Agency Red Flags
You should never pay to join a modeling agency. Legitimate agencies don’t require models to pay upfront, only fraudulent ones do. Clients pay models, and agencies get models work. Established agencies get clients through industry contacts and relationships built over time.
The Right Approach
You can model without an agency. Check online casting notices and see what is available. You should budget for expenses like your portfolio. But never pay just to join.
Real agencies won’t ask you to pay for test shoots, photos, or to secure a modeling job. They find jobs and pay you after the client pays them. The contract states the percentage the agency gets.
Travel Expenses
Agencies may pay travel expenses if very interested in a model. But most times models cover their own flights.