The modelling industry is exciting, evolving and sometimes hard to explain to those stepping into it for the very first time. This is because it encompasses such a wide range of different model types, agencies, professions, clients and assignments. It can be easy at times for those operating within the industry to slip through the […]
Published 20th September 2025
The modelling industry is exciting, evolving and sometimes hard to explain to those stepping into it for the very first time.
This is because it encompasses such a wide range of different model types, agencies, professions, clients and assignments.
It can be easy at times for those operating within the industry to slip through the regulations and it is all too common to hear stories of models and potential models who have been left disappointed.
The reality is that anyone with an interest in modelling – or working in another area within the industry – should enter it with their eyes wide open.
Models should ensure they work from within the safety of an agency they trust and that they have clear and realistic expectations of what their experience might be like.
But a useful very first step is to learn just what is true and what is false about what you have heard.
So here are some common modelling myths – and what you really need to know…
Myth: All good models are size zero…
Reality: In today’s world of modelling, this is absolute rubbish. Look at advertisements, campaigns and other marketing material and you will notice how brands, companies and organisations are increasingly employing normal people with a range of body sizes to help them promote their products and services. Here at Models Direct we represent a broad and diverse selection of people of all body shapes and sizes because those are individuals our clients seek to employ.
Myth: You have to have perfect hair, skin and looks to be a model…
Reality: Most models will, of course, be required to be reasonably presentable but, again, our clients want people who look like normal members of the public – and most of us are far from perfect! Of course, you should look after your skin and hair and try to stay as healthy as possible but your idea of perfection should not come into it. We are all beautiful in our own ways and we all have different ideas of what being good looking means. Of course, anyone who is striking in their appearance may have a future in modelling, but so might someone who has not thought of themselves in that way before.
Myth: You become too old to model after your early 20s…
Reality: Age is no barrier at all to modelling. Here at Models Direct we have men, women and children who model at all ages, from newborn to well into retirement. Modelling can be a great pastime for those in their later years and there is no reason why someone shouldn’t do it in their 60s, 70s, 80s and even 90s. Those who employ models for their projects require older people as well as younger ones to help them target consumers within particular swathes of the market.
Myth: All modelling families have been created by an agency…
Reality: Some of the families you see in advertisements, campaigns and promotional material are made up of different individuals and have been put together by an agency – but not all! We at Models Direct have lots of real families on our books because our clients often request them. Genuine families have the right look and chemistry and employing them can make assignment arrangements much easier as they travel and can be accommodated together. Family modelling can be a great way to spend time with your nearest and dearest – and our families love it!
Myth: You need to pay for professional photographs before signing with an agency…
Reality: Not at all – and you should be wary of any agency that insists on this, especially if they try to charge you for a photo shoot themselves. At Models Direct we are happy to be sent photos that have been taken on a phone or normal digital camera, provided they are good enough. We and our clients need to be able to see you clearly in each shot. If you follow our guidelines, home photography should not be a problem.
Myth: Good agencies don’t require an admin fee to help cover their costs…
Reality: This is completely untrue. While agencies dealing only with high-earning, full-time models may earn their fees entirely on a commission basis, those like us who deal with part-time, everyday models have no choice but to charge a very small admin fee to our models. We are a fully government-regulated and accredited employment agency and we operate well within the law. We have to charge a small fee to help us cover the costs of promoting our models and seeking work for them. Again, be very wary of any agency that operates in a different way. They may try to sell you very expensive, unnecessary photography or you might find they are not a genuine agency at all and are not legally allowed to look for work for you. They may simply showcase your photos on a website in the hope that a client might happen upon them.
Myth: A good agency will guarantee to find work for its models…
Reality: Again, this could not be further from the truth. If an agency promises you work, take a step back and think again. No genuine agency could ever do this. Models Direct is always open and honest about the part-time, paid modelling work it offers. We are a busy agency, with high-calibre clients and we send our models out on a huge variety of assignments, but modelling is competitive and our clients make the final choice as to who they would like to employ. We provide them with a suitable shortlist for each job and they then select the person or people they would like. What we can promise is that if you join us, you will be put forward for work when someone of your description is required. Follow us on social media and read the reviews from our models to gain a better idea of the jobs we send them on.