What kind of modeling is available?

Every day, tens of thousands of models are hired worldwide to serve in a variety of capacities. The most visible and well-known roles involve fashion modeling (in print ads, store banners, and runway modeling at fashion shows) but those actually represent only a tiny portion of the models that are working every day. You can't pick up a magazine, watch TV, or go to a store without seeing a model. And many more are employed at conventions, trade shows, and other places to represent a company's products, doing in-store demonstrations, and a myriad of other things, so there are many, many different opportunities for models to work.

Our models have appeared in photo books, calendars magazine spreads, on television, in local or regional fashion shows, or work with cosmetic companies or other companies demonstrating their products. Some enjoy trying out adult modeling. Others get jobs modeling clothes or jewelry, gloves, or shoes for catalogs... and many other opportunities as well. The kind of modeling work you are offered will depend on a number of factors... first, of course, what you've told us you're willing to consider. Secondly, your location and willingness to travel, your particular look and appeal, how you've handled yourself on other modeling jobs (if you've had any), and, of course, what casting, creative directors, websites, catalog directors, or other industry professionals are looking for.

Can I actually get work as a model?

Anyone that tells you "yes" without qualification should not be trusted. New models are needed and hired every day, but of course, there are also way more people wanting to model than opportunities for models to work, so the field is fiercely competitive. Starting a career in modeling isn't easy, but the rewards can be great if you're successful. CalModeling can help you find modeling opportunities. To be fair, it's difficult to make a full time income as a model until you've been in the business for a while and have either signed a deal that ensures you a certain income or started to get enough freelance work that you can make a living from it, but if your short-term goal is some extra cash or to "get your feet wet", there's a good chance that, if we choose to work with you, we can help.

How is CalModeling different from other online modeling sites?

"One big mistake that many aspiring models make is spending tons of money on photos, portfolios, and composites [or online listing fees - ed.] before they get an agent. This is a total waste of money and time, and people who tell you otherwise either don't know what they're talking about or are scamming you." — Roshumba Williams

There are many online websites where hopeful models can list themselves, usually for a large fee. The companies that run those sites make their income off the fees the models pay to be listed, not from work the models actually get. So almost anyone who applies is accepted, even though the majority of applicants are not appropriate candidates for professional modeling. As a result, many casting directors don't even look at those sites, since they have to wade through thousands of applicants to find someone remotely qualified for the role they are looking to fill. That's not to say those sites don't work, only that you're competing with thousands of other applicants, and no one is actively seeking work for you.

CalModeling is different because we do not charge any fees or costs to our models for photos, listings, comp cards, registration, classes, or anything else (other than taking a small percentage of actual paying work acquired thorugh CalModeling). So we have no incentive to accept anyone unless we believe they are an actual candidate for modeling work our clients are seeking. On the contrary, it takes time and resources to promote a model, and since we're only paid if the model gets work, it would be foolish for us to accept someone we are unlikely to be able to place. In short, we do not accept a model unless we honestly believe the model shows genuine potential and there is a reasonable chance we can place that model into paying opportunities.

The upside is if we accept you, we'll try hard to find work for you. The downside is we accept only a small percentage of those who apply.

If we think we're a good match for you, we'll contact you and discuss specific opportunities. Sometimes, we can tell right away from the photos you send us that we'll have an opportunity for you. Other times, we may need more photos. We may want to put you up immediately on our online model portfolio, or we might wait until there's an opportunity to do a photo shoot where we can get some great pictures to use for an online portfolio. Either way, you don't pay for either your portfolio or your online listing if we choose to work with you... it's our investment in you that returns to us when we're able to find work for you.

What's the difference between being solicited and unsolicited:

Unsolicited applicants are people that find our site through a search engine or a link somewhere. That's fine, it never hurts to apply, because there's no cost to you and we don't ever share information you give us. We've definitely accepted models who have applied unsolicited, but you should be aware that we accept only a small percentage of them. If we don't choose to work with you, it doesn't mean you aren't model material, it may just be that we have too many people of your particular look, or we may feel that our clients are not hiring models with your look at the present time. We do unless requested otherwise hold all applications and review them periodically as we gain new clients seeking models, so sometimes you will hear from us months after you apply.

Solicited applicants are people that have been directly contacted by one of our scouts (in person or through email or IM). If one of our scouts contacted you then chances are very good that we will accept you and seek work on your behalf. We can never promise who will or will not get work, of course, but our scouts usually have a very good idea of what our clients are seeking, so we encourage you to fill out an application... there's no cost or obligation to you, and it may open some doors to opportunities and income for you!

When will I hear back?

Unfortunately, that depends on the number of applicants we receive and how busy our staff is. We try to respond back within 3-4 weeks, sometimes sooner, but in some cases, it can be longer. You can email if you've not heard back within a month, and we'll do our best to get an answer for you. Also, keep in mind that if we do not accept you at the current time, we will still hold your application and reconsider it whenever a new client or opportunity arises for which you might be a candidate.

Questions?

Please contact us at models at calmodeling dot net or find us on IM (calmodeling, Yahoo; calmodeling1, AIM) if you have any questions. Phoning us generally isn't helpful, because the person answering the phones usually doesn't have easy access to the database of applicants, so email or IM is much more efficient.