Mother agency in modeling: meaning, example and tips

How it works

A mother agency represents a model for the long term. It signs a representation agreement, helps build the first portfolio, advises on looks and behaviour at castings, and decides which markets are worth the model's time. When the model is a minor, it works with the parents too.

Abroad the model works through partner agencies chosen by the mother agency. The agency there takes the commission and the mother agency receives a share of it, so it is in its interest that the model works a lot and works safely. It also receives the statement of income and expenses and goes through it with the model.

A good mother agency is not the one that promises the fastest fame but the one with reliable partners, a contract it explains clearly and answers to your questions. A model normally has one mother agency in a country.

In practice

A sixteen-year-old from Kaunas signs with a Vilnius agency. For the first year she does tests and local jobs, and in summer the agency arranges a two-month contract in Tokyo with a partner agency. When she comes back, the mother agency goes through the Tokyo statement with her and her mother, discusses what worked and decides whether Paris or Asia comes next.

What to watch for

Ask which agencies abroad it works with and where its models worked last year.
The contract should list its duties, not only yours.
A mother agency does not charge a fee to sign or register.
Go through the statement together after every trip.

Related terms

Agencies and representationPlacement agencyA placement agency represents a model in one particular market, such as Paris or Tokyo, and works together with the model's mother agency.Agencies and representationBooker (model agent)A booker is the agency employee who runs a model's work day to day: pitches the model to clients, negotiates the fee, manages the schedule and passes on castings and bookings.Agencies and representationRepresentation agreementA representation agreement is the contract between a model and an agency: how long the agency will represent the model, both sides' duties, the commission and how payment works.Agencies and representationAgency commissionCommission is the share of a fee the agency keeps for finding and handling the job; typically around 20%.Agencies and representationExclusivityExclusivity means that only one agency represents the model in a given territory, or that for a set time the model works for only one brand.Money and rightsModel statementA statement is the agency's account of a model's income and expenses: every job, the commission, the costs advanced and the final balance.

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

01Can you have more than one mother agency?

Usually not: a mother agency asks for exclusivity in its own country. In other countries the model has different partner agencies, but the same mother agency coordinates them.

02How does a mother agency earn?

At home it takes the commission set in the contract, typically around 20%. Abroad it receives a share of the commission taken by the local agency.

Mother agency