The agencies find work for models by presenting them to designers, photographers, and ad agencies. The agencies are also responsible for booking the jobs, billing for the jobs, and eventually paying the models for their time.

Affinity Models and Talent Agency is a licensed, SAG-AFTRA-DGA-WGA-AEA-AFM franchised talent agency in Los Angeles, CA. Affinity began in San Francisco but quickly migrated to Los Angeles in 2002.

Today, the 21 highest-paid models who earned a combined $147 million are represented by one of four agencies in the U.S. More than half the models are signed to IMG, while Women Management, The Society Management and DNA Models each manage several of fashion’s money-making elite.

You don’t need an agent to find what you’re looking for. Just sort the modeling casting notices by age, gender, location, and more, and see what Backstage has to offer. Check out our subscription options to start applying to modeling notices now!

You don’t need to be signed to an agency to become a successful working model. You can certainly freelance and also hit up some brands on your own. But in the industry, there’s a lot to be said for agency girls, and it does give them some clout, being backed and promoted by an agency and all.

The typical age is 16-21. Models can be younger than this, but many agencies will require models to be at least 16. Likewise, models can be older but agencies and clients tend to like their models looking younger and more youthful.

That depends on your height and gender. If a female model is 5’8 1/4″, an agency might bump her up to 5’9″, if she has the leg-to-torso ratio to pull it off. But if she’s 6’2 3/4″, the agent might round down to 6’2″, or even 6’1″.

Clear skin is not required for modeling, but it is an advantage. Men should be at least 5-9 to model in commercial or editorial campaigns. Models, particularly fashion models, are usually very thin, since they need to be able to fit into designer sample sizes. Commercial models can weigh more than fashion models.

Modeling from 30 with previous experience If you have already gained experience as a model at photo shoots, commercials or fashion shows, it is of course much easier for you to join the model agency. Many agencies, including ourselves, are looking for good models from the age of 30.

The modeling world is also open to women an men of mature age. As best ager or senior models women and men age 50 or older can become models, too.

While many models start their careers at a young age and have relatively short careers, you can begin modeling later in life and still become a success. The reality of the modeling business is that a lot of younger models will get the work if you simply walk into a casting call.

Crazily enough, there are restrictions within petite modeling. Unsurprisingly you can be too tall, but you can also be too short to fit into the standard that is expected. Women must ideally sit between 5’1 – 5’7 and men should be above 5’4 and under 5’9.

Is 5″3 short for a girl? No. In the US, you’re within a standard deviation of average 5–4. In many other parts of the world, you’d be tall for a girl.