In this episode of The Business of Modelling, Tessa sits down with Sophie Tataryn, senior model booker at The Hive with over a decade of industry experience.

 

Sophie’s career began at Sandra Reynolds, before moving to two of London’s top agencies – Milk Management and The Hive. Across these roles, she’s built a reputation for delivering high street campaigns, global bookings, and excellent model management. In this conversation, she breaks down exactly how the booking process works, what clients expect, and how to manage the daily chaos of castings, contracts and curveballs.

 

With sharp insights into diversity, negotiating usage, handling mother agencies, and the real mental pressures models face, Sophie offers a behind-the-scenes look at the mechanics of the industry. She also shares the moment she booked her biggest campaign yet – a £100k life-changing job for a model on the verge of giving up.

 

This is an honest, smart and refreshingly unfiltered chat with someone who’s seen every side of the modelling business – and still loves it.

 

Sophie Tataryn didn’t set out to be a model booker, but over the last ten years, she’s become one of the most respected names in London’s commercial scene. After getting her initial training at Sandra Reynolds in Norwich, she went on to spend five and a half years at Milk Management before joining The Hive, where she now works with global brands and scouts some of the industry’s freshest talent.

 

We met in London to talk about how the job works, what clients really expect, and why empathy and thick skin are the two most important skills a booker can have.

 

Sophie’s entry into the industry began with a nudge from her sister, a model who suggested she apply for a job at Sandra Reynolds. She didn’t expect to stay in the business long-term, but something clicked. “I just enjoyed making money,” she laughs. “I liked the pace, the people, the challenge of pulling everything together.”

 

Her move to Milk was a culture shock: “I started during fashion week – models in the office, castings non-stop, everyone shouting. I thought, what have I done? But once I settled in, I loved it.”

 

Unlike many of her peers, Sophie prefers commercial work over high fashion. “Fashion week was exciting, but it wasn’t me. I love booking for clients like Anthropologie, John Lewis – high street brands. You see the results on TV, on buses, in store windows.”

 

She explains the nuance of usage fees, why exclusivity is often the most dangerous clause in a contract, and how even small brands can slip surprising clauses into the fine print.

 

The work is relentless. From fielding castings and managing mother agencies to chasing contracts and troubleshooting self-tapes, Sophie’s days are full-throttle. “You’re a therapist one minute, a lawyer the next. Then you’re on a call persuading someone to go to Cape Town for £20k.”

 

She’s a fierce advocate for models, particularly when mental health is on the line. “You’re dealing with real people. If a model breaks up with their boyfriend, they might call you crying. If they’re dropped from a campaign last minute, that stings. You need empathy, but also boundaries.”

 

Sophie credits much of her diversity awareness to her time at Milk, where she worked under Anna Shillinglaw, a pioneer in curve modelling. “It was eye-opening. I hadn’t realised how big the curve market was. Now you’re seeing boards for trans, non-binary, and disabled models. It’s so much better than it was.”

But she’s also honest about the slow pace of change in fashion:

 

One of Sophie’s proudest moments came when she booked a major electronics campaign. “The model had just come into the office in tears. She thought it was over for her. The next week, she got a job that paid her £100,000. She was then able to freeze her eggs and buy a house. That’s why I love what I do.”

 

For anyone looking to follow in her footsteps, Sophie is clear: start anywhere, be eager, and do everything. “No one wakes up booking Vogue. We all started printing comp cards or booking taxis. Learn the process. Ask questions. And remember – quoting is a team sport.”