Just because you don’t have an agency yet doesn’t mean you can’t book modeling jobs. It might take some time and sustained effort, but booking freelance jobs on your own is very doable.
In this article, I share a comprehensive list of all of the platforms (casting apps) and strategies (who to email and follow on Instagram) you can use to book jobs a non-agency signed model.
This article is primarily for models who are currently unsigned or are in non-exclusive contracts. If you are a signed model with an exclusive contract, your agent may require you to loop them in if you have an offer for a job.
Casting Apps
Newbook Models
Newbook is the most well-known app for models. Applicants must be approved to start submitting, and the app takes 10% commission from client and model (half of the typical 20% agency fee). When models are approved, they can upload measurements, digitals, and portfolio images. On the free plan models can submit to up to three jobs per month.
However, on Newbook, you can often see the production company or brand posting the job. If you’re out of free submissions, but you think you would be a great fit for a particular listing, consider reaching out to the production company or brand directly. They often post these roles on many different channels, like Instagram as well.
I typically see anywhere from 1 to 7 new jobs on the platform a day. Unfortunately, they service multiple cities on the same job board, with no ability to filter by location. You might only see one to two jobs daily that are relevant to your profile.
Newbook hosts a wide range of jobs from small local brands to big beauty, athletic, and lifestyle brands. However, I have noticed that their rates are typically far below the rates I get from agency jobs. This is also where I most often see jobs asking for usage in perpetuity. Check out this article for my thoughts about usage and perpetuity. This is a must-know for all new models starting out.
Most of the jobs range from $200 to $600 with the occasional job for $1000 to $1200, including usage. Make sure you understand how models are paid before you accept a modeling job, so you don’t undersell your worth.
There are a lot of active agency signed models who submit on Newbook, so competition for bookings is high.
Follow Casting Directors on Instagram
Casting Directors often post their jobs on multiple platforms, from Casting Networks (more on this in the next section), to Newbook, and even on Instagram. So if you don’t want to pay for Casting Networks, or haven’t yet been accepted to Newbook, keep a look out for posts and stories from these casting companies.
A few accounts that often post decent quality jobs include
You Got Good News:
Cast Partner
Zeal Casting
Instagram will often suggest more casting pages to you once you start following a few in your area.
Casting Websites
The overlap between modeling and acting jobs is commercial print and video campaigns. Many models and actors often book non-union commercial jobs, which are posted on these casting websites. . Unless your profile is connected with an agency, each of these sites require a paid subscription to submit to jobs.
Casting Networks
Casting Networks has been the primary casting platform I use and have used. It has a variety of acting and modeling jobs, but booking is very competitive because agencies submit their talent for jobs through Casting Networks.
So even if you get requested for a self tape audition, you are competing against many agency signed and freelance models. That being said, Casting Networks has a number of high-quality jobs with day rates and usage ranging from $2000 to around $4000 all-in.
It’s still important to use your discretion because there are also a number of jobs that pay far below market rate and request for usage in perpetuity.
Backstage, Actor’s Access, and Casting Frontier
I lump these sites together because these platforms are primarily for actors. There aren’t as many print or stills opportunities as there are UGC, vertical films, background extras, and video shoot opportunities on these particular casting sites. To give yourself the best chance at booking a job on here, you have to pay a fee–either to submit to jobs, or to upload proper profile materials.
I personally don’t use these casting sites, but I know a number of models who also have an acting background and have booked jobs through Backstage. Most of the jobs on these sites pay around $400 – $800.
Reach Out to Production Companies
Many production companies often source talent themselves, or work closely with casting directors. When I’m on set, I often hear the production team talking about the jobs they are working in the coming weeks, and occasionally if there’s a good fit, the Producer or 1st Assistant Director (1st AD) will consider talent on set that day for jobs they have lined up for the next month.
How do you find production companies to reach out to?
Newbook is a great way to start finding production companies that are looking for talent. Brands often hire full service production companies to take care of castings for their shoots. Each job listing on Newbook lists who is hiring for the job.
If you haven’t gotten accepted to Newbook yet, check out the Instagram profiles of agencies in your area. Agencies sometimes credit the production companies that worked on the campaigns
If you reach out to production companies directly, make sure your portfolio and digitals are agency level materials before reaching out. Production teams are often coordinating many moving parts for each shoot, so if your inquiry is not professionally packaged, they will not take you seriously. I would include my measurements, location, and clean digitals in the email.
I personally haven’t extensively tried emailing production companies–I think I’ve tried once or twice (unsuccessfully). It’s very effort intensive, and as a signed model, I let my agent source work and castings for me. If I were freelance, I would put more effort into this path.
From a production point of view, it can be a bit risky for them to hire a new model with no experience. How do they know you will be reliable and show up on time? You will have more success via this route if you can show in your portfolio or on Instagram that you have previously booked legitimate modeling jobs.
Conclusion
Be prepared for a lot of rejection. Modeling comes with more rejection than affirmation, so don’t tie your self worth to the number of rejections you get. If you aren’t booking, it may be that your look isn’t “in trend” right now. Trends change every few months, so keep trying until you’ve determined the effort is not worth it anymore.
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