Some brief notes on how to find work as a
model in Australia:
photographic models generally find work through either of two main
mechanisms:
signing with an agency who are supposed to promote you to
prospective clients, but the contract may prevent you working freelance,
examples of modelling agencies:
Melbourne models looking for promotional work such as modelling
for sports events, etc should consider:
BEWARE! There are many dodgy smaller agencies, talk to other
models FIRST and watch out for scams such as charging high
registration fees in promise of work which never eventuates.
Legitimate agents usually charge about 10% of your gross income
from work provided without up front registration fees.
If you're interested in acting or
modelling work, contact the Media Entertainment and Arts
Alliance (MEAA) on 1300 656 512 or go to www.alliance.org.au
for general information about the rights of agents and clients.
The MEAA also provides lists of agents in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA and
WA.
Brilliance
Castings - Sydney based casting agency, annual
registration fee for which they create a comp card and
forward your info to casting directors. Have not had any
feedback personally.
current adult starting rate for full time work is $543/wk or
$169.50 for a half-day of at least 4hrs including a paid 15min rest
break, although these rates are usually those paid by department
stores, etc while agency rates vary.
freelance modelling:
this often includes promotion by word of mouth and on internet
modelling sites, many of which allow one to post their portfolio for
free or minimal charge and in addition have discussion forums to
allow you to get/give advice & comments with other models &
photographers
working as a model advertising solely on the internet will not
make you rich, but if approached properly should give you good
pocket money and experiences you may not otherwise have.
popular sites for Australian models:
ozmodel.com -
great forum site - a must join for ozzie models and togs! Hosted
in Australia & thus no full frontal nudity allowed.
net-model.com -
big global site, millions of photos but often of very average
quality
ausmodels.com - Australian
model site caters for the more Penthouse style or art nude models
timeforprint.com.au
- site for Australian models & photographers who wish to do
TFP/TFCD work.
freelance men's magazine
"glamour nude" work:
some photographers do
photoshoots and submit images to magazines such as People and
Picture aimed at male readerships. If the images are accepted, the
normal process is for the magazine to contact the model for a brief
interview so they can write up a suitably raunchy caption material
and then they pay you directly in addition to them paying the
photographer.
in general these images are for
categories such as "Model citizens", and "Home
Girls" and as such one does not need to be stunningly beautiful
although a body size 8-10 is preferred (perhaps 12).
base rates from a 2-3 hr shoot
should your images be accepted are usually $A400 for non-explicit
nudes and $A275-350 for topless showing nipples. Remuneration may be
higher if more images are accepted.
BEWARE of photographers that
pay you directly and then submit to these magazines as they will
then get a double fee from the magazine, although at least you get
some money up front whether or not you get accepted.
not classy work in general but
if you want the money and don't mind being published in a
potentially tacky manner then this may be for you, although most
models with ambition would avoid this work as it could mean they
won't get higher quality work.
Zoo magazine is a step up from
these magazines but still tend to have tacky captioning.
as a general rule, if you have
any aspirations of being a professional model, then it may be best
to avoid the above magazines - leave them to the ladies that just
want to have a bit of fun.
higher
quality magazines such as FHM or Ralph tend to source their models
from their swimsuit competitions and may only remunerate you if you
invoice them.
NB. I don't submit work to
glamour nude men's magazines or the adult entertainment industry.
