Information about Replay Model Agency Scams / Zebra Models

Questions about Replay models/Zebra Collection Models, Light Rooms photo studios, model agencies, model portfolios, modelling scams.

Are Replay models any good? Do Replay models get any work? How much do Replay models pay? Are Replay models and Zebra Models the same agency?

January 2011 - Replay Models website is no longer online - have they gone the same way as Zebra Collection taking models money?

If you have paid money to Replay Models for a photo shoot and to be on their website then you may want to contact their solicitors for information about the company. Replay Models is represented by Marcus Rutherford of Reed Smith who can be emailed on MRutherford@reedsmith.com

As of 24 January the Replay Models website is offline. Looks like all those posts saying what a great agency they are were fakes! If you have paid money to Replay Models for an expensive portfolio then unfortunately it looks like you have lost it. This example shows you the dangers of paying money to be represented by a model agency; as soon as they disappear you have lost your money and have no agency.

"You do not need to buy copyright of photos. The advice from Replay models is totally wrong."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Replay models claim to be a model agency in London.

 

"You do not need to buy copyright of photos. The advice from replay models is totally wrong."

 

 

 

 

replay models are also breaking the UK Data Protection Act by collecting information on models when they are not registered with the ICO.

 

How much does the copyright cost for modelling photos?

Some fake model agencies are now claiming that their shoots are free but that you need to pay up to £800 for the copyright of the photos. This is completely untrue and is just an excuse to charge you for the photo shoot without saying so. You do not need to own the copyright of photos to use them in your portfolio. Most genuine professional photographers would never sell the copyright of their photos except for a very large fee. We do not sell copyright of our photos and it has never caused any problems for our models. You can read more about their tactics for selling photo shoot copyright here

"You do not need to buy copyright of photos. The advice from replay models is legally incorrect."

 

What if I've been Offered a Free Photoshoot at a London Studio?

Many free photo shoots at studios in London do not make it clear that only the shoot is free;they are NOT Time for Prints so if you want the portfolio photos as prints or CD you will have to pay for the photos you want and this could be substantial - we have heard from models who have paid up to £1000 for photos at some London studios. At other studios it may be more so it could be advisable to check total prices before agreeing to a shoot to avoid any nasty surprises on the day of your shoot. You are likely to be required to pay a deposit to confirm the shoot but our advice is to carefully check the terms of any deposit before handing over your credit card number as some studios do not allow any changes and will levy additional fees if you need to cancel or are late. Photo studios such as Blue Rooms/Pure Space/Sugar Rush studio are not model agencies and often in the small print you will find this shown. You can read the responses to the investigation into scam model agencies published in The Sun, article about model agencies/photo studios here

Find out the total costs of any shoot including how much each photo costs, how many prints are included and if all images are provided on CD

In our opinion you should find out the overall total costs of any shoot including how much each photo costs, how many photos are included and whether all images are provided on CD within the price before booking an appointment at any studio so that you can compare like for like prices. In our view if a company is unwilling to provide this information to you then you should proceed with caution. Once you have included the cost of your photos and the CD of images, a free shoot may work out more expensive than a shoot that includes everything in the quoted price. If you are travelling a long way to get to London then you should also take account of the travel cost for you and a parent. Remember that there are many very good photography studios around the UK that can produce suitable photos for an initial modelling portfolio and you do not need to travel to London for this.

If you are looking for information about diesel models, also known as diesel modelling agency in London then this page by Reputable Model Agencies has some helpful warnings here as does the named and shamed page on Alba Models.

Modeladvice.info offers model assessment days in a similar way to London School of Modeling. You have to pay a £50 non refundable deposit but are liable for an additional £99 if you cancel. If you read the small print on their pricing page it shows that the full cost of their modelling portfolio is £1500 so make sure you are fully prepared before you go. You can find out more warnings about modeladvice.info on Alba model website who make clear that their model advice is not associated in any way.

Many fake model agencies / photography companies promoting free photoshoots do not publish any prices for the photos or CDs on their websites so it would be sensible to ask prices before agreeing to a shoot to allow comparisons and avoid being scammed by high pressure sales techniques.

You may also find that you are offered free Time for Prints/Time for CD (TFP/TFCD) shoots in London studios or elsewhere which will not cost you other than your time and travel. These are only worthwhile if the photographer knows what they are doing. There is no point wasting time on a shoot if a photographer has no idea how to take, light and compose a photo and is purely using you for training as the results will not be of use for a portfolio. Our shots have been used by the finalists of Next Top Model and Page 3 Idol.

What is a modelling portfolio test shoot/time for prints shoot (TFP/TFCD)?

A model portfolio test shoot or time for prints shoot is where a model or potential model attends a shoot with a photographer or studio without having to pay a fee and may receive pictures to use for their portfolio. Although often described as Time for Prints (TFP) it is far more common now for images to be supplied on CD which allows easy use for web portfolios and is therefore known as TFCD (Time for CD). All images taken at a TFP/TFCD/test shoot are still the copyright of the photographer and must not be used or sold without their permission including submission to magazine competitions such as Nuts or Zoo. You may find that you are offered free Time for Prints (TFP/TFCD) shoots which will not cost you other than your time and travel. These are only worthwhile if the photographer knows what they are doing. There is no point wasting time on a shoot if a photographer has no idea how to take, light and compose a photo and is purely using you for training as the results will not be of use for a portfolio.

What does the photographer get from a TFP/TFCD shoot?

A photographer can test out new lighting setups that can't be done on a commercial shoot as the client may have specific requirements for pictures. It also allows photographers to discover new models and enhance their portfolios with more creative images. There is always a demand for new models and test shoots can help them begin. However there is also a risk that the photographer has no idea what he is doing and just wants a model for free to practice taking photos so it is essential that you check examples of their work to ensure it is suitable.
You should always check the quality of work by photographers offering test/TFP shoots and ensure that they carry out the types of modelling you are wanting to do.

NOTE: Remember that even if a shoot is offered on TFP basis there is still a cost to the photographer. Any shoots that are booked with us where the model does not turn up or cancels with less than 48 hours notice will incur a cancellation fee of up to the full cost of the shoot if it had been paid. In most circumstances this is limited to the studio cost/booking fee of £75. You will be invoiced for this amount if you no-show for your booked shoot or will forfeit your booking fee if you fail to turn up.

What is a model release form? Do I need one for modelling?

A model release is a form that formalises the details of a shoot between the model and photographer. In the UK it is not strictly needed as the copyright laws automatically assign all rights to the photographer so a model release will generally restrict photographers usage rights. If you want to be a model then you will normally be expected to sign a model release before or immediately after a photo shoot and normally be asked for proof of ID. We also always ask for a copy of ID such as driving licence or passport to ensure that you are over 18. Much concern over model release forms seems to be misplaced as photographers are within their legal rights to use images from a shoot with or without a release form. If you are not happy about your photos being shown then modelling is probably not the right career for you! Bear in mind that once your photos are published online then it is virtually impossible for them to ever be completely removed from circulation on the internet.

 

A test shoot or TFP/TFCD session can last for around an hour depending on the looks we achieve and the number of pictures taken. We can also arrange for a professional makeup artist to complete a stunning makeover for an additional fee. Details are available on request.

Scams, Warnings and Model Safety Advice

More advice on avoiding scams and general model help can be found here. Unfortunately the modelling world and associated industries are full of traps and scams that can catch out the unwary potential model. Please make sure you follow basic advice here and on sites such as model safety to avoid become a victim of a scam that could cost you money or risk your safety. We have met models who have sadly fallen for many of these scams please don't add to the list of people affected. We have listed photographer/agency as an interchangeable term below as we have now come across a number of so-called agencies that were just a front for a single photographer. You should also not assume that the person on email is who they say or even the same sex as the name they use. We have seen examples of emails answered by a female name that proved to be from a male photographer.

Received an scam email offering a Fashion Shoot for £3000 pounds for well known brand such as Diesel?

Unfortunately this type of email is a scam to get your details and then for you to cash a fake cheque for them. Well known brands such as Diesel or Coca Cola and genuine agencies will not email potential models directly. This kind of fee is not the level that would be offered to anyone directly off the internet by email, it just doesn't happen like that. The scammers are taking advantage of people wanting to believe that they can make it and have been selected for their looks. The brands, email addresses and amounts may vary but the basis of the scam is the same. Agencies and well known brands do NOT use yahoo or hotmail email addresses to contact potential models. If in any doubt contact the company directly to check if a message is genuine but do not reply to the message and above all DO NOT send any of your details or you will be bombarded with further scams as the scammers sell your details on.

Facebook Scams : Photographer or Model Agency Contact

We have been made aware that individuals are posing as Photo3/Models3 employees to scam potential models on Facebook. We only ever use Photo3 email addresses - not Hotmail or Yahoo accounts and do not request photos to be sent by email or via MSN. Please contact us via our contact page to alert us to any scams using our name.

If you are contacted on Facebook by someone supposedly representing a big model agency or photo studio then make sure that you get ALL their details so that you can check. In general major companies DO NOT recruit models via Facebook. Any email addresses provided should be for the company NOT a hotmail, live or Yahoo account.

We have found fake photographers and agencies on Facebook pretending to be from Photo3. If you receive any message from us then it will be from an email account at photo3.co.uk. If you have any doubts that an email from us is geniune or need to check out any contact received then send a message to info@photo3.co.uk

If you are going to a model shoot or meeting with a photographer or agency you should always have details of their contact address and landline phone number. Just because someone claims to be an photographer or model agency does not mean that they actually are one.

Don't arrange to meet in a location such as train station or street to then move on to a "studio". A genuine photographer or agency will have an address and landline phone to work from. A common comment is to avoid photographers using internet based email accounts such as Hotmail or Yahoo. Someone using Hotmail with only a mobile phone number, unwilling to provide an address and no website would immediately ring alarm bells.

Agency Fees

Some modelling websites such as Zebra Collection/Replay Models/Diesel Models appear to be model agencies but are not. As of early 2010 their current list of pending work is over 6 months old. Some agencies will accept anyone who pays their fees and make their money from models joining their site. These fees may be shown as charges for Comp Cards but a genuine model agency will earn their money from commission by getting models work. In many circumstances composite (comp) cards are have been replaced by websites. An agency taking on hundreds of people per day cannot possible get sufficient work for them all. Even if an agency takes on 10 people per day (a very low estimate) that is 3600 other people per year that you are competing with which gives an idea of the likely chances of getting work. A mainstream agency may have 30-40 key models on their books that are being placed for work. If an agency makes their money from models joining their books there is no incentive for them to find any work for the model. Most top agencies are very difficult to join so it is a real buzz to be told that an agency want to sign you. Unfortunately some scams prey on this and will accept anyone who is happy to pay to join which is the first warning sign that an agency is not genuine.

How to complain about scam/fake/con model agencies?

If you believe you have been scammed by a company pretending to be a model agency and offering you work if you go for a photo shoot with them which then turns out to be a photo studio selling you a modelling photo shoot then the first place is to contact the company involved to ask for a refund for being missold.

If you have booked via the internet then the distance selling regulations should apply which mean you have a 7 day cooling off period to obtain a refund. With many of these companies the small print may well say that they are not a model agency and will not get you work which means that you need to be very clear what you are applying for. It is not a scam if the company has given you information and you haven't read it, although most people would consider it to be a con or a fake and want to complain about their treatment being conned out of money.

If the company do not resolve your complaint then you can contact the Trading Standards department for the council covering the area where the scam/con took place. For example many of the photo studios operating in London pretending to be a model agency would come under Westminster Council. You can find the contact details for registering your complaint with trading standards by searching the council details via Google or Bing.

Scam and Fake Model Agencies

Ensure that the modelling agency is genuine and has a track record. I have seen recent examples of a so-called agency site where content has been stolen from other sites (see comments from Banana Glamour on the illegal use of their content by Bluebell Models) and judge whether you would work with someone who acts in such a manner. You should judge the style and content of the website and consider whether it gives a professional impression to potential clients. If not then proceed with caution. Some internet sites that appear to be genuine agencies are not - watch out for phrases such as "we are not a modelling agency as we do not find models work" which may be hidden in the small print.

Some makeover shoot companies that appear to trade as model agencies suggest that you have "been specially selected for a photo shoot" which some people allege could mislead you into believing that you have been chosen by an agency when they are just a photo studio only interested in selling you a portfolio photo shoot. Just because someone claims to be a photographer or agency doesn't mean that they are - the internet makes it very easy to hide behind aliases so please check to avoid the scams, cons and rip offs.
To contact us to discuss options for arranging your model portfolio shoot, please use one of the methods below:

e-mail : info@photo3.co.uk

Phone : 07710-444227

Please bear in mind that we receive many emails per day and have to prioritise shoots so an email with incomplete details or emailing your phone number asking to be phoned back is less likely to get a quick response. It will also speed up a response if you send an email from the account you want a reply sent to.

We have no connections with any sites listed or links provided on this page. We recommend that you make up your own mind by asking relevant questions to ensure any information is relevant to your circumstances. Information may contain change over time or contain errors and should not be relied upon to make any decisions.

We are often asked modelling portfolio questions by potential models who want to know more about modelling and portfolio photo shoots so compiled this Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) guide.

Our pictures are supplied to Celebrity Pictures photo agency. This page has details of model agency scams and information if you need to complain after being ripped off by bogus agencies.

Our main work is with lingerie/glamour models but we do also work with models for portfolio fashion shoots.