Safety & transparency
How we protect you. Black on cream.
In the agency world, too many scams dress up as opportunities. We do the opposite — and instead of saying it out loud, we put it in writing, here and in the contract. Two promises: no money from you, and no meeting in the dark.
The five commitments
- Never an entry or registration fee.
- Never a deposit when you sign.
- Never paid "test shots" or a book as a condition.
- An agreed commission, only on work you're paid for.
- A contract in plain terms: fees, usage rights, duration, termination.
Why we write it this clearly
The most common scam in the business always works the same way: they tell you you have great potential, then they ask you for money — a registration fee, a "test shoot," a mandatory book from their own photographer. Consumer-protection authorities (like the U.S. FTC) rank it among the most widespread scams aimed at aspiring models.
A real agency earns in one way only: a percentage of the work it found for you, after you've been paid. If the money flows the other way — from you to the agency, before any work — that's a red flag.
Our commitments follow the best international standards in the industry — the same principles New York State wrote into law in 2025 with the Fashion Workers Act: no fee at signing, capped commissions, terms in writing before the work begins. We adopt them by choice, wherever we operate.
Physical safety
No meeting in the dark.
The biggest danger in this work isn't going without bookings: it's the fake photographer who slides into your private messages. That's why, with us, safety is architecture, not a spoken promise:
- We vet every photographer and client before we ever introduce them to you. Identity, portfolio and references: if something doesn't add up, it never reaches you.
- The first shoot happens protected: in our Milano studio when possible, or with a chaperone — or with someone you trust. The level of protection rises with the risk of the situation.
- Every contact goes through Elyra. Your public photos are there to get you booked, but whoever wants to work with you writes to us, not to you. No casting via DM.