A model agency acts as a personnel service provider between models and clients. In the past, so-called model scouts often acquired models for agencies. In the age of social media, models are increasingly discovered directly by agencies on Facebook, Instagram and other social media channels.
Model agencies keep their models in a card index, build them up for future jobs and then place them with project requests. They organize the appointments, create so-called sedcards and issue the invoices at the end. After successfully placing a model, the model agency is entitled to commission. Often, additional license fees, also called buy-outs, are due for the rights to photos, videos and other material.
After the model has applied, model agencies look at many different factors. Physical factors such as body size, skin, hair, etc. are checked. In addition, however, the charisma and also the character, ambition and values of the models play a central role. The model agencies have to make sure that the whole package fits and can meet the customer’s requirements.