How to Find the Right Model for Your Photoshoot
Finding the right model for your photoshoot is often the first challenge you face after deciding on the concept or story. Before deciding on a model, it’s necessary to have a perfectly clear distinction of the final images you’d like to see, and determine the attributes of the models that will best fit your concept. In this week’s episode, How to Find the Right Model for Your Photoshoot? we discuss the different ways you can go about finding the model that will bring your concept to life.
We begin by talking about some of the tried and true methods that are still effective today and the benefits and challenges of each:
Friends and Family
Modeling Schools
Modeling Agencies
We then discuss the Social Media effect that puts us in contact with models quickly and allows us to view their portfolios or websites digitally. We talk about the two most common platforms:
Finally we discuss the use of online modeling sites including:
Model Management
One Model Place
Model Mayhem
We take a more detailed look at Model Mayhem, the most popular online modeling site, the tiers of membership, and the importance of maintaining your established criteria as you review applicants who answer your casting calls. You’re not just searching for a look, you’re also searching for someone who is professional and reflects this in both their images as well as their correspondences with you.
Lastly we discuss two important business topics related to models: The model release and fair compensation especially when it comes to trade for print (TFP).
Here are a some highlights from this episode:
[01;32] Know the final images that you want to see when you upload your photographs onto your computer. This determines a lot about the model, the type of model that you're going to need….
[03:57] [Working with Friends and Family]…and behind all of that is the fact that you have a casual relationship with this person so they may not look at it [the photoshoot] as being important to your business.
[07:35] One thing about modeling agencies is if you can try to investigate their payment methods to models because some are a little dicey, especially local agencies that may not have an established reputation. You don't want to find yourself paying a modeling agency and very little amount of that money actually goes to the model.
[11:07] As a photographer, you need to be specific about what your needs are…It's really important that when they respond to you, you look at their profile, and you make sure that they do indeed meet the criteria that you put out there.
[13:45] The better models, the more business savvy models say something like “I reviewed your portfolio I saw such and such. I am interested in working with you” something that sounds a little more professional and personalized and took some time to write.
[14:38] As the photographer you own those photos, and you are free to license those photos out for publication but the publisher, however, will require the model release, ensuring that the model has agreed and that his or her images can be used for publication.
[20:48] I talked about our relationships with models and how we treat them, and attending workshops where people were less than professional with them. I think this is a major issue and it needs to stop. We as photographers, we are in an ideal position to treat models fairly and to compensate them appropriately for their work.
Please remember to Rate, Review, and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and anywhere you get your podcasts. By doing so you not only support the podcast but you help other listeners interested in this topic to find it.
Apps
Easy Release - Model Releases and Contracts on your phone
Sites
