GuidesFor ModelsFirst Steps

If a scout has offered to create a model card for you, that is the start of an introduction to the industry — not a promise of a contract or work. Take time to understand the process, ask questions, and prepare honest materials about yourself.

How an agency differs from a modelling school

A modelling school sells education: classes, test shoots, and other training services. An agency represents a model to clients and earns commission from completed work, such as shoots, shows, and advertising projects. A school can be useful for learning, but it does not replace an agency or guarantee employment.

Who helps at the beginning

International work usually begins with a scout and a mother agency. Each has a different role:

• The scout gets to know you, explains the process, helps assess your readiness to travel, takes snaps, and prepares materials. They may be your local point of support and translator.
• The mother agency develops your career: it presents you to international partners, helps with preparation, and helps resolve difficult situations during trips abroad.
• The receiving agency in a particular market organizes work after you arrive: it introduces you to the market, sends you to castings, and agrees bookings with clients.

No scout, mother agency, or receiving agency can guarantee a contract, a number of castings, or earnings. The outcome depends on your look, readiness, the market, and everyone working together at each stage.

What to do now

Contact your scout and talk openly about your availability: whether you can travel to other cities or countries, how to combine trips with study or work, and whether you need a parent or legal guardian involved. The earlier you discuss your limits, the more realistic the next step will be.

Your scout will then need snaps — natural photos that show how you really look. They are also called digitals or polaroids in the industry. Good snaps are usually enough for an agency's first assessment; they help show your potential without an elaborate shoot or retouching. Your scout can use the snaps guide as the shoot checklist.

Do you need a portfolio right away?

No. Snaps show how you look in real life, while a portfolio shows how you work in front of the camera, interact with clothing, and appear in different looks. Once there is initial interest, an agency may suggest a few test shoots, but a new model does not need to pretend to have experience they do not have. A portfolio grows gradually: first from good tests, then from published and commercial work.

Before an international contract

Do not buy tickets or agree to paid work until the terms are clear and documented in writing. For every trip, check which work visa or permit is required in the country where you will work, who the receiving party is, where you will stay, and how expenses are paid. Do not agree to work on a tourist status based only on verbal promises.

• Ask for your own copy of the contract and a clear translation if you need one.
• Clarify commissions, flights, accommodation, insurance, advances, and the financial-reporting process. Advanced expenses are not always a gift: the contract may allow them to be deducted from your earnings.
• Check the full legal names of the mother and receiving agencies, as well as the rules on termination, exclusivity, and the use of your image.
• Keep the agencies' and consulate's contact details, your accommodation address, access to your phone, and emergency funds for an independent departure.

Read the contract guide to understand what happens when an agency is interested in your profile.

Getting started on Motherhunt

If you received a model card from a scout^**, contact them: they will send you a unique invitation link to enter the app.

^** If you opened this page without a link from a model card, introduce yourself in our scouting chat on Telegram. A scout who thinks your profile could be a fit will contact you and send an invitation.

After following the invitation, connect your VK account. This is used for moderation to confirm that the profile belongs to a real person.

Your next step

After registering, open the Model profile guide and complete the form with your scout. For an overview of the interface and roles in the service, read the platform guide.