finding models

[tiptop70]

hello,

i never thought it was be nearly impossible to find models to do TFP work. i am looking to do portraits. of course i could ask my friends, but i would prefer to work with someone who knows how to pose and won't be shy around around the camera.

any ideas? i know about one model place and similiar services. i've had zero luck. am i a fool? should i just suck it up and pay for someone? if so, what should i expect to pay?

thanks for any information!

chris

[VentureFox]

hello,

i never thought it was be nearly impossible to find models to do TFP work. i am looking to do portraits. of course i could ask my friends, but i would prefer to work with someone who knows how to pose and won't be shy around around the camera.

any ideas? i know about one model place and similiar services. i've had zero luck. am i a fool? should i just suck it up and pay for someone? if so, what should i expect to pay?

thanks for any information!

chris

Chris,

Are you registered and have your portfolio on-line at OneModelPlace and Net-Model? What are the responses that you are getting from models? Is your portfolio looking like it would help an aspiring model?

I don't do TFP (only paid work) for models, but I constantly get approached asking if I would consider doing TFP/TFCD work with them. Have you tried posting in the forums at OneModelPlace and/or Net-Model and similar places offering your free services?

Hope this helps.

Regards

Have you tried posting

[tiptop70]

martin,

thanks for the information. i think part of the problem is that while my work is solid, it is a photojournalistic style, which of course does not really fit with what most models want or need for their portfolio. i don't expect to work with giselle, just someone with some sense of what to do in front of the camera.

i have not posted a portfolio. i was really looking for any information or tips outside of those sites. i don't have anything posted because the vast majority of models will do paid assignments only.

what's odd is any university has art classes and there are figure models for those classes. there must be people out there willing to model! i tried craig's list as well - zip. i may have to post a portfolio and pay someone. i don't mind paying at all - but that was the second part of my question: how much is sensible?

thanks!

chris

[VentureFox]

martin,

thanks for the information. i think part of the problem is that while my work is solid, it is a photojournalistic style, which of course does not really fit with what most models want or need for their portfolio. i don't expect to work with giselle, just someone with some sense of what to do in front of the camera.

i have not posted a portfolio. i was really looking for any information or tips outside of those sites. i don't have anything posted because the vast majority of models will do paid assignments only.

what's odd is any university has art classes and there are figure models for those classes. there must be people out there willing to model! i tried craig's list as well - zip. i may have to post a portfolio and pay someone. i don't mind paying at all - but that was the second part of my question: how much is sensible?

thanks!

chris

Chris,

I find it really hard to believe that you would have to pay with anything else than Prints or CDs. However, if you have your eyes set on a particular model then approach her with details regarding the shoot i.e. duration, style (fashion, portrait, glamour, lingerie etc.), if you want her to sign a release and ask what her rate would be. The rate vary enormously depending on the model's experience, better to ask what they would like and then decide if it is worth it to you. Better yet, ask a few that you like and compare their rates...then decided what you are willing to offer.

Martin

[MTalley]

I was shooting some portraits at my daughter's high school graduation exercises, not for pay, but just to get a few random shots with my then-new DRebel. One of the girls in her class stepped in front of the camera and was completely at ease and natural. I didn't even have to suggest any poses, as she did all the work for me. I came out with several great shots of her, totally unplanned and unstaged.

After I was done, she asked if I was a professional photographer - meaning, did I do this for a living. I told her no, that it was just a hobby and that I didn't have any immediate aspirations for stepping out of the corporate world to take this on full-time. Turns out that she's extremely interested in majoring in photography as she enters college this fall and is dying to get some practical experience in the field along the way.

I guess the point is, maybe you can find someone similarly. This girl isn't a model, per se, but has a dynamic personality, a great face and a natural talent for striking natural looking poses. I'm thinking of asking her to do some more work this summer, for free, in exchange for some prints, a portfolio, or just some basic photography lessons.

If I had a model release and was sure the girl was 18, I'd post a couple of examples. But, I'll play it safe for now. :)

[Longwatcher]

Just for your information,
when I was still doing TFP/CD, I would send off about 10 messages on OMP to one response of which 1 in 3 would result in a date set and 1 in 3 of those would not show up.

So if you send out about 20-30 emails, you will get about 1 session.

I run about 1 in 5 for paid sessions. But I also aim for full nude fetish models.

Plus you are most likely to be sucessful if catching them when they first join OMP as that is the time they are most likely to need a TFP/CD session.

As to rates,
$15-25/hour for clothed is fair
$25-50/hour for lingiere is fair
$50-100/hour for partial or full nude is fair
Most models will have a 2-3 hour minimum
More popular models will cost more. Giselle would probably be about US $2500 per hour or more clothed, but I don't even try for that level.

Note that artist's models (who pose for paintings) usually get about $25 hour for nude.
Which I always find interesting given how much the same model will charge for a photography session.

Lastly I have found that short messages seem to work better then long involved messages at least initially.

Just my experience,

[tiptop70]

thanks to all for the advice.

longwatcher - thanks for the valuable and detailed response. i don't get the not showing up thing. why say yes if you have no intention of showing up? i'm not that interested in doing nude work at this time, so hopefully it will be a bit easier to find someone. those numbers are a bit discouraging in terms of messages sent and an actual shoot.

wish me luck.

chris

[KevC]

You say you're at a university. Post up some ads, there may be aspiring models at your school. Or maybe some kids that just wanna have some fun. I've been considering doing that, but I wanna get some practise before asking strangers hehe.

[Longwatcher]

thanks to all for the advice.

longwatcher - thanks for the valuable and detailed response. i don't get the not showing up thing. why say yes if you have no intention of showing up? i'm not that interested in doing nude work at this time, so hopefully it will be a bit easier to find someone. those numbers are a bit discouraging in terms of messages sent and an actual shoot.

wish me luck.

chris

Not really,
Consider that some of the people put up a OMP site because it was suggested by friends that they would make a great model. Then when it actually becomes time to be taken up on the offer, they decide that they don't want to any more.
Also, they may not like your style of photography or say they are willing to do TFP/CD without understanding that they don't get any money for that kind of shoot.
As to the ones that set a date and then not show up, that is annoying, but they figure it is free so didn't cost you anything. Not realising that it cost me some time that I could have been doing something else. I have also found out a couple of them are apparently more absent minded then I am. Which is why I reconfirm once a month if date was set more then a month in advance and then 1 week out I formally reconfirm all details agreed to between us, along with directions and link to model release.

Now my track record for paid models once a date has been set stands at 100% eventually showed up, but have had two that had to reschedule, one of those called me ahead of time, the other was in a car accident and had to go with daughter to hospital for stiches so missed shoot with me and another photographer in local area.

I am guessing that even if I did clothed shoots and was paying the models I would still have a 1 in 5 response to initial email sent, but my initial contact to date set would be 3 out of 4 would set a date for the shoot versus 1 of 3.

I should also mention that as the level of membership for the model goes up my response rate has also gone up, except a few models who seem too high and mighty to respond with at least "you aren't even close to what I would want for the job". I have run in to a couple of those and even though they constantly update the travel agendas I don't even bother to see if the are passing near my area any more as they haven't bothered to respond when I asked their rates or made an offer, but I know they are active. Sad because I occasionally have special projects where I can pay considerably more for less time so if they just let me know their rates I can maybe use them later, if not for my usual about once a month pay-per-view model session.

A final bit of trivia,
The limited experience I have with male models is that I get a response rate of 1 in 3 emails sent and both of them have been extremely punctual.

Just my experience,
Luckly I am somewhat persistant (AKA obsessive/compulsive)

[Vetteography]

Umm.... this might not be the place for this, but what is TFP?

[tim]

Umm.... this might not be the place for this, but what is TFP?

Time For Prints - they give you their time, you give them prints of the shots.

[DocFrankenstein]

Start somewhere... start with friends, sometimes it's more interesting to work with someone inexperienced where you have to direct them and make the feel relaxed and connected. And you'll have some pictures to show the next person.

Because you're not always working with the professional models, sometimes you just get someone who have no idea as to what to do in front of the camera. This is where "plain jain" experiences come in handy.

Establish yourself as the "photo guy". I got this rep by accident and instantly got more TFPs than I can handle.

Just talk to people... be seen with you camera on campus... shoot stuff, make an exhibition of your work at the university gallery (they really need it, trust me).

[PhotosGuy]

Or, you could try "Trolling". You could hang the cam from a neck strap with about a 600mm lens on it (it should reach about to your knees) & just walk around campus! See what develops! :D:D:D

Seriously, just take some excellent shots of a popular girl on campus, & soon you'll have more 'work' than you can handle! ;-)

[mgbeach]

martin,

thanks for the information. i think part of the problem is that while my work is solid, it is a photojournalistic style, which of course does not really fit with what most models want or need for their portfolio. i don't expect to work with giselle, just someone with some sense of what to do in front of the camera.

i have not posted a portfolio. i was really looking for any information or tips outside of those sites. i don't have anything posted because the vast majority of models will do paid assignments only.

what's odd is any university has art classes and there are figure models for those classes. there must be people out there willing to model! i tried craig's list as well - zip. i may have to post a portfolio and pay someone. i don't mind paying at all - but that was the second part of my question: how much is sensible?

thanks!

chris
I was in the same boat, having shot predominantly scenic and nature/wildlife. I knew my way around a camera, but had no proof when it came to portraiture/fashion.

I would suggest taking a workshop locally on fashion or glamour photography. The cost is usually less than you could have hired the models for the day, and you're getting instruction on something that's new to you as well. You'll come away with images for your online portfolio and a working relationship with a couple of models who may be willing to shoot more with you one-on-one. This has worked wonderfully for me after taking Charles Umberger's workshop in Charlotte. There's another one coming up in June if you can make it.

[mbze430]

Personally I think finding MUA is harder than models. Specially good ones.

[tiptop70]

wow,

tremendous responses all and i thank you. "This has worked wonderfully for me after taking Charles Umberger's workshop in Charlotte." i wish i could, but charlotte is a bit too far for me. i am actually amazed that in boston, too my knowledge, there is NOTHING even remotely similar to what charles u offers. i would certainly go the class route and try networking from that. if anyone is aware of classes in boston, let me know. i now have a ton of ideas and things to try.

thanks again to all!

chris

[CappuccinoDavid]

Chris,

Are you registered and have your portfolio on-line at OneModelPlace and Net-Model? What are the responses that you are getting from models? Is your portfolio looking like it would help an aspiring model?

I don't do TFP (only paid work) for models, but I constantly get approached asking if I would consider doing TFP/TFCD work with them. Have you tried posting in the forums at OneModelPlace and/or Net-Model and similar places offering your free services?

Hope this helps.

Regards

Have you tried posting

Thanks for the info... I just set up shop on OneModelPlace plus I going to have some of my models to do the same
Thanks again

[tafletcher]

Is there a place where all the acronyms are? I would like to know what they mean.

[mbze430]

TFP/CD = Time for Prints or CD or DVD. CD and DVD are getting really popular. As model now can see the whole shoot. I ALWAYS resize them to 4x6 @ 200. This will give professional photograhers a chance to make up the cost for 8x10 prints

MUA = Make-Up Artist. I NEVER shoot without one.

I think this is all the acronyms used in this thread.

[InskiP]

I finished up school before having my baby and am finally getting back into photograpy and digital imaging. I mostly like to shoot people, especially babies and children and I want to start working on my portfolio. I have access to lots of children through a MOMS club that I belong to,
so there's lots of potential models for me around. I thought about putting in an add in our newsletter but don't want to get bombarded. I have a couple of kids in mind. Does anyone have any advice for as to what approach to take w/ the parents? I feel awkward asking them to sign a model release for their kids, but I know I have ot get over this...Most of the model releases that I've seen basically say that the photographer is the copyright holder and can basically do what ever they want w/ the picture...Maybe I'm not fully understanding the terminology. I just think the parents may have a problem w/ this. My main goal is to obtain pics for my portfolio. I don't necessarily want to sell the pics, however, you never know...I enjoy doing those hand tinted BW pics of kids that you see on greeting cards and someday I might have one that's good enough to sell. I just don't know how all this works w/ the model.

Of course. I would give the parents some prints.

Guidence anyone???

[PhotosGuy]

Some will sign & some won't. It's a small price to "pay" to CYA, no? ;-)