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Why do you model?
What is it that draws you to modeling? Jun 15 14 07:02 pm Link I started modeling because some random guy in a bar, in 2005, approached me with a business card and asked if I'd like to model nude for his art project. It sounded exciting, and like something I probably "shouldn't" do, so of course I immediately wanted to do it. The photos were terrible, or okay ... they were extremely mediocre, but after that I modeled for figure drawing/painting groups and individual artists for two years. I joined OMP, then later MM, had my own site for awhile, etc etc. Nothing *drew* me to it, beyond the fact that it seemed daring, I suppose. Honestly, it just sort of HAPPENED to me, and I went with it. Jun 15 14 07:06 pm Link I model because it is another form of art. Growing up I was heavily involved in different mediums: drawing, crafts, jewelry making, and fine painting. I really got into classical ballet too at one point. For years in college people asked if I modeled or pushed me to try it. Finally at age 25 I decided to give it a shot after a photographer friend begged me to help her with a project. I love the aspect of being able to create something with a photographer. From discussing concepts to executing the perfect experimental poses in front of the camera. I really enjoy that you do not have to be 5'8'' or 110 pounds to be in this world. There are so many different genres out there for everyone to dabble in. Jun 15 14 11:08 pm Link I model because in Beijing I finally could. One day a lady tapped me on my shoulder on the subway, handing me her business card, saaying that if Iäd like to work with her, I could send my pictures to her. Which I then did, two weeks later, after a lot of deliberation. In Holland I tried out modelling na couple of times, because, you know, people saying 'you're so skinny, you should be a model!'. Went to an agency in the city where I lived, got scammed out of a lot of money. Went to another few agencies, all telling me 'NO'. So after two years, coming to China and an 'agent' just handing me her card like that, seemd like a fairy tale. Long story short: I started modelling because I needed to make a living in a country away from home, and because I was hoping it would give me some conifdence. back then I was pretty much a turd. I started with zero knowledge about the industry, the people, posing or runway. I got thrown into all these weird jobs (Chinese people will hire a pretty white face for Anything). No one ever told me how to act, or walk, so I had to figure that out on my own. Castings are a nightmare for me. It's always a guess who the client is and what he wants, wether the agent will be a greedy freak, wether I can get along with the girls. There is always the question of 'will I get my money?', 'Are they going to feed us?' etc. No limit to the amount of rude scammers out here. People treat you like a mute idiot. And of course, you're disposable. Agents disappear like snow in summer. The lady who 'discovered me' vanished after getting a casting from her once. I guess the reason why I am still doing this thing called modelling, is because it actually gave me some of the confidence I was looking for. All those weird jobs (often requiring us walking on wobbly stages wearing lingerie and heavy 'angel' wings) actually taught me how to walk a bit. I got some lovely pictures back, and am also able to tell which pictures are bad. I learned how to communicate with people, speak up, and get a fucking job done. And thanks to a lovely German photographer from Shenyang, I came across MM, which is a good school and networking place for me. What keeps drawing me into this business is it's unpredictability. You never know what tomorrow will look like. You also will never know what they'll turn you into for your next photo shoot. Please don't ask me why I must always write novels instead of well-groomed, tailored replies on the forums!  Jun 16 14 12:30 am Link For more likes on fb  I model because when I was young I was thinking magically someone will notice me one day and I'll start making money, but well... likes on fb are cool too  Jun 16 14 01:52 am Link Like Koryn, I sort of fell into it. A friend I went to college with finally had the nerve to ask me to pose nude for an art project he had been working on. After a lot of thought I said yes. I really liked how one of those photographs turned out. I continue to do it because every once in a while I think what results is art. Working with creative people makes me more creative in other ways as well. I also like seeing myself on a gallery wall;) Jun 16 14 07:13 am Link you models, rock!  Jun 17 14 01:13 am Link I model because I love the art, the possibility of creating something beautiful that people will like. I started later in life, at age 35, but wish I had done it earlier, and have no intention of ever stopping. I absolutely love the vulnerability of presenting myself nude in front of strangers during the creative process, not knowing what the outcome will be, then afterward the comments from those who see the photos and artwork either in galleries or online provides a wonderful boost to my self esteem. I am also quite intrigued that I am apparently one of a relatively small number of women who are over 60 and still actively doing nude figure/art modelling. Jun 17 14 03:40 pm Link Isis22 wrote: Once you start modeling it becomes addictive. Jun 17 14 04:10 pm Link Jerry Nemeth wrote: When did you start modelling Jerry? post some pics pls? Jun 17 14 04:22 pm Link Originally I got into it because I thought I could make some money quickly (doing non-nudes). I found out equally as quickly that that wasn't how it worked. But after doing my first couple of shoots I really enjoyed it and stuck with it. It became a hobby until in Dec of 2011 I decided to start doing nudes - built up an amazing portfolio in a very short time and was able to start traveling and booking work. So in the end I guess I got what I came here for - some extra money - but I also got a shit ton of awesome photos, memories and lots and lots of new friends Jun 17 14 04:37 pm Link After years of dance and theatre, it seemed a natural progression to get into the mayhem of modeling. It's an adrenaline rush, a natural high, my sanctuary and a wonderful way to express myself Jun 17 14 04:50 pm Link London Fog wrote: Trying to derail the thread? Jun 17 14 06:40 pm Link Someone was offering on craigslist. I gave it a shot. It was a good match. I was broke, needed some extra money in college. Then all these guys started pressuring me and asking me to do it more and more. Now I'm hooked. Seriously. Bad things happen when I start going through posing withdrawals. Jun 17 14 09:32 pm Link Because I thought nah stuff it im going to play with fire and see what happens. And im a gutsy impulsive kind of person. Jun 17 14 10:16 pm Link Funsies. Jun 18 14 12:28 am Link I've always been forced to watch the modelling show Americas Next Top Model with my elder sisters for years. Being about 5ft, overweight and with an afro I of course had no belief that I could one day model. As time progressed and I grew and lost weight and sorted out my hair, I was beginning to gain confidence. When someone approached me in town as said, 'Have you ever thought of modelling' I was of course baffled but intrigued. After going to casting and being asked for £300 to join, I left before I could be sucked into the scam. I was later approached by another agency and went to a shoot in London where I was praised and asked to join their books for all depths of modelling and I accepted and was so excited - until they said they wanted near £1500 for portfolio costs. Despite it hurting, I declined. After that, I'd had a taste of it and I loved it. Being ridiculed for so long over my appearance, this was giving me a confidence boost and was really making me happy and I knew I wanted to do it. So, I worked my backside off for the past 6 months finding my own work to get images, experience, knowledge and connections in the field and I've loved every second of it. Now I just want to make the most of any opportunity I get and embrace it as I'm so grateful. I love modelling and I love the thrill you get from it. Hopefully I can go from part-time to full time in the future if I work hard enough. Jun 18 14 02:29 pm Link I started in figure drawing classes (nude) in 2001, because I needed the money. My sister is an artist, and she would use me as a subject, once in a while, when I was a teen (non-nude), so I was accustomed to posing. The first time in front of a camera was because I wanted to see what I looked like, and I liked it. I like knowing that I can look at my pictures, when I'm old, and think, "Damn, I looked GOOD!" LOLOL Jun 18 14 03:00 pm Link There is a great art in photography which is exciting to me. Plus, I love being a part of the process and the subject. I feel I am very good at what I do. Yesterday I shot at Letchworth Village. I doubt I would have taken a day trip there if I wasn't a part of a shoot. I now have a bevy of things to think about and discuss. Jun 18 14 06:05 pm Link my modeling is a sad attempt at being creative; which i've always yearned to be, but have never quite been i also did/do it for the self esteem boost i guess, but sometimes that seems to be a shot in the foot, since i also compare myself to other models and find myself lacking. so why do i still model? stubbornness Jun 18 14 06:56 pm Link It's a fun escape and it's great money! Not to mention, I love seeing professional pictures of myself! Jun 18 14 10:11 pm Link Jerry Nemeth wrote: No Jerry, just wondering why you are replying in the Models section? Jun 19 14 05:57 am Link My marriage ended very suddenly in 2008. I had done a bit of modeling (for life classes and also several photo shoots) as a hobby here and there in 2007. When my marriage tanked, I decided to try it as more of a "career" type of thing. I mostly model for art colleges, especially animation students. Also, I'm not qualified to do anything else. Life modeling is the only thing I've ever done where I can provide at least a dozen references and easily get letters of recommendation. It's the only thing I've ever been an expert at. Jun 19 14 09:38 am Link London Fog wrote: Ask yourself! Jun 19 14 09:41 am Link I was young and needed the money. Or Because I can. I mean, what's not to like, being tired, cold and hungry most of the time, being called a whore amongst other nice things and wrangling old, grimey dudes who are intersted in my pink stuff only? No, but seriously. I stumbled, much like Koryn, into it. Turns out i have decent stats for a variety of tjings and a knack for the posing game.. I love the traveling, I love to hear the sharp breath being drawn in by the person who forgot to take off his lens cap when i disrobe. I love to be able to see myself in vastly different lights and the stuff one learns along the way.. can't teach that in school. . I love that I'll have a magnificent story to tell on my death bed... Jetplanes, islands, tigers on a gold leash.... Luvs y'all. Jun 19 14 10:09 am Link Amadea T wrote: Exhibitionist! Jun 19 14 10:18 am Link Locutus wrote: It has been awhile since I have done any modeling. But it all started when a female photographer asked me to pose for her. She said I should see what it is like on the other side of the camera. It didn't take me long to realize that she was right and that I should try the other side. Just a few days later I was naked and standing in front of her camera. Yes, I was somewhat nervous the first time but the nervousness quickly disappeared - I was feeling great! It was VERY liberating and actually fun. So it is the liberating aspect that drew me to do more modeling after the first shoot. Jun 19 14 10:23 am Link Jerry Nemeth wrote: Takes one... Jun 19 14 01:21 pm Link Amadea T wrote:
Jun 19 14 03:51 pm Link I started modeling because a friend of mine who used to work with me as a performer did a lot of modeling, and it was a completely new and interesting hobby that I never really thought about. I love it as a combination of art, acting, and movement, and I love the fact that there is always room for improvement. After I got into it, I loved seeing that type of improvement. Additionally, I enjoyed meeting new people and making connections because of it.Jun 19 14 04:02 pm Link Locutus wrote: Because its awesome and its a rush Jun 20 14 06:36 am Link Ann Stokes wrote: It's definitely all of that, and one of the most self-empowering things a woman can do. Many other models have told me they never expected that they would feel so good while modelling. Jun 20 14 06:54 am Link I'm surprised by the and of people who call it a"thrill" or a"rush." Really surprised. I was initially interested in it, in part, because of the naughty, taboo reputation that modeling, in general, has. But, it tends to be slow-paced, require an incredible amount of patience, and is very hard work. I've just put another 1000 miles on my car in the past week and a half, and that's fairly modest amount of driving for me. For me, shooting has always been closely intertwined with driving long distances, and there is nothing thrilling about being in a car for 14 hrs, or trying to nap on a plane with a little kid kicking your seat. Even shoots themselves are often tedious, lengthy, and physically exhausting. The"thrill" is really only in the days and weeks afterwards, when you realize you created something artistically viable, or just managed to make someone very very happy with their work. The time leading up to shoots, and the act of working, has never really been a rush - mostly just stressful and exhausting. Ultimately, the thing that makes it worth it isn't even apparent until days or weeks later Jun 20 14 08:55 am Link Koryn wrote: I agree. Jun 20 14 09:06 am Link Koryn wrote: Ahaha yes. Jun 20 14 09:22 am Link NicoleNudes wrote: I figured YOU do it, because you're just so freakin' awesome and a bunch of us photographers want to shoot with you (especially me). Jun 20 14 10:24 am Link Eros Fine Art Photo wrote: Hehe, maybe that too Jun 20 14 11:12 am Link Koryn wrote: I agree with you. It's not thrilling for me unless you count the moment you see a great photograph someone just emailed you. I'm not an exhibitionist so just taking my clothes off doesn't do it for me. I might get excited about a great location or concept or photographer but thrilling? No. Jun 20 14 12:01 pm Link I started because I wanted to be as beautiful as the girls in the magazines. And later on because my mom said no... so that was probably my main motivation:) Jun 20 14 02:25 pm Link Social needs involve the need to be loved, to be accepted, and to belong. Maslow. Jun 21 14 05:16 am Link |
