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Where to find nude models, besides the Internet?
I tried a casting call here, and though a couple of results came out of it for the near future, most of the girls do not have the look I need - these girls need to look like fashion models, not Maxim chicks. I really need to go to Europe for this, lol, as the models on here that would be perfect seem to have the typical American mentality towards nudity. I also tried craigslist, with similar results. Mind you, I have found some models that would be great for the project, but they have mostly been flakes who have disappeared after a few messages (better now than the day of the shoot, of course). Someone had mentioned I should look for figure models in local schools - how do I go about this? Post a notice in the bulletin boards at colleges and universities around here? Contact someone at the school, like the professors? Any other ideas? Street casting (for nudes)? Agencies would likely charge me an arm and a leg, IF they have girls for this sort of thing. I swear I am on the verge of hitting strip clubs with a mini-portfolio and my sketchbook... My Mamiya is still in the shop (for the mirror locking up on its own), but other than that and a couple of accessories I need to buy for the shoots, I'm ready to go - except for the models. I think I will just put this aside for the moment and book some fashion stuff for my book, I'm brimming with inspiration for that right now anyway, and have found some great models ("no nudes!") for that in my searching. Jan 06 07 04:05 pm Link Editorial rates for shoots aren't that expensive. Plus, it is easy to get a model for a test from an agency. Jan 06 07 04:08 pm Link This place is full of them. So are the other sites like OMP, Paid Models, Model Place, Glamour 1, BABE Warehouse, etc. So are bars and yesterday a girl in a park asked me if I would pay her to shoot nude. Was shooting another one at the time. Also try art schools. But Agree - Europe is better. EL Jan 06 07 04:09 pm Link Aaron S wrote: Sorry, I should have elaborated that this is for a personal project, my very first series of nudes. They will most likely be submitted to local galleries and a few choice mags, but don't have any real editorial intent behind them at this point. Jan 06 07 04:14 pm Link EL PIC wrote: This place may be full of them, but it is damn near impossible to find the time to go through all the local profiles on here, sine we can't filter the search for those willing to do nudes. EL PIC wrote: Quite right. I've been saying for years that I should go live there, and once some family stuff here gets cleared out, I may pack up and go for a few years. Jan 06 07 04:17 pm Link Gabriel wrote: In their terms, editorial rates would be anything that isn't advertising, this would just be a personal editorial. Jan 06 07 04:17 pm Link Aaron S wrote: Really? I'm so happy I'm about to finally start pushing my wares on the street-level, things are certainly more sensible there. I am off from the dreary Day Job this week, so will have some time to call around. Thanks for the info. Jan 06 07 04:20 pm Link Right at the top of the list - try the local art schools, although their models tend to be average people, this could be an advantage if shooting something "different" for the galleries, after that I'd check to see what photography clubs are in your area, the RA Club here in Ottawa keeps a list of models for their members - Edit - It gets a lot easier once you have a "book" of images to show - recently I was having a meeting with a prospective model over coffee in a local restaurant, and the waitress saw my portfolio and was interested - I never shot the "model" but I did shoot the waitress, and a couple of her co-workers are pending - Jan 06 07 04:21 pm Link Glenn Worton wrote: Camera clubs? Never even thought of that one as I never belonged to one. Thanks! Jan 06 07 04:21 pm Link street casting for nudes is a talent in itself. one fact with nudes is you need a pretty body , there are alot of great models that are not so great nude. try doing intimate couples photos from street casting first. some of them will pose nude. just dont go into shoots with any expectations , think frame by frame. im constantly amazed how many people off the street will pose nude. Jan 06 07 04:27 pm Link darkfotoart wrote: Excellent point in regards to some models not making for good nude subjects. That's why I thought of the strip clubs Jan 06 07 04:32 pm Link I have had surprisingly good luck with nudes via My Space. Sure, most are not really models, but some see my work, understand I do nudes, and are flattered I want them to pose nude. After they get over the flattery, they then realize "why not ME?" and they pose nude too. Jan 06 07 04:34 pm Link For posing, besides the net I've gotten some work from the local art schools. As a shooter, I once had a photog I posed for ask me to reffer a model in my photographer's profile to them. I sent her the info, and they worked together from there. So, I'd say hit up any photographers in your area who have shot modesl you'd like to shoot. If they contact them first, and reffer your info to them, you may have better luck..... Jan 06 07 04:35 pm Link Gabriel wrote: Yes really. We were able to pretty easily get models from Storm, and Elite. Jan 06 07 04:35 pm Link BC Helm wrote: Interesting. I flat-out refuse to join Myspace, though, and I don't have any nudes in my portfolio yet, so I can just imagine what they would think anyway. I'm really trying to get OFF the Web for this, though - I had lost my disdain for the so-called "Web model" after having worked with so many great models from here (most, incidentally, have done street-level editorial and advertising) for my fashion stuff, but the flakes have come out yet again while in search of nudes. Jan 06 07 04:43 pm Link luv2bfitt wrote: I can try that, too, thanks. Aaron S wrote: Cool deal. I'll see what happens with this. I won't get into anything serious until I have my Mamiya back, and I'm actually ready to shoot, but I'll poke around and see what I can dig up. Jan 06 07 04:47 pm Link If U don't mind them being unconscious roofies work pretty good! Jan 06 07 04:48 pm Link GWC wrote: I am SO GLAD I wasn't drinking anything when I read this, I'd need a new keyboard! Jan 06 07 04:50 pm Link if you want more trouble than your dollar will get you...go ahead and do the strip club route. You've not said what rate you've been paying. I'm on OMP and here and have never had a problem finding a good model to do tasteful nudes. If you're trying to shoot Playboy stuff and just want to practice...try asking a girlfriend. Most models I know have their limits and unless you're a well established photographer with an awesome portfolio, a lot of ladies think you're just wanting to get them naked for personal enjoyment. Another thing you might try is doing some searches on some swingers sites. Many of these wives are hot and completely comfortable with their bodies and may even model for TFP if you give them some great images. Good luck. Jan 06 07 04:53 pm Link id start with the local art schools. if you talk to the figure drawing professor and explain that youre a local art photographer and looking to do some work with some nude figures they can pass the information along to their models. they might even give you the contact information. Jan 06 07 04:57 pm Link GWC wrote: You do it every time. Jan 06 07 04:59 pm Link Dancers (legit dancers, not strip club "dancers"), actors/actresses, artists, musicians, bodybuilders and fitness fanatics just to name a few that I've had good luck with. You will also be surprised at how many of your friends will pose nude for you. Women are easier to get to model for you than men. Doug Jan 06 07 05:02 pm Link FlirtynFun Photography wrote: I'm not seriously considering the strip clubs, though at this point they might seem a viable alternative, lol. Too many wackos in there (I've dated a few). Not interested in the Playboy stuff, never thought much of it, to be honest. Swingers? Even crazier than strippers, I would imagine. The typical "wife" will not be fit for this project anyway. Jan 06 07 05:14 pm Link studio kgm inc wrote: Thanks! This is some of the info that I needed to get. Although, as described above, I'm not doing the "figure" stuff - but I have a sketchbook to help me along. Jan 06 07 05:15 pm Link One of the best ways I find is to just ask women to pose nude. Bars Resturants Parks Malls work. IF u look good its half done deal. Dont go to Lesbian Bars - LOL. EL Jan 06 07 05:18 pm Link DHayes Photography wrote: I might try local dancers and actresses, though the latter may feel that nude images could hurt their careers later (yeah, right - not these days). Bodybuilders don't usually look like what I'm seeking, though there is one on here that I may be shooting. My friends? Yikes, I don't think so, lol. I have a couple of model friends, but they've already made clear that they are not interested in this type of shoot. Jan 06 07 05:18 pm Link EL PIC wrote: I'm thinking this will get me to know the local police alot better than I need to, lol, but I could give it a shot. Maybe next time I go to Hooters, or a fine restaurant with a knockout for a hostess. Jan 06 07 05:20 pm Link Go to a nightclub with a portfolio of decent boudiour photos, and see who gravitates to your camera the most. I have found a lot of women throwing themselves on me half naked at the nightclub. They can usually be convinced pretty easily to look sexy (and naked) for the camera if given the right treatment. Remember, everyone likes to have their picture taken, and if you go to a nightclub (especially if you can get VIP) you will definitely be able to tell which girls will take their clothes off because they will stick their asses or boobs in your face. Jan 06 07 05:23 pm Link Try Deco models on sobe, they are pretty open minded. -Daniel Jan 06 07 05:24 pm Link i have had VERY good luck at a coffee shop most of the nudes i have photoed i got the people from there i just walk up to them and ask Jan 06 07 05:28 pm Link Gabriel wrote: Hooters and bars like that are not great places since they get picked up so. Jan 06 07 05:30 pm Link Ever thought of just asking your friends? Many women will model nude if they're comfortable with the photographer and if they know (KNOW FOR SURE!) that the images won't be abused. Jan 06 07 05:33 pm Link Webspinner wrote: Interesting idea, though I think this will get me laid more than get me models to photograph, LOL. Maybe that's just Miami clubs. Anyway, I don't have a portfolio of boudoir photos, only the fashion work you see here and on my site. Jan 06 07 05:36 pm Link Not wanting to sound like jerk, but try your neighbors, friends, etc. I have photographed most of my neighbors and friends nude. It's a good place to start. Friends of your wife (sig. other) , or friends of the family. Heck, if you can't ask someone you know to model nude for you, how do you expect stragers to model nude for you. My 2 cents Jan 06 07 05:37 pm Link meetup.com In most of the larger cities there are figure drawing meet-ups, figure study meet-ups...whatever. Jan 06 07 05:40 pm Link This is a Funny thread !! Did you get the Dr. Sketchy post ? Nude in a bar drawing photo class. BTW - Did you know that nerdy women in bookstores and laundermats love when they get hit on and are most pervise !! EL Jan 06 07 05:40 pm Link Daniel Norton wrote: Thanks for the tip. I'll look them up. nathan combs wrote: EL PIC wrote: OK, I so I guess this does work. I know Bob Carlos Calrke would do this alot, though he said he didn't mention the nudity at first. But then, he was Bob Carlos Clarke - and in Europe. But so many of you are telling me this works, I'll have to give it a shot as well. Jan 06 07 05:42 pm Link Go clubbing, with business cards. Take a bunch of models with you, and make sure they spend the night giving you attention. You'll find that you attract a lot of women, and they'll ask the models who you are. Have the models tell them that you're a photographer, and make sure they have your card. Your card should hava your web site on it and the site should be impressive enough to show that you're not some random pervert with a camera. Have the kind of photography you want to do on the site so there's no confusion. Treat the models you work with like gold. Respect them, be funny and personable, and generous when you can. Over time, you'll make a name for yourself and people might recognize you when you go out. Indeed, and I kid you not, you will find boyfriends and husbands who are familiar with your work introduce you to their girlfriends and wives in hopes that you'll shoot them. I'm a complete nobody and I live in Seattle and this works. You live in Florida, where I expect this would work an order of magnitude better. Jan 06 07 05:46 pm Link Shadowscape Studio wrote: Well, I mentioned before most of my friends are unsuitable for this, unfortunately. I also don't have an SO right now, I became tired of the non-English speaking illegals in Miami, looking for a U.S. citizen sucker to marry, and I've become a little antisocial lately - but that is way, way beyond the scope of this post. Shandra wrote: Thanks, I'll check that out. Jan 06 07 05:47 pm Link EL PIC wrote: Dr. Sketchy? Jan 06 07 05:51 pm Link |