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looking for models over 21?
it seems like a lot of photographers i've worked with, if browsing for new models on this site, enter 18-21 in the age specifications. is it true that this is the range generally sought? i've noticed that even though i've met more photographers, made more connections, gotten more reviews and recommendations, etc. over time, it seems like i get substantially fewer offers for work with every year older i get. maybe it has to do with newer profiles showing up first. let me know your thoughts. Mar 18 10 03:16 am Link I don't know how photographers search, but I'm 22 and am still getting a lot of bookings, and more paid work than last year. How often do you add more images or shoot with other members? Mar 18 10 03:18 am Link I could care less about a model's age as long as he's 18 or over. If he's got the look, he's got the job. Mar 18 10 03:22 am Link When I browse for models...I usually use the age range from 18-25... sometimes 18-30 but thats rare... Mar 18 10 03:26 am Link I think it all depends on what the photographer is shooting for. I actually have the opposite problem. I'm currently trying to book shoots that represent professional aged people, but have a hard time getting models who are older than early 20s. I also find they are less likely to flake, but at least 80% of the models in my area on MM are under 25. I think the economy has slowed everything down too. I also have a harder time booking shoots than I used to a couple years ago. Mar 18 10 07:27 am Link I'm 27 and make more money, and have more consistent bookings than I did at 23 (I did not start modeling until I was 22). I have a stronger portfolio now that I've been at it longer, have more references, and less restrictions keeping me in one place. I have, however, taken very good care of myself, and do not look my age. My body is definitely much better-looking than it was a decade ago. I don't think it depends on numerical age as much as how good you look, for your age. Mar 18 10 07:52 am Link I search 18-24, sometimes 18-29 if I'm feeling daring! Mar 18 10 09:05 am Link Age doesn't mean anything to me, it's more the way the model can look. Leaving age limits out, you can be surprized what you can find here. I never shoot minors though, must be 18-up. Paul Mar 18 10 09:11 am Link You can find work at age 25, especially if you are willing to shoot glamour, nude, and fetish as you say in your profile. As for myself, I have worked with several models in their thirties and one in her forties. They were all wonderful models, and I would hire them again. Mar 18 10 09:13 am Link At 22 you won't magically turn "old," although some people casting for some teen paysites do have a cut off point. Some photographers want the youngest looking models, others want older. Mar 18 10 09:16 am Link Wouldn't it depend on the project I am casting for? Some of my web projects require models 18-21. Sometimes a client wants a model that looks younger. Sometimes a client wants a model that looks older. I cast for the talent I need and that is dictated by the client or the project. Mar 18 10 09:42 am Link Keira Grant wrote: To me it is ONLY about the look. When it comes to nudes, I shoot all ages - I don't care how old a model is as long as she is at least 18. Mar 18 10 10:04 am Link When I actually do a search, it is for 39 and up... mostly over 40 because of our "Project 40+:" series of books and calendars. When I am looking for younger models I look for 29 to 35.. But that is just me.. But then again, I rarely search on Mayhem unless I have a paying client. Mar 18 10 10:13 am Link My sister (who turns 40 this week) just started posing again last year and has no end to bookings because she's the only attractive 40 year old in her area ON Model Mayhem (and she's an accomplished martial artist who shoots nude, which helps). For my work, I've shot models as young as 16 and as old as 70. Mar 18 10 04:01 pm Link It's probably not your age, and certainly not your look or experience level. But there may be other factors involved. I recommend posting over in the Critique forum for photographers' view of how your portfolio reads. This will give you a much better idea of which photographers will most likely be interested, and which will read it and move on. And don't be such a stranger in the forums! I've never seen your portfolio before, and I'm sure other photographers will notice you here for the first time as well simply because of this thread. Mar 18 10 04:07 pm Link i've been turned down for more jobs than i can count because of my age. it would be so much better to just have a button to click saying you're over 18 or over 21 and leave it at that. it might give some of us old gals a better shot at a job. what difference does a physical age make anyway as long as you LOOK a certain way. the number can be quite detrimental for certain jobs. Mar 18 10 04:42 pm Link Raccoon Carobtree wrote: I can't believe that you would have trouble finding work, especially that you do nudes and so well. Mar 18 10 04:49 pm Link I just enter female within 50 miles of my zip code in CA. Who cares how old they are if the model is perfect for what you need? Mar 18 10 04:52 pm Link Raccoon Carobtree wrote: I search 18-52, as it happens . . .. Mar 18 10 06:55 pm Link I don't even enter an age limit when I do searches. I just look for whatever catches my eye and fits what I want to shoot. I have just looked through my lists and back at those I've shot and I do however find that I tend to shoot more in their early to mid 20's though (21-25 usually). I'm not opposed to shooting younger or older though; supposed to be shooting a 17 year old soon, and a 28 year old later this month. Mar 18 10 07:03 pm Link I've noticed a few models who age backwards, and are now magically 21 instead of their real age. So there must be something to that idea that only 21 and under books well. Frankly, I think being dishonest is lame. Mar 18 10 07:04 pm Link Jaye Lynn wrote: The heavy retouching that graces some portfolios makes it hard to determine what models really look like, sometimes. I don't have any particular age limit, if the model suits me. Mar 18 10 07:09 pm Link I can't really figure out how photographers search. However, I will say that I have come across photographer profiles that specifically say 18 to 21 or 23. Well, I'm 25, so no matter how young I look if they aren't searching within my age range, I'm not even coming into consideration. My paid work has fluctuated. I've pretty much tapped out the paying work, but that is more due to my area and that I do not travel. As for TF, I'm being more picky. I am working about 50% with photographers I've worked with before who I know I work well with. And the other 50% are new people who either will shoot me in a new style (glamour, fashion, etc) or who are really good with something (location work, lighting, whatever). What I find is that new people on MM do find me quickly, it's a pretty small market here, even smaller if you want nudes. But I've made sure my reputation is spotless (to my knowledge) and that my name is out there in every photography club and such out there. That seems much more effective than relying on the MM search alone. My point is that networking and being professional can really even out the odds. Mar 18 10 07:20 pm Link I prefer over 21. Even over 25. Less drama. Mar 18 10 07:22 pm Link if you can't tell what they look like then you shouldn't hire them .. age aside. no? Mar 18 10 07:22 pm Link ASYLUM - Art Nudes wrote: So is losing work to models your own age because they had the good sense to lie. Mar 19 10 08:18 pm Link I've worked with models over 40 who were better (and looked better) than 18 year olds, but they are a rarity. I rarely use the Browse function these days but when I do I generally put 30 as the upper limit. Mar 19 10 08:26 pm Link sans the requisite of being over 18 i've never had a client ask for a specific age. it's always been age-range. i /client recently booked a model in her 30's who qualified for a look that called for early 20's. so in a nutshell, it's not how old one is, but how old one looks. Mar 19 10 08:39 pm Link Since I am in an area of Upstate Ny where there are few listings for models in general and fewer who actually do figure/glamour work, I enter 18-60 if I do a search. Most of the models I do find to work with seem to fall in the 18-21 area, not necessarly by choice but by availability with a few up to 25. College students looking to make a little expense money seem to be the largest pool of models in this area. Several models I have worked with have their age listed as around 40. One model here I have worked with is currently listed as 41, must have just had a birthday. I can honestly say it has been my good fortune and a pleasure to shoot with her several times. I have to admit before the last time I was a little intimated a bit by her ever growing portfolio! To any photographers in the area needing a model, I would highly recommend Tina #124178. If I had to pick my all time favorite model to work with, it would be her. Mar 20 10 10:20 am Link If you're expecting for searches to get you all of your job offers, yeah, you're going to have trouble. Because... ~MM is big. Lots of members. Your profile within the search function is like a grain of sand within, like, a big pile of sand or something. ~The default sorting method of the "browse" function is newest members first. Which means your profile might be easy to bump into when you're a newb, but it's gonna get harder and harder for new photographers to bump into your profile as you're here longer and longer unless you take your networking into your own hands and give people other ways to find you. Mar 20 10 11:50 am Link Since I shoot nudes, I have to set a limit of 18 or older, but I have no upper limit. Mar 20 10 11:52 am Link Raccoon Carobtree wrote: The age discrimination in this industry is stupid and absurd. Mar 20 10 12:09 pm Link When I run a search, I search 18-80. I don't care about the model's age as much as I care about the look. Mar 20 10 12:14 pm Link No limit for me either.. I actually have found a lot of the 20+ models are very fun to work with.. The oldest model I have worked with was 53.. I have no limit as long as they are ready to have fun and be creative. Mar 20 10 12:18 pm Link Raccoon Carobtree wrote: No.... if you could read my profile at the moment, (thanks MM) you would see I prefer models close to 21 or older. Mar 20 10 12:36 pm Link rp_photo wrote: You're right. Can I use your aunt and grandmother for some lingerie & topless shoots I have on tap? Mar 20 10 12:37 pm Link Typically when I do a search, I do 16 - 30. I don't have a problem shooting under 18's as long as I get to talk to one of their parents about the shoot. I usually start off with the "new" models first, but I also go back and do "latest acty". I get tired of pulling up profiles that the day they were created was the last day of acty. However, in the past 2 weeks, I've had 2 models flake on me. One 19, the other 21. I am re-thinking my search criteria, maybe 22 - 40. (I have worked with some great models in their 30's, heck one might've been early 40's...have to check that.) At least the 19 yr old had the courtesy to call... 5 minutes before the start of the shoot... but still. I guess I better go before I derail this conversation into yet another flake rant... Mar 20 10 02:27 pm Link When I do specify age limits, the upper limit is never as low as 21. Usually it's 35 or so, and it's never lower than about 25. It depends on the project, and on how many models are in the geographical area I'm searching. Mar 20 10 02:50 pm Link Everyone likes fresh meat.... or a new fresh fine veggy.., take your pick. However, to keep climbing the ladder you have to stay healthy and "fresh" yourself. I'm speaking in terms of shooting new and varied themes and better "well known" photographers. It's called networking. When sending out resumes for work in a like kind field, if you send out 100 resumes you'll probably get back 5 responses. 3 will say "Sorry, we don't have an opening right now." One will say "Stop by when you're in town, we'd like to meet with you for future employment". And one will say "Come on in and start tommorrow by 8 a.m. The job pay 40% [b]commission[/b[." Mar 20 10 05:47 pm Link I see a lot of castings that want women 21+ because they have something to do with alcohol promotion. I am 20 so can't apply to those. Mar 20 10 07:29 pm Link |