Beyond Boudoir Photo wrote:
Any photographers live in Vegas or spend a lot of time there?  How hard is it to connect with nude models if you offer paid shoots?  What's the best place to find them, IG?  MM?  FB?  What percentage are sporting what used to be called an "alternative" look?

If you'd like to share your Vegas experience, I'd love to trade some private messages.  Or post here in the forum if you like, but you know how that usually turns out.

It's really a hit or miss situation here.

Thankfully, most of the shoots that I've done which required models were recruited by whoever employed me for the gigs so I didn't have to do any searching.

When MM was in it's infancy it was fairly easy to find models that would work in trade or for a reasonable price AND actually show up.  Now it seems like every yahoo with a burner phone takes a few crappy selfies and expect photographers to pay them exorbitant fees... and they still flake!

Don't get me wrong, there are still quite a few extremely reliable models around here that I'd highly recommend and I'm always happy to refer them to other people even if I haven't done a shoot with them before, but for every one of those there's at least two or three so called 'models' on MM that don't even give the courtesy of responding to an inquiry. 

I have the belief that if a model is too lazy or conceited to reply to a legitimate inquiry or casting they're not worth the time to ever deal with again.  I tend to block those type of people, not because I don't want them contacting me, but because I don't want to make the same mistake of asking them again in the future.  Understandably most of those models haven't had any decent photos added to their portfolio since they've started.

I have a good reputation, lots of references, and have verifiable work on many different projects and productions in both the photography and Television worlds.  If I still have some issues finding reliable models I'd hate to think of what it's like for someone that has little to no experience.

There's a few photography meetup groups that I belong to.  At one time or another I was the organizer for many of the existing groups.  There are a few models that are members that find and recruit models for some of our events.  That usually works out the best.  I think most models, especially females, trust another female model more than random photographers.

One of those models also maintains a FB "Blacklist" of models, photographers, and others to be wary of.  The blacklist isn't extremely rigid (meaning a person that flakes once or twice probably won't be listed on it) but it does help weed out some of the riff raff and people that are nothing but time wasters.

On a positive note, when you shoot with good models, good artists, and good clients it's easy to get even more good models by word of mouth.  Last night I did a fun shoot with 2 models that I never worked with before as a result.

The 'alternative look' is much easier to find than the classic glamour model around here, but both are around.
If you have any questions or would like specifics or even recommendations, feel free to DM me.

Patrick Walberg wrote:
Times are a changing!  This topic about the climate for photographers in Las Vegas has caught my attention because I am also thinking of moving there.  California has many great models, natural locations, and has been good for business in general.  However living here, and doing business has gotten so expensive that I am struggling to keep up with it.  I want to create an LLC then perhaps even a C-Corporation or even an S-Corporation.  I believe that with rents being so much cheaper, or/and that I can actually buy a house in Las Vegas while California is almost out of the question in being able to own ... I might like Las Vegas.  At least I have some friends there and can give it a try. So let's hear it!

The exodus of Californians is making it miserable for people living in NV, AZ, TX, and FL... the states where most Californians are moving to.  Housing costs (both rental and sales) have skyrocketed, making it extremely difficult for long term residents to live because the fleeing Californians sell their property and take the money to buy estates or several properties in the areas they're moving to,

When I moved to LV in 1981 I was broke.  At the time a person can live on minimum wage and still EASILY afford to live.  At the time I personally couldn't afford a McD's Value Meal, so I had to eat a steak, prime rib, or buffet meal every day because that's how casino's attracted customers... those meals cost LESS at a casino than the fast food offering that I just mentioned.
My first apartment was basically designed to be student housing at UNLV.  My first apartment was a studio that cost me $109/month including utilities, and it was a GREAT place to live.

Photographically speaking, many of the pros had studios in the Arts District, which was a relatively run down area full of second hand furniture stores and industrial supply companies.  As more and more artists moved in to the area, more and more restaurants and entertainment venues opened in that area, and the rental / purchase prices skyrocketed causing many of the photographers and artists to move OUT of the area which only became popular because the artists and photographers that built it. 

While it's still fairly Cheap to live compared to California, it's not cheap for an existing resident.

I regret when an out of town friend asks me to meet at a casino.  For me that means fighting traffic, paying $20 to park, and have the pleasure of taking a 20 minute walk from the parking garage to the hotel or casino... just to have a cup of coffee (which is also overpriced).

The final straw is the water supply.  California gets the giants share while Las Vegas just gets a trickle from it even though the lakes and Colorado River are in my backyard.  Californians don't seem to worry about it, but in NV there are severe and drastic measures to conserve as much as possible.  The lake has gone down so much that only one boat launch is available for the whole lake compared to just a few years ago when each of several marinas had at least 4 launch ramps, and a mile long beach was also a popular place to launch small boats and PWC's.

Living in NV is probably an excellent choice for you and other that are stuck in CA, but it's no all blue skies and apple pie by any means... a bonus for you would be the fact that you can hang out with Danielle more often!

SayCheeZ!  wrote:
The exodus of Californians is making it miserable for people living in NV, AZ, TX, and FL... the states where most Californians are moving to.  Housing costs (both rental and sales) have skyrocketed, making it extremely difficult for long term residents to live because the fleeing Californians sell their property and take the money to buy estates or several properties in the areas they're moving to,

When I moved to LV in 1981 I was broke.  At the time a person can live on minimum wage and still EASILY afford to live.  At the time I personally couldn't afford a McD's Value Meal, so I had to eat a steak, prime rib, or buffet meal every day because that's how casino's attracted customers... those meals cost LESS at a casino than the fast food offering that I just mentioned.
My first apartment was basically designed to be student housing at UNLV.  My first apartment was a studio that cost me $109/month including utilities, and it was a GREAT place to live.

Photographically speaking, many of the pros had studios in the Arts District, which was a relatively run down area full of second hand furniture stores and industrial supply companies.  As more and more artists moved in to the area, more and more restaurants and entertainment venues opened in that area, and the rental / purchase prices skyrocketed causing many of the photographers and artists to move OUT of the area which only became popular because the artists and photographers that built it. 

While it's still fairly Cheap to live compared to California, it's not cheap for an existing resident.

I regret when an out of town friend asks me to meet at a casino.  For me that means fighting traffic, paying $20 to park, and have the pleasure of taking a 20 minute walk from the parking garage to the hotel or casino... just to have a cup of coffee (which is also overpriced).

The final straw is the water supply.  California gets the giants share while Las Vegas just gets a trickle from it even though the lakes and Colorado River are in my backyard.  Californians don't seem to worry about it, but in NV there are severe and drastic measures to conserve as much as possible.  The lake has gone down so much that only one boat launch is available for the whole lake compared to just a few years ago when each of several marinas had at least 4 launch ramps, and a mile long beach was also a popular place to launch small boats and PWC's.

Living in NV is probably an excellent choice for you and other that are stuck in CA, but it's no all blue skies and apple pie by any means... a bonus for you would be the fact that you can hang out with Danielle more often!

It seems the cost of living is rising everywhere, yet people still want to live in California.  For rents, Las Vegas is about $1,000 cheaper per month for apartments compared to California.  I have a pretty good rent deal for the moment, but that can change in a heartbeat. 

When I have visited, I hated driving in Las Vegas!  It is getting worse from what I hear, but traffic is a pain in the ass in any large city.  Better to stay close by where you want to go, walk or even take public transit. The advantage I see to driving, living and eating in Las Vegas is taxes!  Gas is so dang expensive in California.  So are the State taxes on income, sales taxes, and it seems like they have taxes on the taxes here!  I want to start a business, but the State franchise tax board is scaring me. So I'm looking into starting an LLC in Nevada.   

There are plenty of models, concerts, and conventions in Las Vegas.  Water might not be an issue for a season or two as the West Coast is getting huge amounts of rainfall and snow.  I do miss Danielle, so being near her is a major plus!  Also I look forward to meeting you in person someday soon!  Moving to a new State is an adventure.  I can always rent an RV and visit California later.

Beyond Boudoir Photo wrote:
Dear Friends,

The times, they are changing!

I've been shooting in the Portland, Oregon model pool for well over a decade.  I pay models for nude shoots and sell the photosets online.  Back when Portland was a functioning city, I did some really fun street photography with my many model friends, but that's no longer possible due to crime, etc...

Most of the outdoor nature locations I used have been closed off and marked with No Trespassing signs.

There used to be plenty of models here with the girl next door look that my fans want, but now most are heavily tattooed, have green hair and nose rings.  My old model friends are aging out of the business.

All sorts of new taxes and restrictions are being enacted that are making it unpleasant to live in this area, so I'm thinking of moving.  I'm looking at Vegas or the Phoenix area, which I know fairly well from past visits.

Any photographers live in Vegas or spend a lot of time there?  How hard is it to connect with nude models if you offer paid shoots?  What's the best place to find them, IG?  MM?  FB?  What percentage are sporting what used to be called an "alternative" look?

I had lunch yesterday with a fellow Portland photographer and he claims that Vegas is a great place to be a nude photographer. He had some impressive stories about shoots there with models many of you would know.

If you'd like to share your Vegas experience, I'd love to trade some private messages.  Or post here in the forum if you like, but you know how that usually turns out.

You'll find a larger number of potential models to shoot with in Las Vegas.  As for shooting nudes at outdoor locations, that is more a question for the pros that are there, but being that there is plenty of desert, I'd think you'd be able to find some locations, plus venues that you can rent for indoors.  I know of various outdoor locations in California along the coast going from as far South as Santa Barbara all the way up to the Oregon border. 

Oregon is a beautiful State!  My parents were from there.  I have friends and family there.  However the general attitude there is not as open to photographing nude models, and there are just not as many models to choose from.