Author Topic: Models: Finding, paying, and releases -- difficult? (Read 5194 times)

rachell · « **on:** October 01, 2006, 11:22 »

I see so many of the photos at the microstock sites include models, and I wanted to know how you go about finding them (are they all friends and relatives?), how much you pay them (who knows if you'll ever recoup this expense), and do they ever act weird about signing the model release forms?

leaf · « **Reply #1 on:** October 01, 2006, 12:14 »

i would sudjest looking at local model acencies, or places like www.onemodelplace.com

Some models will work for time for prints, and prices probably go up from there i guess. I think one could afford to pay a bit for a model. If you take enough shots, it shouldn't be a problem.

SStevenson · « **Reply #2 on:** October 01, 2006, 15:18 »

Quote from: rachell on October 01, 2006, 11:22

I see so many of the photos at the microstock sites include models, and I wanted to know how you go about finding them (are they all friends and relatives?), how much you pay them (who knows if you'll ever recoup this expense), and do they ever act weird about signing the model release forms?

I feel your pain!! I was going nuts trying to find models who didn't want to be paid, and also were willing to sign releases. And my two sons were ready to kill me if I didn't find models other then them. My son made a suggestion, and it turned out to be a very good one...

Believe it or not, I obtained a site on MySpace.com. And I have gotten more responses from that than anything else I have tried at this point. Not only did I get responses to the site itself, but MySpace also offers a free "Classified" section, where you can basically advertise that you need models in exchange for pictures. And it doesn't cost anything! Once it was established that a model was interested, I sent them the model releases by email, and they brought it with them, already signed, to the shoot. That way they could review the release beforehand, and you don't have to worry about getting it signed after the fact, they bring it already signed to the shoot knowing that the signed release is part of the deal. And all shoots that I do are on location, outdoors, in public places, for everyone's protection.

Since I started with my site with MySpace, I've already done three shoots, one with a family of four, and two other separate shoots with teenage girls for models, and I've had others that have shown interest that have yet to be scheduled. I've met some really nice people, and gotten some really great shots! It has really worked out well for me so far.

If you want to check out my site to see how I set it up and the information I included for reference, here's my site url:

http://www.myspace.com/sstevensonphotography

Best of luck!!

Sue