How do I approach potential models?

[rexfelis]

I am an amateur photographer interested in photographing women. Clothed or nude, I love photographing women.

The trouble is, I am very shy and I have never really figured out how to approach women I would like to do shoots with.

My question is, how do I approach them? How do I walk up to a stranger and ask her to model for me? How do I sound reasonable, and get them to consider it, instead of laughing it off, or thinking I'm some sort of pervert or something? (It hasn't happened yet, but I am afraid it might.)

I would appreciate any advice on how to go about this.

 

[dreamer]

I have no idea!

But that is a good question...really, LOTS of people out there taking pictures all the time. I imagine there is some sort of protocol that's kinda accepted as the 'best' way to approach people, as an amatuer or a pro. Maybe a phone call to your local college art dept, or hit the yellow pages and call a photographer or two. Maybe someone with professional experience could give you some pointers.

Someone's bound to have some good tips. Good luck.

 

[Weird Harold]

I am an amateur photographer interested in photographing women. Clothed or nude, I love photographing women.

The trouble is, I am very shy and I have never really figured out how to approach women I would like to do shoots with.

Avery Business Card stock and PrintShop or other graphics package that allows you to custom design business cards. (Avery has a Macro for MS Word that formats business cards if you don'd have anything else.

Print a "Business Card" that contains a sample of your photography. When you see a person you'd like to photograph, just present her with a card and ask her to consider posing. Don't press the issue, let her make the decision without pressuring her.

PS: Make sure the card specifis AMATEUR photographer! Don't mislead them even by ommission into thinking they'll get paid -- unless of course, you're willing to pay modeling fees.

 

[foxxxyred]

Re: Re: How do I approach potential models?

Avery Business Card stock and PrintShop or other graphics package that allows you to custom design business cards. (Avery has a Macro for MS Word that formats business cards if you don'd have anything else.

Print a "Business Card" that contains a sample of your photography. When you see a person you'd like to photograph, just present her with a card and ask her to consider posing. Don't press the issue, let her make the decision without pressuring her.

PS: Make sure the card specifis AMATEUR photographer! Don't mislead them even by ommission into thinking they'll get paid -- unless of course, you're willing to pay modeling fees.

I was going to suggest the business card thing myself. And if you promise your models you will supply them with prints make sure you do it It helps all us (amateur) photographers out in the long run by keeping our rep clean!
Photograph your sister, your cousin, your neighbour, anyone you can find......tell them to spread the word also. God knows us women are good at that!!

 

[nj-voyeur]

Harold beat me to the buisness card thing. thats a start. But you just have to get the balls to go up and ask. You will get turned down 8 out of 10 times. But thats how things go. let them know you are an amateur and that you are trying to build up your portfollo. Tell them that big model and magazine agencies might be seeing it and it would be good exposure for them.

Paying them isnt a bad idea either. $50 bucks per person is good. Just make the clients feel safe, like with out side shots. I would be scared to go to someones place alone. Oh, and tell them to bring someone else with them so they feel safe. that should help. Once you get someone to do a few photo shots then you can move on to a studio or nude shots.

You must build trust with the people and be professional. i work as a personal trainer and a client asked me if there were any clients that i wouldnt touch. Meaning touch their ass while training or put my hands on their waist. We do alot of touching that you couldnt get away with unless you knew the person. I told he no because i always do it in a professional manner. The clients can tell im just doing my job. You need to be the same way when you approach them and when you take the photos.

 

[rexfelis]

Re: Re: Re: How do I approach potential models?

I was going to suggest the business card thing myself. And if you promise your models you will supply them with prints make sure you do it It helps all us (amateur) photographers out in the long run by keeping our rep clean!
Photograph your sister, your cousin, your neighbour, anyone you can find......tell them to spread the word also. God knows us women are good at that!!

I have been considering the business card thing, but I am unsure what to put on it. If I put a sample of my work on it, how big should the sample be? Fill up one side? And I just say my name and "Amateur photographer" and phone number, or is there something else I should add?

As you know, Miss K, I work with a digital camera for now, so I can't offer prints, but I do give copies of the pictures to the models free on request. On CD even!

I have exhausted most of the options you suggested, and I am working on the "anyone I can find" within reason, of course.

But thanks for the tip on spreading the word!

I am going to speak to someone at my college photography department when I get a chance.

Are there any more tips on how to approach potential models? Any other photography nuts out there got something to say?

 

[rexfelis]

Harold beat me to the buisness card thing. thats a start. But you just have to get the balls to go up and ask. You will get turned down 8 out of 10 times. But thats how things go. let them know you are an amateur and that you are trying to build up your portfollo. Tell them that big model and magazine agencies might be seeing it and it would be good exposure for them.

Paying them isnt a bad idea either. $50 bucks per person is good. Just make the clients feel safe, like with out side shots. I would be scared to go to someones place alone. Oh, and tell them to bring someone else with them so they feel safe. that should help. Once you get someone to do a few photo shots then you can move on to a studio or nude shots.

You must build trust with the people and be professional. i work as a personal trainer and a client asked me if there were any clients that i wouldnt touch. Meaning touch their ass while training or put my hands on their waist. We do alot of touching that you couldnt get away with unless you knew the person. I told he no because i always do it in a professional manner. The clients can tell im just doing my job. You need to be the same way when you approach them and when you take the photos.

Some of these ideas I have already implemented. Some of them I have not thought of. I appreciate your input.

When I ask a woman to model for me, so far the first thing that always comes out is, "Model what?" or "What do you mean?", as in "Are you some sort of pervert asking me to pose nude?" My policy is, the model decides the general type of shoot (clothed, unclothed, semi-clothed) based on what she is comfortable with and what she specifically wants to do. Then we discuss what sort of setting, what she should wear, etc. My goal is a happy model who is having a good time because that's when you get the best pics.

So far I have only asked women I knew, or women I had a chance to observe and get to know at least a little, and this, coupled with my "the model decides what we shoot" has led to almost all "yes" responses. But now I have run out of women I can observe and get to know over time (being shy as I am), and I need to start going out after potential models. responses.

Right now, I cannot pay them, but I have no problem with having them bring friends.

My goal, eventually, is to perhaps start a model referral service. Models pose for me, I shoot models, and agencies come and look for models they want and then pay me for contact info. Then I could get paid to do what I love!

 

[Tribbin]

Something to think about...

I live in a college town and in our newspapers they always have adds for models. Have you thought about taking out an ad? It might not work in your area, but people love having their picture taken. Also, you might want to offer yourself as an alternitive to glamour shots. You know, take peoples pictures for portraits or something. Anyway, good luck.

Trib

 

[rexfelis]

Re: Something to think about...

I live in a college town and in our newspapers they always have adds for models. Have you thought about taking out an ad? It might not work in your area, but people love having their picture taken. Also, you might want to offer yourself as an alternitive to glamour shots. You know, take peoples pictures for portraits or something. Anyway, good luck.

Trib

More good ideas! Thanks! Keep 'em coming, guys. I am sure there are other people who are going to benefit from this thread!

 

[SexyChele]

Well, there is a big thing right now in Hollywood with actors where they get their headshots put on business cards. It really doesn't cost that much, and the picture size is already determined. If you can have a photo development place put the pic on CD, I'm sure a publisher can deal with that.

Let the girls know that you are an amatuer, yes, but also let them know that they choose how much or how little to expose. It puts them in control. Pick a neutral place, if possible. And really press them to bring a friend, or offer to have another female you know be present.

I think the ad is a good one - especially if you live near a college. It would help if you could pay something, but most girls would be happy with copies of the pics for themselves.

Good luck! It sounds exciting!

 

[La Huesera]

If you have done any shots before, it would be good to have those on hand so the model can see how/what you expect. If you have a portfollo, that would be great to show. I also would set the model down and discuss with her how you want the shoot to go. Offering her a few prints is the the standard "non-professional" model fee. Also, I am not so sure I would put the word amateur on my business cards.... I would put the word "student" on them...which is what you are...

Also, make sure you get a model release form signed. Those are very important if you plan on using your photos for anything other then personal use.

 

[rexfelis]

Ok, I have a personal web site set up and I have had it for a few weeks now. I have it set up to show my work and show potential models what I am interested in doing. It's on a dial up connection, so it's not a permenant IP address.

I have a couple galleries of one of my models (the only one to give me permission to put all of her pics up) as an example, and also my policy on how I do things.

If anyone who reads this would like to visit my web site and view it and give me some pointers on it, how I have it set up, and my professed policy (which is much like what has been suggested), I'll be glad to share the address on request. But since it is a dial up connection, it does not seem reasonable to list it here when it will change within 24 hours.

So, interested parties can IM me on Yahoo as catlord17 or AIM as rexfelis1 and request the address.

I appreciate all the feedback I am getting. It is really going to help me out. I'd love to hear some more.

 

[rexfelis]

If you have done any shots before, it would be good to have those on hand so the model can see how/what you expect. If you have a portfollo, that would be great to show. I also would set the model down and discuss with her how you want the shoot to go. Offering her a few prints is the the standard "non-professional" model fee. Also, I am not so sure I would put the word amateur on my business cards.... I would put the word "student" on them...which is what you are...

Also, make sure you get a model release form signed. Those are very important if you plan on using your photos for anything other then personal use.

Oh, and some more questions...

1. How do I put it on my business cards that I am a student without making it look pretentious that I am giving out business cards? lol "Student Photographer"? "Student of Photography"?

2. What should a release form entail, and can you point me at an example?

Thanks.

 

[Weird Harold]

1. How do I put it on my business cards that I am a student without making it look pretentious that I am giving out business cards? lol "Student Photographer"? "Student of Photography"?

I'd use "Student of Photography"

These won't be business cards. They're more a disposable ID card to explian who you are and why you want to take photographs without requiring a long and involved explanation.

 

[hatara]

rexfelis

Hun also start a thread on the Personals board titled Florida Ladies or something like that. State the area you are in and say exactly what it is you are trying to do and see if anyone would like to model. You also may not want to limit yourself to women I know lots of men would like pics to send to their ladies and it would be good experience to do both.

You might also try posting on some other bulletin boards there are many women that would like digital pics to send to people and want someone to take them but don't know how to go about it. Offer your services in return for their time. State that you do not expect them to do anything they don't want or aren't comfortable with. I think you will find there are lots of people that would love to model for you.

 

[rexfelis]

Re: rexfelis

Hun also start a thread on the Personals board titled Florida Ladies or something like that. State the area you are in and say exactly what it is you are trying to do and see if anyone would like to model. You also may not want to limit yourself to women I know lots of men would like pics to send to their ladies and it would be good experience to do both.

You might also try posting on some other bulletin boards there are many women that would like digital pics to send to people and want someone to take them but don't know how to go about it. Offer your services in return for their time. State that you do not expect them to do anything they don't want or aren't comfortable with. I think you will find there are lots of people that would love to model for you.

Thanks for the fabulous suggestions! I'll do that! Just not now... it's kinda late. lol

Goodnight!