how do you get your models?

[Fabian9931]

I always wondered how a photographer would get a model in front of them for G & N shots. Does the model get paid? and the photographer send the pics out to an agency? or does the model pay the photographer? just amazing how some models are very very attractive.. thanks

[Mark_Cohran]

It can happen all kinds of ways. If you're just starting out, you may need to work with family of friends, or pay a model. Once you get better, you can offer Time For Prints (TFP) or CD. Later, as you get even better, they'll pay you or you'll have clients pay you and you'll pay the model. And there are many combinations/variations of the above.

[Karl Johnston]

Once you really start to get up there, the models come to you or you can contact them through an agency.

Modelmayhem.com is a feeding ground for model photographers always seeking members of the industry, if not limited to just models.

I'd go as far to say if you wanted you could write an ad and stick it in a supermarket bulletin board, you'd get people coming to you just to try it out.

[Fabian9931]

thanks for the replies. next thing to tackle is having the wifey approve =D

[Moose408]

Originally Posted by Fabian9931

thanks for the replies. next thing to tackle is having the wifey approve =D

I found it was easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission.

[lauderdalems]

A good place to start is having your wife model for you.

[Dennis_Hammer]

chloroform......just kidding!

[Fabian9931]

Originally Posted by lauderdalems

A good place to start is having your wife model for you.

yeah, i read on how to convice your wife/girlfriend thread to pose so im going to try that soon. i will start with my sister this weekend probably

[chrisvl]

This is one of my biggest pet peeves that I hear. Why do wives assume that if you photograph women you want to sleep with them. F&$king insecurities.
I had an official Playboy shooter who is married with 2 kids tell me if that's the case then you got bigger issues. Suggestion he gave was have her come to the studio for a shoot and make her stay the entire time not just pop in and pop out. I went further and shot her for 5 hours, full MUA, 12 changes. At the end she was so tired and saw what the entire process is like. That fixed it.
Model Mayhem, Facebook, my gym, a
nd any beautiful woman I meet.See my post in the props thread.

[HSK]

This is something i was wondering about, not about Glamour or Nudes in general (probably something I wouldn't want to do at the moment). But just getting to work with models for shoots. As my friends are reluctant and shy! I don't really have the money to pay. I guess I have to persuade friends, and get a decent amount of shots, then try and offer shots to models for their time? (if they think it's worth it).

[Ohiodude]

Heh, just what I was looking for.

[jblaschke]

I took a couple of photography courses at the university I work for this semester, and was able to ask a handful of classmates to model for me. This was after the midpoint of the semester and they'd already gotten to know me, so it wasn't in a creepy, stalker kind of way. One was completely inexperienced, but did a great job on some locations and had a blast. The other actually modeled some as a teen in high school and was toying with the idea of updating her portfolio anyway. A third has never modeled, but is enthused about it and plans to shoot with me when the spring semester starts up. A fourth--who has incredibly wide, expressive eyes declined, because she doesn't think she takes good pictures.

How did the wife take it? Pretty well once I arranged for the former teen model to model for her (The Wife being a photog as well).

In all cases the students were flattered I'd asked them to model. The key, for me at least, is to build a relationship first and keep things light, friendly and professional.

[flipstyle72]

Many contact me on either MM or Myspace. Some are word of mouth. The word of mouth ones are usually the paying ones. almost always G&N stuff since that's what they mostly see in my galleries. They get the idea of what I shoot and don't expect otherwise. On one of my profiles where I keep more of my fetish work, I strictly state that "you will more than likely be nude, implied nude and/or bound (shibari rope bondage)" HAHA...sometimes I forget or don't realize i'm on that account and send request to some innocent looking models they probably wonder..."WTF?!!!"

[Mark II Shooter]

Originally Posted by Moose408

I found it was easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission.

Now that's Damn funny!!