Model (with little or no experience) pay rate question

[lake_tuna]

I'm not a professional photographer, but I have a small side project that I proposed at work where I would need to collect some headshots of people wearing some products that our company sells. Our product photographer is really busy, so I proposed that I try it out to see how it turns out. We currently out-source it, but I feel like we could do it in-house easily. Heck, I'll volunteer to do it if I can learn some more flash photography, and they let me use our studio! I have set up a simple two-light "studio" in my garage with what I have for this.

I put up an ad last night on Craiglist, and I'm looking at Model Mayhem to get one or two people. I'm offering $20/hr for this, but is this too cheap? The "shoot" is really simple, and the model will just have to stand there and smile. On MM, I'm looking at local (within 5mi) with "No Experience" as that's just what I need.

I'd like to receive some inputs regarding what your experienced thoughts are.

PS: what does "Some Experience" exactly mean when a model has this under her experience level? Some of them have some decent photos in their profiles.

[PhotosGuy]

I'm offering $20/hr for this, but is this too cheap?

Probably, but only she can answer that. Maybe throw in a few prints.

[Csae]

Experience for a model basically means you won't have to tell her how to pose and she'll do it properly and can free pose without direction from you.

Between an inexperienced photographer and an inexperienced model, its gonna be a pretty random shoot. Might still work though.

[isoMorphic]

Maybe $20/hr seems fair to you but consider how long will it take which determines how much the model will actually make. If it took an hour or two it might not be worth breaking another engagement. But if you paid a set amount for the shoot you might get more time for your money and the model can better decide if it's worth his/her time. You might consider something like $120 per day or up to $180 per day depending on experience because the experience is worth more and can net more usable content in much less time.

Also you need to think about what if the shoot runs longer then expected due to complications with gear, weather or some other random factor. Your model may decide they want to cut half way through the day and cash out with you not getting the job finished.

[Csae]

No matter what you decide, make sure to get a contract with proper model release, specifically covering some of the points mentioned by Iso as they are good points, if the model needs to leave for any reason, What happens.

Some reasons may be valid, and a re-schedule of the shoot possible, some may not and a cut of the model's pay would ward her off from just skipping to meet friends.

[Dan Marchant]

+1 to the above - get a signed model release in case the company wants to use these images in adverts etc.

[tim]

$20/hr is too little for anyone with experience. $20/hr is too little if you plan to use the images for advertising. $20/hr is too much if this is an experiment and the model has no experience.

[jra]

From the info you give.....it's really difficult to answer your question. If you want to hire a professional model, $20/hour isn't going to cut it. If you simply need a warm body to stand there and smile, $20/hour may get the job done. IMO, it seems that you (and your company) may be overlooking the value of good quality photography and modeling. To create those images that sell product is usually a pretty demanding request from the model and photographer. Sub-standard images from a sub-standard model doesn't usually create much of a sales demand.

[lake_tuna]

Thanks for the inputs. Let's not get side-tracked, though! These photos are not going to be used commercially, this is merely an experiment.

I'm definitely looking for some with no experience, as I am inexperienced. I could pay more if I need to, but I think I'll learn more with someone of similar level. Offering photos and prints afterward is an option if anything good comes out.

About the release agreement, is there a standard form people use?

[tnis0612]

Do you really need a model or can you just get a friend or co-worker to help you out? If it's an experiment and you're looking for someone with little to no experience, personally I would just ask one of my friends, and maybe offer to do a headshot wearing whatever clothes they like after they wear your products as a thank you. Maybe you're looking for a specific look though and that woudlnt work.

I would think that any aspiring model with no experience would work for $20/hr (even free) if they thought they were going to get portfolio material out of it. Since it doesn't sound like that is the case, $20/hr may not be enough for most, but probably will for some. Like already mentioned, it probably depends more on the daily total than the hourly rate. I wouldn't drive to your studio, sit there for an hour for $20 and then drive home.

[PhotosGuy]

Forms, legal docs, contracts

[RDKirk]

I'm not a professional photographer, but I have a small side project that I proposed at work where I would need to collect some headshots of people wearing some products that our company sells. Our product photographer is really busy, so I proposed that I try it out to see how it turns out. We currently out-source it, but I feel like we could do it in-house easily. Heck, I'll volunteer to do it if I can learn some more flash photography, and they let me use our studio! I have set up a simple two-light "studio" in my garage with what I have for this.

Whether or not the images are used in a final advertisement, they are still being used for business as far as anyone modeling is concerned. It's like hiring an extra for a television pilot that never gets picked up--the actors still get paid, including the extras.

If the person is aspiring as a model for a company project, that's a "real" job whether you use it or not, and being hired is being hired. Pay her whatever the standard minimum fee for modeling is in your area.

Let's put it this way: If an art director hired me to shoot for an "experiment," he'd have to make the benefits pretty plumb for me to accept anything less than regular rate. My time is still my time.

If it really, really doesn't matter what the person looks like, then have a friend stand in--not someone who is trying to be a professional.