Complaint Review: Talent Source USA Aka Online-Portfolios.com

This company advertises on The Village Voice, Craigs List, Career Builder and other similar bulletins. In their ads they claim to seek models for specific shoots (ie. "Petite Models needed for photo shoot", "All types needed for Catalog Shoot", "Indian Models Needed"). These are not typical fashion modeling "types" so they are able to tap into a large "hopeful" market.

When an interested hopeful attends the interview, however, there are no such specific jobs and instead are told the company's service is to post photos on their website (www.online-portfolios.com) for a fee of $200 (fee may vary person to person).

I have included a sample Craigs List posting by this company. (Their company name is never listed on their ads.) On this specific ad, I was told there is no catalogue shoot and I misunderstood the ad, they only hold open calls for their internet photo service.

###SEARCHING FOR MODELS FOR CATALOGUE JOB###

Reply to: see below
Date: 2005-03-11, 2:02PM EST


SECTION 1---Looking to hire MALE AND FEMALE MODELS/ACTORS (17-29).
SECTION2-- Looking for TEENS AND CHILDREN (ages 6 months-16 yrs, old)
*****THIS IS FOR A HIGH -END COMMERCIAL CATALOGUE PHOTOSHOOT***********.
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR ALL TYPES /SHAPES AND SIZES
THIS CATALOGUE IS ABOUT PEOLPLE
Shooting will take place last 2 weeks of MARCH
COMPENSATION RANGES FROM $750- $1,200 for one day's work
Interviews will be held for the next 10 days.
Contact us monday through saturday at 212 880-8776 or 212 601-2733.
ASK FOR DIRECTIONS UPON CALLING ,
LOCATED IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN
EXPERIENCE A PLUS BUT NOT NECESSARY,
BRING ANY PICTURES YOU HAVE /PORTFOLIO

Lynne
Ringwood, New Jersey
U.S.A.