Models Direct Reviews - From our Male Models

THE ART OF MODELLING

I have just had a fantastically entertaining day meeting some great people! I also learnt a lot about business, advertising, photography and PR. Am I overstating this? No, here's why…

Today was a photo shoot to capture images to promote a new kind of travel concept to as many people as possible. The job was to create believable and positive images featuring all ages - from children to the retired golfing type. We had a lot of fun creating characters with specific likes, dislikes and dialogue, so that they came to life and were not wooden or static. For myself I have come to call this the art of modelling. Colour, tone, gesture, light and shadow, it all matters and all of it is fascinating.   

We also acted as a group of passengers, this was really enjoyable, so much so that it seemed a shame to have to stop...! We were being picked up outside the various houses which required subtle modelling and acting, each place asked for different body language and slightly different social niceties.

Joining an agency is vital, only an established agency can match someone to the array of clients many of us would never think of approaching.    

Would you like to do this?  I can only recommend it - it is fun but hard work, needs stamina and a love of detail.  Ideally you need to have interest in life in the broadest sense... and be willing to learn and adapt. Like any other skill or art, there is a lot to learn.

Talent Management offers the chance to create and update an e-portfolio - the essential ingredients are excellent pictures and other media... the agency has a neat saying, asking whether you would employ yourself?

Believe me, it is worth the effort!

WASH AND SCRUB

When I arrived at the location the client explained the role I was to play in a shower promoting a special kind of wash cloth. This was my first video shoot but due to the previous experience I have had with photo-shoots made possible by Talent Management I was not nervous. I was able to just get on with it straightaway and it was really fun doing different poses in the shower - and having a good free wash!

This experience has encouraged me to work harder, not just to be a model, but to also pursue a career in acting. I know with an agency like Talent Management that dream will be a reality - but remember it’s competitive in this industry so be ready to work hard. This agency can help you gain experience to fulfil your ambition, if your interest is in this industry join them.

ON TOP OF A BIOME

It was a very interesting day and a completely new experience for me as I had never done anything like this before. I had to climb right to the top of one of the biomes at the Eden Project and pretend I was pointing at something. I had quite a small role but I found it most enjoyable when getting involved.

Everyone on the job was very welcoming and friendly. I was very nervous at the start because I had no experience or confidence in that environment, but I quickly relaxed and enjoyed the experience. I joined up with Talent Management just to see what, if anything, might come of it. I would definitely recommend others to give it a try as its all good fun and I would advise anyone interested to join an agency and just see what happens. I personally need to be more proactive in updating my e-portfolio as hopefully more opportunities will come from this.

MAN LOOKING INTO CUPBOARD

I would recommend this experience to other people thinking of joining the happy band of Talent Management! Being involved in the photo shoot was great fun and an opportunity to watch a project evolve. The clients that hired us were extremely friendly and supportive and succeeded in generating a warm and welcoming environment. The shoot itself was very relaxed, mostly due to the manner of the photographer who set up all the lighting and staging of the shots with the minimum of fuss and with more than a touch of humour. My own speciality was "man looking into cupboard" and I never realised there were so many ways to position your hand on a cupboard door. In all, for my first assignment it was great fun with lovely people and I would not hesitate to do something similar again.

STARBUCKS AND POPCORN

I had a really good day with some nice people, both in front and behind the camera. The assignment Talent Management arranged for me was for Cineworld and its partners Starbucks in one of the screens, foyers and cafe areas. I had the impression that it might be for a corporate brochure. The photos were shot with and without 3D glasses in screen, walking through foyers and gathered around coffee tables. All in all, a pleasant and entertaining day!

FEELING ON CLOUD NINE

I met up with the other models and the client and the atmosphere was really relaxed and had a good vibe. The assignment involved me modelling different kilts along with a stand-in wife and daughter.

The overall experience was really enjoyable and the photographer was very good to work with. He had some great ideas - as did the other model who was playing the part of my wife - and we were able to bounce some good ideas around.

I've come home feeling on cloud nine, I would really love to pursue more projects with Talent Management and I am so grateful in their faith and trust in supporting me and putting me forward for projects.

When looking for an agency to join I searched on the internet but just found lots of showcase agencies - I knew then that I should just leave the search and let the right agency find me. However, three days later I stumbled across an advert for Talent Management which I had to look at twice before the penny dropped! I contacted the team later that day and within a week I was offered a 3 year superstar contact.

I would recommend this service to anyone, looking to either gain some extra money, or to work through self confidence and self worth issues. With Talent Management it’s effortless, so much goes on behind the scene that doesn’t even affect me – I am so grateful.

A WORKING HOLIDAY

This is my fourth assignment on behalf of Talent Management and one of the many interesting experiences on an assignment is the locations you work in. This one was a top floor apartment in a converted warehouse in Docklands with magnificent views of the City of London.

The assignment was for IMC Healthcare Communications and was a photo and video shoot highlighting a new product, a medical patch. The shoot involved four models and the atmosphere was very friendly and professional, not quite clockwork but almost.

We were made very welcome by Zoe, Sarah and Colin, who together with photography and video teams gave us all the encouragement and direction needed to make the day both successful as well as enjoyable.

The more jobs you do the more you learn, but one thing is always the same, listen to the direction and follow it as closely as possible. For someone like me in retirement these assignments are like a working holiday, really enjoyable and if you envy me there is an easy answer, sign up with Talent Management.

MR. FIX IT

I was feeling very good on the day and I wasn’t nervous at all. I had fun and it is definitely something I would like to do again. I was playing the part of a builder and was asked to paint walls or fix lights and other similar activities. I learnt a lot and I would definitely recommend others to join Talent Management for the money, ambition and experience.

JUMPING IN THE AIR

At first I was nervous, as I didn’t know what to expect given that this was my first assignment, but meeting the Action Images team and the other models made it really easy for me to just get on with the job. The best part of the assignment was having the pictures taken and acting out scenarios - the experience as a whole was brilliant. The assignment was for the FIFA 2014 World Cup campaign. We were asked to wear colours of the teams that were participating as well as having our faces painted. Once we were all dressed up we had to pretend to celebrate a goal, or jump in the air etc - acting like fans would at a real game. I gained a lot of confidence, as the team made it really easy for me to be myself and just get on with it. I would definitely recommend my experience to others, in fact I already have because I got a lot out of it, and it would be nice if others could so as well.

I would highly advise anyone pursuing a career in the talent industry to join an agency, as it just makes the whole process much easier and for a fraction of the cost. My main reason for joining up with Talent Management was because my friends told me I should do modelling and this agency was very appealing to me. I don’t regret it one bit.

SURGEON FOR THE DAY!

I decided to join this agency as it looked like a great agency to join; they are very reasonable in price and very professional. This was my second assignment as a model for the day organised by Talent Management, so I was not as nervous as I was the first time round. I really enjoyed the shoot and would really like to take part in a photo shoot again.

Playing the parts of a Surgeon and Radiographer were the most enjoyable parts of the assignment for me. Pictures were taken of us of doing various job roles within the NHS, so we wore different uniforms to demonstrate this. We played the parts of a surgeon, radiographer, doctor and even a patient, and pretended to use equipment and tools that would be used to represent each job.

I learnt how to act and improvise on this assignment and I would certainly recommend others to do this - you'll have fun, enjoy the
shoots and get to meet new people. I joined mainly to get some experience, why don’t you join and see what adventures may lay ahead!

LIVE THE MOMENTS

This was my first and a very nice experience as a model. On the day everyone was a bit nervous but we all had fun and it would be nice to do it again. The most enjoyable part was smiling and posing for funny pictures. The assignment involved smiling and showing the different emotions we use when we are at a football match - basically to live the moments at a football match.

I learnt a lot and gained some more experience and skills and it would be nice to do it again. The make up woman on the shoot also told me to not stop here and look for something more in the industry. The confidence I have gained from Talent Management and my friends has improved my desire to get in to modelling.

UPDATE YOUR PORTFOLIO!

Being a model for the day was very exciting. Although at first I was nervous because I didn't know the people I was working with but shortly after getting to know everyone it became very relaxing and fun. Working with people around the same age group, some children and different cultures made the job even better and I would love to do it again.

The most enjoyable part of the assignment wasn't taking the shots but getting to know who you're working with and who you're working for. For me the job was enjoyable but getting to meet new faces was the fun part!

We had our pictures taken in various agendas. Having different clothes put on and face paints to act as if we were football fans for different football clubs. I was asked to pair up with other models during the shoot which was great and we also had some group photos taken.

This was my first assignment and so it was only natural that I'd be nervous but after this experience it has made me much more confident. This shoot also adds to my experience of working with others, working as a group, being a team player and showing how well I can communicate with new faces.

I would definitely recommend this experience with others. It's not an everyday lifestyle that you'd have your picture taken and really enjoy working for a client. The experience you get in something new will always be different to each other, you just have to apply yourself and see if you'd love it, which I did!

Never give up! In my personal experience with Talent Management, I've been with them for about 2 years. I've only had one job from them so far but you only get out what you put in. This means, update your portfolio! I was too scared to work as a 'model' so I stopped with updating my portfolio but then I had a job offer and loved it, so then I went back to my portfolio and then started updating it more and more!

My mum made me join and agency, I was on holiday in the Philippines having lunch with my family at a restaurant. When you're there and they find out you have a foreign accent they pay more attention to you. Apart from that a lot of people thought I was a model, asking to take pictures with me which was very embarrassing, having to explain I was just a normal person on holiday. I even had TV presenters asking if I wanted to be on a show. My mum came up with the idea that I should join an agency/ be a model. I don't regret her decision because from the one job I had, I very much liked it!

PAINTED FACES

I had a really good day on this video shoot for FIFA and we all had lots of fun. We had to laugh, scream and shout and dress in different colours and wear different clothes which was fun. The funniest part was when we painted our faces. I joined Talent Management because I'd love to be a model. I have played handball for 12 years so I like the attention and to be in front of a camera.

IT ALL CAME NATURALLY

The atmosphere was really relaxed when I got there which took away my nerves. The photographer and his team told us of our roles and what was expected. I would definitely like to do this again as it came naturally and was so much fun. The best part was the face painting, different action poses and change of costumes showing different football teams.

I would definitely recommend this kind of experience to other people as you learn a lot on how to pose for pictures without being nervous and the outcome looks fantastic. Any one pursuing work in the talent industry should join an agency like Talent Management as they earnestly fight to get you work with the best price rates in this competitive industry. However, you must also work hard to update your portfolio to get the right look for assignments. I joined this agency because they have the best reviews in the industry and they have helped me gain experience to fulfil my ambition of being a top class model.

PART OF A CROWD

As this was my first assignment I was feeling rather nervous and excited at the beginning, but after meeting the people and once we started things the nerves went away. It was great speaking to all the different people and the hirer was very friendly. It was great fun taking the pictures as we had to pretend to cheer as if we were part of a football crowd. I highly recommend this type of work as you are surrounded by friendly people and its great fun. I joined Talent Management to gain experience and see what I could get out of it - I would very much like to do it all again.

MY FIRST ASSIGNMENT

This was my first assignment, so you can imagine how nervous and excited I was - but once I arrived and met everyone the nerves disappeared. The assignment was for Sky Business to promote Sky TV in a hotel environment. I enjoyed working with new people and also the direction from the producer and camera man was great. So if you like the idea of meeting new people and having fun at the same time then give it a try you may enjoy it as much as I did. I joined Talent Management because I am ambitious and wanted to gain some more experience.

SWANKY HOTEL ROOM

The assignment involved being filmed on camera acting as a businessman in a hotel room enjoying Sky Sports after a long days work away from home. I was then asked to talk on camera about the benefits of having Sky in a hotel room. This was really good fun, especially as I got to work for two hours in a very swanky hotel room! The crew were brilliant and made me feel very relaxed.

I would highly recommend anyone with some spare time to get involved with Talent Management. The booking process was extremely easy and very sleek with extensive instructions by email and phone. It was all handled very professionally and was another great experience :)

ACTING AS A COUPLE

The venue for the Talent Management assignment was a really nice hotel in Marble Arch and although the shoot only lasted around two hours it was very enjoyable. The photo-shoot involved acting as a couple on their anniversary away in a hotel, so there were a lot of shots involving the hotel room in various positions. It was quite a simple assignment, but a lot of fun!

MY THIRD ASSIGNMENT

This was my second assignment for this company; the venue was a very upmarket furniture showroom in Nottingham. The assignment was a film shoot with voiceovers and I worked with some talented people including Kim the camera lady, who I had worked with on my first job for them. She is excellent at putting you at your ease and helping you to follow her directions. The product on this occasion was modelling an armchair, which is electrically operated and has a heated massage function. The video will show all the variations on offer, with full body and hand shots. This is my third assignment from Talent Management and they have all been enjoyable. I can truthfully say that as a relative newcomer to the business and having only taken it up when I retired, it is a great way to enjoy your retirement. I must say thank you to Mike McNicholas and his colleagues from the company who make you feel really welcome.

GAINING CONFIDENCE

I was slightly nervous at first as I didn't know exactly what to expect but once I had linked up with everyone I was OK and yes I enjoyed the whole thing and would love to do it again.I was slightly nervous at first as I didn't know exactly what to expect, but once I had met up with everyone I was fine and really enjoyed the whole experience. The best part was working with the rest of the team and I would love to do it again. The assignment involved me playing the part of a cancer patient who was receiving an adhesive patch treatment on my arm as a form of chemotherapy. I was required to interact with the other models playing a doctor and a nurse. I certainly gained confidence from this assignment and I would recommend the experience to others as it was enjoyable and interesting. Although I have not been proactively seeking work, I would definitely say it is worthwhile to join an agency, particularly this one. I joined Talent Management to gain more experience and to earn some money.

ENJOYED THE CAMRADERIE

My first assignment was a really good experience and it was for a worthy cause. I wasn't nervous and was looking forward to the day. I would welcome the opportunity of more assignments as an Actor/Model or either separately. The most enjoyable part was the camaraderie amongst the group of actors and production. The assignment involved posing for stills and a video promoting a new Chemotherapy patch. I did find that I grew more confident and started relaxing straight away. I would certainly advise anyone to join this talent agency as this is the best way to gain exposure and get more assignments if you have the ability. I joined Talent Management as I am ambitious and serious about my acting/modelling career and believe the agency can afford me the right opportunities to progress and gain valuable experience too.

TOPLESS COAL MINER

I loved my assignment with Models Direct. It was a fantastic opportunity that was done in a professional and fun environment. Everyone involved in the photo shoot was a pleasure to work with. I would definitely recommend the company to anyone thinking of becoming a model. I got to dress up as a topless miner covered in coal dust to promote a calendar. It was great to be part of this shoot as it is something that I have not done before. The agency has been great and is a must for people in our industry.

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FEELING PLEASED

I was quite nervous beforehand, but as soon as I got there I was made to feel welcome and was quite relaxed quite quickly. I would definitely look at doing it again as it was quite simple and rather quick! The assignment involved standing and posing in every day poses like being on the phone or sitting on the bus etc. The images will be used for adverts and video games. I would definitely recommend it to others because of how relaxed the atmosphere was and how comfortable it made me feel, I walked away feeling pleased with myself and I would love to do more. I wanted to join Models Direct because of my ambition to get my face out there and see what I could achieve on a large scale. Every bit of experience I get is valuable and helps me in whatever I do and of course the money is a nice little bonus!

2ND ASSIGNMENT IN 4 WEEKS!

Once again it was a very enjoyable experience and I felt my previous Models Direct shoot helped me to know what to expect. The client was very friendly and helped us enjoy the experience. The assignment took place at the BayerCrop Science facility in Norwich and we were asked to wear fluorescent jackets, safety goggles and hard-hats for the shoot. There were various photographs at different areas around the plant, taken for what will eventually be a stock catalogue. A very enjoyable day on the whole.

FITNESS MODELLING

Enjoyed the Models Direct shoot; standard fitness modelling style work. Good client and the computer images look great!