Okay, so this is a poll/discussion. Feel free to answer one, a couple or all the questions and of discuss, note that some questions will be more for photographers. But remember, only post your experiences. Also, obviously this is about female models (sorry, I don't know enough about male models to add them in).
#1: How important is a model's height to you if you are selecting (no third party client or otherwise imposed standard, just your personal choice)?
#2: As a model, how often do the photographers you actually work with discuss your height?
#3: How many jobs have you gotten/offered based mainly on height?
#4: Is there another feature that you find more important in a model than height (besides showing up and not being a diva)?
#5: Photographers, what do you shoot? where? and how many really tall (6' +), tall (5'7 - 5'11), medium (5'3 - 5'6), short (5' - 5'2"), and really short (under 5' tall) models have you worked with? (I just made the height categories up, obviously, an estimate or rough percentages are fine).
#6: Why is or isn't model height important to you?
Please remember, this is just regarding MM members and their experiences. It's not for arguments sake or discounting importance of height in some fields, etc. Just curiosity.
#1 Not at all.
#3 None.
#4 Face, either beautiful, exotic, interesting, preferably all. Body style, I like slender, not too skinny, not too fat, real boobs, no matter what size.
#5
6'+ None that I recall
5'7" - 5'11" Tons
5'3" - 5'6" Plenty
5' - 5'2" Some, lots more of you count kids
#6 Because I don't shoot fashion.
#2: As a model, how often do the photographers you actually work with discuss your height? They mention how tall I am and might take a couple of steps back to get me in frame or get on tippy-toes to adjust a strand of hair or the like.
#3: How many jobs have you gotten/offered based mainly on height? No one has ever said "I'm booking you because you're the height you are" to me but I'm sure it has contributed to any fashion shoots I have done.
#4: Is there another feature that you find more important in a model than height (besides showing up and not being a diva)? Probably proportions and stats; it's no use being 5'9" if your measurements do no suit the genre you are working in (for example, fashion) nor if, say, your hips are disproportionately large or your legs disproportionately short, etc.
Dekilah wrote: #4: Is there another feature that you find more important in a model than height (besides showing up and not being a diva)?
Looks rule but height is a component of looks.
Dekilah wrote: #5: Photographers, what do you shoot? where? and how many really tall (6' +), tall (5'7 - 5'11), medium (5'3 - 5'6), short (5' - 5'2"), and really short (under 5' tall) models have you worked with? (I just made the height categories up, obviously, an estimate or rough percentages are fine).
Mostly 5' 8" and up. 5' 4" and up for lifestyle images.
Dekilah wrote: #6: Why is or isn't model height important to you?
Dekilah wrote: #4: Is there another feature that you find more important in a model than height (besides showing up and not being a diva)?
The ability to elongate yourself even if you are "tall" or "short" and to know and be familiar with your body and be able to know how it will be able to look while you move it. and the ability to create compositions with yourself. To be able to give variety with yourself.
#1: How important is a model's height to you if you are selecting (no third party client or otherwise imposed standard, just your personal choice)?
Looks (+good skin) and then height. Semi important-ish.
#4: Is there another feature that you find more important in a model than height (besides showing up and not being a diva)?
*see above*
#5: Photographers, what do you shoot? where? and how many really tall (6' +), tall (5'7 - 5'11), medium (5'3 - 5'6), short (5' - 5'2"), and really short (under 5' tall) models have you worked with? (I just made the height categories up, obviously, an estimate or rough percentages are fine).
A balance actually around 5'2 to 5'11.
I shoot fashion and beauty with a smattering of personal conceptual work and portraits.
#6: Why is or isn't model height important to you?
Important for proportions and to fit sample clothes.
To me, I do not care. but I do not have commercial models. Brides come is all sizes.
When I worked for commercial clients doing lighting -- they made dresses for one size model. (except for kids)
that way models were interchangeable.
In my nude workshops, all I cared about and what my students cared about was seeing tits.
I worked as an assistant for a R site recently -- all he cared about was -- if they would get nude and were sort of fit. Height just did not matter -- tattoos did and that was a not many.
#2: As a model, how often do the photographers you actually work with discuss your height?Very few
#3: How many jobs have you gotten/offered based mainly on height?
A few due to the art modeling I do sometimes me being shorter works well for certain concepts
Being at least a little curvy is far more important than height.
I really can't imagine height being remotely important to anyone outside the fashion industry. If the clothes fit, shoot them.
Here's what it comes down to. If I think I can get saleable shots of a model, I'll hire her. Doesn't really matter if her port is four cell phone shots. If I don't see that sparkle in her eye, she's not getting hired. I've been screwed by this too many times. Everyone wants to model, but, sadly, not everyone has talent. They can be pretty, but, without decent expression, the shots won't sell.
For me, weight also has little to do with it. It's all the sparkle in the eye, and decent expression.
#1 & #4 Look and attitude is more important then height. It is my job as the photographer to deal with height.
#5 I photograph glamour and artistic nudes at shooting workshops, for now. I have worked with models from 5' 0" to 6' 1" and everywhere in between. None have been better or worse based exclusively on height. I made some photographs recently and got the comment that she looked really tall, she is 5' 5".
#6 Physical height is, in my opinion, unimportant for my kind of photography. If the model is good at her craft she can get the look I want. As I said above, it is my job to deal with her attributes. If I want or need something specific, I'll spell that out in advance.
You obviously have the skills to seem taller then you are. If I looked at just your images I'd never know you were 4' 11".
Dekilah wrote: Okay, so this is a poll/discussion. Feel free to answer one, a couple or all the questions and of discuss, note that some questions will be more for photographers. But remember, only post your experiences. Also, obviously this is about female models (sorry, I don't know enough about male models to add them in).
#1: How important is a model's height to you if you are selecting (no third party client or otherwise imposed standard, just your personal choice)?
#2: As a model, how often do the photographers you actually work with discuss your height?
#3: How many jobs have you gotten/offered based mainly on height?
#4: Is there another feature that you find more important in a model than height (besides showing up and not being a diva)?
#5: Photographers, what do you shoot? where? and how many really tall (6' +), tall (5'7 - 5'11), medium (5'3 - 5'6), short (5' - 5'2"), and really short (under 5' tall) models have you worked with? (I just made the height categories up, obviously, an estimate or rough percentages are fine).
#6: Why is or isn't model height important to you?
Please remember, this is just regarding MM members and their experiences. It's not for arguments sake or discounting importance of height in some fields, etc. Just curiosity.
1) Very important. I'm an aspiring fashion photographer. I need my portfolio to consist of fashion models. That means height (as the first requirement.)
4) Facial feautes (since you don't need to be tall to pull off a beauty shot), neck length (which usually correlates with height), body. I'll make certain exceptions for someone as short as 5'6" but, she'd better have a Kate Moss Obsession body and face to die for.
5) I tryyy to shoot fashion. I'm getting there. See #4 for the rest of the question.
As a Fashion Photographer I only shoot female models between 5'7 and 5'10 ..I dont like the proportions of most models under 5'7 or over 5'10 ( but of course have been exceptions ) ...my personal preference though is between 5'8 and 5'9
Garry k wrote: As a Fashion Photographer I only shoot female models between 5'7 and 5'10 ..I dont like the proportions of most models under 5'7 or over 5'10 ( but of course have been exceptions ) ...my personal preference though is between 5'8 and 5'9
#6: I don't normally shoot high-fashion looks and am more focused on finding models that can pose well, are reliable, and don't need me to direct every inch of their bodies. I'm just looking to get interesting images at this point
#2: As a model, how often do the photographers you actually work with discuss your height?
I've had them comment that so many other alt. models are short. Definitely had a few of them get on a box if I'm wearing big heels that's when I get the most comments 5"8.25 + 5 inch heels = 6"1.25 (really freaking tall)
#3: How many jobs have you gotten/offered based mainly on height?
I don't know if I've gotten any based solely on height but I've definitely gotten a lot of photographers that have commented pre-shoot that they love my legs legs which I guess is partly because of height.
Dekilah wrote: #4: Is there another feature that you find more important in a model than height (besides showing up and not being a diva)?
#5: Photographers, what do you shoot? where? and how many really tall (6' +), tall (5'7 - 5'11), medium (5'3 - 5'6), short (5' - 5'2"), and really short (under 5' tall) models have you worked with? (I just made the height categories up, obviously, an estimate or rough percentages are fine).
#6: Why is or isn't model height important to you?
#4 - proportion & symmetry is more important than absolute height in fashion shoots, a beautiful face is more important than height in commercial, beauty. Skin quality and measurements are more important than height in glamour, etc.
#5 - I've shot around 100 girls from MM...
6' + ~3%
5'7"~5'11" ~35%
5'3"~5'6" ~50%
5'0"~5'2" ~10%
5'- ~2%
#6 - height is most important when clothes are the focus of the shoot. Obviously the pants/dresses have to fit, they have to ride at the right height and drop at the right height. Height determines how well the clothes look.
#2: As a model, how often do the photographers you actually work with discuss your height?
I show up and people are generally surprised, because my pictures look taller than 5 feet, even though I list the actually stats on my page.
#3: How many jobs have you gotten/offered based mainly on height?
A few. I fit in smaller places and lower ceilings.
#4: Is there another feature that you find more important in a model than height (besides showing up and not being a diva)?
Connection to the camera and ability to deliver what the photographer is looking for.
#6: Why is or isn't model height important to you?
I like being short. It can be limiting, but I don't mind. I am making a way for myself, it just happens to be off of the runways and etc.
4. Overall looks and attitude are much more important than height.
5. I don't think I've ever worked with a model over 5-9. A fair variety between 5-2 and 5-8
6. I don't do fashion, runway, etc. so their height in relation to clothing or other models is rarely an issue. Actually, having a home studio with ceilings of 8 feet, shorter models give me more options.
#2: As a model, how often do the photographers you actually work with discuss your height?
Often, they love it. And there are plenty of castings that ask for 5'8 and above or even 5'9-5'11 so I feel that my options door is wide open. In my heels, i often tower over them and definitely over the makeup artists and stuff. it's a funny visual, especially when my 5'1 friend/mua does the job for me.
#3: How many jobs have you gotten/offered based mainly on height? Any that had something to do with fashion. I can't really know if someone liked my LOOK (face, shape, overall) or if they mainly looked at height. as long as I got chosen, I'm glad
Dekilah wrote: #1: How important is a model's height to you if you are selecting (no third party client or otherwise imposed standard, just your personal choice)?
It depends. There are some cases where I'm really looking for someone with the high fashion look. Other times I'm looking more for curves. Other times I want someone petite. If I don't have really specific requirements then anything goes height-wise.
#4: Is there another feature that you find more important in a model than height (besides showing up and not being a diva)?
Lately I've been wanting to get away from tattooed models. When I do my artistic nudes, I don't want any distractions. Clothes are a distraction. Tattoos are a distraction. I would certainly do trades with a tattooed model if the ink looked nice on her. But if I reached into the depths of my wallet to pay a nude model, she'd better have unmolested skin.
#5: Photographers, what do you shoot? where? and how many really tall (6' +), tall (5'7 - 5'11), medium (5'3 - 5'6), short (5' - 5'2"), and really short (under 5' tall) models have you worked with? (I just made the height categories up, obviously, an estimate or rough percentages are fine).
I shoot a little bit of everything. But for the purposes of Model Mayhem, artistic nudes, a little bit of erotic nudes, and some dark art. Most of my models tend to be around 5'3" to 5'7". I don't get a lot outside of that range but it's not because I'm turning them away.
#6: Why is or isn't model height important to you?
In my work, it's more about the complete package, the symmetry, healthy weight distribution, proportionality. Most of the time height is not an important consideration for me.
Dekilah wrote: Okay, so this is a poll/discussion. Feel free to answer one, a couple or all the questions and of discuss, note that some questions will be more for photographers. But remember, only post your experiences. Also, obviously this is about female models (sorry, I don't know enough about male models to add them in).
#1: How important is a model's height to you if you are selecting (no third party client or otherwise imposed standard, just your personal choice)?
#2: As a model, how often do the photographers you actually work with discuss your height?
#3: How many jobs have you gotten/offered based mainly on height?
#4: Is there another feature that you find more important in a model than height (besides showing up and not being a diva)?
#5: Photographers, what do you shoot? where? and how many really tall (6' +), tall (5'7 - 5'11), medium (5'3 - 5'6), short (5' - 5'2"), and really short (under 5' tall) models have you worked with? (I just made the height categories up, obviously, an estimate or rough percentages are fine).
#6: Why is or isn't model height important to you?
Please remember, this is just regarding MM members and their experiences. It's not for arguments sake or discounting importance of height in some fields, etc. Just curiosity.
2) One photographer when I shown up to a shoot, said that I look taller in my pictures, but he knew I was 5'1. I use angles to elongate my body. Other than that, they already know I am a short model.
3) I haven't got a job bc of my height. My height worked well with some of the shots I've done but that's it
Miss Anthrope 1007 wrote: For fun stuff = mostly TF* height doesn't matter?
For your client/work shoots = mostly paid shoots height does matter?
Not in my case. Height generally doesn't matter for either (but I do far more TF* admittedly). Absence of tattoos is far more crucial for paid work than height is.
Say you had two models that were equal on all levels.
One is 5'6" and the other is 5', honestly who would you choose?
They aren't going to be equal on all levels. That's the thing.
There will be some little endearing feature on one of them that will draw me in. Freckles? Dimples? A little curly lock that keeps dangling in her face? I will see something in a person like that which will draw me in, and the challenge then is for me to help other people to see her as I see her.
Height is honestly one of the last things that enters into it in 95% of what I do.
