Models Direct’s love for animals is next-level adoration which is why, when we set up our agency thirty years back, our expert team made a solid decision that we would also focus on pet modelling. 

It’s an exciting industry but we’re not just saying this! We’ve seen so many of our cute furry friends, no matter what species they are, have the spotlight shine on them for different sorts of campaigns over the years and it doesn’t look like it’ll be slowing down any time soon either! 

We’re serious about getting our adorable animal stars featured in the next campaign when a client pops in a request with our team, and making it a successful one! But why do brands even need a pet model when they could just use any animal in their campaign instead of going through an agency with all that hard work involved?

With Models Direct, it isn’t hard work! What we provide is a comprehensive structure for both our models and clients and in this case, clients are presented with reliable models who understand the demands and expectations of the modelling industry due to their ongoing experience with our agency. This is why so many owners put their pet’s application forward with us. 

• Do I need professional photographs to be a model?
• From Blossoms to Big Smiles – Spring Photography Tips for Child Models
• How do I find modelling work?
• Our Guide to Modelling with Models Direct
• The Ultimate Models Direct Guide to Getting Your Child Into Modelling

Firstly, our application is online making it convenient and easy for owners. It’s open 24/7 so you can apply any time. 

After this, one of our dedicated modelling specialists will be in touch with you via phone. They’ll talk in-depth about our agency and understand your goals, hopes and aspirations for your pet. They’ll also walk you through what a typical modelling booking looks like and if you’re happy to go ahead, they’ll begin the registration process where they’ll get your pet officially on their books as a Star Pet model! 

What follows could be a casting call or hopefully a call from your assigned coordinator informing you that a client has liked the look of your pet and they want to hire your companion. This stage could also involve you heading to our jobs board where we post regular ads for pet modelling gigs which you can directly apply for yourself.

Some examples include: 

Guinea pig/rabbit requested for a video shoot
Pet dog models who were required for a commercial
2-3 puppies needed for a project shoot
Pet cat models required for a commercial

There’s a wide variety of requests where we see not just cats and dogs getting booked with top-tier clients but rabbits, hedgehogs and other species. Our animal database is vast and our clients match this demand for diversity too! 

If you’re interested in your pet turning into a Star Pet model with interesting jobs such as commercials or photoshoots, apply here and join Models Direct on a pawsome journey you won’t forget! 

Our UK-based modelling agency welcomes all types of pets to be put through our easy-peasy application process.

Popular pets like cats, dogs and rabbits aren’t the only animal species to be booked with us and shine in the spotlight. Cute hamsters, fishes, snakes and hedgehogs are examples of interesting animals who’ve become pet modelling stars with Models Direct.

So, how can you begin your pet’s modelling journey?

Question: does your pet have what it takes?
Does your animal friend feel comfortable in new environments surrounded by new faces, alongside different sounds, smells and textures? Yep? Awesome!
Has your pet been toilet trained? Are they able to follow basic commands and if not, can they be distracted?
We know! Lots of questions, and lots to think about too!
If you’re unsure and want a trusted agency to represent your cuddly animal, you’ll need a trusted agency like MD that will be by your side, working with you and your pet.
No one wants to be represented by an agency that hasn’t got their best interests at heart, and where Models Direct has been in the business for over 30 years, our dedication to our craft shows in the campaigns our animals have been booked for.

With the right modelling agency, like Models Direct, opportunities will arise as an agency is meant to put your potential pet model forward for work.

This is what happened with award-winning ethically sourced beauty care company, Coco & Eve approached us.  They requested our wonderfully fluffy and cute rabbits, Sparky and Delilah, to be the stars of their Easter campaign. This tied in nicely with the season’s bunny theme and the company’s cruelty-free ethos.

If you choose Models Direct to represent your pet, we will:

Ensure our clients are fully vetted and legitimate.
Set up casting calls if the client needs to see your animal before deciding whether they want to book them.
Let you know immediately if you’re pet has been booked.
Give you some time to think about whether you want to go ahead. If you don’t want to or can’t, there are no hard feelings – we understand, not every assignment is possible to pursue.
Negotiate an appropriate payment with our client so you know what your pet will earn beforehand.
Ensure that your animal’s payment is made on time after the assignment has been completed.
Request for your feedback (positive or negative) after the assignment.
What we ask from our pet model owners:
Updated, varied images regularly uploaded to their designated online portfolio
Informing us about any physical changes, growth spurts, or medical conditions.
Keeping an eye on our jobs board where owners can directly apply for suitable modelling positions, anytime they come live on our site.
Staying in the loop with our socials, blogs and website.

And then you have it! This is our guide to pet modelling. If you have any burning questions or anything you’d like to discuss, feel free to get in touch with our modelling coordinators at MD. We’re always happy to help, and we’re always eager to see your amazing animals!
 

As a leading UK modelling agency, Models Direct are keen to hear from any animal-owners eager to take the plunge and promote their pets in various forms of modelling channels. Animals have several advertising qualities that humans simply can’t compete with. It’s this reason that clients are always on the lookout for incomparable animals to market their business. In this blog we’ll take a quick look at the qualities that make dogs the ideal marketing tool.

The RSPCA estimates that 12 million households (about 45%) in the UK have pets. Dog ownership is the most popular, with 9 million pooches in the UK. This in itself is a powerful advertising tool. The sheer number of dogs means that advertising viewers will relate to dogs. If you’re not a “dog person”, then no matter – companies value the fact that most of the UK population can at least relate to dogs. 

As a “faithful friend”, dogs are often used to portray trust. Think of the famous St. Bernard coming to the aid of a mountaineer, carrying a much-needed brandy in a small barrel around its neck. Though this is far from common, viewers can’t imagine any other animal replicating the scene. Dogs are obedient and largely keen to please their owners, so companies often use an assortment of breeds to represent fidelity. Could your dog be useful in similar campaigns and become a dog model? 

Dogs pull at our heart-strings. Generally, we love dogs. They stir our emotions, and are highly effective in promoting a variety of products. Dogs can also be easily-trained (see previous Models Direct blogs). With a little bit of time and dedication, your beloved pooch could be trained to star in memorable adverts, either on screen or photographed to star in print adverts.

All companies want their adverts to be memorable – after all, that is the purpose of advertising. What’s the point in having a fantastic product if the audience forgets it after a few minutes? This is where dogs are especially useful, serving to get the attention of the potential customer. Quite often, an advert involving an animal will go “viral”, increasing the advert’s efficiency. A lot of dog adverts are either “cute” or “funny”, which go a long way to be well-remembered. Sure, there are plenty of memorable adverts involving neither humans nor animals, but the animal-factor is undeniably a major factor in successful marketing. 

Dogs are versatile, too. If a company doesn’t want cute or funny, they may want a canine to display aggressiveness – a good example is a security company advertising anti-burglar locks. For dainty, almost feminine products, a small inoffensive dog breed to complement the advertising campaign would work nicely – think Chihuahua or Yorkshire Terrier. 

Dogs can also mimic human emotions like no other animal. When your dog looks like he’s smiling whilst sticking out his tongue, or simply seems “happy”, advertisers may want to use him in their marketing tools. Has your dog got protruding eyebrows that convey frowning, or wonderfully droopy eyes that convey sadness? These little characteristics could see your dog enjoying the limelight on screen, so don’t take them for granted.