nyk fury wrote:
to be precise, i am at the end of my rope. and i am seriously considering hanging up my camera, for good. i just cannot seem to find suitable models to work with. i do not expect much from posting here on MM, but think i might as well give it a shot. i was ill for awhile, and now that i am coming back around i find that things have changed or shifted, and i am seemingly out of vogue. or something. perhaps someone can give me some constructive insight or pointers about where i might look to that i currently have no comprehension of. or perhaps i should just hang it up. i really do not know. it's not an issue of money. seems that paid models are just as ambivalent as trade models, in my current experience. strange.

here are the limiting factors, that i am consciously aware of:
1. i require models who are long, lean, fit, clean [mostly], and fearless.
2. i live 2 hours NW of the nearest major urban center.
3. my work is not very glamorous.

i just declined VIP membership extension yesterday. another 100 bucks for what? so, most of my stuff resides on DA: http://kannagara.deviantart.com/gallery/

\

I personally really love your work. I'm trying to get together some shoots in the Seattle area to help pay for travel and expenses to get there (I have a casting call posted). If you think we can work something out, i'd love to hear from you in mail

Tony Lawrence wrote:
I don't think any agency would allow him too test their models.

"test" their models? does that mean we wouldn't be able to hire agency models at all?

LLOYD WRIGHT wrote:

having just discovered you work through this thread, my opinion is that you are genuinely one of the best photographers i've seen, not just on mm!

i hope you battle through your frustrations so i can keep coming back to your work
otherwise your talent will be lost forever and photography wil be the biggest loser!

keep the faith!

cheers ears
lloyd.

+1 I am surprised you are having a tough time finding models your port is awesome!

Nadezhda Repina wrote:
I personally really love your work. I'm trying to get together some shoots in the Seattle area to help pay for travel and expenses to get there (I have a casting call posted). If you think we can work something out, i'd love to hear from you in mail

you are lovely nadezhda. but the shoots i am planning are going to be somewhat risque. variations on merpeople, without giving too much away.

Cynthia Serrano  wrote:
+1 I am surprised you are having a tough time finding models your port is awesome!

sometimes i think it's just me, but i have two real photographer associates who constantly bemoan the situation here in the PNW.

Michael Pandolfo wrote:
I don't know much about Seattle agencies or how close you are in reality. I lived in Spokane and Portland and 60 miles in the PNW can be a 2-3 hour drive depending on the roads/weather. Nor do I know the legitimacy...but have you spoken with Agencies about their rates? Heffner Model Mgmt, SMG?

It might be worth a meeting to discuss (and you conveniently have your book in hand...what a coincidence) options.

it's about 2 hours to seattle from here. my friend works out of heffner. i am going to talk to him about it in the next couple of days....

JezeBelle Bordeaux wrote:
Damn, if I still lived in Vancouver, WA I'd drive up there to work with you! I love doing spooky/artistic stuff.

yet another pretty girl who has fled the cold, gray PNW!

nyk fury wrote:

yet another pretty girl who has fled the cold, gray PNW!

Haha! I left right after I graduated high school... and I'm never moving back. I do try to visit my family that's still out there every 1-2 years though. This of course happens during what people in the PNW call "summer".

Rich Burroughs wrote:
I think your biggest issue is just the genre of your work. And of course I'm not suggesting you change that. But it's somewhat dark and not very mainstream. A fashion model isn't going to look at your portfolio and think that trading with you is going to get them something for their book.

that's for sure. i am definitely not expecting trade. i also have a belief that models should get paid. and if there is no client, then that means the shooter.

Rich Burroughs wrote:
You might have better luck going about it the other way, looking for people who are interesting looking that might be interested in your style who aren't necessarily models. Networking based more on the genre itself.

not sure what my genre is. some call it goth and creepy. the problem with the goth crowd is the models generally have too much ink and shrapnel going on. the medfaire crowd most assuredly has no interest in my presentation: i've been after them for years, to no avail whatsoever. the steampunk crowd does like my stuff and i have started working with them, but there are not many of model caliber involved with that scene.

Rich Burroughs wrote:
One thing you should consider is traveling yourself. If you can get to LA, NY, even the Bay for a few days I bet you could find some good people to shoot with.

i know. but where am i going to shoot in these places?

Rich Burroughs wrote:
I do agree with the person who mentioned your profile text being an issue. I think you should post something that's a bit more specific about you and your work.

i so hate trying to write about myself. i feel farcical. but okay, i will try to find my gallery bio and steal from that....

RacerXPhoto wrote:
So your only interest is shooting  long, lean, fit, clean females ???

A: I cant relate to such a limited scope

And with all due respect to your style that isn't even close to a limited scope, this site is about professional modeling i.e. very limite scope of people who can become a professional model.  Until recently we really only had one size, now we at least have two; Standard and Plus

The OP is asking for a far greater range

nyk fury wrote:
"test" their models? does that mean we wouldn't be able to hire agency models at all?

Odds are few if any agencies would let you pay either.   You will have to travel when you can or use non models from colleges and art schools.   I say non models because sadly when models open a profile on MM or omp and other sites they become 'models'.   I would approach arty types at art showings or museums or again schools.   Advertise on Craigslist.   Offer some cash.   Your work is super cool but may not be appealing to models who want fashion like or glam styled images.

Tony Lawrence wrote:
Odds are few if any agencies would let you pay either.   You will have to travel when you can or use non models from colleges and art schools.   I say non models because sadly when models open a profile on MM or omp and other sites they become 'models'.   I would approach arty types at art showings or museums or again schools.   Advertise on Craigslist.   Offer some cash.   Your work is super cool but may not be appealing to models who want fashion like or glam styled images.

okay, so maybe my original hunch about not trying agencies was right after all. i'll find out in the next couple of days if there is any possibility with heffner. the other problem i have is bringing models and locations together....

nyk fury wrote:
thanks, i hadn't really thought about that. and i will do something about it tomorrow.

I'm not really all that far away, (just an airport...and Washington is en route to almost anywhere I'll be flying...) So, I look forward to seeing your updated, welcoming profile sir.
Jen
edit, that is if I fall withing your strict sounding requirements...no harm, no foul if not.

Rich Burroughs wrote:
One thing you should consider is traveling yourself. If you can get to LA, NY, even the Bay for a few days I bet you could find some good people to shoot with.

i know. but where am i going to shoot in these places?

Rich Burroughs wrote:
I do agree with the person who mentioned your profile text being an issue. I think you should post something that's a bit more specific about you and your work.

If you hate to write about yourself, don't write about yourself ...think about THEM and write what you want them to do, and why, and the usage etc

in LA New York and many cities there are www.MeetUp.com photo groups that have locations, gear and studios (and contact with models you could ask)

;-)

Expression Unlimited wrote:
Models on the whole want to look good and glam, with flattering images - and you know that's not how you mostly portay them....
also they want prestige, easy and fun work ... again - not the impression you give...
And they want convenient.
Maybe you can book some shooting in a studio in the town 2 hours away and see the models there?

easy work for 100 bucks an hour? so would i! we are looking into the go there strategy as our very next step.

Expression Unlimited wrote:
Maybe someone who shares your vision and wants  o feature n it is just not easy to come by.
I think the latter - and your profile with the weird poem ... says MOVE ON. Seriously.
Perhaps something inviting friendly and welcoming that is relevant to modeling and tells them what you are offering and want to shoot will get  some  models interested?

perhaps the 'weird poem' is there to detour frivolous and inappropriate inquiries. but in any case, i've found my gallery bio and will rework my MM one after finishing the collaging of my port.

Expression Unlimited wrote:
Deviant Art might be abetter place to look than MM, or link your DL to CL and ask for the sort of PERSON you want (adding physical attributes after)
Do offer pay.

I hope you get someone cool to be your muse. But that will be a special person and expecting more than one or two who for the bill and are anywhere near you, might be plain unrealistic.

Good Luck!

i have been on DA for 5 or 6 years altogether, and i can affirm that it has gained me absolutely nothing in this subject under discussion. zip.

and thanks!

Expression Unlimited wrote:
in LA New York and many cities there are www.MeetUp.com photo groups that have locations, gear and studios (and contact with models you could ask)

i have recently joined 2 regional photo groups via FB. not a lot going on with those, but it looks like the portal you just presented me has groups with a lot more activity. very good and thanks!

David Miller Photoworks wrote:
Nyk, you're talented.  I have noticed other talented guys frustrated with photography because model mayhem was a gateway to creativity at one point, and maybe it stopped being that, and they translated that into the death of photography.  But mm is such a little thing, like a closet compared to the rest of the world that you could be inspired by or photograph.  Let other things inspire your talent.

it's unfortunate that it seems to be such a small closet. the premise of MM is a good one, but the dinosaur status of the website itself, and the limited vision of the majority of those who participate in it, says otherwise. everything seems to be in decline, from my perspective, not just MM. DA has exploded as a portal, but i have only become hugely diminished as a result of that.

David Miller Photoworks wrote:
And as far as travel, my personal experience has been I always shoot my best when I'm on a trip, because I'm excited about an adventure.  Specifically model shooting, my favorites are in LA, and if you don't know where to shoot, they can help.  MM message board can help.  etc.  Location tends to be one of the easier problems to solve.

i've been wanting to go to iceland. maybe i should just go for it. i just now, while writing this, did a quick browse of models in iceland...my god!!!