Finding Models

mantonino · #1 (**permalink**) 04-14-2008, 03:19 AM

I just finished scheduling a BUNCH of models for this coming week and thought I'd share where I got them all. The full post is on my blog but I thought I'd post some of it here too. The "..." tells you where I cut down.

1) ModelMayhem - ....To find models in your area, click Browse, then choose your criteria. I always keep it as open as possible, sorting by “recent activity” so you know they’re still on MM actively...

2) Craigslist - ...We got the basic structure for (our ad) off of the LuckyOliver forums, adapted it to our needs, added some of our photos from stock shoots and we try to tell everyone straight up front what the shoot is going to be like so we don’t get a lot of rejected models...

3) Friends - ...The best tip I got was from (I think?) Andres Rodriguez who said he asks models at the end of a shoot if they know anyone who’d like to have some fun & do a similar shoot...

4) Anywhere - ...Try this - “Hi…uhm, I’m a professional photographer and I think you’d make an awesome model. I’m going to give you my card & let you check out my stuff online. Call me if you want to get together for a free shoot.” Then walk away. Make your site good enough that people actually call, too! ...
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Anyways, hope that helps someone - we are going to be ridiculously busy this week but I'm pretty far behind in an upload contest so I need to get working!

~m

patrick1958 · #2 (**permalink**) 04-14-2008, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mantonino

I just finished scheduling a BUNCH of models for this coming week and thought I'd share where I got them all. The full post is on my blog but I thought I'd post some of it here too. The "..." tells you where I cut down.

1) ModelMayhem - ....To find models in your area, click Browse, then choose your criteria. I always keep it as open as possible, sorting by “recent activity” so you know they’re still on MM actively...

2) Craigslist - ...We got the basic structure for (our ad) off of the LuckyOliver forums, adapted it to our needs, added some of our photos from stock shoots and we try to tell everyone straight up front what the shoot is going to be like so we don’t get a lot of rejected models...

3) Friends - ...The best tip I got was from (I think?) Andres Rodriguez who said he asks models at the end of a shoot if they know anyone who’d like to have some fun & do a similar shoot...

4) Anywhere - ...Try this - “Hi…uhm, I’m a professional photographer and I think you’d make an awesome model. I’m going to give you my card & let you check out my stuff online. Call me if you want to get together for a free shoot.” Then walk away. Make your site good enough that people actually call, too! ...
-------
Anyways, hope that helps someone - we are going to be ridiculously busy this week but I'm pretty far behind in an upload contest so I need to get working!

~m

Best i can say, if you deliver good work, they stand in line to get in to the studio.
And yes, i' very picky what models i use for stock or not. About 10 ¨% is only used for stock photography.. but that's the elite for me.
Changes are coming to my current studio setup... and as a result, bigger, better, more high res pictures will come and follow.

Patrick....

ps l : qualiy work will never put you out of business, be it stock or not stock... and i have no problems finding models, like i said, the're standing in line to get into the studio.
Fact is, fourteen days from now i will be shooting the preselections of mister belgium contest... asked... next month i will be shooting the pre selections of miss Limburg, asked, i will be shooting the pre selections of etc, i will have to make time to shoot stock.

mantonino · #3 (**permalink**) 04-14-2008, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrick1958

Best i can say, if you deliver good work, they stand in line to get in to the studio.

Do you think that the majority are in this position? My post was definitely aimed at someone with a lower level of experience than someone who is already shooting models every week.

That's good though - that's where we should all get to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrick1958

ps: Fact is, fourteen days from now i will be shooting the preselections of mister belgium contest... asked... next month i will be shooting the pre selections of miss Limburg, asked, ...

I shot pageants for awhile - Miss NY, Miss WNY etc. You couldn't pay me enough to get me to shoot another one. They're terribly boring, predictable, angsty and gross. Next month I'll be shooting 3 weddings. I like that part of the job most of the time.

patrick1958 · #4 (**permalink**) 04-14-2008, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mantonino

Do you think that the majority are in this position? My post was definitely aimed at someone with a lower level of experience than someone who is already shooting models every week.

That's good though - that's where we should all get to.

I shot pageants for awhile - Miss NY, Miss WNY etc. You couldn't pay me enough to get me to shoot another one. They're terribly boring, predictable, angsty and gross. Next month I'll be shooting 3 weddings. I like that part of the job most of the time.

The fun with "pageant" shoots is i can set my conditions....simple.
If i see another camera i quit..leave.. that' s my prerogative.. on the other hand... if i"m not hassled by other snapshooters i deliver quality work.. but i don't like distractions, that's clear and well defined in every out of studio contract.

Patrick.

ps : belguim being a small country i think you have no problems following my arguments.... there is not much of a competition over here... enough shapshooters yes.. but competition.. no.

pps : in fact, i'm not a qualified pro shooter, i'm a qualified artistic photographer...
the prefix artitistic gives me more work than some pros.

songbird · #5 (**permalink**) 04-17-2008, 06:12 AM

Thanks for sharing your tips. I live in an area where it is a little harder to get subjects. I am on MM but there are like 2 people in my area. I found the rest of the tips helpful. Thanks!

mantonino · #6 (**permalink**) 04-17-2008, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by songbird

Thanks for sharing your tips. I live in an area where it is a little harder to get subjects. I am on MM but there are like 2 people in my area. I found the rest of the tips helpful. Thanks!

I don't know where you're located but maybe you can setup model days at a local park that works for you AND the models, or maybe setup a model day when you visit family out of town or.... ya know?

Friends of friends of friends. Or move to somewhere cool.

hehe

Thanks for the reply.

Travis Manley · #7 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 05:01 PM

I live in a pretty small town and havent had much luck finding models. I have been "shooting myself" a lot lately and I have got to say its been working pretty well. I figure its a good way to get some practice and it doesnt cost me a penny. Its also a good way to test out lighting setups and new gear without models waiting around for you to figure it out.

I have a small remote and I hook up a tv to my camera so I can see the photos right away without having to walk around to the back of my camera to see how they turned out.

Im curious if there are many other photographers out there using themselves as models and how they do it.

thesupe87 · #8 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis Manley

I live in a pretty small town and havent had much luck finding models. I have been "shooting myself" a lot lately and I have got to say its been working pretty well. I figure its a good way to get some practice and it doesnt cost me a penny. Its also a good way to test out lighting setups and new gear without models waiting around for you to figure it out.

I have a small remote and I hook up a tv to my camera so I can see the photos right away without having to walk around to the back of my camera to see how they turned out.

Im curious if there are many other photographers out there using themselves as models and how they do it.

I'm with you man. Like you, I've been starting to shoot myself randomly. I've begun pimping out my wife, and friends as many of you also do. I have a friend who is getting into stock - I've been helping him out a lot. We are planning on going on photo hunt days together at least once a month. We did this last weekend, and we each got around 200 saleable stock shots! We model for each other, in different situations. It's working out great, I haven't even had a chance to start uploading them yet. You can also get away with a little bit more with friends, than models who you don't really know. If they are making a stupid look on their face, you can tell them flat out "you look stupid, do something else". HA

Travis Manley · #9 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesupe87

I'm with you man. Like you, I've been starting to shoot myself randomly. I've begun pimping out my wife, and friends as many of you also do.

Ya, I think using your friends or people you know as models is really smart for those of us just getting started. I just cant see paying someone to model for photos that are going to sell for probably less than a dollar. I think some of us are just lucky and have more attractive friends lol!

I can totally see the advantage of hiring some models with experience, but you have to wonder how may of these photos you have to have to sell just to break even.

dbvirago · #10 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 11:17 PM

Same here. Mostly shot myself while I learn the lights, etc. I use the pc cord to plug the camera into the pc and use EOS capture software to see the image on my laptop after each shot. I use the side of one of my softboxes to set focus and height before shooting.