Industry jargon not your thing? Our glossary will enlighten you!
A model file is a database of all models under contract with an agency. The larger the agency, the more extensive the model database. With large international companies, hundreds to thousands of models can quickly be found in this database.
Inclusion in a model file is not the same as creating a sedcard. The former merely means the recording of all relevant data relating to the model in administrative terms. However, this information is only used within the agency. The sedcard, on the other hand, contains current and particularly successful photos of the model so that potential clients can get an idea of the model's qualities.
There are basically two different ways in which you can get into an agency's model file and thus enter the modeling industry: Being discovered or applying.
Discovery: The fact that models are discovered on the street, in a club on the beach etc. actually happens more often than you might think. The careers of many successful models started this way. Scouts discover potential models - whether girls or boys - on the street and refer them to an agency if they are interested.
Application: Agencies have been offering the opportunity to apply to become a model on their website for some time now. Or interested young people can try a traditional application by e-mail. There are no minimum requirements. Compared to being discovered on the street, unsolicited applications are far more common.
In both cases, a contract regulates the official collaboration between you and your new agency.
The model database is one of the most central points in the fashion industry, which is why Jobwork provides you with all the important information.
The entry in a model file includes a variety of data, all of which are important in the day-to-day operation of the agency.
This information belongs in a model file:
Personal details (first and last name, date of birth)
Contact details (address, telephone number)
Attributes (body size, chest, waist, hips, clothing size, cups, hair, eyes, shoes)
Additional information (type, mother tongue, foreign languages, modeling experience, special features)
Photos (portrait, model books, Polaroids)
Providing this data or submitting an online application to a modeling agency does not usually create a legally binding employment relationship. It is merely an application for your inclusion in a model file.
Most model files are divided into different segments. In addition to the main card index, there are other specialized areas that serve special customer requirements. For example, is a client looking for a new advertising face for commercial productions? Or does the company want to target best agers or curvier women? Well-positioned agencies with an extensive database have the right models for almost any request.
No, the general orientation of an agency also strongly influences the content of the model file. If a company focuses on the high fashion sector, for example, it will also be looking for the corresponding models. The chance of making it into the file is lower than with agencies that focus more on the commercial sector.