Aaaaggggghhh!!......is that you?

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As an international model agency for men, women and children, imagine how many photographs of people we see. You are right, many thousands, all day every day and yours could well be among them.

That's exactly what our clients do too. When they want to hire models, they ask us for pictures of all our people who fit the description they have in mind, again, if you are registered with us, yours could be among them.

Forgive the pun but are you getting the picture?

We are in a highly competitive business. There are hundreds of thousands of people, all looking for modelling work in films, TV, catalogues, fashion and high profile media, this is our world as agents and we supply people like you, to appear for selection by clients.They are not all with Models Direct as we compete for work with other agencies.

Of course, you don't have the chance with any agency to appear in person and convince clients how suitable you are and for them to see what a great look you have, unless it's a casting, .....we use your pictures to represent you instead.

So, if you really want to stand a chance and if you are serious about finding fame and fortune, or even just getting paid to have fun, make sure we have good, clear well lit, head and shoulder pictures of you. You are up against our other models who are really trying and they will have done just that.

So, no arms length phone pics, no lolling at parties and barbeques, (where you're fourth from the left), no funny hats, no lying down shots, no babies with food around their face, no mums, dads, or partners hugging you and no action shots, however much fun you were having at the time.

None of these will impress our clients and will have the opposite effect. The examples I quote here are very real and are all regularly binned by our model selection staff as they are simply, not what's wanted.

Photo booths in supermarkets have editing options and are a cheap, easy way to show us clearly what you look like and good enough for our National selection Panel to make you an Offer of representation with us as a model.

You could step up one and pop in to your local High Street photographer and ask for a couple of head and shoulder shots, you will be surprised how reasonable their charges are. Or, with your own camera, ask a friend or family member to take a few shots of you, uncluttered backgrounds, head and shoulders, well lit and the clearer the better.

It is all about presentation and bothering. We do bother about our business and unless we think your pictures are good enough, we have our reputation to consider and we won't use them.

No one will be interested in you as a model, unless they can first clearly see what you look like. There are so many people for clients to choose from, they don't need to work at it. You have to leap off the screen at them and that takes a bit of thought and effort, much more than grinning into a phone cam.

Your career, your choice, success isn't as easy as it looks. If we didn't care, we wouldn't say it.

Good luck, we'll help you to help yourself, show us your look, in fact show us a few.

Damian O'Connor

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How to upload your photos

• To upload a photograph, click the Browse button, locate the photo file on your computer and click the Open.
• Once you are happy with your chosen pictures, click 'Submit Application'.
• There will be a pause while your photos are uploaded.
• We need at least two photos to process your application: a close-up head shot and a full-length body shot. You may submit up to two additional photos if you wish.
• Photos can be in either JPEG or PNG file format (filenames ending in '.jpg', '.jpeg' or '.png')
• Your photos should be at least 227 pixels wide and 284 pixels high.
• Please ensure the file size is no more than 2mb per photo.
• Please submit photos in 'portrait' format rather than 'landscape' if possible (in other words, tall and narrow rather than short and wide). The ideal height-width ratio is 5:4.

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Data Protection Notice
Any personal data you supply will be treated in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and will be used only for the purpose for which it is given. Models Direct may pass this information to companies associated with the modelling industry. If you wish to view, update or rectify data you have voluntarily given Models Direct, please contact us. Uncheck this box if you would not like your details promoted to external companies.