Clones Model Management, for those not native to New York, has already gained it's rightful reputation in the modeling industry as a scam agency. Unfortunately, I had the unhonorable oppurtunity to come across them before I became aware of their reputation.
I was pressured into the oldest modeling scam ever... The "you need a whole new set of pictures by our photographer" scam. I had a sense it may be but the images I was shown of the photographers previous work were very nice so I did not care. I naver paid for images before. They were all TFCD's (trade for CD's - the photographer takes pictures of you that benefit both your book and his) At this point in my life, however, I was to swamped wioth owrk to arrange another TFCD, so I agreed after extensive questioning.
I was told I would be the only girl at my shoot, that it would take four hours at most (they pressued me into shooting that weekend {to collect their money, I am sure) despite the fact I had a previous engagemet, an important one. However, I did believe them when they said if I got there early in the morning, I woiuld be done by late afternoon. They promised four looks and at least 100 shots per look as it would be digital. They also promised a stylist and MUA.
On shoot day, Hillary was late. I waited with two toher girls I discovered who were ALSO told they would be the only ones to shoot that day. Hillary then sent me with LLoyd to go and pick up the clothes for the other girls. I went b/c I thought I was goig for myself, not an errand run for everyone else. When I got back two hours later, 5 more girls were there waiting. The photographers showed up-two young college boys.
It was two pm before I even got into my first outfit. Another girl and I were about to leave before Hillary rushed out and threw anything on us so that we would not leave and demand a refund. The MUA was absolutely horrible. He even at one point, dropped a bursh he was using to apply concealer on the floor and just picked it up and used it on a girls face without washing it!!! I washed off my make-up when I saw it and reapplied it myself.
The photographer only snapped ten pics of my in three different outfits. When I confronted Hillary, she said she never promised four looks, only three. Any for what she offered, the price she asked was unheard of! Unheard of?!?!? HA! I've gotten PROFESSIONAL photographers with their own studios and light boxes as well as stylists with great clothes and great MUA's too shoot FOR FREE!!! And I receive hundreds of images in these cases. These young boys Hillary hired only had a bounce and shot a few images per suit in the street. Hillary's explanation was that maybe I was just so good, I nailed it in one shot...
... Seriously...
After waiting for five hours, I shot all my images in maybe an hour. I recieved a CD of 34 images! Not the hundreds I was promised. One look was labeled as two b/c hald were done in close-up, the other half in full body... Worse than that, half the images were OUT OF FOCUS!!! They were not at all even close to what I ws shown previously when I agreed to the shoot! None are useable! I called Hillary to complain. She said that she saw nothing wrong with them and that maybe it was my computer. I told her that I tried it on several computers and that I showed my photographer friends and they said they were bad too. I offered to bring it over and show her. Tnen she told me that the photographer refused to reshoot. That it was not her problem and I HAD TO CALL AND SETTLE IT!!!
A year later, both photographer (Lex) and Hillary refuse to return a phone call or settle the issue. Both have been caleed several several times about the issues. I have been more than patient and forgiving with them but I think their scam should stop now.
Also, I was told that their sister company is Target Models in London. They have Target Compacards up in their office. Ha! I contacted Target Models! They have never even heard of Clones! Although they did ask if I would be interested in being represented by them so that was flattering... Lol.
So, buyer beware... I was not... I was stupid... At least now, I hear more and more people saying that Clones is a HUGE scam, so NYC is becoming aware...
PS: Excuse the extensive typos. I'm in a rage here...
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