A couple of models have asked me about this company so I called a couple of bookers at the real agencies here in LA. They started laughing when I mentioned Infinite Talent USA. They said that the images are not only awlful but that the makeup and styling is typical of a photo-mill. One booker said that if the images include brickwalls, fences, grafitti, bedsheet backgrounds, etc... It is a sign of a beginning or student photographer. And certainly not "high fashion" photography.
All three agencies said that they will not sign any of their models because they do not want to be associated with questionable business practices and because of all the bad publicity associated with IT USA.
This company started in Portland under Options Talent and is all over the BBB... Had to leave the city for bad publicity. Then they started in Seattle, WA... Moved offices several times... And finally shut down and moved to California. Even though they claim to have no link to Options Talent... Easybackground Check lists them with the same business adress and founder... Heather Duback. I also came across several newspaper articles on Heather Duback and IT USA... It is a clear ripoff. Real agencies will never use high pressure sales or ask you to bring a credit card to an interview. This is so sad for the industry. Shooting 6-12 models in one day with 4 clothing changes is a photomill... How can you get good images. I "googgled" their name and found their ad looking for a fashion photographer... Pays $80 per model, $40 for make-up artist... 6-12 people in one day. My fellow fashion photographers and I photograph one model at a time with a professional make-up/artist, hair stylist, and clothing stylist for about the same price. Why does IT USA charge $695-$975 and ask you to pay them and not the photographer... The easiest sign of a scam. Make sure that the photographer has a website... If not then they are probably not legit. Finally, talent agencies are required by law in California... To have a licence and be registered... I looked on the State Registration site and did not see their name. A talent agency licence is not the same as a business licence... Don't be fooled and stay far away from these people. There are at least 30 legit agencies in LA with a Yellow Pages ad... If they turn you down it is because they can not get you work at this time... At least an honest answer... And it is free! People need to be more carefull as IT USA gives modeling a bad name.
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