We’ve heard the “horror stories” about the modeling industry, but Jade Taylor makes sure her models aren’t a part of it.
The former model, who started Harvey James Management in Tasmania in 2016, continues to hear from new students about the inappropriate behavior she experienced during her modeling years.
“It’s just awful to hear because I can’t help it because it’s already happened, but I can try to create a safe culture,” Taylor told AAA.
The founder and director recently introduced an app that connects the client, model, and agency and has a tracking function.
“We actually have an app that we use, and it tracks the models as they work, so they log in, and it tracks them,” she said.
‘I can’t always see them. If they log in for work and turn it on, they have that option.”
Taylor said it was very well received by her autographed models.
And that’s not the only thing that sets her agency apart.
The Perth branch opened last year and has never been busier, with nearly 300 new design applicants this year.
“Last year was amazing, and this year we’ve already entered double what we had last year, and the entries are just through the roof, in the hundreds,” she said.
“It amazes me how many people are signing up right now.”
She said it was partly because of the cultural shift towards diversity in the modeling industry.
“I definite hat the customer requests are much broader and not the typical 5ft 8 blonde supermodel types. That has allowed us to open what we are looking for. † † to meet that customer demand,” she said.
As for Taylor’s modeling program, she said, “There is nothing quite like it in the Australian market.”
It includes “advanced” modules such as nutrition, holistic health, personal branding, casting and audition techniques, and “how to create your elevator pitch”.
“We meet a lot of freelance models, and they say to us, ‘I have a portfolio of 200 photos. Why am I not being signed?’ And that’s where we intervene,” she said.
“I think it is very important to give people the time they need and to tell them honestly, in a nice way, but I tell them honestly where they are in the market and what their opportunities are.”
This was the case for 18-year-old Katie Ellis, who came in with hundreds of photos but couldn’t get a job.
Camera IconModel Katie Ellis is represented by Harvey James Management. Credit: Ben Dilger
“We completely rebranded her, and within four months of running our program, she had a national campaign,” Taylor said.
“I certainly wouldn’t have been able to do this without the great team behind HJM. Especially Jade. She has always been my number 1 support since I first joined,” Ellis added.