Building a professional relationship with a model

So, I've been seeing a few members here taking photos of the same models. I feel there are great benefits in doing that. You get better photos from people who have worked with you in the past and know your style. I'm also thinking that the creative ideas could come from both the model and the photographer after a while. Also, comfort in knowing the person you're working with could lead to some great spontaneous photos.

I've tried contacting models on Model Mayhem but have had no luck (there goes $32). While I'm not a big fan of Craigslist in general anymore I figured I'd post an ad there since I believe I'll find someone closer to my location doing that.

If anyone has any better ideas in finding a model to work with on a regular basis just for creative purposes, let me know. I'd be interested in hearing your ideas.

Were you paying the model or just TFP? And what is the $32 on MM? MM is getting bad now but I still find most of my models there. I haven't used CL.

I was wondering what the 32 bucks was for too.

Cameraman.....you couldn't be more right with regard to the better you know the person, the better your pictures get. At least it certainly worked that way for me. When I first started shooting with my favorite my pictures pretty much sucked. After we got to know each other better and we shot together many times, I was getting much better results. And a great deal of that improvement I owe to her as she is very good at not only modeling but she's a pretty good shooter as well. So she had many great suggestions and I learned a lot from her. Plus, as we got to know each other better she became more intimate and relaxed and this really showed in the pictures.

Just my opinion but I would avoid Craigslist like the plague.

There is someone on here, and I'm sorry I can't remember who, but he simply sees people in public and approaches them and strikes a conversation in regard to shooting. I recall his posting pictures of a girl he met at a drive through that was very pretty and they shot together. I realize what most would think if approached like this but it clearly works for some. I mean....if you approach 10 people and get one taker......what the heck. Maybe suggest shooting in a public park to get to know each other a bit.

saea501 wrote in post #18514811
There is someone on here, and I'm sorry I can't remember who, but he simply sees people in public and approaches them and strikes a conversation in regard to shooting. I recall his posting pictures of a girl he met at a drive through that was very pretty and they shot together.

If I recall, that was RickRitz.

By golly...I think you're right, Look.

Thanks.

Yea MM used to be where we connected with models but the flake ratio was over 50% We also used/use CL a good amount and the flake rate is closer to 25% (I tell them all upfront if communication stops 24 hours before the shoot I just call it off).

We now get a lot of our models from casting calls we do on our social media accounts.

We have several models that we work with all the time, Taylor is pushing 20ish shoots, Treicia is at probably 12 and Kaitlin is around 10, Eris 5, and lots of others in the 2-3 range with more to come. And some of those are multi day traveling trips. Its a lot of fun, we shoot our idea and their ideas, they help me out when I have an idea that im not to sure of but want to give it a shot anyways. And yea the photos get better every time.

The $32 was referring to the fee on model mayhem for the premium service for 6 months. It's getting pretty ridiculous there. Now you HAVE to pay at MM just to message the models. And then you have to wait for their reply. I've sent about 20 messages on MM within the last couple weeks and haven't heard anything back.

And Craigslist, I've tried to sell stuff on there and the CL email address I get will get a ton of spam so I usually end up deleting the ad from CL just to stop the spam.

I'm not good at just walking up to people I don't know and asking them to pose/model for me but sounds like an interesting question. I'll have to get with rickritz and find out how he does it.

Since I'm looking for an ongoing proffessional deal, paying them every time could get expensive. The rickritz idea could be beneficial for both of us. And I will definitely look into that if mm and CL don't pan out.

CameraMan wrote in post #18514990
The $32 was referring to the fee on model mayhem for the premium service for 6 months. It's getting pretty ridiculous there. Now you HAVE to pay at MM just to message the models. And then you have to wait for their reply. I've sent about 20 messages on MM within the last couple weeks and haven't heard anything back.

And Craigslist, I've tried to sell stuff on there and the CL email address I get will get a ton of spam so I usually end up deleting the ad from CL just to stop the spam.

I'm not good at just walking up to people I don't know and asking them to pose/model for me but sounds like an interesting question. I'll have to get with rickritz and find out how he does it.

Since I'm looking for an ongoing proffessional deal, paying them every time could get expensive. The rickritz idea could be beneficial for both of us. And I will definitely look into that if mm and CL don't pan out.

When contacting models on MM I found I had to sort the models based on last activity to find those that are active. Even then you may not get a response. I would message models up to 100 miles away and a lot of them would end up traveling to me (we would plan shoots that lasted 4-6 hours to make it worth their time).

With regards to CL, set up a email just for CL ads. With that being said we did not get a ton of spam from the ads we put up, not like if we were selling something.

CameraMan wrote in post #18514990
The $32 was referring to the fee on model mayhem for the premium service for 6 months. It's getting pretty ridiculous there. Now you HAVE to pay at MM just to message the models. And then you have to wait for their reply. I've sent about 20 messages on MM within the last couple weeks and haven't heard anything back.

I have free MM account and you don't have to pay anything to send messages to anyone. I do all the time.

CameraMan wrote in post #18514990
I'm not good at just walking up to people I don't know and asking them to pose/model for me but sounds like an interesting question.

It's all in the frame of mind. If you look at every person you meet as an unapproachable person, then yes, beginning the conversation can be difficult. You claim you have a difficult time "just walking up to people" but that's exactly what you do on Model Mayhem or Craig's List. You're just using a different format. You may be hiding behind a computer but you're still approaching a stranger and asking them to model for you. As I said, it's all in the mindset. For me, I approach every person as if I've met them somewhere in my past. It skips the awkwardness and it makes the person feel instantly at ease.

As for finding models... have you considered something "closer to home"? You very own facebook account. I am sure you know some people who are photogenic, and I'm sure that a lot of the people you know likely also know someone who's photogenic. You'd be surprised how many friends are willing to "help out", specially if they're getting a free profile image for their own Facebook page out of the deal. Don't discount the obvious.

Good luck.

bobbyz wrote in post #18515156
I have free MM account and you don't have to pay anything to send messages to anyone. I do all the time.

They've recently changed their policy on that. You can message friends but not people you don't know. At least on my account is showed that.

I have never coordinated with models on CL but many other people, a couple of things I have noticed.

CL has no entry barrier, which means you have to filter people. Usually a couple of back and forth emails will filter out flakes, scammers, trash, etc.

Get a disposable email and do not respond to robot inquires "I am interested" "Is this still available". In your ad ask a question or put "respond with____" if it is not there it is a robot or they can even take 30 seconds to read your ad.

CameraMan wrote in post #18515290
They've recently changed their policy on that. You can message friends but not people you don't know. At least on my account is showed that.

First do friend request and then message. Why would you do other way around.

bobbyz wrote in post #18515691
First do friend request and then message. Why would you do other way around.

Because a lot of people, myself included do not check friend requests on MM, or at least did not before this change. Which now forces you to clutter your friends list with people that may or may not ever respond to you.

Littlejon Dsgn wrote in post #18515692
Because a lot of people, myself included do not check friend requests on MM, or at least did not before this change. Which now forces you to clutter your friends list with people that may or may not ever respond to you.

I agree with this 100%. It brings back the HUGE mistake I made several years ago on Facebook friending people because I needed other people to interact with in a game I was playing (Farmville). I gathered about 30+ friends whom I didn't even know. Now that I haven't played the game for several years I still have people on my friends list that I have never met and probably never will. Some are nice and have become great online friends. Others don't pay attention to me and have been unfriended.

Point being, what a pain it has been trying to find those people to unfriend them. I'm sure MM will find a way around that loop hole anyways.