West 38 — Local services in New York

I am so happy to say that every part of my experience at Midtown Models has been wonderful, from beginning to end. I received a call and email from Bari, the Senior Talent Coordinator, about a week before my photoshoot, telling me that I was chosen to come in. Bari and I connected right away. She is genuine, passionate, charming, outgoing, informative, sweet, funny, and supportive. I don't know if I would have been as excited about this sudden and amazing opportunity if it hadn't been for Bari, who somehow believed in me without knowing me. I felt like I could trust her, and my intuition was correct. I would have been excited about the opportunity regardless because I did apply for it, but Bari made it even more exciting for me. I appreciate that first phone conversation with her very much. She texted me a couple times after that before my photoshoot to encourage me and see if I have any questions. Bari is amazing. Once I arrived at the Apex studio, the reality of what was happening really kicked in. I had never done anything like this in my life. I had never modeled or sent in any applications for it before. The person who greeted me was very nice and helpful, both at the beginning and throughout the day. My hair and makeup artist, Jamice, is another person I really admire. She is amazing and truly talented at what she does, and I have never liked professional makeup done on me as much as I did with her. It was glamorous but still natural. She made me feel beautiful and comfortable. She understands which hairstyles and makeup look good on a person. She even gave me advice on what colors will look good on me if I am purchasing makeup. It felt very personalized. The lead-up to the photoshoot was fun and exciting, but the photoshoot itself added a whole new level. The photographer was creative, imaginative, and friendly, and she was even open to some of my ideas. She made me feel beautiful and more comfortable in front of the camera and gave me great direction and feedback. I felt like I could take pictures for even longer than the approximately four-hour photoshoot. Although it was my first time doing this, I felt more comfortable than I had expected. I guess I surprised myself. It was so interesting to take pictures in four different outfits. Each outfit brought its own vibration, and I loved every minute of it. The pictures turned out seriously amazing. I love them so much. Meeting with Leigh Anne (I hope I am spelling it correctly) was an experience I didn't realize I'd have, and I am so happy that she saw something good enough in my pictures to meet and talk with me. She is also amazing, and she made me feel like I could truly pursue modeling and be successful, whatever that may mean to me. I feel as though I can trust her and the help and support that she provides. Every single person I encountered from Midtown Models is professional, super friendly, and positive. I appreciate them all so much. I am happy I made the decision to take this chance on myself and them. I can't say enough good things, and I am so looking forward to working with them in the future. I purchased the Model Start Package, so I am on my way to new experiences in the modeling industry, and I cannot wait to see what is to come. Thank you to everyone at...

One star!...... Why am I giving this company??? Well Upon entering the doors the crew members were very professionalism, warm and welcoming. The staffs gravitated to my son (3yts old) making him feel comfortable. I was direced to a room to began filling out paperwork. Then I was asked to layout my son's wardrobe and prepare for his first outfit.... Cool awesome!

Now let's moved forward to our first (and only) set of photos. The photographer was NOT professional or welcoming whatsoever. He did speak when I tried to introduce myself, he seemed to have an attitude and was not interested in working withmy son. You can tell He has zero patience with children. Like any other toddler in a foreign place, takes a minute for a child to get adjusted. The photographer cared less... He began banging at my son to stand in place.... The photographer began snapping random pics (not focusing) in my son's eye's with the flash on, expecting him not blink. My son had a moment where he walked off the marked spot, the photographer GRABBED my son and aggressively placed him back in position... Then not finishing he tells us to go change into his second outfit. After stalling us for 15mins or so we were approached by this woman to pulled us to an office. Well she began asking me "Do I believe my son is ready?!"... Also says " they really starts at age 4yo not 3yo" but their website says 3YO and the manager I've been speaking with prior to my appointment says 3YO! My son has his own website and profilio.... My son is no stranger to the camera. So of course he's ready! She go saying " by the looks of his shoots he wasn't ready.. Like no your photographer purposely done those😡... As we sitting there talking something caught my son's attention, as he was asking me to look (not screaming) she goes and tell my son to be quiet... Then says "See he isn't ready for modeling come back when he's 4YO".. So youre telling me because he's a CURIOUS & TALKING he isn't ?!?!!?!?!!!!... I TRAVELED (on public transportation) from Philadelphia to NEW YORK, NY for us to be in and out within 45mins......

They were very misleading and vague from the very beginning telling me that all that I will have to spend is $300 to get the entire portfolio of photos they are taking that day. These people vaguely try to say that they are agents that will definitely get you work without saying they are an agency just to get you to pay $4,500, making you think that you will have an abundance of work immediately. They however will offer you an "in house finance plan" IF you drop 400-500$ THAT day. THEN they spread your payments over the next 12 months. They explain that you don't have access to anything at all that they explain including the pictures they just took UNTIL you complete your payments. THEN they explain that it will take an additional 6 weeks to make your website. Upon showcasing the website it is the SIMPLEST web layout that I've seen that should only take an hour in all honesty. Thankfully I had someone with me that found all of these negative reviews and showed them to me, making me decide that I should just bite the bullet and spend $1,500 on 22 photos since we had already spent hours there and they were good quality pictures and we could afford to drop that much money, not everyone can. They are very careful with how they word things in order to stay out of legal trouble. I asked this woman straight up if they are an agency and she danced around giving a yes or no answer but made it sound like they were. On top of all of this they had pictures of children in bathing suits right in front of us. They also tell you that if you don't make a decision by the end of the day, that they will delete your pictures. After telling them that you will purchase pictures, they mention that they will still have them on file if you change your mind. So they will ultimately keep the photos they want no matter what you decide in the chance that those pictures would bring them more money. This all happened today, 5/26/23.

That one star can count for the makeup artist and photographer assigned to me being very...