Models Direct has numerous clients who are headquartered in London – and the production companies, crews and locations they use are also often in the capital or its surrounding area.

We do, of course, send our models across the UK, and beyond, but for those who take up our assignments in London, spending time in the city can also offer the chance of a little fun once the work is done.

And aspiring models, who have not yet landed their first booking, might also like to visit the city, just to see some of the sights and to experience London’s unique buzz.

Here are our top tips to having fun in the city:

1. Why not snap some shots for your e-portfolio in some of London’s most iconic locations. In one day, you can easily travel around the centre to take photos with places like the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and Tower Bridge against clear skies in the background. And you get to experience all these exciting places at the same time. Ask a friend or family member to take the pictures, however, as clients don’t like to see selfies – and ask them to make sure you are carefully positioned without too much of busy London behind you.

2. Treat yourself to some delicious food while you are out and about – and London has it all. Visit vibrant Borough Market to taste sizzling hot street food from around the world; try Brick Lane for an authentic curry; Gerrard Street for all the colour and taste of Chinatown and the Portobello Road area for a true cockney pie and mash.

3. Fashionistas among you will also be spoiled for choice and wannabe models will probably want to take a stroll down the King’s Road in Chelsea. Famous for its role in fashion history, this is still the place to see an array of boutiques and top fashion brands: window shop, try a few outfits on and you never know you might find a bargain. You should also take the opportunity to wander off down some side streets to seek out charity shops that may yield some very special finds!

4. If you are looking for somewhere cool and trendy to meet up with your friends for a drink, while you are in London, you will have no trouble finding anywhere. Try the Soho area for some truly quirky and colourful bars or Shoreditch for places that ooze style and sophistication.

5. Then, later on, you may well want to continue your night out: how about heading to Leicester Square to catch a film in a cinema where the premieres are screened or up to a theatre in the West End to see one of the big shows? You might also want to go clubbing – and again, you can take your pick. Depending on your music tastes, you might like to head to Fabric, Heaven, the Ministry of Sound or Cargo.

You’ve signed up with us, and are twitching with excitement at your upcoming modelling assignment. Won’t it be great to mix with modelling professionals and further your career in modelling?

We’ve sent you all the relevant information, and you know the location of your job. Everything is in hand. Everything will go swimmingly well. No one really likes to talk about money – economists and bankers are exempt, of course! But the fact is that you’re doing a professional job for a top client, and we pay fairly and on time. Yes – no chasing of payment! But what amount will it be?

Well, modelling fees depend on a few factors. Let’s consider them:

1. A client’s budget. Whilst Models Direct always procures the best (and fairest) fees for all our models – including animal models! – not all clients have the luxury of limitless budgets. Some clients simply have larger budgets than others. That said, all our clients are well-known and are just as fair as we are, so models can rest assured that their fees will be amongst the best around!

2. Location. A modelling assignment could pay better in London than, say, a more remote rural location. But that’s an extremely general detail, and models shouldn’t be too preoccupied about the correlation between location and fees: it’s just that sometimes location plays a factor in the fee amount.

3. Duration of assignment. It shouldn’t need explaining that a three-day modelling job should pay more than a three-hour one.

4. Experience of the model. It stands to reason that a model who’s gained substantial industry experience is usually paid more than a novice. That’s not to say that debut models receive the lowest fees – in fact, if your face fits and our client would love you to appear in their campaigns, debut models can receive surprisingly generous fees.

So, what about hard currency? “Give us the facts”, we hear you cry!

Well, if we had to put a rough estimate on an average day’s modelling fees, we wouldn’t be too far off with a figure of £150. for whole assignments (which could last a few days), the figure could be in the thousands of pounds. Family modelling, for instance, often demands a larger modelling fee because of the scale of the campaign and more models are required.

Perhaps the easiest way to find out how much some of our models are paid, have a look at these two links:

This first one depicts some of our smiling models complete with cheque in hand – see for yourself! 

The second link is a list of fees we’ve paid out to a whole host of models and actors who’ve starred in TV commercials and photo, fashion and advertising shoots. That’s right – real people with real fees!

Fees are just what models deserve, and our clients know the importance of them. There’s only one way to find out how much you could earn on modelling jobs – and that’s to apply to us! We’ll do the rest!

Ideally, a modelling agency like Models Direct will ask you to update your photos once every three months to ensure we have your latest look, as well as suitably seasonal images.

It really is not essential to have professionally taken photographs, but there are a few guidelines we suggest you follow when taking them yourself.

Your pictures need to help you to stand out from the crowd and it is therefore vital you take and supply them as we need them to be.

Ensuring you have a suitable backdrop to each image is a key part of creating the perfect picture.

Influencers and celebrities with a heavy social media presence spend time creating their sets and backdrops, often with astounding results.

You don’t have to do this but being creative while also ensuring you follow our guidelines can often yield fantastic results.

Here are Models Direct’s top tips for achieving a great backdrop:

Every portfolio picture you supply us with must have an uncluttered backdrop to ensure you stand out well. Clear anything behind you that detracts from the focal point – you!

Try not to stand in front of heavily patterned wallpaper or in a room with too many vibrant colours around you.

When in doubt have your photos taken against a plain background – for some shots you can’t go wrong with white.

All your shots need to be well lit and taking them outside in the natural light can really help with this.

Try to choose a picturesque outside location as your backdrop, but again ensure that whatever is behind you does not draw the eye away from you as the centrepiece.

Now spring is here, and the weather is warming up, you could perhaps find yourself some beautiful, green locations in which to take your photographs.

Perhaps also look for outdoor locations that might work as a backdrop with some edge – natural wood, concrete even corrugated iron could work well if you want an urban feel.

Try making your own indoor and outdoor backdrops to add interest to your shot without overwhelming the picture.

You can start with a large piece of board or plastic and then cover it.

These might range from velvet or another textured fabric in a colour to complement your clothing to something like strips of natural wood.

If your backdrop is solid, you can always experiment with different colours by repainting it as necessary.

Don’t be afraid to have fun with your backdrops but also be ruthless when it comes to editing your images down and discarding anything that doesn’t work.

The most important thing is to make sure your ePortfolio is looking it’s best, why you would be ideal for a particular modelling job, how confident and versitile you are infront of the camera and please update them regularly!!