My Experience at Studio 1 – A Modeling Horror Story
- themelanienichole
- Oct 3
- 3 min read
On January 18th, 2025, I walked into Studio 1 in Dallas for what I thought would be a fresh start to my modeling career. Little did I know, I was about to step into one of the worst experiences I’ve had in the industry — and one that left me $4,000 in debt.
The Build-Up
This shoot was supposed to be special. It was my first professional shoot since I was a kid. I started modeling when I was 8 years old, trained at Missy’s Modeling Studio, and even walked some runways back then. But life took me in different directions, and this was my “comeback.”
My mom actually found the shoot online — advertised as free portfolio building for new models. That sounded perfect. I needed updated shots for my portfolio to start applying to castings. I was excited, nervous, and honestly hopeful. They told me to bring clothes and show up with no makeup. Easy enough, right? Wrong.
Behind the Scenes Chaos
When they said no makeup, I thought they meant no makeup. What they actually meant was the “no makeup look” — the polished natural vibe every agency wants. But this was supposed to be a shoot for beginners. No one explained that, and no one fixed it.
There were other models there, and they were sweet to talk to. Honestly, I wish I could’ve grabbed them, sat them down, and told them to run. The photographer? Imagine the stereotype of a stuffy, flamboyant New York photographer with zero warmth or connection. That’s what we got.
Then came the outfits. First, jeans and a white shirt, barefoot, hair untouched, no makeup. Not the sleek “digitals” look — just… rough. Next was a fitness outfit: sports bra and leggings, again barefoot. At least here I got a couple of shots I liked, but there were so many more poses I wish we’d done.
Business casual came next, and they finally touched my hair and makeup. And by “touched,” I mean butchered. Harsh black eyeliner under my eyes, a ponytail with curled bangs, and flat, uninspired styling. I tried to convince myself maybe it would look good on camera. It didn’t.
We shot outside — in January. In Dallas. Freezing. Harsh sunlight, shooting against the sun, bad angles, bad lighting. By the time I got to my formal outfit (a stunning long black dress with heels), my hair and makeup were still awful. And while these were the best photos of the shoot, they still weren’t usable.
The Sales Trap
After the shoot, they had me sit forever while they “edited” and picked images. Finally, they brought me into an office. This is where it went from disappointing to predatory.
They showed me my photos (awful, but I didn’t know better yet) and sat there telling me I needed their highest package if I ever wanted to make it in modeling. They claimed they had all the connections, all the secrets. They piled on the pressure until I caved. Over $4,000 later, I had:
7 mediocre photos per outfit
A botched website
An out of date comp card
And “mentorship” that never happened
This is how they prey on new models. They make you think you need them, and that without paying, you’ll never have a shot.
(Here is what they considered "Mentorship." This is definitely informative but nothing that you can't find online.)
Redacted for my own protection
Lessons Learned
This shoot was a zero out of five stars. But it gave me lessons I’ll never forget:
Check reviews before you pay a dime.
Always sleep on big financial decisions.
Ask other models for their experiences. (No connections? DM me. I’ll talk to you.)
Advocate for yourself. If something feels off — makeup, hair, styling — say it.
If it feels fishy, it probably is.
Most importantly, I learned that I am an amazing model. I can work in bad conditions and still find usable shots. Modeling is muscle memory for me, and I refused to let this one nightmare stop me.
Final Thoughts
So, yeah. F*** Studio 1. Don’t waste your time. If you’re looking for portfolio help, I can point you in the right direction based on your budget and goals.
This is just the beginning of my blog series. I’ll be sharing all of my experiences — good, bad, and ugly — along with honest advice about who to work with and who to avoid in this industry.
Stay tuned. The tea is just starting to spill.
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