Farenell Photography wrote:
It also wouldn't hurt to readjust your expectations.

Can you further explain what you meant?

Autumn Rose Brightly wrote:
I used to live in Ottumwa, Ia. I 'started' my llamaing there doing classes lol. That is pretty much the best you'll get there. The only claim to fame is Ashton Kutcher

Hey hey don't forget Kurt Warner!! 

Autumn Rose Brightly wrote:
The only claim to fame is Ashton Kutcher

What about Radar?

TJ Day wrote:
LOL, as we say back where I'm from...  "Whatta gonna do". 

Yeah, I live in a little one horse town filled with prison wives, and prison girlfriends.  Apparently the meth problem here has hit this little town bad, as it has in hundreds of small towns in the Midwest.

Not much for the arts and culture here.  Craigslist is pretty inactive.  If you do a browse for models in my area there are about 7 and 6 of them have been inactive for at least a year.

If worst comes to worst and you definitely must have a model, you can find one available here.

There was actually some pretty good pictures in this thread from not too long ago.

I know, not what you are looking for, but, hey at least she isn't demanding and a real diva to work with!

TJ Day wrote:

Can you further explain what you meant?

For one thing you are basing whether you pay a model or not on how many months experience she has instead of whether she has the look you want.  I'd pay the right girl who's never had a single shoot instead of the wrong girl who has been modeling for 2 years... and I'll get better pictures because of it.

If your budget doesn't allow for paying models start networking on Facebook.  Look for friends and friends of friends who have interesting looks and offer them photoshoots.  Learn to direct a newbie, most will have enough natural grace that if taught correctly they'll be moving very well within the first hour, which makes that random girl on Facebook a very valuable model.

In other words, create opportunities for yourself instead of sitting back in rural Iowa waiting for a great model to wander by.

David Scott wrote:
Get to traveling. Des Moines really isn't all that far. Neither is Minneapolis.  I've found lots of models to work with here.  Do a search for Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines... lots of girls to shoot.  Iowa's small enough to travel to all these different places.  Maybe offer to cover part of gas costs to travel to you... it's a lot cheaper here than California   Welcome to Iowa!

I have a studio set up here.  And yes, Des Moines is only 90 miles depending on the route someone takes.

I not used to having to pay for models; when I left California I was getting requests and pay for shoots.   

Ames is a little college town not far from here either.

I'll see what I can do.  But I'm a miser and I hate letting go of money.

Autumn Rose Brightly wrote:
I used to live in Ottumwa, Ia. I 'started' my modeling there doing classes lol. That is pretty much the best you'll get there. The only claim to fame is Ashton Kutcher

Haha, I went to high school in Bloomfield!  Right next door.

That aside, I'm north of Ankeny...seems pretty busy to me.

TJ Day wrote:
I have to tell you, Iowa is NOT the epicenter of modeling.
...
Made contact with one who had a couple of month of experience and felt she should be paid.  That didn't go very far.

Ummm ... more than anything else, modeling rates are dependent on the local supply & demand of suitable models!

If you don't want to pay that model, you don't have to.  If you can't find suitable Iowan TF* models, perhaps you should explore bovine fashion photography.

TJ Day wrote:
I have to tell you, Iowa is NOT the epicenter of modeling.
...
Made contact with one who had a couple of month of experience and felt she should be paid.  That didn't go very far.

Her experience aside, did she feel your work could benefit her portfolio?  If not, then why shouldn't she ask for compensation?

UltimateAppeal wrote:

If worst comes to worst and you definitely must have a model, you can find one available here.

There was actually some pretty good pictures in this thread from not too long ago.

I know, not what you are looking for, but, hey at least she isn't demanding and a real diva to work with!

/like.

...I actually may need to pick up a couple of those.  I see potential for fun.  Pose a model with a mannequin...

Efan Bruder wrote:
If you're insistent on staying in Ft. Dodge to shoot, putting together a senior portrait practice might serve you well. That allows you to bring in some cash and establish a working relationship with potential models before they're fully captured by whatever it is that makes Ft. Dodge what it is.

Fort Dodge is a fine example of "Every moron with a camera thinks he/she's a photographer".  One of two of the local picture takers in the area aren't anyone I would go to for a portrait.   I have no idea how so many picture takers can, seemingly, make a living in this economically depressed area.

There are no less than 10 photography businesses set up and probably many more working out of there homes.  Making a living here would be near impossible.

I know that was a bit of a rant and I don't mean to bash, I'm just trying to express the saturation of people with cameras who take pictures.

I do have to admit, I really like doing senior portraits though.  I find them a lot of fun as they break the mold on a lot of things.

I was thinking of making up some business cards and handing them to women I see who have "a look".  But I'm pretty shy about doing "cold calls".  I'm not much of a people person.  When I go pick up my 5 year old after school, I've seen a couple of mommies who I'd love to shoot.

Those who have seen my posts on MM over the years know that I can be bold and opinionated online, but in "real life" I'm extremely shy.

As many have said, Iowa  is artistically retarded.  I relocated here due to an attractive employment offer.  I love the Midwest, but cornstalks and cows don't provide much for finding models.  LOL

my_other_profile wrote:

Her experience aside, did she feel your work could benefit her portfolio?  If not, then why shouldn't she ask for compensation?

Considering the amount of models and active models in my area, it wouldn't be to hard to figure out who I am talking about so I prefer not to "critique" the quality of what she has in her albums nor the quality of model she may or may not be.

I will say this, she should have jumped on my offer.

TJ Day wrote:
cornstalks and cows don't provide much for finding models.  LOL

Unless you are trying to not be seen from the road during a private shoot. Then tall cornstalks can be quite nice. lol.

Sand Angel Photography wrote:

Unless you are trying to not be seen from the road during a private shoot. Then tall cornstalks can be quite nice. lol.

Yeah, I love outdoor shoots.  I have done my share of those and probably will do many more before I die.  LOL

NYMPH wrote:
I am truly sorry you have found yourself in this situation. I guess it's time to start hiring traveling llamas! Although, it might be hard to convince someone to come out to Iowa, a lot of girls take road trips where they might cross your way. Good luck!

LOL, I'm in a "fly over state"

If I got a $20,000 lens, I might be able to snap a couple of shots of them smiling out the window of the airplane.

I'm not in a position to be able to afford the top quality llamas who would travel this way.

twoharts wrote:
maybe in your town you have to meet them in person (perhaps before they become a model) rather than via model mayhem or CL. is there a college?

maybe schedule a cattle call for testing models and see who shows up.

I think what I am going to end up doing is handing out business cards with my website on it and offer a FREE photoshoot and a 8x10.  I'll hand them out to women who are seemingly attractive or women who I think would "clean up nice".

As a photographer, I have seen women around town who I think to myself that I'd like to photograph. 

There is a college here, but I don't have any contacts there.

In the end, I think my Business Card idea will work well.  The average person likes the idea of getting something for free.

That might even bring me business as they show a high quality photo around and people ask who did it.

TJ Day wrote:
Can you further explain what you meant?

The bigger the market, the bigger the talent pool. The bigger that talent pool, the greater the experience level of that talent.

You have moved away from that market & thus it'd behoove you to modify your expectations.

Autumn Rose Brightly wrote:
I used to live in Ottumwa, Ia. I 'started' my modeling there doing classes lol. That is pretty much the best you'll get there. The only claim to fame is Ashton Kutcher

Yeah, and we all know that Ashton left the small town! 

David Scott wrote:
Get to traveling. Des Moines really isn't all that far. Neither is Minneapolis.  I've found lots of models to work with here.  Do a search for Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines... lots of girls to shoot.  Iowa's small enough to travel to all these different places.  Maybe offer to cover part of gas costs to travel to you... it's a lot cheaper here than California   Welcome to Iowa!

Those two guys from Iowa ... American Pickers ... they travel all over the country!
I think that's a great idea!

TJ Day wrote:
I have to tell you, Iowa is NOT the epicenter of modeling.

I am missing California and the endless talent of fine models.  Not much for models in my town.

Made contact with one who had a couple of month of experience and felt she should be paid.  That didn't go very far.

ARGGGGG....

:-)

TJ Day wrote:

Considering the amount of models and active models in my area, it wouldn't be to hard to figure out who I am talking about so I prefer not to "critique" the quality of what she has in her albums nor the quality of model she may or may not be.

I will say this, she should have jumped on my offer.

I came up with a total of 2 Fort Dodge models who've been online lately.  Guessing we're talking about one who's just north of 30.  Okay, the photos she's got are pretty awful.

twoharts wrote:
maybe in your town you have to meet them in person (perhaps before they become a model) rather than via model mayhem or CL. is there a college?

maybe schedule a cattle call for testing models and see who shows up.

In this case - I would expect cattle to show up!

I also live in a small town - and the studio I've set up is for the standard portrait/engagement photos/glamour type work.  Fortunately I live near a larger city and there is a ready supply of talented models, eager to work.  Some for TFP, some for $$$.