A modeling agency is a company that represent fashion models, to work for the fashion industry. These agencies earn their income via commission, usually from the deal they made with the model.
The top agencies work with big-budget advertising agencies and fashion designers. They invest money into developing their talent so they can increase their status within the industry. These top agencies will help train models, get test shoots, layout portfolios, and put together comp cards (composition photo cards) and other printed materials models need.
They find work by presenting their models to designers, photographers and ad agencies, booking the jobs, billing for the jobs, and eventually paying the models for their time. By handling the details, an agency allows a model to focus on modelling and not on the business end.
Because modeling is a very competitive, fast moving business that extends beyond the traditional 9 to 5, an agency generally conducts business 'round the clock' to handle emergencies, such as cancellations or rush jobs. Most agencies have a service or an operator to direct emergency contact after hours.
