How to Model Without An Agency

If you are an aspiring model, then no doubt you are filled with dread at the thought of the task of finding an agency. This can be a very long, difficult, and daunting process, and lots of models get their confidence knocked so badly by repeated rejections that they simply give up. This does not have to be the case, and it’s such a shame when girls with real talent walk away from the industry.

But you need an agency to be a “real” model, right? Well… no. That might have been the case back in the day, but now it’s getting more and more common for girls to strike out freelance - known as being “self-represented”. This is modelling as paid work, even as a full-time job, without an agency.

Can it be done? Absolutely, yes. But it’s also important that you know what you are doing and how to get ahead. You need to fulfill the role that your agent normally would: finding castings, getting yourself booked, agreeing payment terms and other considerations, keeping your online portfolio updated, and so forth. But it’s definitely possible to do. 

If you are looking for some advice on how to get started as a freelance model, book in for a model tuition session with me and I will walk you through all of the basics. Remember, agencies aren’t always the right fit for girls who are curvy, over the age of around 20, “too” short or “too” tall, and so on - but that doesn’t mean they can’t be amazing models. It’s also true that you do not have to limited yourself: once you start freelancing, if you find an agency knocking on your door, you don’t have to turn them down if you’re happy to make the change!

Personally, I work with freelance models on a regular basis - and I’m always happy to help those who want to follow the same path!