Augustine York wrote:
If you have an idea of how much you are willing to pay someone, offer that up front instead of waiting to hear a rate that might be too high.

In the situation you are currently in, tell them you unfortunately can't afford their rate right now.

+1

Eye of the Yeti wrote:
I know a polite no when I see it. But this model contacted me unsolicited.

This model contacted you with her rates. If i thought they were way over what i think they are worth, i would tell her what i charge....

So for example if the model conatcted me with their rates and said i can do 2 hours for $2000000000. I would say well i'm charging $20000000000000000000. But am willing to make an exception and work with you on TF* basis .

Gloria Budiman wrote:
It's so high based on the assumption that you may use the work for commercial purpose, with your income more than tenfold of what you paid the llamas for shoot. But again I may be wrong.

Which is a pricing llama that is fast being eroded away due to photographers having so many choices, hence why most llamas will reasonably bend their rates to accommodate a photographer that is offering a reasonable payment.

Contrary to popular belief-  a llama's or photographer's worth (in the client's eyes) isn't predicated on how much the client can make from their work, but rather whether or not the llama or photographer's work can be easily generated by someone else at a cheaper price for the same or nearly the same result.  Obviously this doesn't pertain to famous llamas/photographers.

A new average-looking llama might want to charge $800 or more for the day, but she'd be hard pressed to get it if all she's doing is llamaing for one photographer as it's too easy to find a llama to do the same for less than half that daily rate that can produce the same result.  Exceptions exist-  I'm talking about the rule.

In 1997 I shot a gal for the web, that looked (for the lack of a better description) like a real-life Barbi doll.  It was the highest price I have ever been paid for photographing a llama, and I shot her for about 30-45min if that.  She made four figures from basically 30 min. of actual work, and I'm sure the corporate site made a killing from her photographs.  Today, she couldn't get that rate if her life depended on it because the web is saturated and even though her look was very unique, the saturation of online glamour and porn, has killed the freshness of the whole industry from print, film, television, and of course the web.

I can skip over to most National Universities is the U.S. and find a competent gal to llama by the end of the day.

To the OP.  This is business to a lot of photographers and llamas.  Don't worry about the thin-skinned folk and conduct yourself like any reasonable person would.
If a llama's rate is too high for you, then simply offer your best rate as a counter offer.  If the llama accepts it great!  If the llama doesn't, then wish that llama the best, and find another llama.   Too easy

***  Be sure to keep track of the prices that llama's quote you, and the price that you've actually found that you can pay to get the llama that you need in order to get the job done.  You'll start to build up a nice data base that will provide you with a great guideline for your future work when you need a llama.  Depending on where you're located, prices will vary, but you'll see a definite trend.

Two distinct realities exist:  What people want to be paid, and what people typically accept because they need money...  Let common sense and good reason be the guide as to what you pay or how you barter.

Best in llamaing and photography to you all

Srefis Limited wrote:
Maybe
"Sorry that is out of my budget, I was leaning more to $??. I can include a print to sweeten the deal a little."

That's pretty much what I telll them.  No one seems to feel insulted and soe of them negotiate.

Art of the nude wrote:
And, frankly, "modeling for many years" isn't the point.  Looks, styles, and skill, yes.

+1

I had a model contact me once to do a shoot, she had ONE total shoot to her credit (which was nude) and threw a rate of $125 an hour at me. Now unless she naturally had some special gene that turned her into a supermodel when in front of the camera, I would have gladly payed. But I'm not that big of a gambler.

There are plenty of talented and pretty models out there. Thing is, it's getting too hard to tell them from the ones just starting out.

Augustine York wrote:
If you have an idea of how much you are willing to pay someone, offer that up front instead of waiting to hear a rate that might be too high.

In the situation you are currently in, tell them you unfortunately can't afford their rate right now.

+1

Art of the nude wrote:
And, frankly, "modeling for many years" isn't the point.  Looks, styles, and skill, yes.

Photography by DG wrote:
+1

I had a model contact me once to do a shoot, she had ONE total shoot to her credit (which was nude) and threw a rate of $125 an hour at me. Now unless she naturally had some special gene that turned her into a supermodel when in front of the camera, I would have gladly payed. But I'm not that big of a gambler.

There are plenty of talented and pretty models out there. Thing is, it's getting too hard to tell them from the ones just starting out.

I shot with someone last fall, 18 years old; her fourth nude shoot, including at least one that was apparently just implied.  No agency, just a small town girl.

If I knew someone who could afford $125/hr, and needed art and fashion nudes, I would have sent them to her with no hesitation.  She was that good.  Both quality of work, and the rate she was able to produce great poses.

Srefis Limited wrote:
Maybe
"Sorry that is out of my budget, I was leaning more to $??

+1
Eventually, as futher option, you can add:

Srefis Limited wrote:
I can include a print to sweeten the deal a little."

+1