Mark V Lynch

Well published photographer with  almost 30 years of experience specializing in athletic models.  My work is generally used by publishers for calendars, greeting cards, and photo art anthologies.  I  sell signed prints to private collectors and have a library of stock images available for use for commercial customers.

I have done 4 European calendars, as well as feature articles  & stock images profiling my work in  magazines in 2005, 2006 and 2007.   I am looking for athletic, college age models comfortable doing A&F type modeling. Models can earn an hourly fee and the right to use some of the images we create for self-promotion.

Models must be 18 years of age and have a government issued ID* before we can work together. My Average model earns $75 - $200 per hour, and the average session is one to two hours.  TFP sessions also available.

* A Government issued ID is a Drivers License, Military ID or Dependent ID Card, State Issued ID Card or a Passport. The ID must have your picture AND your date of birth and must be issued by a government agency.

If you are new to modeling take a few minutes to review the New Model Tips section below.  Modeling can be fun and lucrative but you have to use common sense to stay safe and not be taken advantage of.

New Model Tip One: How Did You Get My Number?

Review your profile here on Model Mayhem.  It's not a sound idea to put your personal email address and cell phone number in your profile. Don’t share too much personal information like where you go to school.

You don’t want a stranger emailing you, finding your Facebook profile or calling you on your cell phone until you have decided to work with them.


New Model Tip Two: Lights, Cameras, Videotape - Wait a Minute!

If you arrive at a photo shoot and the photographer wants to videotape the shoot you should be very careful to read the entire model release or have it reviewed for you.  The majority of standard model releases have wording that allows the use of all images still or motion picture to be used in ANY way the photographer chooses.

You might be told that he is filming the shoot to protect himself from being accused of misconduct. Consider that unless they let YOU keep the tape the photographer can simply edit out anything they don't want. It's a common excuse for making a video they could later use and is almost worthless as legal protection.

Offer to have a witness present for the shoot rather than allowing a tape to be made. Having a witness present will do far more to protect you both than a recording only the photographer has locked in a safe. Recording photo sessions is not a very common practice and is seldom done without a plan to use the footage somehow at a later date  especially if you are shooting nude or erotic work  A few photographers  have a legitimate reason for taping your photo shoot, but they are few and far between.

New Model Tip Three: You Want to Meet In A Dark Alley?

When meeting a photographer at their home or studio for the first time ask if they mind if you bring a friend along.  If they refuse your request cancel the appointment or ask to meet them in a public place like a Starbucks.  You should be very suspicious if they insist on meeting you alone.

*PLEASE be considerate and do not bring a friend to your interview that is under 18 years of age.   Most photographers will not want a minor on the premises unless they are escorted by a parent or guardian and then will arrange to have an assistant or some other person present as well.


New Model Tip Four: So How Do You Pay the Bills?

You should understand what they intend to do with the images and how they make their money from Photography - print sales, commercial work, studio work, etc.  You should be able to understand their business model in a few sentences.

Beginning photographers may not have an extensive body of work to share with you but you can tell if they are creepy. If someone rattles on for 30 minutes and offers up too much information that can be as suspicious as too little information.

New Model Tip Five: It's All About Traveling And Staying Safe.

If you are traveling to do a shoot ALWAYS be certain at least two responsible people know all the details. They should have complete contact information about the photographer, hotel, agency and client and you should make a schedule to check in with them periodically.  Taking off on a secret trip for a shoot and not telling anyone what you are doing could be a tragic mistake. Don't let the excitement of a "real" modeling job and a big payday cloud your judgment.  Take common sense precautions and don't wind up on the evening news.

Think of it this way: In a worst case scenario if you fail to call in when scheduled what information would help the authorities start to look for you? If anything changes in the plan once you arrive UPDATE the people you left your information with immediately.

BEFORE YOU GO: Ask who is paying for the travel and where you are staying and who is paying for the hotel.  If a large fee has been offered always CALL the company you are supposed to be shooting for and verify the story as well as the hotel to confirm the room and payment arrangements.  Unless you are a very well established model very few offers will be for thousands of dollars.

WHEN YOU ARRIVE:  If you arrive in Atlanta for a shoot and your driver says you are going to Florida, that should alarm you. Pay attention to the road signs so that you have an idea of where you are actually being taken.  In most cases you should be in the car less than an hour to get from any major airport to most major cities. It never hurts to send a text message with a license plate number when you get into a car with a stranger and where you are being taken.

New Model Tip Six: You Want Me To Do What?

Many photographers do some nude photography as part of their craft.  Nude photography can be implied, non-frontal, or erotic.   If you model for very long sooner or later someone may ask you to pose nude..

You should think about this now and decide what your personal comfort level is so it won't be a shock when you are asked. We all have our own comfort level and yours may  change as you gain more experience.

Your photographer should not be offended if you are not interested in doing nudes so don't feel pressured to do something don’t want to. Not all models do nude work and don't let them tell you that you have to do nudes to get ahead.

New Model Tip Seven: So Who The Heck Are You Anyway?

If you are dealing with a third party in setting up a shoot please be sure you know who they are.  You need to know their name, their phone number and who they represent - the photographer, an agency, etc.

It’s reckless to jump on a plane because some stranger sends you a ticket and never outlines whom they represent and that you don't call and verify. Stick to email for detail oriented messages that involve terms of a shoot, money, travel plans.

If anyone directly or indirectly suggests that you need to provide any kind of sexual favors in order to further your career, get "in good" with a photographer or agency, etc you should leave.  Call a cab if you have to, get to the airport and go home.

New Model Tip Eight: But You Promised Me Pictures!!

If you are considering doing some trade out work with a photographer here are some things to consider:

What will the photographer be doing with the images? Most TFP work is offered by beginning photographers that want to add to their portfolio and from models in the same boat.

In my business I pay  about 90% of my models. Ask if the images you create with the photographer will be used commercially or just for their portfolio.

A common complaint I hear is that photographers are slow to return images to the model, or don't send any at all.  A lot of photographers are too busy to get to it or lazy.  You should have a clear understanding about WHEN you will get some images. I typically have images back to a model within 48 hours.

You should also be clear about what you are getting:  Prints or digital files?  Many models only want digital images now.  Are you getting ALL the images from the shoot or the photographer’s choices?   Are you getting a disk or just images sent by email?  Will you be getting only web quality images or will you also get print quality images you can print yourself?

IMPORTANT - be sure that the images they send you will have been worked up in Photoshop to make them something you can use.  Almost all images need some help with color balance, density or cosmetic touch up for the model. A disk full of raw images is of very little use to you.

New Model Tip Nine: Are You Really A Famous Agent/Manager ?

From time to time I hear that a new model will be approached by a photographer or agent who promises them the moon and the stars and suggests that they take down their Model Mayhem or other online model profiles right away as being "unprofessional" - which is ironic since this is where they found you.

If someone suggests that you take down your profile and it's not an agency that has you under contract you should be very, very suspicious. If someone tells you they are an agent ask for not only the names of other models you can confirm this with but also THE CLIENTS that they have placed models with. Many states require agents and managers to be licensed, find out what the laws are in your state and ask these agents or managers for their credentials.

New Model Tip Ten: New York, New York!

So you want to make the rounds of the big agencies in New York or Los Angeles? It's not as complicated as you may be led to believe.   Find the agencies that represent models with your look - fashion, fitness, etc and  just call them.  Find out what times they accept new model walk in's.  Most agencies set aside a few hours every week for  potential models to just walk in and meet.

Don't let anyone tell you that you need an expensive set of pictures to show up.  Most agencies will take a couple of basic pictures of you regardless of what you bring in. While it's nice if you have some decent prints to share or a comp card to leave behind but don't spend thousands of dollars before you go.

As a working model your portfolio is made up of tear sheets from campaigns that you were used in.  Until then all you want to show an agency is that you have a "fashion look" a "fitness look" etc.  Don't let someone talk you into creating an entire make believe catalog of pictures in a hundred looks or an A&F catalog clone. A client will want to hire you to create NEW images for their ads, not copies of iconic images from previous campaigns.

New Model Tip Eleven: Wow You Must Be Important!

If you find a photographer that goes on and on about being "red carpet", "A-List", "Preferred Photographer", or some other term that you don't understand or that simply does not make sense ask more questions, it may all be smoke and mirrors.

Anyone can submit "test" shots for a model to any agency if you can find an email address.  It's easy to put together a list as long as your arm and say that you do "tests" for them.  It SOUNDS great but does not MEAN anything.

Not many photographers are fortunate enough have a studio in more than one city , much less an office with a staff to answer the phone so all those phone numbers on their business card probably ring to the cell phone in their pocket.

New Model Tip Twelve: To Test Shoot or Not To Test Shoot?

As a new model you might be asked to do a "test shoot".  Should you do it?   If a well-known agency sends you to a photographer for a test shoot by all means do it!  You should not expect to be paid for this shoot, it's more of an audition and you may not be asked for a model release and usually the images are discarded. The agency will pay the photographer for his time, so they are making an investment in some professional images of you.

Sadly a "test shoot" is sometimes really an IQ test.  If a photographer (not an agency) wants to do an unpaid "test shoot" - ask exactly what they are testing?  If you are asked for a lengthy  test shoot AND asked for a model release  not paid for your time OR not given images you can use for your portfolio you have just worked for free.  You may find those “test shots” being used commercially one day and discover that you were duped.

New Model Tip Thirteen: Where is that Darned Cell Phone!

Always have your cell phone with you and don't forget to bring the charger when traveling.  You should be able to call for directions if you get lost, need last minute information on a shoot or something happens and you need to call 911.

Anytime you are out of your own element at a studio, office or private residence in your town or on the road make sure you have the address in your pocket or stored on your phone. Calling 911 if you have an emergency situation (as simple a fire or your photographer collapses) only works if you can tell the dispatcher the EXACT address you are located at to send help to.

EQUIPMENT:

Having equipment that suits your work and that you know how to use is just as important as the brands and model of gear you buy.  Feel free to ask about any of the gear I use.  Nikon Cameras (D3 and D2X), Profoto and Elinchrom Strobes, Pocket Wizard Radio Triggers, Bogen Carbon Fiber Tripods, Aurora OctoBanks, California Sunbounce light modifiers, Apple Computers and Cinema Displays and DROBO desktop RAID storage systems.