How much you pay to the models?

There are many considerations on this topic that affects everyone who works with people photography  How did you arrive at this figure?

Of course we are not talking about TFP.

That's okay I do all the time 


PS

Try to figure (Guess) what you think you make in one year's time from the photo session thus a good number to use for paying the models. I tend to keep my cost below $200 USD for the session.

Well, since I live and work in Hollywood and the headshot business here is Huge and I mean Huge. There is never any shortage of any type I would want to work with. My deal has always been. I do for you, and you do for me. I shoot what they need, and in turn they Pose for what I need.  Probably 80% of the people in my Port are actors who need new Pics constantly and they have no Problem signing a release and TFCD. "Models" on the other hand have become very, Very Wary and especially in the last 3 years or so , I have many Model friends and many Agent friends and the word is and become Law By the agencies, You do stock or sign a release without us Knowing about it...You will be dropped.  If they Pay me, Thats a different deal all together and when things get slow I do it, But in that scenario. No one sees the work except the client and or the agent.

Proper headshots and I mean the kind casting People want are boring as sin and because of that, Not easy to do and there are Composition,Lighting and Processing rules and the vast majority are done outdoors. There are Guys and Gals here that make 3/5 K a day just doing actor headshots and some are extremely good at what they do. And some are total Hacks. I prefer Actors any day over straight models.  Over the years, Some of my Best and most successful shots were folks I found in a grocery store or shopping center or old friends, If I see a great face that interests me, I have no Problem asking them.

So...How much do I pay? Zero. If I have a student come in and he picks someone to shoot from my group, The model Gets paid $50 Per hour with a Minimum of 3 Hours.
Plus a CD of all finished Processed work and a CD of All Images Shot.

If, You shoot the kind of work, that gets them work with others and something they can use in there showcase book, They will come back anytime. And...They can use the Images for anything they want. If I paid them...They cannot unless we discuss it. Thats for Hire. Just like If I was hired to do a Commercial Job, Client owns the work.

This Business has become very IFFY as far as being Cost effective.