6 Modeling Agencies You Should Know In San Diego
These are the top 6 modeling agencies you should know in San Diego.
Southern California is known worldwide for its days of endless sunshine, beautiful beaches and relaxed lifestyle. As a city located on the Pacific Coast of Southern California, San Diego is a top destination for its coastal scenery, optimal weather and vast array of cultural and community activities.
The city of San Diego attracts locals and visitors for its beaches, parks and warm climate. The city also contains a developed artistic and creative scene with local art galleries, artist studios, museums, gardens and the San Diego zoo.
Related: Best Photographers in San Diego
As a California city, San Diego is an optimal spot for the commercial industry of photography, film and television that is prevalent on the West Coast. With backdrops that echo the likes of campaigns for Abercrombie, Quicksilver or RVCA, it is no surprise that the modeling industry in San Diego is heavily focused on portraying the endless summer, beachy lifestyle of the west coast.
Although the modeling industry in San Diego is rather small in comparison to other areas of California, the talent represented here works with clients in the local, national and international markets. As a model, you should always seek to be represented by an agency that has your best interest in mind. In the San Diego modeling scene, these boutique, niched businesses have been established and managed by founders who have personally worked as talent in the industry. With this in mind, they understand the market and how to effectively develop and grow the careers of their talent.
Related: The Top Photographers in the United States
Additionally, if you are interested in other aspects of talent representation outside the realm of modeling, any of these agencies would be beneficial choices for your career. As you will see in this article, many modeling agencies in California are SAG/AFTRA affiliated and established, allowing them to represent and book talent for film, television and commercials. These agencies can represent actors, actresses and voice over talent.
Finally, as the rise of influencer social media and marketing grows, more talent agencies are dedicated a space to manage and present influencers on their roster. As an influencer, you may be interested in working in the commerical space for either modeing or acting purposes. With this, having an agent can help you build this component of your career and book suitable jobs.
Related: The Top Creatives on H Marketplace
If you’re looking to work with a San Diego modeling agency, we have compiled a list of our 6 top agencies choices. Let’s check out the modeling agencies representing talent throughout the coast of San Diego and southern California:
San Diego Model Management
Address: 438 Camino Del Rio S, #116, San Diego CA, 92108
Phone: 619-296-1018
Email: contact@sdmodel.com
Instagram: @sandiegomodelmanagement
The first on our list of San Diego modeling agencies is San Diego Model Management, which was established in 1985. The talent roster of SDMM work throughout the Southern California area as well as nationally and internationally. In addition to representing model talent, SDMM is a SAG/AFTRA agency that represents models and actors working in commercials and television.
San Diego Model Management represents women, men, teen, children and even baby models. The modeling boards at SDMM are main board, new faces, runway, sport, actors, actresses, classic, kids and families.
To become a model at SDMM you will need to reference their specific form based on gender or age. For example, if you are applying for the women board, you can fill out the form on their website here. For women, they accept individuals who are 20 years old and older. Models should be 5’7” and up, and for petite models they should be between 5’2” and 5’4”. For the form, you will need to include your personal information as well as 4 images — two headshots, a full-length body shot and an additional image.
Frank Model Management
Address: 5600 Avenida Encinas, Suite 140 A, Carlsbad, CA 92008
Phone: 760-814-2760
Email: info@frankmodels.com
Instagram: @frankmodelmanagement
The second on our list of San Diego modeling agencies is Frank Model Management. As a boutique agency, Frank Models covers the modeling markets in both San Diego and Los Angeles. The agency focuses on talent that portrays a “fresh, fun authentic face with a fit and healthy beach vibe.” At Frank, they place models in the areas of fashion, lifestyle, sport and curve.
The agency is run by Nicole Herold, who was a model in New York City before transitioning to acting on the west coast. With a longstanding career as a model and actress, Nicole has experience in casting and production which she effectively brings to the atmosphere and workings of the agency.
The talent board at Frank is made up of women, development, men, citizen, lifestyle and families. To be considered for Frank models, you will need to fill out the form on their website here or send an email to info@frankmodels.com.
The requirements for models are:
- Women 5’7” to 5’11”
- Men 6’ to 6’3”
- Include your height, age, current location, permanent residence and Instagram handle.
- Images: headshot, profile and full length – all against a plain background.
Shamon Freitas
Address: 3916 Oregon Street San Diego, CA 92104
Phone: 619-325-1180
Email: caroline@shamonfreitas.com
Instagram: @shamonfreitas
The third on our list of San Diego modeling agencies is Shamon Freitas. Shamon Freitas was established in 1987 and is now a modeling and talent agency that represents the talent of Southern California. Started by Carol Shamon, who was a model herself, the agency was formed to protect up and coming talent from less than reputable agents and managers.
The agency is based in San Diego, but places models and actors on both a national and an international scale for television, film and print.
At Shamon Freitas, they represent models, actors, voiceover, spokespersons, Latino talent and children.
To be considered for the agency roster, you will need to submit your information by email to submissions@shamonfreitas.com. The agency does not accept walk ins and they do not hold open calls. For models, you will need to email 2-4 images as well as a current modeling portfolio if you have on. You will need to include a full-body shot, a headshot (showing teeth) and a profile shot. Also, include your age and height with the images.
To read more about the submission process, you can reference all of their information here.
No Ties Management
Address: 434 W Cedar Street, Level 2, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-819-9168
Email: contact@notiesmanagement.com
Instagram: @notiesmodels
The fourth on our list of San Diego modeling agencies is No Ties Management. No Ties is a high-end modeling agency with offices in both Los Angeles and San Diego. They represent models and influencers in both Southern California and around the world.
The agency was formed in 2005 by Monica Boselli. The agency is focused on finding raw talent and helping them to develop their careers in both the local and international markets.
At No Ties, the talent board is comprised of women, juniors, men and influencers.
To be discovered at No Ties you can fill out their online submission form or attend an open call. Open calls are held at their San Diego office every Thursday between 3-4 p.m. For submission, females must be between ages 13-24 and be 5’6” or taller. For men, you must be ages 15-26 and 5’11’ or taller. You must submit four images — headshot with hair up, headshot with hair down, ¾ shot and full-length shot. These photographs should be against a plan backdrop, without makeup and wearing form fitting, solid-color clothes.
To read more about the submission guidelines and to fill out the form, you can access it on their website here.
Scott Copeland Talent
Address: 1255 Coast Blvd S, La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: 858-456-9189
Email: newfaces@scottcopelandtalent.com
The fifth on our list of San Diego modeling agencies is Scott Copeland Talent. The agency was established and is still managed by Scott, who started his modeling career at 18 after being scouted by Wilhelmina Cooper in Beverly Hills.
It was when Scott was living in New York City that he scouted a model in Long Island and convinced him to start modeling. This model when on to book editorial spreads in GQ; and with this, Scott Copeland Talent was born. The talent agency has been around for 30 plus years and has been a part of developing the careers of top talent such as Armie Hammer.
At Scott Copeland, the agency represents men, women and children. The roster has been featured in work such as L’Officiel Hommes, GQ Style, Ranch and Coat, Abercrombie and Fitch, Elle, Pantene, Men’s Fitness and Calvin Klein.
Scott Copeland Talent engages in personal scouting, but you can also submit your information to the agency to be considered. Women models should be between 5’8″ and 6’1″ and for petite modeling between 5’”’ and 5’6″. For men the standard is between 5’11” and 6’3”. Send your age, height and a few images of yourself to the agency. You can find out more about their process on their website here.
Elegance Talent Agency
Address: 2763 State Street, Carlsbad, CA 92008
Phone: 760-434-3397
The sixth on our list of San Diego modeling agencies is Elegance Talent Agency. Elegance is a full service agency that represents talents of men, women and children for work in television, commercials videos, voice-overs, print, runway, promotions and trade shows.
With the agency being located in San Diego, they work with clients in the Southern California region as well as national and international markets.
For the submission process for modeling, the agency ask that you provide a current headshot and bodyshot with your measurements and a phone number to reach you at. You can read more about their guidelines here.
—
The modeling industry in San Diego may be smaller in comparison to its Los Angeles or San Francisco counterparts, but in all it still contains a breadth of talent in both modeling and acting throughout the southern California coastline.
Since California is a market that is heavily focused on commercial imagery, the talent represented on the west coast is indicative of that truly laid back, beachy lifestyle. In addition to mastering the industry in California, many of San Diego’s talent find themselves working in both national and international markets. This shows that the San Diego agencies are dedicated to placing their talent all over the world and helping them to build successful careers.
When choosing a modeling agency, it is always best to read up on the history of the agency. This will allow you to understand the competencies of the agency as well as the network and industry connections that have been built by the founder. If a modeling agency has been established by someone who worked as either a model, agent or booker throughout their career, you can be confident that they are familiar and knowledgeable of the expectations and processes for building a model’s career. Knowing the agency before you sign onto their roster is beneficial to you understanding the trajectory of your modeling future.
Are you a photographer looking to work with agencies in San Diego? Or are you a San Diego, southern California based model interested in seeking talent representation? Do you already work with one of the six San Diego modeling agencies we listed above?
