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Photographers: How Do You Afford to Pay Models?
Right now, I wonder how you guys afford to pay models. I'm not trying to make this into a "photographers pay for x,y, and z and models DON'T" kind of a thread, but seriously. After paying for all the obvious stuff like my camera and my equipment, and then all the other things like studio rentals (which are fucking expensive) and ALL of the wardrobe since we have no stylists here, I literally have ZERO money left. And these are things that I cannot forgo. I have an aesthetic. I have a style. And that vision depends on my access to proper wardrobe and things like that. I'm afraid my quality of work will suffer with out it. I've never been one of those photographers who just have models show up with an outfit or two and hope for the best... Some models even charge for time spent in hair and makeup which, I can understand why on one hand. but on the other, it's like, we NEED that. Anyway, I'm just wondering, for the photographers out there who are a one-man show like I am: how is it that you're able to afford to pay models and what can I do differently to be able to afford it? Aug 31 11 04:58 pm Link I don't pay. Its really all about a match thing and networking. You are a good photographer so really good models should be coming your way. If any thing new models should be paying you to have you build there ports. just my opinion Aug 31 11 05:00 pm Link By living on pasta and noodles.  Aug 31 11 05:04 pm Link I don't pay. Clients do. My time is just as valuable as theirs. jf Aug 31 11 05:06 pm Link I realize that a lot of you do not pay models, so I'm really asking the photographers who DO pay. Ideally, models would be falling over themselves to shoot with me and offering me heaps of money, especially given the situation- they walk on set and EVERYTHING is provided for them. All they have to do is show up. Anyway, THAT is not happening, and there's really a lot of models that I like, but a scarce amount that are relatively close to me (close as in like a 250 mile radius or so) and then an even smaller amount that are interested in trade. Aug 31 11 05:10 pm Link I pay established models. And I TFP newer models as well. I have a real job that allows me to afford camera gear, as well as pay for models for their talent. I am not a "starving artists"...or any kind of "artist" for that matter. Sometimes I submit images to various subscription based pay websites. If they accept my submission, they pay me for the images. This covers the fee I paid to the model, and then some. I also operate group shoots, where the photographer attendees pay a fee to attend. The established models get a portion of this fee. Aug 31 11 05:13 pm Link Budget.Save. Wear ripped t-shirts and 8 year old sneakers.Then sell a painting, hire a model. Repeat as needed! Aug 31 11 05:15 pm Link If I am doing a specific concept, I try to find a model with a look that fits the look I am after. If I don't get any responses from models that fit my needs, I then look to offer pay. The way I see it, this is my hobby and that is a cost of my hobby. Fishing you need a boat and gear (camera and lenses) but you also have fishing day costs of gas and bait (models). I can hire a model for about the same cost to go fishing or playing a round of golf. If I hire a model once a month, and trade shoot the other weeks, I am good. Make a model fund and do things to add money to it. Before long you will have a regular fund for paying models from time to time. Aug 31 11 05:16 pm Link It's simple really - either my client pays a model through me, or i choose to pay a model for the qualities she can bring to images that I want to use for my own self promotional use and / or for submissions or image / print sales. I consider it an investment in my business. If someone is in this business they have all manner of expenses - insurance on my equipment and to cover liability, studio rental, equipment purchases, time and travel expense taken together is a much bigger expense than hiring an occasional model. I don't think that a photographer should ever consider asking a model to shoot, TF or otherwise, without liability insurance..... Aug 31 11 05:17 pm Link If you make money selling the pictures, it's fair to pay the models who collaborate, either upfront or on a percentage on the sales, the second option may not be such a good idea when you start to sale your work for a good price. Aug 31 11 05:20 pm Link I make meth and sell it to middle schoolers.... Aug 31 11 05:25 pm Link punkuate wrote: Sounds like I'd get fat!!! Aug 31 11 05:27 pm Link Sounds like it's about time for you to start charging or at least not paying. Clients are often the key. Find a small shop that sells some clothing or accessories that you'd like to shoot and strike a deal. It doesn't seem like you're trying to make a lot of money here, so it may work out well for everyone involved. The store gets inexpensive shots and you get a little cash to put towards models and MUA's. Aug 31 11 05:30 pm Link I have a friend who tells me that before he was married he went through a period in the dating scene where he basically played the bad-boy, bum. Says he never offered to pay for dinners, cabs, nothing. I asked him, "Well, what did you say when they asked you to pay?" He said, "They didn't because they knew I wasn't going to and I was upfront about it." He didn't say he left his wallet at home or anything like that. He'd just tell them he'd love to go out but he won't be paying for anything. He claims he never got laid so often as then. Of course this is a guy who's first words to his wife when they met were, "You know you want to kiss me." Then he kissed her. 6 months later they were married. Aug 31 11 05:34 pm Link I have a job that lets me work unlimited OT remotely. And, nothing happens at night when I'm working OT. I just watch TV, read books, or go about my normal business around my place. I'm doing it right now. Ha! Aug 31 11 05:38 pm Link I pay those who are at a higher level than me, and are well known. i schedule 3-4 months ahead of time, and i save up like all hell. Aug 31 11 05:39 pm Link o k u t a k e wrote: I'd LOVE to be making a ton of money, and while I don't think I'm Steven Miesel or anyobody, I do think that I deserve to be paid. The thing is, there's just not really a big market for that here. I end up spending way more money for shoots than I've ever made back. Aug 31 11 05:43 pm Link Sometimes you have to turn crumbs into bricks meaning if it means that I have to get out there and shoot 5 simple photoshoots for social sites like Facebook and the like at $50 a shoot then thats $250 right there. HUSTLE HUSTLE HARD !!! Aug 31 11 05:44 pm Link ddtphoto wrote: ??? Aug 31 11 05:45 pm Link Shon D.- Femme wrote: Maybe if you'd stop offering to pay for dinner you'd get laid more often. Aug 31 11 05:51 pm Link Get commercial clients, run a workshop. Aug 31 11 05:56 pm Link I have a job that often provides overtime. I use some of my overtime money to hire models since very few that I wish to shoot will do TF. Maybe get a second job?  Aug 31 11 05:57 pm Link ddtphoto wrote: If I did that, then my photos would likely suffer. Aug 31 11 05:58 pm Link I have worked with somewhere north of 250 models since Jan 2009, many more than once. Let's say I paid them each an average of $200 per shoot. That's well over $50,000. Needless to say, that's insane. I catch flak for not paying models, but what should I do? I simply don't have that kind of money, and probably never will. Aug 31 11 06:00 pm Link start shooting male models ... models dont have to be female..,. Aug 31 11 06:02 pm Link For me it is a hobby. How much do we spend on hobbies we are serious about? (sailing excluded :-). Most of us spend a couple to a few hundred dollars a months, that is my ballpark Aug 31 11 06:09 pm Link Three options, singularly or in combination: - ask for trade with freelance models or unpaid tests with new models with agencies - ask to be paid by the Models - shoot other more profitable photography and an budget some of the profit to pay for personal work (this is what I do) Aug 31 11 06:10 pm Link I provide a professional service. Models can pay me for that service, or they can sign a commercial model release and work for some images. While I do, on occasion, do charity work, I am not a charity. Bottom line: Model pays me cash or signs a release and poses. Aug 31 11 06:12 pm Link photo_guru2 wrote: What? Aug 31 11 06:18 pm Link Mickle Design Werks wrote: That's a great plan! Aug 31 11 06:20 pm Link Shon D.- Femme wrote: Then get some clients, dude. Have them pay for it. Aug 31 11 06:26 pm Link ...volume... Aug 31 11 06:33 pm Link Simple Rich dudes Aug 31 11 06:35 pm Link SPierce Photography wrote: Ditto Aug 31 11 06:35 pm Link I work a "day" job. Craig Aug 31 11 06:44 pm Link photo_guru2 wrote: LMAOOO..!! Aug 31 11 06:47 pm Link Shon D.- Homme wrote: Exactly.. Lol.. Aug 31 11 06:48 pm Link Brooklyn Bridge Images wrote: Really? What about those who aren't rich, just able to prioritize what matters and what doesn't when it comes to money. Aug 31 11 06:48 pm Link Shon D.- Femme wrote: I am quite sure the models will be happy to hear this. Aug 31 11 06:49 pm Link +1 for day job to support photography habit. I have paid models for a specific look/style and do a fair amount of TFP with newer models. On occasion will have a paying job that underwrites the model's fees. Aug 31 11 06:50 pm Link |
