Modeling work in Lyon
Three of the four catalogue agencies in Lyon belong to wider networks. Hourra Models, founded in 1989, has offices in Lyon (53 avenue Maréchal Foch, 6th arrondissement), Marseille and Sophia Antipolis near Nice, and lists Hype Models as its Paris contact. VIP Models says it works in Paris, Lyon and Toulouse, Enjoy in Paris, Nice, Lyon and Marseille. If you sign with one of them in Lyon, you can be put forward to clients in other cities too.
The fourth, Angels Models Management, calls itself an international mother agency. Its head office is in Cotonou, Benin, and it scouts in Lyon; its website has women's, men's and curve boards.
The boards show who works here: women and men (all four), kids (Hourra and Enjoy), seniors (Hourra), and talent such as actors and content creators (Hourra and VIP Models). Hourra states that it holds agency licence No. 26 and the children's accreditation. What French law requires of an agency and how much a model must be paid is covered on the France page.
Paris is under two hours by train
The main fashion market is Paris. The fastest TGVs from Lyon to Paris Gare de Lyon take 1 hour 56 minutes, most about two hours, with trains from early morning to evening. You can get to a go-see or casting and back the same day. Fashion weeks and haute couture shows take place in Paris; the dates are in the fashion calendar.
Tip. If you are aiming for shows and magazines, ask your Lyon agency directly whether it will place you with a Paris agency or put you forward itself. Both happen, but your contract should make clear who represents you.
How to start in Lyon
- Take simple digitals: face, profile and full length, no make-up and no filters.
- Apply through the agencies' websites. You can approach several at once until you have signed with one.
- Before signing, ask for the contract in writing and for the agency's licence number: the licence is compulsory in France. The agency's profile shows whether a licence number and SYNAM or FFAM membership are known, and what we found about the agency, good and bad.
- Pay nothing upfront. A licensed agency earns from the client, not from the model. If an agency charges applicants, the profile says what for and how much.
- If you are from abroad and already have a mother agency, go through it, as it negotiates the terms for you.