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Original poster

To think my son could possibly model?

34 replies

Civilwarrior · 06/05/2024 21:41

My son is not what I would call traditionally good looking in a film/tv way, but has quite an unusual look. Very tall (6 foot 3ish), very thin and pale with good bone structure and long hair. He's been looking for work for a while but struggling as there isn't much around, plus he's ND and prob wouldn't cope well with some e.g. customer facing roles. Turns out he's been approached a few times by people saying they were model agents and he should give it a go. He thought it might be a scam so didn't take their details - however I do think it might be something he could do. He certainly wouldn't want to pursue it long term but just while at college/uni. Any ideas of reputable agencies we could try?

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Original poster
Civilwarrior · 06/05/2024 23:16

CowboyJoanna · 06/05/2024 23:13

Why do you want him to model?

I don't - I just want him to earn some money while he studies! I'd be happy if he washed cars, worked at Waitrose, tutored kids - but he's applied for lots of jobs and heard nothing. It's tough out there, especially if you are not chatty and NT

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ClipClopperDontStopper · 06/05/2024 23:15

OldTinHat · 06/05/2024 22:22

Have a look at Calum Harper on Tiktok. He posts his auditions and catwalks as a male model.

this is the guy I thought of too!

Such a contrast between his giddy/nerdy self and his smouldering model persona.

CowboyJoanna · 06/05/2024 23:13

Why do you want him to model?

gegs73 · 06/05/2024 23:10

DS1 was signed to an London agency last month. He’s 20. I’d say definitely give it a try he’s got nothing to lose. There are some good agencies recommended on this thread to try. It seemed for DS that if they were interested, they got back pretty quickly within a day or two of sending in his photos and measurements for an arranged walk in. I’m not sure how much money he’s going to make from it, but at the very least he’s already met some interesting people and is doing it alongside studying. He is more editorial looking than commercial. Commercial apparently pays better, editorial work and runway less as it’s used to build up your name,

Original poster
Civilwarrior · 06/05/2024 23:08

Thanks to everyone for all the advice. That's all great food for thought. Will let u know if we decide to pursue it

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IamnotwhouthinkIam · 06/05/2024 23:04

@Civilwarrior If he does get a call back from any agencies he’s sent photos too - I’d personally go with him to meet them to make sure you are comfortable with the agent. As he’s currently underage, you’ve got a great excuse to accompany him. Once he’s 18 it will be less easily accepted. And as a pp said - don’t pay any money in advance/ upfront to an agency once they take him on. The usual practice is to be in debt to them for things like z cards, test shoots - they will take the money owed to them from his first paying jobs. Hope it goes well for him and he just sees it as a pay check/ temporary job rather than getting caught up in the business.

Original poster
Civilwarrior · 06/05/2024 22:58

dreamworld44 · 06/05/2024 22:53

Me and my son are models, so can recommend some agencies. Would you say he has a more editorial or commercial look?

Definitely more editorial. Quite androgynous really and angular features

OP posts:
dreamworld44 · 06/05/2024 22:53

Me and my son are models, so can recommend some agencies. Would you say he has a more editorial or commercial look?

Original poster
Civilwarrior · 06/05/2024 22:46

Delia123 · 06/05/2024 22:42

Family member was approached in the street and signed by BOSS. Worked for them all through their time at university and for a while afterwards. It was never their intended career but the money and opportunities (shoots in Bali, Iceland etc) were great.
https://www.bossmodelmanagement.co.uk/apply

Wow. Travel would def be a bonus but I wouldn't get his hopes up on that front!

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Original poster
Civilwarrior · 06/05/2024 22:45

PeonyAndBlushSuede · 06/05/2024 22:19

Agencies:
Manchester: Boss Models, Nemesis, Jadore
London: IMG, Premier, Elite

Do not pay for any shoots or consultations. Reputable agencies do not charge. If they do, they are scams.

Most agencies offer a walk-in casting where you literally turn up and they take some Polaroids of you and discuss with other agents wether they want to sign you or not.

Modelling is not easy, it’s not glamorous. There’s a lot of rejection, body dysmorphia. A lot of waiting around in the cold for castings and shoots. Not many make it big.

Thsnks. Yeah I think he knows that. He literally just wants a job and it might work for him

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WittiestUsernameEver · 06/05/2024 22:44

WittiestUsernameEver · 06/05/2024 22:41

Yes, and he's a perfect example of not a "classically good looking" young lad. Bit has a look about him.

Skinny little thing he is too...!

His every day look is quite different to his model photos..

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To think my son could possibly model?
To think my son could possibly model?
Original poster
Civilwarrior · 06/05/2024 22:44

OldTinHat · 06/05/2024 22:22

Have a look at Calum Harper on Tiktok. He posts his auditions and catwalks as a male model.

Will do, thanks!

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Delia123 · 06/05/2024 22:42

Family member was approached in the street and signed by BOSS. Worked for them all through their time at university and for a while afterwards. It was never their intended career but the money and opportunities (shoots in Bali, Iceland etc) were great.
https://www.bossmodelmanagement.co.uk/apply

WittiestUsernameEver · 06/05/2024 22:41

OldTinHat · 06/05/2024 22:22

Have a look at Calum Harper on Tiktok. He posts his auditions and catwalks as a male model.

Yes, and he's a perfect example of not a "classically good looking" young lad. Bit has a look about him.

Skinny little thing he is too...!

His every day look is quite different to his model photos..

Original poster
Civilwarrior · 06/05/2024 22:38

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 06/05/2024 22:27

That list of London agencies are the ones with all the current popular high fashion male models on their books (which sounds like his look rather than more commercial).

Thanks so much that's all really helpful. Def more fashion than commercial. I'll speak to him about it. He just wants to make some money to afford gig tickets and driving lessons - this wouldn't be his passion or career

OP posts:
IamnotwhouthinkIam · 06/05/2024 22:27

That list of London agencies are the ones with all the current popular high fashion male models on their books (which sounds like his look rather than more commercial).

ThinWomansBrain · 06/05/2024 22:27

Friends self employed partner was finding work a bit thin, mid 40's, not especially attractive - got approached randomly in the street as a model a few months ago & is doing quite well out of it,

Background young-middle-aged type apparently.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 06/05/2024 22:24

Forgot to add Chapter, The Squad, Viva, Wilhelmina, and Select to the London list for men. Again email pictures via their website is probably best.

Sorry no ideas about decent agencies outside London.

OldTinHat · 06/05/2024 22:22

Have a look at Calum Harper on Tiktok. He posts his auditions and catwalks as a male model.

MrsCrumPinnett · 06/05/2024 22:20

He sounds like a great candidate, but would he struggle with the constant demands on him during shoots and shows? If he gets tired or stressed he can’t just stop. It’s a pretty pressured environment and the models are really just clothes horses, not people at all to many of the folk involved. I would be worried about putting a NT youngster into that, let alone someone who is ND.

PeonyAndBlushSuede · 06/05/2024 22:19

Agencies:
Manchester: Boss Models, Nemesis, Jadore
London: IMG, Premier, Elite

Do not pay for any shoots or consultations. Reputable agencies do not charge. If they do, they are scams.

Most agencies offer a walk-in casting where you literally turn up and they take some Polaroids of you and discuss with other agents wether they want to sign you or not.

Modelling is not easy, it’s not glamorous. There’s a lot of rejection, body dysmorphia. A lot of waiting around in the cold for castings and shoots. Not many make it big.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 06/05/2024 22:15

Modelling can be tough emotionally- possibly especially if he’s ND. It’s hard to be judged just on what you look like and there are a lot of predators in the business, even for the boys.

BUT if he really wants to give it a go (and it sounds like he has the right look- 6 foot 2 ish and very thin is whats wanted right now for men, facially it’s not about traditional beauty but having “interesting”, photogenic features) then he needs to be commuting distance to London ideally as all the major agencies are there.

Send pictures direct to agencies like Supa, PRM, MiLK, Premier, Models 1, Storm, IMG, Next , Elite etc. They’ll have the contact details on their websites. They’ll contact him and want to see him in person at the agency if they think he’s got what it takes.

cestlavielife · 06/05/2024 22:15

Civilwarrior · 06/05/2024 21:59

Will do - is it positive? Or showing the darker side? We are aware that it def has a darker side to it

Ch 4 program very positive the agency takes " unusual" types and nd

pinkdays · 06/05/2024 22:13

Wishing you every luck with this, sounds amazing and fascinating

Runningonempty01 · 06/05/2024 22:10

My daughter is an actor, she also does modelling. She isn't tall enough to be a fashion model. She does commercial stuff, ie adverts for letting agents etc. She does it for extra money as opposed to her first love of acting. She doesn't find the rejection hard as it's simply they require someone of a certain type for a particular shoot, not that she isn't pretty enough, more likely the wrong colour hair etc