Hi all,
I was wondering how models prefer to be messaged 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? How do models prefer to be approached about doing a shoot? Thanks.

For the love of God, please include in your first message if you want to shoot TF* or if you are offering a paid shoot.

We neither want to see "hey, let's shoot" nor ten paragraphs. Cover the W's

Who: you, her, Mua/hair/wardrobe, other models?
What: genre of shoot, content limits, items/wardrobe needed
When: doesn't need to be the exact day and time, but tell us what in the next x time frame is available for you. If it needs to be morning, afternoon or night because of your lighting, if you can ony shoot weekends, etc etc
Where: self explanatory
Why: compensation and intended use of photos


This way she can decide if she likes the idea, decide how far you are from her and what it will take to get to you, see if she's free in that time frame, and decide if what you're offering as compensation is worth it.

I like at least a general idea of the concept for the shoot. Also some brief details about compensation, where the photos will be used, etc.

Time, date, (time frame), location, compensation, details including wardrobe (or nudity) hair accessories and anything you want me to bring.

I am so tired of :
Photog- Wanna shoot?
Model- Yes I like your portfolio
Photog- OK what do you have in mind??

SCREAMS

I would prefer it if I was told what the ideas (ie clothing, theme, etc) for the shoot are, how long it is supposed to take, when it takes place (that's important for scheduling), if make-up/hair is provided, and whether or not it is paid (if so, what the budget is) or TF.

Aviva
www.ahlifeandstyle.com

I'm actually ok with a general initial "wanna shoot?" from someone in my area, especially if I like the photographer's portfolio and if it matches what I'm looking to shoot. To me taking it from there is fine.

For me...

When: I like specific dates and times so that I can schedule and confirm accordingly
Where: Studio or on location
What Type/genre (which I come to find sometimes need to be accompanied with work samples due to people not knowing the difference between art nude and porn)
Compensation: TF or Compensation
Who: MUA, Stylist, Other models, Other photogs, etc.

"I like your look. Lemme know if you wanna shoot sometime."
Is what you DON'T wanna say.

As well I agree with most of the other postings here. And try to say something that tells us you've read our profile. (ie. acknowledge no tfp postings, schedule notifications, requests to bring an escort, etc)

Nobody wants to work with somebody that doesn't pay them any attention.

I've gotten extremely selective with what type of information I send in an initial offering. I usually limit it to what, when, where, and what they get.

Call me paranoid, but there are way too many suspect profiles in the Phoenix area and the last thing I want to do is be spilling my ideas to someone other than the model in the photos.

For me I like to see all the information that I as the model needs. I do not need to know your lighting techniques etc. I just need to know the basics such as the purpose and basic concept,compensation,date and time , location, styling provided. You can talk to me more about your vision as i am in hair and make up. I don't need the whole philosophy on life and how it pertains to the shoot in the emails in order to decide if i want to say yes or not. We are all busy so it is more efficient to give only the important details and leave the embellishments for another time.

"Hey, I love your look.  Would you like to shoot?  Take a look at my work and let me know if you'd be interested in working together."

-------------------------------

That's the typical message I get, and it's fine.  Ideas and all that are discussed later.

A few things from this, however:

- If you don't mention pay in your first message, I assume you're asking for trade.

- If I take a look and you have an amazing portfolio, I want images that are like the work showcased -- I don't want to say 'Yeah, let's shoot!!' then hear "Great!  I just got this crazy out-of-the-box idea that's unlike anything I've ever done and I need a guinea pig!"  -- not to say these experiments can't turn out amazing, but more often then not I've been disappointed when I've taken up these offers that just left me wondering 'Why couldn't he shoot me like all his other test models?'

Kinda goes like this:

Heyyyy, Yer Perty... Can I take your (nekid) Picture 

Your profile says that you prefer models to pay you.

Many models are likely to immediately click over to your profile, read that, and assume your message is spam.

Well, for me, I just prefer knowing their availability to see if it matches up with my schedule. Also, it's really helpful to know where they plan for this to even happen. In some cases that hasn't been figured out until later on, which could have saved some time, but I'm still new so I'm not really complaining.
Pretty much if they tell me whatever ideas they have in mind, it really helps. Otherwise I'll show up in whatever and hope it's OK.
I just hope they make it a point to read my profile first since I do have limitations.

I know you asked for models' inputs but this may be helpful.

I shoot only TF, which means that most of my shoots are with relatively inexperienced models.  Frequently their portfolios don't really show them very accurately and in addition, I shoot a fairly wide range of genres and styles, so I may not know what I want to shoot with a specific model until I've met her face to face.  Consequently, my approach is to invite the model to review my portfolios and check with the models in them for references.  I give a rundown of some of the genres/styles I'm looking to shoot, give them a general idea of my limits and ask them to get back to me if they are interested in talking further, basically putting the ball in the model's court.

I do make it clear that I'm only interested in trade, that I'm very open to the model's input and quite willing to shoot what she wants as well as what I want.  I do read the model's bio as well as her sidebar and don't waste time and energy contacting models who don't indicate an interest in the types of things I like to shoot.  I don't reference scheduling since that will clearly be a matter of our mutual convenience once we reach agreement on all the other details.  I send out about 5 to 10 inquiries a week which produces 3 to 5 responses, 2 to 4 preliminary meetings and 1 to 2 successful shoots per week.  My flakes are almost always at the meeting stage, almost never for a scheduled shoot, although, sadly, this does happen.

I don't follow up if there is no reply--I consider it a statement of no interest.  I don't fixate on an individual model because (and please forgive me for saying this ladies) at this stage one model is as good as another since there is no established concept and no "look" that's essential.  That's all dependent on what the model and I agree on in the preliminary meeting.   This approach gives me great flexibility and keeps me about as busy as I want to be.

brief, informative (what do you want to shoot, when, paid or tf, that sort of thing), with correct spelling (preferably ), friendly but professional.

I usually like to keep the initial message pretty short and just cover the Ws.  I also like to include WHY I'm interested in shooting with them in particular. 

I then end it with asking if they are still interested to let me know and I'll put together some specific ideas in a follow up message.

The third model I shot with gave me excellent advice: put

PAID SHOOT

in the subject.

So I've been doing it wrong it seems :-(

I've been seeing who like my style first then settling the detail after in principle 'yes id like to shot with David'.

Note to David, more detail and planning in first message.

Thanks this has been a very useful thread :-)

Tell me what you want, where and when you want to shoot it, how much you can afford to pay me, and the exact length of the shoot.

Be immediately ready to nail down a date, even if it's months out.

No time for love, Dr. Jones.  I cannot sacrifice the time it takes to go back and forth endlessly.