461/how_to_spot_and_avoid_modeling_scams.html?cat=7

Ihope this helps