Shiva Photo wrote:
A random unscientific survey conducted with Models seem to put the average age of other MM male photographer they have worked with, between 40 and 55

Some of them suggested that a middle age yearning (crisis?) to be with young females are a driving force for them to be photographers.

Photographers agree ? If not what is the primary motive to shoot (TF/Unpaid) young female models.

Honesty appreciated.

I actually would like to see more MM models who are 30-45 yrs. old.

Bare Essential Photos wrote:

I actually would like to see more MM models who are 30-45 yrs. old.

They are here.

Bare Essential Photos wrote:

I actually would like to see more MM models who are 30-45 yrs. old.

We are here...just takes a hot minute to figure out all this new fangled technology 😜

... young female models.

im here cause of all the 100+ year old models

there are over 700 of them in california alone

Shiva Photo wrote:
A random unscientific survey conducted with Models seem to put the average age of other MM male photographer they have worked with, between 40 and 55

Some of them suggested that a middle age yearning (crisis?) to be with young females are a driving force for them to be photographers.

Photographers agree ? If not what is the primary motive to shoot (TF/Unpaid) young female models.

Honesty appreciated.

A great question.  I've had a camera in my hands now for 42 years ever since I was age 18.  Although my personal passion for photography "initially" was quite multifaceted, I guess it was just a natural attraction for beautiful women which led me in the direction of models. (At a ripe old age of 20)

There are many things extremely beautiful to photograph, but for the past 40 years I've not found anything more beautiful to photograph than a stunning model!  Perhaps that's why women are often known as God's gift to man (AND women!)

So as long as the ole' ticker is still tockin', you can bet your ass that I'll let them do their thing in front of my lens!  Only speaking for myself, at this point in my life I can just enjoy the "old memories" of days gone past!

So what was the subject again?  "Ruth"...Have you seen my slippers?  "Ruth" reply's back, they are ON your feet dear.

Happy Independence Day everyone and may God Bless America!

Justin Matthews wrote:
Unfortunately age catches up on you before you know it.
A lot of GWC's on the other hand, will probably fit your theory perfectly.

Not my theory. Just quoting observations from other models.

Incidentally, on every group shoot I have been the Photographers were pretty much middle aged.

here cause of all the 100+ year old models

there are over 700 of them in california alone

yeah ! equal number in the NY area

r T p wrote:


im here cause of all the 100+ year old models

there are over 700 of them in california alone

Yeah I love the models over 100

Shiva Photo wrote:
what is the primary motive to shootyoung female models.

Honesty appreciated.

guessing it would be the same as yours.   

John Horwitz wrote:
guessing it would be the same as yours.   

Yes ! I  like to be in the company of young beautiful women , use my talent and knowledge and capture their beauty and get pat on the back and maybe even make some money and have them be in my debt. Make me feel younger.. etc.. etc.,

Bare Essential Photos wrote:
I actually would like to see more MM models who are 30-45 yrs. old.

Southern_Jas wrote:
We are here...just takes a hot minute to figure out all this new fangled technology 😜

Upland, California to Florence South Carolina.  (2,156 mi.)
Well, there are plane tickets, hotels and motels...

Shiva Photo wrote:
A random unscientific survey conducted with Models seem to put the average age of other MM male photographer they have worked with, between 40 and 55

Some of them suggested that a middle age yearning (crisis?) to be with young females are a driving force for them to be photographers.

Photographers agree ? If not what is the primary motive to shoot (TF/Unpaid) young female models.

Honesty appreciated.

For a lot of people photography is a serious hobby that cannot be fully pursued when younger due to having a full time job and raising a family.  For many photographers when they get older and the kids move out or they retire they can then pursue their photographic ambitions that they didn't have the time or money to pursue when younger.

AJScalzitti wrote:
Professional photographer = paid to make images.

I shot food today and I wasn't hungry.  Not everyone is a GWC but it is offensive to say so.  On a personal note and being over 40 WTH would I want with a young girl if I was single anyhow.

I'd know exactly what I want...     

The Grand Artist wrote:
Do you really expect to get an honest answer from most here? 

Sure there are a lot of pros that are just doing their job but they are definitely going to be the minority when it comes to this topic. The number of these middle aged photographers (if heterosexual) who would treat a male model exactly the same way as they treat female models is going to be even lower.

I wonder how many of these old guys are paying male models their rate, giving them images, and making sure they have gas money to get home safely.

Some of us just don't see the male body as aesthetically pleasing. It CAN be that simple.
-Don
EDIT: Regarding the post below, my favorite model was 45 years old, and had two kids at the time of the shoot, her image is in my portfolio. https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/1005854

Shiva Photo wrote:
A random unscientific survey conducted with Models seem to put the average age of other MM male photographer they have worked with, between 40 and 55

Some of them suggested that a middle age yearning (crisis?) to be with young females are a driving force for them to be photographers.

Photographers agree ? If not what is the primary motive to shoot (TF/Unpaid) young female models.

Honesty appreciated.

I'll admit to being somewhere between 40 and 55 years old and a MM male photographer. I will further admit that most of the models I shoot are somewhere between 18 and 25. That is where my agreement ends. Here's why:

I'm not interested in "being with" young females. Yes, there are some great, good or even nice looking young ladies out there (on here) but the goal isn't to date them. It's to take pictures. Even when I was 18-25 myself, I wasn't real interested in "being with them" unless it involved going places, doing things and generally hanging out.

These days, we still "go places" because I don't have a studio so we shoot on location. We still "do things", in this case take pictures. We still "generally hang out" ... if it's not fun, what's the point?  At the end of the shoot, though, I thank them for their time and go on my way. At some point I'll contact them to make arrangements to get them their pictures. 99% of the time, I never see or speak to them again. It's not because they're terrible models or anything of the sort.

When I first started in the media business, I was putting slideshows together. I liked to think I did a good or even great job of it, but I lost a lot of business to people who were the DJ, photographer or many other professions who put inferior slideshows together but got the job anyway because it was part of the "package". I decided that if I wanted the business, I was going to have to do something else.

Originally, I thought of being a film producer, but got talked out of buying a consumer grade camcorder. To buy a prosumer camcorder was going to be somewhere in the $3000 range. I didn't have it or any prospects of getting it, so I thought of becoming a photographer. The goal was to make enough money to buy that prosumer camcorder.  Well ... it turns out it's a LOT harder to make money being a photographer than I thought AND I wasn't nearly good enough to expect people to hand me money for taking pictures.  My sister bought the camera and I got started.

Someone told me about MM. They knew a model who has/had an account here so I signed up so I could talk with her (it's a long story). Making it short, I found out that there was some help here to be had and I could use this help to improve my photography. At the time I would've shot with anyone who would say yes and all because I wanted/needed the experience. Most of the models on this site are or seem to be 18-25 years old and a lot of them have little or no experience themselves so we were/are a pretty good match for TF shoots (since I don't have a lot of money, either).

Now, I'll still shoot with anyone who will say yes and is remotely close to decent looking (I wouldn't shoot with anyone who looks like me, that's for sure). It doesn't matter if they are 18, 48 or 88 years old if they are decent looking. Decent, of course, is a relative thing and subject to opinion. The primary goal is to improve my photography to the point where I can make a buck doing it.  The secondary goals are to help improve those around me (models, especially since I'm yet to work with a MUA or hair stylist). As the saying goes .. you can have anything in life that you want if you'll help enough people to get what they want.

I'm not opposed to shooting male models, either (though I'm yet to do it in a one on one situation). I'm not interested in shooting nudes, though, and this is both male and female. A lot of the male models I have been in contact with are either not interested in shooting with me, want to do nudes, don't show up or cancel.

That's my story. It's 100% honest and true.

Shiva Photo wrote:
A random unscientific survey conducted with Models seem to put the average age of other MM male photographer they have worked with, between 40 and 55

Some of them suggested that a middle age yearning (crisis?) to be with young females are a driving force for them to be photographers.

Photographers agree ? If not what is the primary motive to shoot (TF/Unpaid) young female models.

Honesty appreciated.

whoa where to start - do I need a lawyer 😇
I am about to be 47 and I feel I had (and completed)my mid-life crisis about ten years ago, well before my becoming joining Model Mayhem.   What made it a crisis for me was the overwhelming atmosphere of loss, as in opportunities - a feeling of walls closing in under a bullet-proof glass ceiling...thankfully after a year or three, I made it beyond that point; I am comfortable with who I am, my age and look forward to the future.

There is a certain freshness and energy a young model has, but, Most of the models I shoot are twenty-something because many women do not model past that for several reasons, including, they do not feel model-worthy as they grow older and/or after giving birth.

Jules NYC wrote:
Older people get a charge out of younger people; it reminds them of no responsibility and their youth.

I never put too much responsibility upon myself so I don't see any difference from 15.

Some photographers just like to make art with beautiful people, regardless of age.
Some are creepers.

It is what it is.

A models perspective. thanks

ART
BEING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
CREEPERS

The Grand Artist wrote:
Do you really expect to get an honest answer from most here? 

Sure there are a lot of pros that are just doing their job but they are definitely going to be the minority when it comes to this topic. The number of these middle aged photographers (if heterosexual) who would treat a male model exactly the same way as they treat female models is going to be even lower.

I wonder how many of these old guys are paying male models their rate, giving them images, and making sure they have gas money to get home safely.

Exactly how many do you think are doing that with female models, you must not read that forum much

ontherocks wrote:
if the only goal was to be with young females seems like a strip club would be an easier option. then again the wife might allow a model in the garage.

but i do think that companionship has something to do with it. spend a day hiking to the waterfall and taking some pics. would that young lady have come with you without the photography? would you be facebook friends without the photography?

Be a sugar daddy ?

Rob Photosby wrote:
Young women tend to be at their physical peak and they have the time to model.  As the years accumulate, so do the responsibilities (children, marriage, career) and it becomes so much harder to find time. Also, the years do what they do - skin deteriorates, things sag, etc.

Sucks, doesn't it