Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Scam photoshoot hits mum for £2k Modelling firm in court action after snaring teenager
A MOTHER is being sued by a modelling photo studio after refusing to buy its outrageously expensive picture portfolio.
I’ve been warning for years how hopeful models are snared with offers of free photoshoots, and then bamboozled into buying the pictures.
These portfolios are worthless as tools for trying to break into modelling and no genuine model agency would look twice at them.
Mum Louise Honeywill, from Surbiton, Surrey, was snared after her 14-year-old daughter Paige applied to Route 66 Models.
“The UK’S most successful modelling platform,” its website boasts.
“We can help the models who use our service accomplish something truly amazing in the modelling industry.”
Route 66 phoned Louise and invited Paige to a photoshoot.
There was a £50 deposit but Louise was reassured by the promise “No joining fees”.
The shoot was taken by a second business, Mac Studios, based in Wardour Street, in central London.
This is a trading name of Digital Fashion Photography, whose director is Oliver James, 35.
He is also the director of Eco Serv Direct Ltd, the company behind Route 66 Models and sister operation Six Models.
At the end of the shoot, Louise says that she was pushed into signing a contract to buy the pictures of Paige.
There was a £600 downpayment, to be followed by three instalments of £450, after which she’d be sent the portfolio. She thought better of it after getting home.
“I was led to believe it was a free photo session which would lead to jobs,” she said.
“They were very good on the hard sell and the guy who twisted my arm to sign up for the £1,950 package claimed he used to be in Harry Potter.
“They claimed that once I had my daughter’s photos and website I should go back to Route 66 and they would put Paige forward for loads of jobs and she could earn up to £2,000 a time and fly all over the world, and because she is only 14 I would have to be her agent.
“I felt under a lot of pressure at the time to sign the paperwork, I was only given 10 minutes to make a decision.” A string of modelling review websites are filled with praise for Oliver James’s businesses Route 66 Models, Six Models and Mac Studios. Model-advice-centre. co.uk claims to be “an independent online advice service which works to educate aspiring models”.
It describes Route 66 Models as “one of the most active and best respected modelling agencies”.
One person posted about Six Models and
Mac Studios, saying: “Since that day with Six
Far from refunding her £600, Mac Studios is suing Louise for the outstanding balance.
In a barely literate email from studio@macstudios.co.uk, which carried no name, it said: “Im afraid you cannot cancel the contract which i can see you agreed to at the time of purchase sorry i cannot not be more hep in this matter. Have a lovely day.”
In another email the firm told her: Models and Mac I have thankfully broken into the industry and I’m already finding success.”
A second website, Storiesfrom Femalemodels.co.uk, features a model gushing: “I have always dreamt of entering the modelling industry. Now I’m living my dream, and it’s with thanks to Six Models.” A third is Beingamodel Inlondon.co.uk and the comments include: “Six Models is not a scam! they are the best!”
All three review sites are registered to... can you guess? Oliver James.
“you false claims of feeling pressured are not true.”
In a third unsigned email, Louise was told: “I feel it would be best if we now wait until the case go’s to court to proceed. Have a nice evening.”
Mr James said: “We believe the comments made by Miss Honeywell (sic) and Gary Benjamin to be libelist (sic) and due to upcoming legal proceedings I’ve been advised not to comment.”