What sites to look for local models?

I had a link before from POTN where I found local models, but i lost it.

does anyone know good sites to find models, other than the usuals?

-onemodelplace.com
-models.com

any help or a link to a good previous post would be much appreciated.

I've gotten some good use out of Model Mayhem..

Mark

I haven't tried it, but I was also told Craig's list (although you need to watch out for non-models posing as models to get business and the police who try to nail their cutomers). In either case a disatisfied model.

I personally use One Model Place and Model Mayhem

Doink!

Model Mayhem was the one i was looking for, i could'nt remember it for the life of me.

I am on a tiny island near japan, and there was like 6 models looking to TFPics on Mayhem. all the other sites dont have much to choose from on Okinawa, but they do.

Thx again, for the save. you two are awesome.

I'm just curious, with amatur models, how much do they usually charge? A lot of them state that they are looking to build their portfolios in which case I think they should be happy to have someone photograph them but I suspose they need to make a living as well.

How does it generally work? I want to start doing more portrait work once I get a bit more gear but I doubt I could afford to be spending much on models.

depends. have a look at their portfolio. most times a "model" has never worked with a real photographer before (because the photogs charge them so much).

If they have little or no pro work previously, you can easily "TFP" or "TFCD" you just call them or email them and say" i see all your "portfolio" pics were taken with a camera phone, do you want some nice pictures for your site, you might get more work"

They say yes, you offer to shoot them for TFP, and give them a deal like a 3.5x5 of all their good shots, and 3 8x10's for their portfolio. - they will be very excited... itll cost you like 8 dollars to get it all printed. Dont release high quality copies of the image - no matter what. I give them like 5 of their favorites in 640x480 or less, so they can post them on thier model site, but they cant print them over a wallet size usually.

you can negotiate anything later, dont give too much in the beginning. you are doing an amature a favor by building thier portfolio. in most cases they need you more than you need them- until they start getting paid work consistently.

don't abuse them, but your pics will help them "get going" with nice sharp sots in their gallery.

Thanks Mike,

That was really helpful. Good to know that I have the upper hand in the situation and not them.

How much experience do you think I would need before I approached my first model with an offer to take pictures on a TFP/TFCD deal? I'm still acquiring gear and I don't want approach anyone until I pick up a 24-70L, another flash unit and some more accessories like diffusers, softboxes etc. I would just be really embarassed if I invited them out for a shoot somewhere and was not able to produce a good picture. I do understand that gear does not mean I will get a good picture but it does help.

Also, is it common to agree to outdoor shoots? I'm still in university and photography is just a hobby of mine so I obviously don't have access to any sort of studio. When I'm older and have my own place, I plan on getting a two bedroom and converting one room into a studio but that is still a few years away. There are a couple of great locations around campus for shoots but campus can be pretty busy and I wouldn't want the model to feel uncomfortable.

well, there are different type os model, and different types of shoots.

if you tell a real amature that you want to do an outdoor "fashion" shoot with them, they will bit 99% of the time, for a few reasons.

-you aren't some pervert trying to get them to your apartment/dorm/warehou​se
-fashion means clothes, and they have never met you before, so this is safe.
-outdoor means safe, and in the public eye.

be clear and let them know your ability level, and explain that you have adequate equipment to give them very sharp and high quality headshots, and get them rolling. Most models start seriously with camera phones, 3 MP noisy/redeye/crappy. When she sees a nice sharp headshot, bounce flash, outdoors with nice bokeh, she will basically freak out and be sooo happy.

also, let them know that you are building your portfolio and this is improving your "control over lighting and poses" (dont say your skills aren't good enough, let them know that you dont have much experience in this style of shooting)

dont put them on a pedestal. most of these models are just girls who think/know they are good looking. they aren't cindy crawford or anything like that. one thing that works for me is to get a posing guide, and let them borrow it for a week before you shoot with them. Tell them to practice and memorize a few poses they want to try. this period of time where you are "working wth them" without shooting is a big value to them, and makes you look more "pro" remember, they have friends too. You might get a 3girl shoot out of it later on.

MikeMcL wrote in post #2405714
depends. have a look at their portfolio. most times a "model" has never worked with a real photographer before (because the photogs charge them so much).

If they have little or no pro work previously, you can easily "TFP" or "TFCD" you just call them or email them and say" i see all your "portfolio" pics were taken with a camera phone, do you want some nice pictures for your site, you might get more work"

They say yes, you offer to shoot them for TFP, and give them a deal like a 3.5x5 of all their good shots, and 3 8x10's for their portfolio. - they will be very excited... itll cost you like 8 dollars to get it all printed. Dont release high quality copies of the image - no matter what. I give them like 5 of their favorites in 640x480 or less, so they can post them on thier model site, but they cant print them over a wallet size usually.

you can negotiate anything later, dont give too much in the beginning. you are doing an amature a favor by building thier portfolio. in most cases they need you more than you need them- until they start getting paid work consistently.

don't abuse them, but your pics will help them "get going" with nice sharp sots in their gallery.

Great info , thanks

Think again?

VERY simple "outdoor studio" It doesn't get any easier than this.

Look here for some ideas, too: ** IMPORTANT LINKS: Studio Lighting **"

Wow, I never even thought of that! Thanks so much!