Hello all,
I was wondering how other photographers message models on here to get them interested in setting up a shoot. When I first started, I sent a generic message asking the model if she wanted to shoot and we would throw around ideas/outfits etc. My success rate was ok but nothing spectacular. A few other photographers told me to explain every detail about an idea...the setting, the model's outfits, the lighting ect. I've been doing that for the past year or so and my success rate for getting models to schedule shoots really hasn't improved. This is for both TF and for shoots where I pay the model.

Does anyone have any other ideas/tips on how to get models to respond to messages? What seems to work for you? Thanks.

As I typically shoot on location, I usually have a spot in mind already, and will probably have scouted it before more than once.

So, I send along a couple of the scouting photos of the location along with my message to show them the kind of environment we'll be working in, and links to a few images on the web that have a similar sort of style or feeling to them.

Usually helps to get them interested, and since I started including images of the locations in my initial contacts, I have a lot more models responding to my messages, even if it's a "no, thank you".

I also look on their profiles to see if they have a list of things they'd like to do.  Sometimes I've seen models with a list on their profile of a dozen things or more.  Most of them, I may not be interested in, but one or two I have been, so I contact them about those specific concepts - again, usually with photos of a potentially suitable location.

Pursuing models is pointless. I just leave a tag saying "Give me a shout if you'd like to test".

If they contact me then I take it from there.




Just my $0.02

Ciao
Stefano
www.stefanobrunesci.com

It may have to do with the type of girls you are picking as llamas more then anything else ...

Unless it was something specific like a Sexy Santa shoot where you know they will be or at least SHOULD BE wearing something sexy, I have never told a model what to wear on a shoot. I see a lot of photographers on here and Instagram that shoot models in very sexy clothing and poses. I agree with explaining everything to the model before the shoot of the vision you have, location, clothing, etc. I just don't want to come across as a sleaze or perv if I tell them to bring sexy clothing to shoot in. I totally agree with @Kaoutha about sharing images of the location and/or examples of something they might be interested in doing. I just sent an aspiring model I am about to start working with a few images to look over to help generate some ideas for her.

Get a MUA on board, that usually helps.