Florida Models

"Where Florida models build their careers."

Florida Models is not a modeling and talent agency. We are not a modeling school, as modeling schools are overpriced, and do not work, IMO. They all answer to us, any way. We are a modeling resource site, and we are here to help Florida models in their careers. - Editor C. A. Passinault, Florida Models, Tampa Bay Modeling, and Independent Modeling. 11/08/12.

LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES

05/10/13 - Added modeling job leads to modeling jobs. Updated the Tampa Shootouts web site.

05/10/13 - Although updates to this site have been slow in recent months, there is a reason. We have been busy working on supporting web sites (and the image sets for them are critical for this legacy, or current, version of Florida Models as well as the upcoming Athena Class Florida Models site), and have been doing other work that the current and future Florida Models will depend upon (see the link to Tampa Shootouts in the post above, as one of many examples. We have a plan, and it is brilliant). We have clues to what we are working on published recently on many of our affiliated web sites. The future modeling job board of Florida Models, for example, will depend upon some advanced support infrastructure to make it as cost-effective as it needs to be, and effective for both the models and the modeling jobs.
We updated the site today, and will resume updates every couple of days as the updates are warranted. Please follow instructions outlined and defined on both Florida Models and Florida Actors before submitting any content. Also, please give appropriate lead time for any scheduled announcements. Job offers submitted hours or days before the scheduled audition will be ignored; please give those a week or more lead time.
The entire current legacy site of Florida Models will be overhauled, with ads added, among other improvements, later this month. Our new Athena Class, which will be like our mother (daughter.... It complicated. We inspired the creation of Independent Modeling, which in turn became our mother site in 2012) modeling resource site Independent Modeling, will be launched this Summer, perhaps as early as next month!
We are looking forward to the rest of 2013, as these are exciting times!

03/03/13 - I removed a link from our modeling links section to a risque portfolio networking site, which a concerned parent pointed out to us (thank you so much!). Looks like we will have to take a day, as soon as we can take the time, and review every link on this web site (Florida Models is not responsible for the content of any site that we link to, and we do not necessarily agree with or endorse any third party in the industry, even if linked to; we simply do not have the time to investigate and look over every one, and models really need to step up, take responsibility, and discern these things for themselves. This said, we are not interested in promoting such things, so we will find and remove such links as they are presented to us. If you see something that we should now about, please let us know!). Remember: We will no longer post links to, or job posts from, teen modeling web sites, modeling wrestling videos, questionable offers where the models are modeling themselves in high-risk work (any modeling job where the model is modeling themselves, and are not helping to market a product, service, or business should be treated with extreme caution!), and obvious modeling scams (the top modeling scams are modeling job scams, such as radio ads for models being needed for major department store fashion shows, etc. We are completely against scams, especially when they use deceptive marketing, which is fraud, as well as unethical, inappropriate, and unprofessional conduct in the modeling industry. Why can't these idiots figure out how to run a legitimate modeling business, and be honest about what they are really in business to do? If they have to trick you to sell you something, they not only prove that they cannot be trusted, but also that they do not know what they are doing; they cannot help you or your career! Remember: NEVER buy anything, or any services, from anyone advertising modeling work, or from anyone whom they refer you to. If you are a professional model who is eligible to find and book into modeling jobs, you will already have invested in effective marketing tools such as modeling portfolios and composite cards, and would not be in the market for any services, any way... After all, if the modeling job contacts you after you submit your information, your career tools have already obtained their attention and have done their job (which disproves any claims that "your portfolio needs work", which is the B.S. that modeling job scams will tell you in order to try to sell you something that you obviously do not need, because they contacted you in the first place when you submitted your composite card and information to them!). Also, if you are a new model who has not invested in a modeling portfolio and composite cards, and/ or try to have a "career" for free or cheap (you will only get out of your modeling career what you put into it. Remember: You are in competion with some very good models out there for limited legitimate jobs! Skimp on your portfolio and comps, and you handicap your marketing; you will deserve it, too, when you don't book any work!), you have no business trying to book any modeling work until you are ready and have some experience, especially when you will be unable to compete with real professional models who were smart enough to invest in professional portfolios and marketing tools. If you need a portfolio and composite cards, start with investing in a modeling portfolio from a legitimate professional photographer who specializes in effective, career-appropriate modeling portfolios; you will know them from their work, and their portfolio will prove their experience. Keep it family-friendly, too, to maximize your marketability (stay away from "sexy" modeling pictures such as boudoir, glamour, modeling in skimpy bikinis, and modeling in provocative, racy poses which can be easily taken out of context. Although that type of modeling IS legitimate, it is NOT for beginners, and that includes ignorant beginning photographers who try to do this type of work and hurt models with it- There are a LOT of them, too! Pictures are forever, and once taken, they can never be undone! High-risk work in your portfolio will CRIPPLE your marketability for most modeling jobs, and give your competition, who are professional models who were smart enough to avoid such mistakes, an advantage over you. If you want to do high-risk modeling work, get some experience as a model first, and learn what you are doing, because that kind of work is dangerous, and it is, again, NOT for beginners! Experienced models who weigh out the risks and become high-risk models specialize in that work, because it is not easy to return to mainstream modeling once you go there, and other models will always have an advantage over you. Also, models who have high-risk work in their portfolios look insecure and desperate; if you have self-esteem problems and are insecure, get help first, as you have to have you act together before attempting to start a modeling career! Modeling is tough, and it is a bad idea to use it to build confidence and to fix any issues that you have going on with yourself; in order to survive as a model, you have to start with a foundation of being a secure individual, as you will not easily survive in your career otherwise. If you are under 21, too, keep your parents in the loop, as they will be able to help you spot, identify, and avoid scams and other bad things; do not neglect your built-in support, which are your family and trusted friend, as you will need all of the help that you can get!). Stay away from any modeling portfolio photographers associated with modeling and talent agencies, too, as you have to be sure that they are not helping the agencies make money unethically by selling models portfolios instead of doing what an agency is supposed to do, which is find models jobs! Invest in your modeling portfolio before going to any modeling and talent agency, and do not trust an agency until they earn your trust (There are way too many agency scams out there and agencies selling models things instead of doing what they are supposed to. Many agencies are unethical and take advantage of models. Only use agencies as one of many sources of job leads, and that is it! Do not allow an agency to manage you, as they also work for your competition, who are other models represented by them, or tell you what to do, because agencies work FOR models! Put the agencies in their proper place, and MAKE them work for you and get you jobs, and if they don't do their job, go around them and find and book work on your own and cut out the middleman, which is all that an agency really is. Once you book work on your own, you will have leverage over the agencies, who will be FORCED to work harder to find you jobs before you can do so on your own and cut them out of the loop, and this will also give you an advantage over the dumber agency-only models who allow themselves to be dependent upon the agencies for work. After all, the agency-only models are not going anywhere, or doing anything without the agency, are they?) .Also, when looking for a portfolio photographer, stay away from wedding photographers, portrait photographers, and photographers who obviously work consumer markets, as they will not be able to give you what you will need. Many photographers dream of shooting models, but few know what they are doing. If they do not know anything about modeling and doing modeling portfolio photography and composite card set-up and design, they will do you far more harm than good, and will not be able to help you. In closing, anyone choosing to ignore this information will find out the hard way, and may end up paying with their careers, and it is not our fault if you choose to be reckless and ignorant in this industry! - C. A. Passinault, Editor, Florida Models, Tampa Bay Modeling, Advanced Model, and Independent Modeling.

01/12/13 - The new Independent Modeling site, which uses the first of many state-of-the-art Athena Class web sites, is now online, and paves the way for the upcoming Athena Class site which will be used by the new Florida Models site, now scheduled for February 2013. Our new web site will look a lot like the new Independent Modeling site, as will the Athena Class site that will be used by sister site Florida Actors. For a sneak preview of what is coming, check out the new Independent Modeling web site, which is literally the most advanced modeling resource web site in the world, although it is not yet fully up to speed. This will come later in 2013. Check out that modeling job board, too. The new Florida Models modeling job board will use that same format!
Once the new Athena Class Florida Models site launches, it will advance 17 years instantly, armed to the teeth with cutting-edge tools and technology developed by new adopted-mother (the paradox being that we are older than Independent Modeling is, as Independent Modeling was created because of Florida Models!) site Independent Modeling. This classic emulated legacy site will be maintained online as an archive and an online museum, with the existing sections linking to the relevant sections on the new site. The new Athena Class site for Florida Models, which will use new files and file directories, will be built and deployed on top of this existing site.
We have another surprise coming in February, 2013, too, but you will have to wait and see. It will be worth it!

11/15/12 - Added another modeling job to the Florida Models job board. Not bad for a site which is about to be re launched. Also, since the front page updates are getting a bit lengthy, we will be moving most of these updates to our updates section soon.
11/08/12 - Posted two new modeling job offers and a secret support file. Additionally, two model posts are pending for our model listings section, and we also edited this section today. Preparing for one final major update to the classic emulated Florida Models and Florida Actors sites before the new Athena Class sites are built and deployed (again, we are waiting on the deployment of the first two Athena Class sites for Independent Modeling and Independent Acting). The new Athena Class sites for Florida Models and Florida Actors, Athena Class sites 3 and 4, will be online in late November or sometime in December, 2012 (The existing sites will become an online museum and archive, leading into the new sites). Our sites will be part of a powerful fleet of six talent resource sites consisting of these new Athena Class sites by 2013, and these site will literally change industries, as they will be the most powerful modeling and talent resource sites in the world.
10/27/12 - Made minor edits to our modeling scams and our add modeling job sections. Did some house cleaning with the original files on Florida Models and Florida actors, in preparation for one major update on the design of the legacy sites, as well as preparing for the new Athena Class sites, which will launch once the Athena Class sites for Independent Modeling and Independent Acting are online (estimated to be sometime in November 2012, now).
10/25/12 - Added a modeling contest to Talent Searches. Updated About Us. Updated Contact Us. Added submitted content ownership, accuracy, and linking information to contact and submission pages.
10/23/12 - Added another modeling job to modeling jobs.
10/16/12 - Added a modeling job lead to modeling jobs.
10/15/12 - Added more information to modeling jobs. Updated update log.
10/14/12 - Updated our emulated classic legacy site update log for Florida Models. Near-term planned additions are also noted.
10/14/12 - Added a job lead to modeling jobs. Removed some tacky and high-risk job posts (as well as added one hell of a lecture on our TFP/ Service Exchange section). Added anchor tags to job board (Please note that these additions are only for this emulated classic legacy site. The advanced modeling job board, developed by Independent Modeling, on our upcoming brand new site will not work this way).

10/10/12 - Added social media support to Florida Models. New Independent Modeling Athena Class site, which is the first one, about to be brought online, and will be quickly followed by the second Athena Class site for Independent Acting. The third Athena Class site, for Florida Models, and the fourth, for Florida Actors, will follow a few weeks later, and are expected to be launched in late October or Early November, 2012; the new web sites will look a lot different than they do now, so do not be surprised. This emulated classic legacy site, and the one at Florida Actors, will remain online as an archive and as an online museum, as the original files will not be overwritten (this index file was not an original file, and this page will be copied to a main classic legacy site file while this file becomes the main one for the new site). The online museums will celebrate our legacy, our founders, and the birth of the independent talent movement. Tampa Bay Modeling, Tampa Bay Acting, and Tampa Bay Talent will be overhauled with the same advanced tools and technology, but will retain their Raptor Class sites; Tampa Bay Dancer will launch with a brand new Raptor Class site. With the first four Athena Class sites due online this fall, and two more planned for later this year, there will be six Athena Class sites operational by 2013. With new sites, new technology, and advanced talent career tools, it will be a new era for Florida Models and Florida Actors!

10/10/12 - Introducing Brutal honesty for pros in the modeling industry, the official Facebook group for Florida Models and our sister modeling resource sites! Join and get involved, today! Founded by Florida Models editor C. A. Passinault and photographer Tommy Post, our private group has been online and active since late 2011, and it has hundreds of members in the industry, and tons of great discussion threads and content available! Current hot topics include the Tampa Bay fashion industry defined (with help from Jose Gomez), deciding when it is appropriate to collaborate with other professionals, models booking paid work, and the impacts of the economy and social media on the modeling industry.

10/03/12 - New model added to Model Listing section.
10/03/12 - "Add modeling job" section added.
10/03/12 - "Modeling Jobs" content updated.

We are not an agency. We do not claim to be an agency, nor do we get involved with, or charge for, referring models into jobs. We are a modeling resource site, and we are here for you. Florida Models is a free online resource for models and the businesses who are looking for models in the Florida modeling industry. As an Independent Modeling site, we are also a pro-open market career resource site, helping others to realize that an open market is superior to closed market, and that independent modeling has advantages over the agency-only way. This is the future of the modeling industry, and it will give it integrity and balance.
Modeling agencies should only be used as one of many sources of modeling jobs, as they work for the model. To ensure that agencies make money the way that they are supposed to, by finding models work, and to minimize the risks of scams and conflicts of interest, models need to go to the true source of what they need, which are a modeling portfolio and composite cards, before going to any modeling agency.
Never buy anything from anyone advertising a modeling job, or buy anything from anyone whom they refer you to, especially if it is required for consideration of any job.
Modeling portfolio photographers are qualified to provide marketing tools for models, as this is what they are in business to do. Agencies are not. Models need to invest in a modeling portfolio and composite cards from a professional photographer, who is not affiliated with any agency, is honest about what they are in business to do, and is able to demonstrate experience photographing models and giving them the portfolios that they need.
Want to be a featured model? Click here

Previously Featured on Florida Models

Commercial print model, actress and VO artist.

www.KittyStar.com

CyberCat19@aol.com

Kitty Kavey

Welcome to a new chapter, and a new generation, of Florida Models!
While this site looks just like the one that you have known and loved for the past 16 years, we are in a transition period right now. While we will still be accepting job posts, model listing information, industry feedback, and email, with daily updates to Florida Models, in a few short weeks everything is going to change. We are working on an all-new Florida Models site, with state of the art Independent Modeling technology and over a decade of experience in modeling and talent resource sites, and when that new site launches, this classic emulated site that you are now on, which will remain online, will be in the background as an archive and an online museum paying homage and respect to the accomplishments of the founders. When that day happens, which looks to be in late October, 2012, a new era for Florida Models, and its sister site Florida Actors, will begin. On that day, Florida Models will progress 16 years into the future, and it will join Independent Modeling and Tampa Bay Modeling as one of the most powerful, and effective, modeling resource sites in the world, a position where it deserves to be, and the premier resource site for the modeling industry in Florida. This site is going to be the modeling career resource that models and other industry professionals deserve, and we plan on being there within a year.
When I talk about having over a decade in experience in modeling and talent resource sites, those other sites probably ring a bell. I did not originally own Florida Models and Florida Actors, you see, but I’m getting ahead of myself. Tampa Bay Modeling is my regional modeling resource site for the Tampa Bay market, and it has absolutely dominated that market for the past six years, being the first, the middle, and the final word on anything to do with modeling in the Tampa Bay area. Tampa Bay Modeling launched back in October of 2004. Then we have Independent Modeling, which is what was behind the advancements tested on Tampa Bay Modeling, and Independent Modeling, which launched in 2001, is a legend, and it is the most advanced modeling resource site in the world, which is appropriate because it serves the worldwide modeling industry. With this track record, you can only imagine where Florida Models is heading.
Florida Models, where Florida models build their careers, is going to change. It’s going to be more aggressive. It’s going to introduce new concepts and tools in the Florida modeling industry which will change it. It’s also going to put the Florida modeling agencies, modeling schools, photographers, management companies, scouts, managers, the shady industry players, high risk players, and the modeling scams in their place. This site is going to obtain front line tools and resources originally developed for Independent Modeling, Advanced Model, and Tampa Bay Modeling, all optimized for the Florida modeling industry, and we are not going to hold anything back, either.
There will be some interesting changes, too. In the past, Florida Models was friendly to Florida modeling and talent agencies, and was more supportive. My opinion, having dealt with the agencies first-hand as a professional photographer and the owner of web sites which were costing the agencies money, is that this “let’s all be friends” attitude was more than the Florida talent agencies deserved. Let’s get to it, shall we? I will share my opinion, which is educated, and born of experience. Modeling and talent agencies never liked Florida Models, because, despite it’s nice tone, it helped models find work on their own. Agencies don’t like that, and I know this from experience. If you go around the agencies, they will trash talk you behind your back, slander you, and even call you a scam. Although I do not condone trashing anyone, and it is not ethical to slander anyone who you are in competition with (or even if you are not in competition), there are times when we have to call things as they are, and call a genuine scam, well, a scam (and, if an agency is telling lies about someone, misleading others, or it is otherwise misleading others by stating that their way is the only way, then that would make them a scam. It would also makes them unethical and unprofessional, but such behavior is what I, along with models, have come to expect from most talent agencies. It's no wonder that the State of Florida has to regulate them and look over their shoulders, and have witnesses vouch for agency owners that they are of good character when they apply for an agency license. It's not perfect, and it does not always work, but it is a start). We also need to point out that a bad business practice is a bad business practice, or a flaw, a flaw.
Florida modeling and talent agencies are going to hate Florida Models more than before, and this time, more openly, I am sure. Why? Well, Although I will admit that modeling and talent agencies have a legitimate place in the modeling industry of today, and smart models should allow them to find them work, modeling and talent agencies should ONLY be used as one of many sources of modeling job leads, and THAT IS ALL. I am sick and tired of the same old industry B.S. that clueless people and industry people keep repeating, with that B.S. being that the agency way is the only way to have a modeling career! Well, you know what? Florida Models was one of the first sites to prove this wrong, if not the first one (and this was before I was involved with the modeling industry)! Modeling and talent agencies are a MIDDLEMAN, and they work FOR the models. I think that it is unprofessional and unethical for the agencies to overstep their bounds and promote themselves as the only way in a “legitimate” modeling industry, trying to manage the models who they are supposed to work for and tell them what to do while they also work for the competition of the models who they are “guiding”. The agencies need to be put in their place, and kept there. In my opinion, they have no business managing models, telling them what to do, referring them to photographers, selling models services and products, and doing all of the other inappropriate things that they have been doing for decades. Agencies need to do their job, and concentrate on getting models jobs!
I know, I know. Some might think that these words are industry blasphemy, and that I must be doing something wrong because I do not believe that the agency way is the only way. Well, think what you want, if that alone is ironic, because if some of you were to actually think for yourselves, you’d be open to the points that I am making, and you would realize that I am right. I'm not an idiot, and neither are you. Besides, what have the agencies done for you lately to inspire such blind devotion?
Let’s consider some things for a moment. Let’s sit back, take a deep breath, and look at this objectively. An agency is a middleman. An agency is only supposed to find work for models and refer them to modeling jobs, and when they do that, that is how they make money (and, in Florida especially, that is the ONLY way that they can make money!); the agency charges both the model and the modeling job something called “commission”, usually between 10 to 20% of the rate that the model is being paid for the job. So, it costs the model money to get work this way. It also raises overhead for the modeling job.
Agencies work, and stay in business, because they are convenient. That’s fine. The problem is that the agencies deny that modeling, and booking models, without them being "in-the-loop" works, because they want to continue making money. They want to control everything. They will insult models and tell them that they are not smart, or qualified, enough to find and book work on their own. Some of them will even go so far to imply, and even openly state, that agency models are more professional, and reliable, than independent “amateur” models (their words, not mine). Some might even try to claim that independent models are amateur online models who try to find and book work on their own because they don’t have what it takes to be an agency model. This is WRONG, and we are going to FIGHT the misconceptions that the agencies persist on spreading!
Hey, if the agencies were right, and the agency way was the only way, then there would be no need for sites like Florida Models, right? Yet, we are here, and we have a purpose. What is on this site, and on my other sites, like Tampa Bay Modeling and Independent Modeling, works, and the agencies know that, regardless of if they admit to it or not. That is why agencies are afraid of the independent talent movement.
I’ve heard all of the objections before. Working though my Independent Modeling site the past six years, and testing many of the concepts on Tampa Bay Modeling, we have come up with tools and new concepts to eliminate the convenience factor which gives the agencies leverage in the eyes of some. If the agency tells you that the agency models are more reliable and more professional, have them put it in writing, and watch them backtrack (actually, since I also own an ad agency, and the agencies will want to make money off of me, I will enjoy playing this game and tightening the screws to them. As a client, I call the shots, and have total leverage over the agencies. So do models, and they need to realize that!). Although agencies do ensure that models are paid, and they do refer qualified models to jobs, it does not have to work this way. Models CAN find work without going through an agency, and I am talking about the kind of work that models usually book through an agency, and modeling jobs can find professional models without having to go through, and be dependent upon, agencies. As a matter of fact, most of the time independent models are MORE professional and reliable than the agency models! Because they are more proactive in their careers and they think for themselves, independent freelance models are smarter, faster, and more experienced than the ignorant, lazy models who are dependent upon the agencies for work. Independent models are so effective, actually, that they not only take jobs away from the agency models, but they also directly compete with the agencies themselves, taking jobs away from the agencies before the agency bookers can refer models to them. No wonder the agencies feel insecure about people going around them!
Should models be worried about a backlash from agencies when the agencies find out that they are finding and booking work on their own? Why would they? What is the agency going to do when the model is booking work without going through them? Does the agency have leverage? Can they threaten the model by withholding work which the model has already taken from the agency, and which the model consistently books on their own? The only models which the agencies can actually threaten and control are the models who are dependent upon the agencies to begin with. Independent models have leverage over the agencies, independent models can keep the agencies in their place, and independent models cannot be intimidated, or stopped, by shady agencies. Speaking of leverage, who cares what the agency says when they are squeaking in protest? The bottom line is that, if a model finds and books work on their own, then the model PROVES that they are marketable as models, and that they are worth finding work for. The agencies are not going to want to be cut out. The independent model has leverage on them, and the agency will realize that the model is going to find and book jobs without them any way, and that the only way that they can make money and stay in business is to work harder to beat the independent model to the punch and find the job for that model before the model can, so that they are not cut out of the deal. The result? The independent model works it on both ends, finding and booking modeling jobs on their own, while the agency also works harder to find and book them into work so that they can make money the way that they are supposed to. The agency-only models are the only ones who really lose out on this, and being survival of the fittest, and natural selection in the industry, it’s as it should be. The agency-only model is booked for professional extinction. Models cry “I need an agent!”, while they should be realizing that they need to avoid any possibility of being scammed and taken advantage of, and find a photographer, get the career tools that they need, and go out and find jobs on their own. The agency dynamic will work itself out, and work far better for the model when they come to the agency from a position of strength! Enough of the agencies, though, as they work FOR the model, and since a model is an independent contractor, and the agency is like their employee, but ironically an employee with divided loyalties because they also work for the competition of the model. In the past, that employee pitched a fit, threatened their boss, and tried to tell them what to do. Such employees that do not know their proper place need to be fired, because there are more employees to choose from.
What of the models who believe that they HAVE to go through an agency to find and book work? Well, finding is the only factor, really. Does an agency actually book a model into a job? No. An agency finds the job and bills it, ensuring that the model gets paid IF they book the job, and the model can easily do that on their own. IF? Well, just because an agency sends a model to a go-see doesn’t guarantee that the model is going to book the job. Once there, the model has to book the job on their own, anyway. If the agency was right, and models could not function without them, then why don’t the agencies send a booker handler with the model to the go-see to negotiate on their behalf? What, they don’t do that? Why not? After all, according to agencies, models are too stupid to find work on their own, yet the model ends up booking the job on their own, anyway, once they are referred to it. Finding is the key, and it really is not that difficult if the model goes out and looks. Additionally, the agency also send other models to the modeling job, so the model has competition there with them, which diminishes their chances of booking the job. How is this better than finding and booking work on their own? Why would you ignorantly support a business which also helps your competition and makes it more difficult for you to book work? The agency is all about the agency and making money. That's it. They don't care about the individual model. Why would they?
It makes me laugh when I see models argue that they are devoted to their agency, and that the agency way is the only way, yet the model has their own web site, and finds and books work on their own behind the back of the agency. What, an agency model needs a web site? If the model is finding and booking jobs on their own, why are they going to be a coward and go out of their way to avoid offending their agent? These closet independent models are not as effective as the ones who go out there and work hard to make it happen, and being more visible, the agency is inspired (some may say forced) to work harder for those models because they do not want to end up cut out of the deal.
What about the companies and the modeling jobs out there who believe the self-serving fear-mongering that the agencies serve them when they imply, or say, that independent models are less professional and less reliable than agency models? Well, there are quick ways to minimize that risk. We have tools such as the Risk Analysis System (RAS), which helps professionals quickly, and easily, evaluate the risks of booking an independent model. Basically, a model who is serious about their career is going to be dependable, professional, and they are going to do their job. That’s what modeling portfolios, composite cards, and web sites are all about, and they give credibility to any model. I’m not asking the businesses who are looking for models to do anything that I have not been doing for years! I’ve been finding and booking models into my jobs for years without going though an agency, and over 95% of the models have been professional and reliable. The bottom line is that you have to look at who you are dealing with, and their experience. The agency would tell their business clients, through implication and action, that they are too stupid to evaluate models on their own without being dependent upon the agency to send qualified professional models to them. I’m here to say that a model who has a professional modeling portfolio, which shows their experience, composite cards, and a web site, is going to be a professional, with or without an agency. If someone is smart enough to run a business, they are smart enough to evaluate a model, and they can find and book independent models without paying agency commission. Got your attention, didn’t I?
As you can see, this is just scratching the surface of what is going to happen in the Florida modeling industry. To summarize the points that I made about agencies and independent modeling, an open market is superior to a closed market. Independent modeling is an open market, and it has many advantages over the closed agency market. It could be said that power corrupts, and this is true; if the agency way was the only way, the agencies have power, and that power corrupts. Many agencies feel that they are the only way, it corrupts them, and they take advantage of models and others. Agencies are the root of most modeling scams, in my opinion, because most scams use agency representation as bait. By putting the agencies in their proper place, it helps to bring balance to the modeling industry, especially here in Florida.
I’m sorry, but the agency-friendly days of Florida Models is behind us. While we will respect Florida modeling and talent agencies which do what they are supposed to, and find models work, Florida Models is now an Independent Modeling site, and that time-proven Independent Modeling open market, well, independent philosophy will run through and extend out from this web site, just like all of the others. Our independence is empowering, and it gives us leverage in the industry, as well as an advantage over those who continue to allow themselves to be limited by the agencies and the agency mentality.
Florida Models will also be more aggressive about fighting modeling scams and unethical/ poor value practices in the industry. One thing which has always annoyed me, and has become the most common modeling scam, are modeling job scams. This is why our modeling job board continues to be very important, as the job boards will be cross-integrated into the latest scam fighting resources and tools. With over half of the modeling “opportunities” in Florida either being flawed in some way, or outright scams, we have to do something about it, and we are going to do something about it!
Florida Models will be the first, the middle, and the final word in modeling in Florida, just like Tampa Bay Modeling has been for the Tampa Bay area, but we will do it better than it has been done.
This, of course, has absolutely nothing to do with the original founders of Florida Models, and it is certainly not meant to be disrespectful of them in any way. I’m not implying the there was anything wrong with the site to begin with, or that I can do the job better; it’s just that the industry is changing, and that change requires new tools and tactics. The founders and original owners have done an outstanding job with Florida Models. Kitania Kavey and Ken Horkavey are my friends, and cherished professional colleagues in the industry. Kitty and Ken were there are the beginning of my career in the modeling industry, way back in 1998, when I barely knew what an agency was, or what modeling was all about. The first time that I was on the Internet back in late 1997, I searched for information about modeling, and Florida Models was the first site that I found. I contacted Kitty, and we soon started talking. We became friends. I learned a lot from her and Ken. In 1998, when I built and uploaded my first web page, Ken helped me sort out the problems. As I learned more about the business, and built my photography business and my web sites, Florida Models was always the standard; Florida Models even inspired me to start my first talent resource site, which was Independent Modeling, and ironically, we have come full circle. This is why, now that I am the new owner and editor of the site, that I feel that it is a privilege and an honor to helm a site with so much history and significance. Taking the reins, and guiding Florida Models in the next stage of its journey through a changing modeling industry, is one of the high points of my life. Kitania and Ken, thank you both for entrusting me with sites that you put so much hard work into over the years. I can only work hard to validate that trust by doing everything in my power, and experience, to make Florida Models one of the best modeling resource sites in the world. I know, too, that no matter what I do, that it will never be quite as good as it was when you owned and ran it. I can only hope to support, and expand upon, what you both began, and this is why you will be heavily promoted, and credited, in the present and future of this site. It’s time to sit back, relax, and watch what you planted so long ago blossom and bear fruit. It’s time to change the modeling industry for the better, and to empower models and businesses to ensure proper balance in the industry. It has only just begun, and this all began from what you both started. You are forever my inspiration, and the inspiration of the next modeling industry!
Sincerely,
C. A. Passinault
Editor
Florida Models

NEWS 09/28/12 - New Florida Models and Florida Actors sites in development

Tampa Bay, Florida - Florida Models and Florida Actors editor C. A. Passinault announced today that new web sites were in development for both Florida Models and Florida Actors, and that the sites were expected to launch in late October, 2012. The new sites will be state of the art Athena Class sites, the 3rd and the 4th web sites of that class after Independent Modeling and Independent Acting, with a 5th planned for an Independent Talent site in late 2012. Passinault indicated that the new sites would have a new color scheme comprised of dark blues and reds, and that the existing sites would remain unchanged, and used as an online archive and museum, isolated from the new site menu interface of the new sites, as the new sites would be built and deployed over them. With the legacy Florida Models and Florida Actors sites being 1st generation talent resource sites, and the new Athena Class sites being new 5th generation sites with over 11 years of research and development and 4 generations of experience gained, the new sites will be about 15 years ahead of what they are now, and will join their sister sites in becoming the most advanced, and effective, talent resource sites in the world. New features for both Florida Models and Florida Actors will include, but not be limited to, state of the art Independent Modeling-level job boards which tie in directly with the risk and scam analysis databases, risk and scam analysis databases which match up patterns with established threats , interactive tutorials, conventional tutorials, modeling and talent stories (anecdotes and fiction, which tie into relevant content and sections of the sites), anti scam agreements, several types of pay vouchers, agreements and contracts, career tools and forms, a featured model section which ties in with the job board, videos, and more. The job boards will also have advanced countermeasures built into them which prevent others from stealing information and selling it back to talent. Passinault indicated that the job boards would be core, and key, components of the sites, and that they would all be updated daily. Passinault also reported that the sites would continued to be offered free of charge.

NOTICE: As of September 27, 2012, Florida Models is now an Independent Modeling site under new management. It is now directly affiliated with Tampa Bay Modeling, Independent Modeling, Advanced Model, and Aurora PhotoArts Tampa Bay Photography and Design. Our new editor and webmaster is C. A. Passinault. This is a classic emulated section of the original site for SEO continunity, with minor updates, which will soon be maintained in our archive section, as we are building a new Athena Class web site for this site, much like the one used by Independent Modeling. Although we will respect the original rules established by the founders, we will be adjusting site policy, effective immediately, in regards to advertisers and what we allow posted (it will mirror policy established for Independent Modeling and Tampa Bay Modeling). Thank you.

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Brought to you by Aurora PhotoArts, based upon the original web site by StarTime.com Media. This classic site and all the images contained herein are ©1996-2012 Kitania Kavey. Any use of these photos, our content or our code without permission is illegal. Violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Original Florida Models modeling resource web site founded by Kitania Kavey and Ken Horkavey in 1996, making it one of the first modeling resource sites in the world for independent models. On September 27, 2012, Florida Models became an Independent Modeling site, and is directly affiliated with Tampa Bay Modeling, Independent Modeling, Advanced Model,and all of the Passinault.Com companies, which includes Aurora PhotoArts, all of which operate out of the Tampa Bay area, but offer services throughout Florida. This is a free modeling resource site, and you are not obligated to buy any services or products advertised on this site to use it. As of September 27, 2012, the site editor and webmaster of Florida Models and sister site Florida Actors is C. A. Passinault. The current owners are not responsible for the content published by the original owners. This web site is based out of, and published in, the Tampa Bay area of Florida, which is ground-zero of the next modeling industry.

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All classic content © 1996-2012 Florida Models, Florida-Models.Com and Kitania Kavey. New content © 2012, 2013 Independent Modeling, IndependentModeling.Com and C. A. Passinault. All rights reserved.