How to Get Scouted

What scouting looks like now

Being stopped in the street still happens, at shopping centres, festivals and events. But most agencies now find people online, mostly through social media, and through open calls and the applications people send them directly.

So you don't have to wait to be discovered. Applying to agencies yourself is normal, and it's how many working models started. I explain how in How to Apply to Agencies.

Making yourself easier to find

A scout is looking for a clear idea of what you look like, not a polished portfolio.

• Clear, recent photos: natural light, little or no makeup, hair off your face, and simple fitted clothes.
• Your height and measurements, taken properly. Measuring Yourself shows how.
• A public Instagram account with a few clear photos of you, if you're comfortable with that. A private account means a scout can't see you.
• A short, honest bio with your age, where you're based and your height.

A few strong portfolio images help too, which is what my sessions are for. They're free, and here's why.

If a scout approaches you

Being scouted is exciting, and it's worth slowing down. A real scout will expect you to check.

1. Take their name and the agency's name. Don't give your address or other personal details on the spot.
2. Find the agency's own website yourself, and check the scout's name or contact details against it.
3. Contact the agency directly, using the details on its website rather than the ones the scout gave you, and ask whether the scout works for them.
4. If they invite you in, meet at the agency's office, during the day, and bring someone with you.
5. Take your time with any contract. Questions to Ask an Agency Before You Sign has a checklist.

Signs of a fake scout

• They ask you to pay before any work: a registration fee, a portfolio with their photographer, a course or a website listing.
• They pressure you to decide or sign the same day.
• They want to meet somewhere private, like a hotel room or a flat, or ask you to come alone.
• They ask for underwear, swimwear or nude photos at the first stage.
• They ask for bank details, ID or your home address early on.
• Their account or email can't be matched to a real agency.

A real agency makes its money from commission when you work, not from fees you pay to join. For more, read Model Safety & Avoiding Scams and Is This Agency Legitimate?.

If you're under 18

A scout or agency should speak to a parent or guardian from the start, and any meeting should include them. If someone asks you to keep it from your family, that's a reason to stop.

It's the same with my sessions: if you're 16 or 17, a parent or guardian approves your application first, and I can't offer sessions to anyone under 16.

What being scouted doesn't mean

Being scouted means an agency would like to see more of you. It isn't a contract or a promise of work, and it's fine to say no, or to say you'll think about it.