Female students looking to model in front of the camera should consider who is behind it.
While most modeling companies are honest about their expectations of potential models, some individuals have taken advantage of the na•vetˇ of many young women, said Dana Clay, co-owner of Model Headquarters, a model management company.
"If there's any individual in the modeling business that is approaching us and has been (modeling) or looking to (model) for some time, there's a pretty good chance that she's already run across one or two of these individuals," Clay said.
Last month, a UA student was allegedly sexually harassed after responding to a classified ad for a modeling job.
The student said she met the man at the UofA BookStore to discuss the modeling job. Toward the end of their meeting, the man told the student that he would be getting excited while taking her pictures and would be touching himself.
While the man's actions were not technically criminal, Sgt. Eugene Mejia, spokesperson for the UAPD, said that women should make sure they take measures to stay safe.
"Most of the time, criminals are relying on the na•ve student responding to the ad," Mejia said.
Jim Vance, director of photography for VIP Photographics, a company that specializes in nude modeling, said that many young models, especially college students, are often desperate for money and looking for the ego boost that modeling can offer.
"A lot of these girls don't have real world experience," Vance said.
As an aspiring model, recent UA graduate Olivia Izdebski said that negative experiences that others have had with certain organizations or individuals have made her think twice about answering classified ads.
"I've always been wary about answering them," she said.
Erica Harline, a theater arts sophomore and model, said that while she has never felt unsafe with a photographer, many of her friends have had negative experiences.
"They want to get known, they want to get big, they want to get paid," Harline said. She added that this drive for money and fame sometimes leads these women to make unsafe decisions.
Model Headquarters, which works with the UA Campus Magazine, compiled a list of safety tips for women looking for jobs in the industry.
Among these tips, the agency encourages women to check business references of employers, bring a chaperone to all photo shoots, and meet in a public place.
Clay said that most models should also be aware of scams that ask women to pay excessive fees for services.
Harline said that those who make unreasonable requests of models should also be suspect.
"If they ever ask you to go alone that's a huge red flag," she said.
Clay said that although there are some dishonest people in the industry, modeling is essentially safe and potentially lucrative.
The most important thing a model can do is make sure that the employer is legitimate, Vance said.
"Ask questions," Vance said. "Any professional will be able to show you their work."
Mejia said that women should always use common sense when meeting potential employers.
"If it doesn't feel right, there's obviously something wrong," he said. "Go with your instincts."