I was almost scammed too:Thanks for submitting your modeling application to Empire Models. Our creative team has reviewed your application and has provided positive feedback on it. Your application has been shortlisted. Although this is a good indication, it's not a guarantee that you will become a professional model right away. The next stage is to do a trial-photo shoot assessment to test your ability to model professionally and to identify what facets of the industry you are best suited for. We are NOT a modeling agency. We are a world wide, top modeling support service. We specialize in working with people such as yourself who are interested in the modeling industry! Please read through this email thoroughly before confirming acceptance, as we only have a limited number of appointments and therefore only invite serious applicants. Appointments are currently available on a first come first served basis. We would like to offer you the chance to come to one of our NYC studios for a trial photoshoot assessment. Because your application was hand-picked, the cost of the test-shoot is fully covered by Empire Models. Your trial-shoot will take between 3-4 hours. Here we can see your true potential to become a model and you will get the opportunity to work with our team of fashion stylists, makeup artists, hair stylists, photographers and other industry professionals.Our New York studios, Apex, West-38 and Maps, are high profile and as such, only interested in serious applicants. To ensure attendance, a fully refundable booking deposit of $50 is taken at the time of scheduling your appointment. This deposit is fully refundable as long as you attend the test-shoot. The deposit is only lost if you fail to attend or if you're more than 30 minutes late to your appointment. Please note that this is non-negotiable and no exceptions will be made.About the day of the shootYou must attend the test-shoot as a blank canvas. We want you to show up with clean, dry hair, no styling products and no makeup. Hair, makeup and styling will all be done professionally on the day of your shoot. We recommend bringing a minimum of 5-7 outfit changes. The more variety the better. The recommended outfits will be discussed with you after your test shoot is reserved. During your test-shoot, you will have 3-4 hair and makeup changes so that we can assess your versatility as a model and whether or not you are ready to approach the industry. No previous experience is required. Our team of professionals will guide you through the entire process. After the trial shoot is completeOnce you've completed the trial-shoot, we'll have a better understanding of whether or not you are suitable to pursue a career as a professional model. The assessment results will be discussed with you on the day of the shoot. As mentioned, it is a trial-shoot and not every shoot is successful. If your shoot is not successful, we will review the images with you and feedback will be provided. However, the studio will not be permitted to release the images to you for personal or promotional use and your deposit will be refunded.On the other hand, if your shoot is successful and ONLY IF we feel you are able to pursue a career, the studio will then give you the opportunity to sit down with an image consultant who will discuss an effective networking strategy and help you select images that were taken during your shoot. For example: A portfolio may be presented amongst other image packaging options and services. A portfolio is a collection of professional images of a very high standard (magazine quality), collectively put together to showcase a model. This “visual resume” is something that modeling agencies use to market models and find paid work in the industry. This is an optional service which is only offered if the shoot is successful. Image packaging starts at $399.00, financing may be available on a case by case basis. The image packaging will be tailored to your chosen areas of the industry and your budget.After your trial-shoot has been booked, a confirmation will be emailed to you. This will contain your appointment date and time, a receipt of the booking deposit and directions to the studio.Once you have read this email, please call me before 6:30pm today to confirm you received this email and to book your trial-shoot appointment. Appointments are available on a first-come first-serve basis for shortlisted applicants, so please call me as soon as possible.Congratulations! I look forward to speaking with you soon!