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What's up with "Models" not responding to Castings
Rick Sieminski Photo wrote: Rick Sieminski Photo wrote: Hey Rick, sounds like you've been taking some of the advice to heart and I appreciate that you're not lashing out in return (not that there's anything to last out at, but you'd be surprised at how some others have responded in the past). May 08 14 10:32 pm Link CHAD ALAN wrote: Rick Sieminski Photo wrote: Hey Rick, sounds like you've been taking some of the advice to heart and I appreciate that you're not lashing out in return (not that there's anything to last out at, but you'd be surprised at how some others have responded in the past). +1 May 08 14 10:49 pm Link I rarely use castings anymore but I did use them the first year or so when I didn't know anyone. I have a business background and so I looked at the casting that were already up, checked how many responses each had gotten and tried to figure out why some casting would get 40 responses and the next one had zero. The successful ones all had some things in common. 1. The casting sounded friendly and professional. They gave specifics of what the model could expect to shoot., where they were shooting and for how long 2. They usually involved a team that had more members than just photographer and model. Photographers who turn out awesome work have a line of people wanting to work with them that includes, models, stylists, hair, makeup designers etc. So the castings almost always have owner or more of the other creatives involved. Besides castings do a search in your area for models that fit the look. Message 5-10 of them and see what happens. Offer something. Why not hit a couple of thrift stores and have a few wardrobe pieces to help pull the look together rather than expecting the model to do that on her own dime. May 08 14 10:59 pm Link KeithDewey3 wrote: Good advice here! May 08 14 11:21 pm Link KeithDewey3 gave excellent advice! I know you may not want to front money on clothing you'll probably never use again but it does help to get interest in a concept that many might not have wardrobe readily available. I'm not sure how popular the cowgirl fashion is in Florida but it definitely is out in NYC and went out in SC while I was living there pretty quickly. You might pick something up at the thrift store then sell it back or exchange it for new items - ask the owner if they're willing to get in on something like that if you were to promote their store with the image. May 09 14 12:53 pm Link Time and time this comes up from across the pond, must be a US thing as I've never experienced this here! May 09 14 01:14 pm Link Head over to the critique forum and ask for  .May 09 14 01:17 pm Link Hi there! For the record, I don't think you sound arrogant at all. And you have been gracious and humble in your responses. That's cool. Here is the deal. I check out the casting calls on a regular basis, and every once in a while I respond to one. Usually it offers something I can't get for myself. It might be a photographer I respect, who is submitting to a magazine AND he is providing wardrobe, hair, and makeup. Basically, the more work he puts into it, the more likely I am to be open to responding. Here is a TF that I did recently. The photographer arranged to work with a master florist to make head pieces, the gowns were brought in by a local designer, and a makeup artist was also brought in. All of this was done as a collaboration. As in, nobody got paid, but as the production grew, so did the value for ALL of us. Here is the end result...  Here is my advice to you. Get more people involved, make connections with makeup artist, hair stylists, and boutique owners. Did you know that the smaller boutiques will let you 'pull' items?? You have to put about %20 down and then you get it back when you bring the items back! Show owners love this because they want to be credited on social media where people can find the clothing. PM me if you want more advice. I'm actually very good at this  May 09 14 07:07 pm Link @OP. It appears you are dealing with a vacuum of TF models in the Sarasota area. You have to reach out to a 50 mile radius to find even 6 TF models. Here are the numbers from the MM browse feature. RADIUS MODELS-T TFP 25 251 0 50 562 6 100 2567 38 While several posts are suggesting their critique/opinion about your photography would help, there isn't anything that can help this lack of available TF models. You need a Plan B that addresses the problem!!! May 10 14 01:50 am Link Don't give up. I know as for myself, Model Mayhem is hot or cold: I will get no bites for a few weeks and then a lot of interest all at once. So Model Mayhem really is too valuable to cut loose. To keep things steady as I need them to be, I have learned to use several sources for models; you mentioned FB, consider also just approaching potential models directly. Best of luck! May 10 14 02:40 am Link Sarah Lynn Modeling wrote: I think this is a major part of your problem. Take the advice given and see what happens. If you like, put your profile pic in your port, for the models to see what you look like. May 10 14 03:28 am Link I would suggest finding meet and greets and possibly well-run group shoots in your area (if they exist there). These can both be a really good way to meet models and to chat with other photographers about models they have had good experiences with. Most of the people who attend these events, in my experience, are pretty social and open, so they aren't clammed up about models they enjoy working with. May 12 14 08:59 am Link Rick Sieminski Photo wrote: I honestly think it is just a MM thing. Don't know why, but it seems to be. I find 80-90% of my contacts....even those that approach me first and "have to shoot with me"......either fade away, flake, or break off contact. May 12 14 09:13 am Link In my humble opinion - Take it or leave it. Quit searching out the selfie shot, model portfolio's. My experience tells me that they are happy with them and aren't *in need* of a shoot unless it's a paid gig. Unless their profile explicitly shows interest in TF's, they're getting want they want out of MM... WTS, I've never placed a CC. I've either searched out my models or they've searched me out, so I really can't help ya there. But me thinks there has been some sound advice in some of the replies. Cheers Man! And good luck... May 12 14 09:48 am Link Maybe no one likes your work? May 12 14 12:12 pm Link Rick Sieminski Photo wrote: Maybe it's your area. May 12 14 09:11 pm Link I know the "models that don't respond" topic has been done a thousand times but what about models that don't even open their messages. I have 8 messages out over the last 4 weeks offering a paying gig, all unread. Not one model has opened the message even though they've been active on their accounts. Jul 05 14 08:57 pm Link CreativeWorld wrote: They probably read them through their email, and decide from there if it's worth responding to. It leaves the message "unread." Jul 05 14 09:00 pm Link David Stone Imaging wrote: Just reposting what I wrote above. And to add...to speculate that maybe no one likes OP's work is unfounded when there aren't any TF models around to not like it. Jul 05 14 10:54 pm Link Rick Sieminski Photo wrote: There are many photographers, including myself, having a difficult time hooking up with models for shoots, whether using PMs or casting calls. It's my understanding that some photographers have more success using Craig's List. You may want to consider that. It's been rather discouraging here. Jul 05 14 11:12 pm Link Peach Jones wrote: Yes, I'm experiencing the same : ( Jul 05 14 11:15 pm Link they want paid. You have to approach the offer of TF in such a way that they will feel it will end up benefiting them financially. either that or FUN or ARTISTIC CREATION. Nobody is going to jump to do a non-paying commercial looking shoot. ...I looked back at my port and counted. 6 of 11 shoots were TF. All TF models were found on MM. It can be done. Jul 05 14 11:30 pm Link You pm models they see your message they do this  i know those feels Jul 05 14 11:35 pm Link NicoleNudes wrote: Nicole, this is a vicious attack. Models like you should use common sense. Jul 05 14 11:50 pm Link HarryL wrote: Vicious? More like on point. Jul 06 14 12:07 am Link Rick Sieminski Photo wrote: The world is your oyster. Jul 06 14 03:05 am Link Sometimes a person's work will be exceptional but too far from the prevailing aesthetic to be recognised as such, but mostly a simple rule applies: if you are really good, models will line up to work with you. If you suck, or are simply mediocre, then they will mostly ignore you. People waste lots of time on why this, why that, where am I going wrong, when all they need to do is realise they are not good enough to have models seriously interested in shooting with them (and the same goes for models who have trouble getting photographers interested). Jul 06 14 03:35 am Link Ana Lancova wrote: Well I took a peak at your port and you are all sorts of awesomeness Jul 06 14 03:38 am Link Pay your models and you might get someone to shoot, models have to eat and pay bills. Jul 06 14 03:56 am Link Shutter Photographics wrote: +1 Jul 06 14 04:15 am Link Jeff Fiore wrote: Yep. Jul 06 14 01:07 pm Link You need to target models who are genuinely interested in modeling or need pictures for something. Not all models read casting calls. I've had models contact me and when I asked them what their specific need was on what direction they wanted to go with the shoot....crickets. That required too much thought. Try changing your approach. If you go into too much detail you can lose people. Jul 06 14 01:18 pm Link Rick Sieminski Photo wrote: Answer; Jul 06 14 01:21 pm Link Rick Sieminski Photo wrote: Jul 06 14 02:18 pm Link r T p wrote: Sounds like a line from Zoolander. Jul 06 14 02:22 pm Link WIP wrote: Jul 06 14 02:35 pm Link Edit your portfolio to attract what you seek. Six similar images from the same shoot, nearly the same moment, gives the impression that you aren't certain about your vision. Jul 06 14 02:43 pm Link Rick Sieminski Photo wrote: I've been in the exact same boat as you. That seems to be a huge thing here. Jul 06 14 02:45 pm Link Some wisdom I have gleaned over a few years. Unlike photographers, most models aren't willing to work for free. Some will do trades occasionally, but most aren't interested in doing that many trades. How many images of herself does a model need? A handful of quality portraits a year? A model doesn't need lots of fancy pictures to get paid assignments. A few mediocre snapshots, and she has a portfolio. She might miss out on a trade shoot, but who cares if people are offering her paid assignments. Some models hope to make it big, but if they don't and no one offers them $100+/hr they give up and go away. How much you spent on gear has no influence at all and a lot of models really could care less. How much you are going to spend on them, now that matters. Some would be impressed if you were doing something exotic like wet plate collodion. Otherwise, any DSLR will probably do. I pretty much accept that doing trades means not shooting that often. If you are fabulous and famous like Ken Marcus, then models will line up around the corner for a chance to do a trade. Otherwise YMMV. For anything more you will have to head over to the critique forum and ask for .Jul 06 14 04:36 pm Link It might be your concepts. Models like out of the box concepts because it would benefit their portfolio. They're bombarded with basic "pose in clothes or bikinis or nude" propositions all the time, but, say, dressing up as an iconic character from a movie (like Gozer from Ghostbusters or an Oompah Loompah from the original Willy Wonka movie) would definitely stand out. Jul 06 14 05:25 pm Link |
