Lyndsey

Well, an agent has clients to whom they submit you for possible work, whereas a management company may submit you for work and help you with your image in order to help you sign with an agent. The definition of a manager seems to be loosening up a bit, though...agents often call themselves managers in order to take 20% as opposed to 15% as the law allows.

And although you may need to pay for pictures, you should never have to pay for pictures through your agency. Ask them whether you can build your book with your own photographers and if they say no, they're not legitimate.

twintron4

Thanx for your quick response. They take out 15% of everything I do and they just call me if they have a casting or a job they want me to do. They also didn't care where I took my pictures. But the thing is it seems like they get all their castings and auditions straight from craigslist. I even saw a printout on one of the managers' desk! And I haven't been able to find a website from them. So as long as I dont have to spend any money, I'll just keep on with them unless they start asking me for money or something.

Lyndsey

As long as you don't sign an exclusive contract and as long as you don't make them your mother agency, it can't hurt to work through them. Good luck with your career!

cicely

I've always understood both of those terms to mean the same thing - representation, which is what we ultimately want. Also, anyone who wants to charge for pictures upfront should be looked at a little more closely. If they are suggesting that you get pictures to establish or rebuild your portfolio, that's one thing, but for that company to charge for an "in house" photographer that is a part of them I wouldn't do it. There are exceptions to everything, but if they believe in your success as they must if they want to represent you, then they'll push for you to get work, pay for pictures, and if anything take the cost of the pictures from your first paycheck from your first job. Hope this helps!