Personality Imaging wrote:
I follow the new female models in Alabama.  I've noticed a disturbing trend lately.  Some of them put up nice new ports with professional pictures and then take down their ports after three or four days.   Yet I see that they are still actively modeling on their Facebook pages.

First and foremost might consider not "Stalking" it's a primary reason many talent have shared with me about why they where absolutely thrilled with getting signed and totally off Mayhem...

Personality Imaging wrote:
Does anyone have a clue what is happening?

Gary FB has a much more stringent policy about NOT allowing "mature" imagery i.e. nude, soft porn and the like which is common place on Mayhem... This engenders an air of comfort and commiseration on the part of young adult FB members...  I totally understand exactly where they are coming from... For this reason alone I no longer recommend young, naive emerging talent consider opening a Mayhem "Model" profile... Reason? It is likely not in their long term career interest...

All the best on your journey Gary

Personality Imaging wrote:
I wonder if they are being harassed, insulted, threatened or something on here

Probably.

Personality Imaging wrote:
New models not staying on mm very long

how long should models be staying on mm?

Model Mode Studio wrote:
When 99% of the messages they get are from perverts who want them to pose nude, it's not hard to figure why they leave in a hurry.

remaining 1%... are from perverts

who want them to pose clothed

Personality Imaging wrote:
I follow the new female models in Alabama.  I've noticed a disturbing trend lately.  Some of them put up nice new ports with professional pictures and then take down their ports after three or four days.   Yet I see that they are still actively modeling on their Facebook pages.

I wonder if they are being harassed, insulted, threatened or something on here or maybe they were just expecting a ton of paid offers even though they were not looking for paid offers primarily.

Does anyone have a clue what is happening?

I think you are wondering correctly. Its a shame that the amount of decent minded photographers on here do not stalk, (to buffer, in a good way,) the new models to greet with with good intentions. When I became active on her I was in the middle of Alaska, over 45 and still was 'mini-swamped' with rubbish.

Jen

WIP wrote:
BWC - Bear with Camera.
CWC - Caribou with Camera.
MWC - Moose with Camera.
GWC - Goat with Camera.


Alaska !

Big smiles!
Ha,
JenB

AJScalzitti wrote:
It's not new, many get flooded with trade requests and leave.  I am sure some/many get flooded with nude requests and think the sites is full of GWCs as well, and they would not be wrong.

Still modeling takes a think skin, so if they leave they leave.  You could always hit them up on FB if you really want.  There will always be more

Because all nude photographers are GWCs... You are full of elitist crap.  Models tell me of many non nude photographers that are GWCs or worse.

Model Mode Studio wrote:
When 99% of the messages they get are from perverts who want them to pose nude, it's not hard to figure why they leave in a hurry.

Oh boy you just insulted a genre in art, namely figurative nudes. I dare say nudes appear in museums in significantly higher number than the perverts who shoot models like Maxium babes.

Stop your un founded generalizations.

Model Mode Studio wrote:
When 99% of the messages they get are from perverts who want them to pose nude, it's not hard to figure why they leave in a hurry.

How did you come up with that percentage?  I've posed nude for a living for the last six years, and the people I work with are very professional.  I'm curious as to how you arrived at your statement.

Also, don't mistake "getting them to pose nude" with "getting them nude".

David Stone Imaging wrote:
I've directly helped 3 nude models get started on MM.  One removed her profile, one is completely inactive but still has a profile, and the third doesn't model but does log in once in a while.  Modeling isn't for everyone.

While creepy photographers are continually cited...one of these models got a PM with a full frontal view of a nude male model wanting to know if she wanted to  "collaborate?" 

This might be a new trend at MM...or just out in the open more.  I've seen model profiles specifically telling nude male models they aren't interested in collaborating with male models.  This whole collaboration thing is a scam anyway, considering it isn't the male model that usually puts together the shoot for the photographer or client.

(I did know one local model, however, that found a willing photographer to help him with his scam...where he had the photographer contact the models he wanted to meet and go out with.)

My point here is that it is not always the photographer behaving badly.  Male models also get in the act.

Not at all new.... in fact, pretty cliche the whole time I've been on the site.

Model Mode Studio wrote:
When 99% of the messages they get are from perverts who want them to pose nude, it's not hard to figure why they leave in a hurry.

Clearly you have NO idea what you are talking about.

There is no way that percentage is accurate, unless you believe that a valid percentage exceeds 100%

First off, you seem to have totally overlooked the quantity of scams that have NOTHING to do with nudity and everything about trying to get a newbie's money.

Secondly, there is nothing about asking models to pose for nudes that equates to someone being a pervert, and it would be foolish at best to believe that everyone associated with photographing nudes is a pervert.

Thirdly, your percentage also completely overlooks/ignores the quantity of male models contacting models for dates and/or "working together".

Additionally, you're also missing the percentage who get discouraged that being a model isn't a quick and easy way to make money, that there is actually work involved... and also, those who simply chicken out, because face it, modeling isn't for everyone.

I'm sorry, but one of the things that also leads to people having a short tenure on this site is posting misinformation, just because you assume something is true, does not magically make it true.

Tony Lawrence wrote:
If some goof makes a rude or suggestive offer CAM and block them.   Its pretty easy.

I think that, unfortunately, many don't even know of that simple function even though it's right there in the message. I was talking to a model that's been on here a while and she wasn't even aware of it.

It would be great, though, if they all used it so as to facilitate cleaning house.

Risen Phoenix Photo wrote:

Because all nude photographers are GWCs... You are full of elitist crap.  Models tell me of many non nude photographers that are GWCs or worse.

Pretentious much?

Tony Lawrence wrote:
Curious stuff.   Women get inappropriate offers all the time at bars and clubs.    Yet how many stop going out because of that?   If some goof makes a rude or suggestive offer CAM and block them.   Its pretty easy.   When I joined Facebook a few idiots thought my Avatar of a female model was me.   I received offers for dates and the hey baby stuff.   While I do have decent legs I let them know I am a guy and the men apologized with two saying they still wanted to meet me.   Didn't happen for you jokers.   People like to blame other people for what they decide to do.

I left MM because of all the creeps.   Okay... Facebook has a ton of them and you're still their.   Goodness its just words on a screen.   The person isn't in your face like at a club which as I said models still go to despite being sometimes harassed at.   If a stranger said something you didn't like to you in public what would you do?
My guess is either ignore them or say fuc* off.   Isn't that even easier to do on-line?

I suggested to a guy I photographed that he join MM.  I shouldn't have, and I don't recommend it any more.  Within hours of his profile going live, his inbox had at least half a dozen requests for 'erotic nude' TFP, even though he didn't tick the Pose Nude box.  One was from the USA, the sender probably sent the same message to every new male model, regardless of who they are or where they live.  One of the other messages was so disgusting that the model had deleted it immediately, so I don't know what it was.  The model was so upset that he never used the MM account again.

He didn't have the same experience when he joined the two UK based sites, even though some of the 'photographers' who had contacted him on MM had accounts with them.

Kent Art Photography wrote:

I suggested to a guy I photographed that he join MM.  I shouldn't have, and I don't recommend it any more.  Within hours of his profile going live, his inbox had at least half a dozen requests for 'erotic nude' TFP, even though he didn't tick the Pose Nude box.  One was from the USA, the sender probably sent the same message to every new male model, regardless of who they are or where they live.  One of the other messages was so disgusting that the model had deleted it immediately, so I don't know what it was.  The model was so upset that he never used the MM account again.

He didn't have the same experience when he joined the two UK based sites, even though some of the 'photographers' who had contacted him on MM had accounts with them.

Men can be pigs and my guess is some are here to try for hook ups.   I've meet two male models from this site who told me about being propositioned by male photographers.   Both laughed it off.   I can only imagine some of the weird emails and requests women get.   However is it worse then what some women hear in real life or what some men are asked.    One former girl friend told me what happened to her.   Some fool started making sexual comments to her and finally said what could he do to get into her panties.   This on a block full of people.   Her reply was.   Turn into a tampon, mofo.   People fell over laughing.   

Not everybody is willing or able to come back with a snappy retort of course but c'mon.   This is a website.   Someone says something you don't like delete the PM and move on.   I had a  girl friend email me her disappointment about our past relationship and all my faults.   It was ugly stuff and after trying to be rational I stopped replying or reading her stuff.   Don't get me wrong I've had lots of nasty fights here but it was my choice to respond.   I didn't have too.   The model you referenced could have simply reported the photographer or blocked him or just ignored him.   Why leave MM because of a few silly people.

AJScalzitti wrote:
There will always be more

This.

Tony Lawrence wrote:

Men can be pigs and my guess is some are here to try for hook ups.   I've meet two male models from this site who told me about being propositioned by male photographers.   Both laughed it off.   I can only imagine some of the weird emails and requests women get.   However is it worse then what some women hear in real life or what some men are asked.    One former girl friend told me what happened to her.   Some fool started making sexual comments to her and finally said what could he do to get into her panties.   This on a block full of people.   Her reply was.   Turn into a tampon, mofo.   People fell over laughing.   

Not everybody is willing or able to come back with a snappy retort of course but c'mon.   This is a website.   Someone says something you don't like delete the PM and move on.   I had a  girl friend email me her disappointment about our past relationship and all my faults.   It was ugly stuff and after trying to be rational I stopped replying or reading her stuff.   Don't get me wrong I've had lots of nasty fights here but it was my choice to respond.   I didn't have too.   The model you referenced could have simply reported the photographer or blocked him or just ignored him.   Why leave MM because of a few silly people.

I think it's actually because models aren't like us.

In particular, the guy I'm thinking of wasn't particularly internet savvy.  A lot of models aren't, as can be seen from the questions asked on MM, and the scams they fall prey to.  The person I referred to doesn't own a computer, and he only accesses Facebook a few times a month, using his phone.  There are a lot of non-techy people out there.

The first impression of MM that the guy got was bad.  He didn't get that impression from the other two sites.  Okay, being a guy, and straight, he wasn't used to fending off weird people in public places, but there are many places, at least in the UK, where girls do not get accosted in the way you describe, and aren't used to the sort of 'proposals' they get on MM.  Yes, he could have deleted the replies and moved on, or CAMed them, but the impression he got was that this was normal for the site, and he went elsewhere - where he didn't get treated badly.

I wonder if the mods shouldn't set up a few fake model profiles themselves, just to see exactly what happens to new models when they first sign up.

hbutz New York wrote:
It's not really disturbing.  There are many profiles created by hackers with stolen photographs to troll the forums, annoy the photographers, and then go away.  I've seen MM passwords being traded on another popular board.

Was about to say just that.

Facebook has the same problem though, I doubt if even more than 1% of their profiles are even real.

I've also noticed that facebook is actually quite lazed about adult content.

Some adult man was posting bizarre pictures of himself pleasuring himself to a child's group.

Reported it, and facebook said it did not constitute (their definition of) pornography.

PS: I'm not against porn.

Rays Fine Art wrote:
Not long ago we had a rash of postings about all the quality people who are leaving MM.  Before that it was a rash of postings about photographers who were giving up because models were flaking.  Another about models who post will shoot nudes but won't followed by a rash about models who post that they won't shoot nudes but have nudes in their portfolios.  And don't forget the rash of postings by models complaining that photographers don't contact them often enough.

To tell you the truth, I haven't seen so many rashes since I was a kid, before we had a measles vaccine!

The fact of the matter is that with more than 3/4 million registered members, there will be several thousand Henny-Pennies squawking about the sky falling whenever anything happens more than a few dozen times and they will be mirrored by an equal number who are terrified that just the opposite is happening.  It's just inevitable that when there are no accurate records of the phenomenon (whatever it might be) a lot of people will extrapolate anecdotal evidence into a totally inaccurate generalization.

The best thing for each of us, in our own little corners of the universe, is to do what we can to make this the best experience possible for the people here and to send the ones who feel they will do better on their way with our best wishes and a pat on the back---and be prepared to welcome them back when they find the sky on the other side of the mountain falls just as often.

All IMHO as always, of course.

I appreciate not only what you wrote but also the quality of your writing.

Model Mode Studio wrote:
When 99% of the messages they get are from perverts who want them to pose nude, it's not hard to figure why they leave in a hurry.

GPS Studio Services wrote:


I am going to put on my "Forum Guide" hat and speak a bit on this subject.   It comes up fairly often.

First, I do understand the OP's concerns.    We do have some number of models that join the site, and for whatever reason drop off.   It is, by no means a majority.  It may well be a relatively small number, but I can see how it appears to be that way.   Having said that, there are certainly some that are overwhelmed by their first impression.  As an example, I have no doubt that there are models that had no intentions of doing nudes that are being approached to do so.  That having been said, any attempt to characterize the bulk of our members as "perverts" would be wrong as well.  We have our bad apples, but in all seriousness, they are a minority here.

As, has been already mentioned, we do get some fake profiles that we don't catch until after they join.  We also have models that are here for adult networking and are removed.   We have models who created a profile and then realized that modeling was work which required an honest effort.

My point is that there are a 1000 things that come into play here.   There is no generalization.   I think it just goes with the territory.   We have a large community that continues to grow.   It isn't right for everyone, but it is also not true that most new models drop out quickly.

Thanks for the observation.

"We have models who created a profile and then realized that modeling was work which required an honest effort."

This part is very true in many cases. When you add to that they have the idea that "right away" they should be getting paid work and high ridiculous pay at that you find newbie models get disenchanted and loose interest. One fault that I find with that is the perve photographers who are willing to pay them in hopes that they can get them naked or see some naked boobies.

Risen Phoenix Photo wrote:

Because all nude photographers are GWCs... You are full of elitist crap.  Models tell me of many non nude photographers that are GWCs or worse.

+1

Risen Phoenix Photo wrote:

Oh boy you just insulted a genre in art, namely figurative nudes. I dare say nudes appear in museums in significantly higher number than the perverts who shoot models like Maxium babes.

Stop your un founded generalizations.

+1... again!

AJScalzitti wrote:
It's not new, many get flooded with trade requests and leave.  I am sure some/many get flooded with nude requests and think the sites is full of GWCs as well, and they would not be wrong.

Well, since I'm a GWC, I guess I'm to blame for using MM for paid nude shoots which is causing models to terminate their memberships.

Bare Essential Photos wrote:

Well, since I'm a GWC, I guess I'm to blame for using MM for paid nude shoots which is causing models to terminate their memberships.

You really need to stop that, you are pissing off all these "professionals" photographers with your perverted ways and behavior.  You should let shooting nude images to the "professionals" and stop paying models to undress for your enjoyment.