Author: Michelle Brannan

  • Best Modeling Agencies in NYC [2024]

    Best Modeling Agencies in NYC [2024]

    When it comes to the world of fashion, few places can compete with the energy, glamor, and opportunity of New York City. Aspiring models looking to make it big often flock to the Big Apple, hoping to get their big break and producers are looking to cast the right talent for their next project. But with so many incredible modeling agencies in NYC, how do you choose the best one? 

    At LÜK, we’re all about streamlining the creative process–and that includes consolidating some of the top NYC modeling agencies into one list. So let’s get into it. 

    Top Modeling Agencies In New York City

    There are so many amazing modeling agencies all over New York that this article is really just a (delicious) taste. Want access to all of them? Join LÜK Network

    To clarify, we’re not a modeling agency. We’re a talent booking platform dedicated to helping producers like you continue to kill in the industry. Our connection and relationship with over 250 agencies across the United States covers the span of any type of talent a creative could cast. 

    But what about…

    A booking specialist? Check. Virtual and in-person casting calls? Check. Talent decks? Check. Payment? Check!

    Yep, we do it all–so you don’t have to. You can sit back, relax, and go back to enjoying the creative parts of the production process you so love. 

    You can get started with LÜK right now. Or enjoy this list of some of the top modeling agencies in New York (in alphabetical order for your convenience). 

    DNA

    dna logo

    In 1996, Jerome and David Bonnouvrier established DNA Model Management–which quickly became renowned in the fashion and modeling industries. DNA is distinguished for its personalized tactics for each model and its loyalty to excellence. The agency has managed well-known models including Linda Evangelista, Amber Valletta, Natalia Vodianova, Raquel Zimmermann, and Doutzen Kroes.

    Website: https://www.dnamodels.com/

    Social: 

    Ford Models

    Ford Models logo

    Established in 1946, Ford Models is one of the most notable modeling agencies in the world. With offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia, Ford has a global reach, helping models such as Sigrid Agren and Daniel di Tomasso become internationally-known stars. 

    In recent years, Ford has extended its portfolio to include hair styling, makeup artistry, nail services, styling, set design, prop styling, art direction, and photography. 

    Website: https://fordmodels.com/

    Social: 

    Heroes Model Management

    Heroes Model Management logo

    Heroes Model Management was founded in 2015 in New York City’s Soho. Their purpose is to break the idea of the “disposable model” and try to give every new face they meet a chance to be an icon of tomorrow. They continue to adapt their management to the latest fashion and societal trends while keeping their models in mind. Some popular models under Heroes Management are Jourdan Love, Amy Wesson, Bentley Mescall, and Dara.

    Website: https://www.heroesmodels.com/

    Social: 

    IMG Models

    IMG Models logo

    Established in 1989, IMG Models has become one of New York’s most influential modeling agencies. It represents some of the most famous names in the fashion industry, including Gigi and Bella Hadid, Ashley Graham, and numerous others. 

    In 2013, IMG removed all barriers that had previously been restricting its roster of models to those with a certain height, weight, race, age, and other factors. Also, they restarted their men’s division, which had been on hiatus since 2007.

    Website: https://www.imgmodels.com/

    Social: 

    JAG

    JAG logo

    JAG is a recently established New York modeling agency, but it’s earned its place on this list. JAG models have been featured in many fashion magazines and have participated in some of the world’s most notable fashion shows and campaigns, such as Vogue Italy. In the fashion industry, they are highly sought after and have a distinct policy of representing all sorts of bodies, regardless of size, shape, gender, and race.

    Website: https://jagmodels.com/

    Social: Instagram

    Lions

    The Lions logo

    The Lions Model Management is an international modeling agency that has become one of the most influential players in the industry. Established in 2002 in New York City, the agency has become a trendsetter and leader in fashion and entertainment, representing some of the world’s most iconic and influential models. The Lions Model Management has established itself as a global agency, with offices in Europe, Asia, and the United States.

    Website: https://www.thelionsmanagement.com/

    Social: Instagram

    Marilyn Agency

    Marilyn logo

    Established in 1985 in Paris, Marilyn Agency has developed into one of the most renowned and influential modeling agencies for both men and women. Featuring offices in Paris, New York, Los Angeles, and other cities worldwide, the agency has collaborated with some of the most renowned names in the industry, including Chanel, Gucci, and Dior. They aim to create career sustainability for the models and challenge fashion standards by encouraging the latest fashion trends.

    Website: https://www.marilynagency.com/

    Social: Instagram

    Muse NYC

    Muse NYC logo

    Established in 2007 by Conor Kennedy, Muse Management endeavors to stand out in the growingly corporate landscape of management. They aim to guide their clients to the peak of their careers, whether in the editorial, commercial, or theatrical field. Throughout the world, Muse Management is acknowledged as a pioneer in the world of beauty, representing models of all shapes, sizes, and genders. 

    In 2023, they created their creative department to foster the talents of the world’s best photographers, stylists, and beauty artists.

    Website: https://www.musenyc.com/

    Social: 

    New York Model Management

    NY Models logo

    In 1990, Heinz Holba founded New York Model Management, which has since become one of the most renowned and sought-after modeling agencies worldwide. It has offices in New York, Paris, London, Los Angeles, Milan, Tokyo, and other major cities. Their clientele includes some of the world’s most famous models, such as Sui He, Meghan Collison, and Amy Wesson. As its presence in the fashion world expands, New York Model Management will remain a leader in the modeling industry.

    Website: https://www.newyorkmodels.com/

    Social: 

    One Management

    One logo

    ONE Management is a premier modeling agency that celebrates the beauty of diversity. Their models display a brand’s story and experience to their audiences in person and through various online outlets such as print, social media, and video. With a roster of successful models such as Anabela Belikava, Anyiel Majok, and Bar Refaeli, ONE Management merges fashion, music, television, and film to produce innovative international projects.

    Website: https://www.onemanagement.com/

    Social: Instagram  

    The Society

    The Society logo

    Established in New York City, The Society Management is a renowned modeling agency in the Elite World network. It also serves as the U.S. division of the Elite Model Look global contest to find fresh talent. The Society Model Management, Inc. is committed to creating a secure and respectful work environment for all their talent, free of bias or mistreatment. The company firmly stands with the black community in the U.S. and worldwide despite centuries of systemic racism and injustice.

    Website: https://www.thesocietymanagement.com/home.web

    Social: Instagram

    Supreme

    Supreme logo

    Founded in 2000, Supreme is a New York modeling agency that aims to offer something unique by working with models with distinct facial features. As people began to show off their talents on social media, customers started looking for people who went beyond traditional beauty standards. Supreme NY provides exclusive, high-quality talent management.

    Website: https://www.suprememanagement.com/home.web

    Social:  Instagram

    The Industry

    The Industry logo

    The Industry is a high-end boutique modeling agency for women located in New York. With an exclusive roster of models, they provide personalized service to each one. Their goal is to discover new talent and help them build successful and long-term careers. Their headquarters in New York City is located in the iconic Pier59 Studios at Chelsea Piers, providing them with unparalleled access to international brands and talent.

    Website: https://www.theindustrymodelmgmt.com/

    Social: Instagram

    VNY

    VNY logo

    Established by agent Lana Winters and businessperson Damian Tomczak, VNY is an exclusive New York boutique modeling agency specializing in taking unknown models and turning them into famous celebrities. The agency aims to help models build long-lasting and successful careers by taking a hands-on approach. With an unparalleled reputation and a wide range of contacts worldwide, VNY takes pride in discovering “hidden gems” and getting them ready to thrive in the demanding fashion industry.

    Website: https://www.vnymodels.com/

    Social: 

    Wilhelmina

    Wilhelmina logo

    Since its founding in 1967 by Dutch model Wilhelmina Cooper, Wilhelmina Models has earned a renowned status as one of the premier talent management agencies in the world. It offers a full range of model management services for women and men, fitness models, entertainers, and musicians such as Demi Lovato, Nicki Minaj, Barbie Ferreira, and many others.

    Website: https://www.wilhelmina.com/

    Social: 

    Women

    Women logo

    Since it opened in New York in 1988, Women Management has been on a mission to become a global leader in model management. Now, 30 years later, Women has offices in Paris, Milan, and Los Angeles, representing some of the world’s most sought-after fashion talents. Their approach to career development shows a strong balance of creativity and business acumen, which is always in line with the core values of respect, trust, humanity, and social responsibility.

    Website: https://www.womenmanagement.com/

    Social: 

    Zombie Model Management

    Zombie Model Management logo

    Zombie Model Management is a boutique and full-service mother agency in New York that looks to discover and develop professional careers for their talent. Their team has decades of experience and contributed to the careers of multiple models in campaigns for Gucci, Victoria’s Secret, and Calvin Klein. 

    Zombie Model Management works with musicians, actors, athletes, and fashion models. 

    Website: https://www.zombiemodels.com/

    Social: Instagram

    How to Choose the Right New York Modeling Agency

    Are you looking to find the perfect New York modeling agency? New York has a ton of modeling agencies, so how do you know which one is right for you? 

    As a Model

    Before contacting a modeling agency, always, always, always do some research! Put on your Sherlock Holmes hat and get to digging. 

    Look at their board, the agency’s values on Instagram, and their website to see if their vision aligns with yours. Also, check out their submission and portfolio requirements, any reviews from former and current models at the agency, and target pay if available. It’s super important to be aware of any fees that may be asked of you before signing with the agency. Reputable agencies do not ask for upfront fees. 

    Lastly, verify the identity of any scout or agency that contacts you directly for your safety. A good agency will have a direct number that you can call to confirm their outreach. To avoid scams, be aware of any requests for money or pictures of you. If this is asked of you, it is best to walk away immediately.

    As a Producer

    Producers! We know it’s hard, and we can’t express how much we appreciate all your hard work. So, we made the perfect producer platform to make life easier. 

    LÜK Network makes production management easy, efficient, and compliant with an all-in-one solution for 1099 payroll, crew management, and booking tools. 

    We’re confident that LÜK’s suite of producer tools may be your perfect solution. 🙂

    Contact our sales team now to set up a demo and discover your production management cure-all.

  • 22+ Best Casting Agencies in New York City [2024]

    22+ Best Casting Agencies in New York City [2024]

    New York City may be small, but it’s big on talent. As one of the biggest fashion capitals of the world and home to some of the best casting agencies, the NYC modeling and acting industry is always looking for the right talent for its next project. 

    And if you’re reading this, that probably means you are too! Well, the LÜK team would love to help!  

    LÜK Network is focused on making the booking and production process more efficient for producers and production teams. We created an all-in-one platform that helps producers book talent and crew, process payments, manage taxes–and much more. 

    So with that goal of making producers’ lives easier, we’ve compiled a review of some of the leading casting agencies in New York for you to consider for your upcoming production. Let’s get started!

    Types of Casting Agencies

    There are casting agencies for all sorts of talent. For instance, some agencies work with writers, athletes, commercial actors, theater actors, and even broadcast journalists. 

    In the end, the main purpose of casting agencies is to find the perfect fit for their clients’ projects. This post will be focusing on casting agencies that work with models and actors. 

    Modeling Agencies

    Modeling agencies network with major brands, conduct castings, and manage bookings. They train models, mentor them to walk for runways shows, talk to the media, set up shoots, and much more. 

    While model agencies do accept applications, they find most of their talent from scouting and auditions. Modeling agencies can be very selective. They want to represent the best of the best.  

    Acting Agencies

    Talent agencies do it all: they represent models, singers, actors, writers, photographers, and even athletes. Like modeling agencies, they manage their talent and help them network opportunities with major brands. 

    Acting agents send their actors to auditions, schedule meetings, and negotiate contracts. Some of the top acting agencies in New York are Creative Arts Agency, United Talent Agency, the Gersh Agency, and Williams Morris Endeavor. 

    Multi-Agency Marketplace

    How about a new approach to the way you find models and actors? Look no further than, well, LÜK! Our Multi-Agency LÜK Package lets you find and book talent, create talent decks, hold casting calls…and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. 

    If you’re a producer on a tight schedule, this is your holy grail. Our Multi-Agency Package means you can quickly access all the talent from all the top agencies: including their sizes, availability, portfolios, digitals, and even favorite talent—all supported by your personal booking specialist 

    But that’s not all: LÜK simplifies the entire payment and accounting processes easier. The platform combines all payments to 1099 freelancers into one invoice for each shoot and provides detailed payment reports for tax records.

    Best NYC Casting Agencies

    If you want to connect to the best agencies right away, LÜK is the easiest way to do it. LÜK is a platform that combines talent submissions from every agency you know and love with a suite of producer tools that streamlines every part of the booking process. 

    And you can get started right now 🙂 

    Of course, if you’re interested in the research part yourself, enjoy this comprehensive list of some of the top NYC casting agencies.

    1. AAMO

    AAMO logo

    AAMO Casting is represented worldwide through CLM Agency. They specialize in street casting to locate unique and eye-catching faces for their customers. They mainly cast for fashion shows and editorials for well-known brands such as MAC Cosmetics, All Saints, Fenty x Puma, and more. 

    Services

    • Casting
    • Photography 
    • Stylist
    • Make-up artists

    2. AMC Casting

    AMC Casting logo

    Award-winning agent Angus Munro founded this casting agency, first known as AM Casting before it became AMC Casting. Munro and his team put on fashion shows for all of the major seasons, showing both men’s and women’s ready-to-wear and haute couture collections. Munro has collaborated with Naomi Campbell, Pharrell, Hermes, Rick Owens, and other major labels and talent.

    Services

    • Casting
    • Photography
    • Stylists
    • Film and content
    • Make-up artists

    3. Ashley Brokaw

    Ashley Brokaw

    Ashley Brokaw is a casting director who began her career working for Prada and now solely casts for the company. Previously, she also collaborated with renowned brands such as Louis Vuitton, Coach, and Balenciaga. Brokaw has worked with renowned models like Hoyeon Jung, Amanda Murphy, Eva Mendes, and Amber Valetta.

    Services

    • Casting 

    4. Barbara Pfister Casting

    Barbara Pfister

    Barbara Pfister established her own casting agency, Barbara Pfister Casting. This agency seeks distinctive and diverse faces for their clients’ and projects’ needs. Barbara Pfister Casting is devoted to finding the right fit for its clients to ensure their visions become a reality. Notable clients of the agency include Fendi, Alexander McQueen, Lady Gaga, Sofia Coppola, and David Sims.

    Services

    • Casting

    5. Cast Partner

    Cast Partner

    Cast Partner is an international casting agency that has teamed up with big names like Nike, Nordstrom, and Balenciaga. Cast Partner has five offices in different parts of the world and offers a full range of casting services. Their creative approach helps foster and maintain relationships while celebrating various cultures and ethnicities.

    Services

    • Casting 
    • Marketing
    • Influencer casting and onboarding 
    • Talent payment

    6. DM Fashion Casting

    DM Fashion Casting logo

    DM Casting Agency is a comprehensive, worldwide fashion casting agency based in New York City, Paris, and Rome. They specialize in casting for fashion shows, covers and editorials, ambassadorships, and maintaining a broad talent portfolio. Some notable clients include Victoria Beckham, Tom Ford, Givenchy, Fenty, Versace, and many more.

    Services

    • Fashion casting
    • Ambassadorships 
    • Special projects
    • Advertising campaigns

    7. East Tenth Casting

    East Tenth Casting logo

    Over a decade ago, Mark Aguilar launched East Tenth Casting, a full-service casting agency. East Tenth Casting casts talent for fashion shows, editorials, commercials, films, and advertisements and has collaborated with brands such as Dove, H&M, Calvin Klein, and Diesel.

    Services

    • Casting 
    • Photography
    • Stylists
    • Directors

    8. En Vue Casting

    En Vue Casting logo

    En Vue Casting specializes in finding talent for television commercials, fashion shows, magazine photo shoots, and other forms of real-person casting. It is led by Hollie Schliftman, who has a wealth of experience in casting for major brands such as Pantene, CoverGirl, Dolce and Gabbana, Juicy Couture, and celebrities like Nick Jonas and Daniel Radcliffe.

    Services

    • Casting

    9. Erin Simon Casting

    Erin Simon logo

    Erin Simon Casting is a casting agency owned and operated by Erin Simon in New York. With over 20 years of experience in casting, Erin’s portfolio is quite diverse. She casts for editorials, advertising, sports, and beauty brands and works with younger talent. She has booked talent for some campaigns, including ULTA Beauty, Adidas, Nike, and Marc Jacobs.

    Services

    • Casting
    • Real people casting 

    10. Establishment Casting

    Establishment logo

    Establishment Casting is a full-service casting agency founded by Anita Bitton. She now serves as the creative director and casts for some of the most prestigious brands, such as Balmain, Marc Jacobs, and Harper’s Bazaar. This agency offers services for commercials, films, music videos, advertisement campaigns, fashion shows, and editorials.

    Services

    • Production 
    • Casting
    • Consulting 
    • Photography
    • Directors

    11. GMLV Casting

    GMLV Casting logo

    GMLV is based in New York and seeks to discover various talents for everything from fashion shows to feature films. They have worked with Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, and Dior Homme on projects and have cast people for Netflix’s science fiction show Stranger Things.

    Services

    • Brand strategy and strategic planning
    • Marketing
    • Digital campaigns
    • Media buying and planning 
    • Casting

    Casting, Booking, & Payroll–Simplify Your Entire Photoshoot Production

    12. Jennifer Starr

    Jennifer Starr logo

    For the past 25 years, Jennifer Starr has been a well-known casting director, pioneering non-traditional beauty and talent for exclusive brands and advertisements. She has worked with DKNY, Givenchy, Ralph Lauren, and A-list celebrities such as H.E.R., Scarlett Johansson, and Adam Driver.

    Services

    • Casting 
    • Brand consulting

    13. Liz Goldson

    Liz Goldson

    Liz Goldson is a highly accomplished casting director whose clients include Hailey Bieber, Bella Hadid, POP Magazine, and Levi’s. She works diligently to bring her clients’ ideas to life. Goldson also regularly collaborates with stylists and photographers, including Katy England, Nadine Ijewere, Alex White, and Ib Kamara.

    Services

    • Casting
    • Production

    14. Midland

    midland logo

    Midland Casting Agency team is dedicated to helping launch and sustain successful careers. They search for the best talent for editorials, fashion and beauty campaigns, fashion shows, and other projects. They have worked with some of the most renowned brands, including Vogue, Christian Dior, Donna Karan, and Estee Lauder. Additionally, they offer services in photography, creative direction, styling, and beauty.

    Services

    • Casting
    • Management 

    15. Nina Day Casting

    Nina Day logo

    Nina Day is a casting and creative agency founded by Nina Day with a mission to expand media expectations by casting diverse talent from different backgrounds. They are also major advocates for inclusive casting for all things creative. Nina Day has worked with Dr. Maya Angelou, Nickelodeon, The United Nations, Bottega Veneta, and more. 

    Services

    • Casting
    • Film and TV content
    • Ad campaigns

    16. Noah Shelley

    Noah Shelley

    Noah Shelley is an experienced casting director represented by the Streeters Agency. He has been in the industry for 15 years, working on projects such as Dazed and Confused, Kanye West, and Calvin Klein. Shelley has also been involved in Gap, Tiffany & Co., and Skims campaigns. He regularly collaborates with Angus Munro, the casting director from AMC Casting.

    Services

    • Casting

    17. Plus Three Two

    Plus Three Two logo

    Founded by Evelien Joos and Shaun Beyen, Plus Three Two has been a leader in discovering and cultivating new talent for many years. In addition to models, they cast photographers, videographers, hair and makeup artists, and set designers to work on projects for clients like Karl Lagerfeld, Louis Vuitton, and Oscar de la Renta, helping to make their visions into a reality.

    Services

    • Casting
    • Social media research 
    • Budget management 
    • Creative talent sourcing
    • Talent conceptualization
    • On-set talent management
    • Fee negotiation
    • Art buying

    18. Red Penny

    redpenny logo

    Red Penny has been a casting agency in the industry for over two decades. They specialize in casting for commercials, lifestyle, fashion, “street,” and “real people.” They are flexible and strive to provide the best talent to suit their client’s needs. Chase Bank, Mercedes Benz, Cadillac, and Chevron are among their clients.

    Services

    • Casting 
    • Social media

    19. Stefanie Stein

    Stefanie Stein logo

    Stefanie Stein Casting is a casting agency that specializes in models, celebrities, influencers, and real people. They search for talent to cast for editorial pieces, commercials, fashion shows, and advertisements. Notable clients of Stefanie Stein Casting include Phoebe Tonkin, Kendall Jenner, Willow Smith, Tiffany & Co., Tommy Hilfiger, and Neiman Marcus.

    Services

    • Casting

    20. Trew Production

    Trew logo

    Trew Production is a complete production agency located in New York, founded by Drew Lineham, an expert in fashion with 23 years of experience. They collaborate with all kinds of brands for lifestyle, luxury, and contemporary markets. They have organized more than 200 fashion shows and photoshoots and have worked with Emilio Cavallini, Conde Nast, American Eagle, and Vogue.

    Services

    • Casting
    • Art buying
    • Creative direction
    • Event production and design 
    • Stage management
    • Styling
    • Wardrobe coordination
    • Show direction
    • Event direction

    21. Wulf Casting

    wulf logo

    Wulf Casting is an acclaimed casting studio with experience casting for commercials, prints, fashion campaigns, comedy, and branded content. With over ten years of expertise, Wulf Casting has established a strong collection of projects with celebrities and brands such as Millie Bobby Brown, Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa, Nintendo, Vogue, and Dior.

    Services

    • Casting 
    • Production consulting
    • Budgeting
    • Photography
    • Directors

    22. Xyne Casting

    Xyne logo

    Xyne Casting takes pride in locating the most unusual-looking models, actors, and musicians for projects. They offer services in street casting but also accept applications from anyone interested in participating in projects. Xyne Casting has worked on various projects, from campaigns to social media, and has collaborated with Dolce and Gabbana, Vogue, Elle, and Milk Makeup.

    Services

    • Casting 

    23. Zan Casting 

    Zan Casting logo

    Zan Casting is focused on discovering unique and genuine talent to help bring stories to life. They form strong connections with their talent and clients and manage negotiations with celebrities and influencers. They cast their talent through worldwide street casting and collaborated with West Elm, Vera Wang, Netflix, Instagram, and more for advertisements, initiatives, and commercials.

    Services

    • Casting
    • Talent support
    • Voice over

    Work With the Best NYC Casting Agency for Your Production

    It’s not an easy task to find the right casting agency that meets your production needs and has the perfect talent fit. That’s why it’s important to research and find an agency with the experience and expertise to provide you with top-notch talent.

    Once you’re ready to set up your production, let us do the heavy lifting. LÜK Network makes production management easy, efficient, and compliant with an all-in-one solution for 1099 payroll, crew management, and booking tools. We offer a comprehensive and practical set of tools to simplify your work–so you can save lots of time and stress. 

    We also tackle payment and streamline accounting by combining payments to all 1099 freelancers into one invoice. There’s also no need to worry about payroll taxes, issuing and storing tax forms, and withholding taxes from the workers’ paychecks. LÜK’s got it covered! With LÜK you can save up to 40% compared to traditional payroll services. LÜK also sends 1099-NEC directly to the talent if they meet the payment threshold set by the IRS.

    We’re just that good 🙂

    Schedule a meeting with our sales team right now so we can chat. We can’t wait to meet you!