A verified directory of modeling agencies and photographers, plus a free toolkit to build a solid professional file.
Every listing is verified by hand before publication. Last check: 12 July 2026
Four simple checks I run manually before adding any agency to the directory.
A serious agency is paid by its clients (brands, magazines, castings), never by you.
A real address, a landline, an identifiable point of contact. Not an anonymous Instagram account.
The percentage is written in the contract and explained before signing, with no grey areas.
A verifiable agency book, with campaigns that can be found publicly.
Every market has its own rules and reference agencies. Pick a country to see verified listings.
Torn between two agencies? The agency comparator puts them side by side on the criteria that matter. Open the comparator
The same tools I use on shoots, made freely available.
Build a clean comp card, export it to PDF, ready to send to agencies.
Create my comp cardA simple portfolio page to share your photos with a single link.
Build my online portfolioA clear board to follow your applications, responses and follow-ups.
Track my applicationsA balanced Time For Print contract template between model and photographer.
Generate a TFP contractNo. A modeling agency is paid on commission from the contracts it books for you. Under French law (article L7123-8 of the Labor Code), consultation and registration must be free of charge. Any request for upfront payment is a red flag.
In France, model placement is a licensed activity under article L7123-11 of the Labor Code. Ask for the license number, it must appear on the agency's official documents. An agency that refuses to share it has no place in your file. This legal reference applies to French law.
A modeling agency represents you long term and negotiates your contracts in exchange for a commission. A casting agency is hired by a client to find talent for a specific project. Both are legitimate, but only the first one actually represents you.
No, not at first contact. Agencies first ask for polas, raw photos with no makeup or retouching. An agency that requires a paid book before even meeting you is flipping the normal business model.
I verify every listing by hand before publication on four criteria: no fees charged to the model, an identifiable professional contact, a written commission in the contract, and clients or campaigns that can be found publicly. I am a photographer, not an agent, and I take no commission on the agencies listed.
Practical guides and alerts about modeling.
Applying to a modeling agency, contacting them, joining their board, getting scouted: the complete and honest guide, no empty promises, with the right reflexes to adopt today.
JC Billerey
You just signed with an agency - or you're about to send your book - and they're asking for polas. This guide shows you exactly how to shoot professional polaroids that will make bookers say 'she's bankable' before a first meeting.
JC Billerey
Dreaming of working with top French fashion houses? This guide ranks the best modeling agencies in Paris, category by category, with concrete advice on what they look for and how to apply smartly.
JC Billerey
JC Billerey
Photographer, founder
I'm JC Billerey, a photographer. I started ModelGlance after years of shoots where the same questions kept coming back: which agency is serious, who's asking for money, who can I trust. I centralize here what I check myself, one file at a time.
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