Hired Hands Models (HHM) is a specialist modelling agency providing professional talent for advertising, film, broadcast and commercial production.
Founded in London in 1991, the agency has spent more than 35 years discovering and representing highly skilled specialist models capable of delivering consistently in demanding production environments.
While widely recognised as the UK’s leading hand modelling agency, HHM today represents a diverse roster of specialist and commercial talent — including body parts models, commercial advertising models and experienced session artists.
Across the advertising and creative industries, HHM has built a reputation for supplying reliable, production-ready talent trusted by producers, photographers, agencies and brands to perform under the pressures of professional production.
Hired Hands Models was founded in 1991 by Steve and Judi Barker, originally operating from their home in North London.
Steve had built his career working as a copywriter in advertising agencies, regularly attending commercial productions where he recognised a growing demand for professional hand models capable of performing reliably in close-up product advertising.
At the time, very few agencies specialised in this discipline. Together, Steve and Judi established an agency dedicated to discovering and representing professional hand models who maintained exceptional standards of care, precision and reliability.
Over time HHM became widely recognised across the advertising, photographic and broadcast industries as the go-to agency for specialist hand modelling talent in the United Kingdom.
As the demands of commercial production evolved, the agency expanded its roster to include body parts models, commercial models and experienced session artists, while continuing to maintain the specialist expertise that originally defined the business.
More than three decades later, HHM remains widely regarded as the UK’s leading hand modelling agency and a trusted source of professional modelling talent for commercial productions.
Today the agency is run by Chloe Barker and Thomas Albone, who took over the day-to-day running of the business from Steve and Judi in 2019.
Both brought significant experience from within the creative industries before joining HHM. Chloe previously worked in advertising and post-production, where she developed a deep understanding of the creative and technical demands of commercial production.
Thomas built his career in digital media and performance marketing, working within the advertising industry before joining the agency.
Together they combine experience from across the advertising, production and media sectors, bringing a modern commercial perspective to the agency while continuing the values and professional standards established by its founders.
Under their leadership HHM has continued to evolve — supporting productions across advertising, ecommerce, broadcast and branded content — while maintaining the specialist expertise and dependable service that have defined the agency for more than three decades.
As a family-run independent agency operating across two generations, HHM remains personally invested in the success of every production it supports.
Today Hired Hands Models supports productions across a wide range of commercial and creative industries, including:
Alongside hand modelling — the discipline on which the agency built its reputation — HHM represents specialist body part models, commercial advertising models and experienced session artists capable of performing confidently within professional production environments.
More than 35 years after its founding, the agency continues to evolve alongside the needs of the advertising and creative industries, while maintaining the professionalism, reliability and specialist expertise that have defined HHM since the beginning.
Throughout its history, HHM has remained guided by a set of core principles that shape how the agency represents talent and works with clients.
HHM represents talent from a wide range of backgrounds, identities and lived experiences. Authentic casting helps campaigns reflect real people and real stories, ensuring brands connect with audiences in a meaningful and responsible way.
We advocate for fair pay, respectful working conditions and transparent professional practices across the creative industries. HHM promotes responsible representation of talent and ensures both clients and models work within clear and professional frameworks.
As a family-run agency operating across two generations, HHM combines traditional values of trust, integrity and personal service with a modern understanding of the modelling industry. Our independence means our reputation depends on every production running smoothly.
Founded in 1991, HHM has spent more than 35 years building specialist expertise within commercial modelling. From pioneering hand modelling to representing a diverse range of specialist talent, the agency continues to evolve alongside the needs of the advertising and production industries.
HHM models are selected not simply for appearance, but for their ability to perform confidently within professional commercial productions. Our talent are trusted to take direction clearly, maintain precision under demanding conditions and deliver reliable results on set.
HHM is committed to supporting both emerging and established talent throughout their careers. By providing guidance, opportunities and industry insight, the agency helps models develop the skills required to succeed within demanding commercial production environments.
HHM represents individuals who understand the realities of professional production, capable of delivering reliable performances across demanding commercial environments. This focus on professionalism, specialist expertise and dependable service continues to define the agency today.
It is also why production teams across the creative industries continue to trust Hired Hands Models — an independent, family-run agency representing models who get the job done.
