Photographer
Ryan McCool
Posts: 22
Dallas, Texas, US
Not having a lot of success asking models to do photo shoots. I include date or dates, time, length of shoot, paid or trade, location, and a general idea for the shoot along with wardrobe. Is there something I'm missing here?
Photographer
Naughty Ties
Posts: 3445
Riverview, Florida, US
Nope not missing anything, it's just the way it is on MM. Have you tried posting a casting call? Maybe give that a shot and see what kind of responses you get.
Good luck man.
Photographer
Ryan McCool
Posts: 22
Dallas, Texas, US
Naughty Ties wrote:
Nope not missing anything, it's just the way it is on MM. Have you tried posting a casting call? Maybe give that a shot and see what kind of responses you get.
Good luck man. I figured that would get less attention than a direct message but I'll give it a shot. Thanks
Photographer
DOUGLASFOTOS
Posts: 10604
Los Angeles, California, US
Ryan McCool wrote:
Not having a lot of success asking models to do photo shoots. I include date or dates, time, length of shoot, paid or trade, location, and a general idea for the shoot along with wardrobe. Is there something I'm missing here? Did you send to all...because a lot are not here, though they may look to be here, but not here. Do you follow?
Photographer
Ryan McCool
Posts: 22
Dallas, Texas, US
DOUGLASFOTOS wrote:
Did you send to all...because a lot are not here, though they may look to be here, but not here. Do you follow? I only send messages to models who have recent activity on MM
Photographer
L O C U T U S
Posts: 1746
Bangor, Maine, US
keep trying, you're doing it right. 
Photographer
F O R B E S
Posts: 576
New York, New York, US
Post a casting instead of personally messaging models. That way you'll have a majority of models contacting you to shoot and you can choose which ones you want to work with.
Photographer
1472
Posts: 1120
Pembroke Pines, Florida, US
Jason B FORBEs wrote:
Post a casting instead of personally messaging models. That way you'll have a majority of models contacting you to shoot and you can choose which ones you want to work with. Cha Ching
Model
JoJo
Posts: 26560
Clearwater, Florida, US
Ryan McCool wrote:
Not having a lot of success asking models to do photo shoots. I include date or dates, time, length of shoot, paid or trade, location, and a general idea for the shoot along with wardrobe. Is there something I'm missing here? No, you're not missing anything.
Many models have exactly the same problem when writing to photographers.
Ignoring seems to be the new way of (not) doing business.
As an aside, I have been trying to get someone (a mechanic) to come to my home to fix my husband's car for 5 weeks now. My husband is out of the country and I do not drive so I can't take it to a garage.
It's a simple task - install brake pads on the front wheels. I have the correct parts and will pay in cash.
Like I said, I have been trying for 5 weeks (17 mechanics so far) and all but 1 didn't even bother responding. The one that did respond never showed up.
Photographer
Ken Warren Photography
Posts: 933
GLENMOORE, Pennsylvania, US
Ryan McCool wrote:
Not having a lot of success asking models to do photo shoots. I include date or dates, time, length of shoot, paid or trade, location, and a general idea for the shoot along with wardrobe. Is there something I'm missing here? There aren't a lot of models in your immediate area; only 4 that I see that have logged on in the last 3 months. Are you casting your net widely enough? Are you offering to cover travel expenses for models who have to go more than say 20-25 miles?
Photographer
JDiCesarePhotography
Posts: 7
Tomball, Texas, US
I've had the same problem. I've sent messages to at least 30 models in the past two weeks. All that have been active in the last thirty days mind you. I've gotten two replies from people who just stopped communicating after 2 or 3 messages.
Photographer
Ryan McCool
Posts: 22
Dallas, Texas, US
Ken Warren Photography wrote:
There aren't a lot of models in your immediate area; only 4 that I see that have logged on in the last 3 months. Are you casting your net widely enough? Are you offering to cover travel expenses for models who have to go more than say 20-25 miles? I always browse for models in Denton, Mckinney, or Dallas. I live out in the country and with just over 1,000 people in my town I know I have to look elsewhere. Small town problems but I love it out here. Almost all of the locations I've shot at have been near the models home towns.
Photographer
Ryan McCool
Posts: 22
Dallas, Texas, US
JDiCesarePhotography wrote:
I've had the same problem. I've sent messages to at least 30 models in the past two weeks. All that have been active in the last thirty days mind you. I've gotten two replies from people who just stopped communicating after 2 or 3 messages. It's difficult to find models who want to work even if their port says they are eager to get more experience.
Photographer
The Private Collection
Posts: 39
Beverly Hills, California, US
Keep going, it's obviously easier here in Los Angeles to find models to work with. But in my travels (work as a cinematographer... Network TV, commercial, features) I've been to many parts of to his country and world and usually find local talent to work with.
Look at their portfolios and see what they have, read their profile to get a sense of what they are into, and pitch them on why they need to shoot with you (in a subtle way). What do you offer that they want? Because seriously, every dude now has a camera and can message a girl 'let's shoot' but if you want to get noticed your work & personality have to stand out....and that 1st message counts a lot.
Atlanta, Charleston, Santa Rosa NM, Detroit, Albequerque, El Paso TX, McGregor Iowa, Aspen Co, etc etc etc and I can usually find models (or the 1 pretty girl in town) to work with. Beirut Lebanon was a little harder but I did manage to find 1 beauty there who wanted to work together.
Good luck with your endeavors....
Photographer
Ken Warren Photography
Posts: 933
GLENMOORE, Pennsylvania, US
Ken Warren Photography wrote:
There aren't a lot of models in your immediate area; only 4 that I see that have logged on in the last 3 months. Are you casting your net widely enough? Are you offering to cover travel expenses for models who have to go more than say 20-25 miles? Ryan McCool wrote:
I always browse for models in Denton, Mckinney, or Dallas. I live out in the country and with just over 1,000 people in my town I know I have to look elsewhere. Small town problems but I love it out here. Almost all of the locations I've shot at have been near the models home towns. Hmm. Within 50 miles of you there are over a hundred models that have logged in in the last month (that at least implies that they're actively looking for work ). So there are plenty of fish in your particular sea. Try a casting call, as others suggest; if it's for paid work you ought to get several models who are interested.
Also, go through the list I provided above, find several whose look you like, and make reasonable offers. My offer to a model I want to shoot with, but don't have a specific concept that I want her in particular for, usually looks like this (it gets a great response rate from models that take a reasonably businesslike attitude toward what they're doing):
"Hi! I found you by <method>; when I looked at your portfolio, I saw <thing that makes me want to shoot>. I'm looking for models to collaborate with, and wanted to see if you would be interested. I've gone through your profile here and have no questions/see you say X, about which I say Y/wonder what you mean by Z.
"In general, these are the details for any shoot with me:
"Concepts: artistic nudes, bodyscapes, i.e. what you see in my portfolio
"Date/time/duration: TBD, duration rarely less than 2-3 hours unless we're focused on a single look.
"Location: My property/studio in Glenmoore, PA, elsewhere by arrangement.
"Compensation: TBD. I pay models working on my projects; I'm also open to "TF" if you want to work something in for your portfolio. I cover travel expenses. I bake cookies.
"Please look over my profile here and get back to me with any questions or comments you might have.
"Thanks, and I hope to work with you soon!
"Ken"
Model
Miss Kitty Marie
Posts: 89
Las Vegas, Nevada, US
Ken Warren Photography wrote:
Ken Warren Photography wrote:
There aren't a lot of models in your immediate area; only 4 that I see that have logged on in the last 3 months. Are you casting your net widely enough? Are you offering to cover travel expenses for models who have to go more than say 20-25 miles? Hmm. Within 50 miles of you there are over a hundred models that have logged in in the last month (that at least implies that they're actively looking for work ). So there are plenty of fish in your particular sea. Try a casting call, as others suggest; if it's for paid work you ought to get several models who are interested.
Also, go through the list I provided above, find several whose look you like, and make reasonable offers. My offer to a model I want to shoot with, but don't have a specific concept that I want her in particular for, usually looks like this (it gets a great response rate from models that take a reasonably businesslike attitude toward what they're doing):
"Hi! I found you by <method>; when I looked at your portfolio, I saw <thing that makes me want to shoot>. I'm looking for models to collaborate with, and wanted to see if you would be interested. I've gone through your profile here and have no questions/see you say X, about which I say Y/wonder what you mean by Z.
"In general, these are the details for any shoot with me:
"Concepts: artistic nudes, bodyscapes, i.e. what you see in my portfolio
"Date/time/duration: TBD, duration rarely less than 2-3 hours unless we're focused on a single look.
"Location: My property/studio in Glenmoore, PA, elsewhere by arrangement.
"Compensation: TBD. I pay models working on my projects; I'm also open to "TF" if you want to work something in for your portfolio. I cover travel expenses. I bake cookies.
"Please look over my profile here and get back to me with any questions or comments you might have.
"Thanks, and I hope to work with you soon!
"Ken" You, sir, are a gentleman and scholar.
If everyone messaged me like you write messages then they would get a very accepting and prompt reply. If only everyone were so professional and sensible!
Photographer
Ryan McCool
Posts: 22
Dallas, Texas, US
Ken Warren Photography wrote:
Ken Warren Photography wrote:
There aren't a lot of models in your immediate area; only 4 that I see that have logged on in the last 3 months. Are you casting your net widely enough? Are you offering to cover travel expenses for models who have to go more than say 20-25 miles? Hmm. Within 50 miles of you there are over a hundred models that have logged in in the last month (that at least implies that they're actively looking for work ). So there are plenty of fish in your particular sea. Try a casting call, as others suggest; if it's for paid work you ought to get several models who are interested.
Also, go through the list I provided above, find several whose look you like, and make reasonable offers. My offer to a model I want to shoot with, but don't have a specific concept that I want her in particular for, usually looks like this (it gets a great response rate from models that take a reasonably businesslike attitude toward what they're doing):
"Hi! I found you by <method>; when I looked at your portfolio, I saw <thing that makes me want to shoot>. I'm looking for models to collaborate with, and wanted to see if you would be interested. I've gone through your profile here and have no questions/see you say X, about which I say Y/wonder what you mean by Z.
"In general, these are the details for any shoot with me:
"Concepts: artistic nudes, bodyscapes, i.e. what you see in my portfolio
"Date/time/duration: TBD, duration rarely less than 2-3 hours unless we're focused on a single look.
"Location: My property/studio in Glenmoore, PA, elsewhere by arrangement.
"Compensation: TBD. I pay models working on my projects; I'm also open to "TF" if you want to work something in for your portfolio. I cover travel expenses. I bake cookies.
"Please look over my profile here and get back to me with any questions or comments you might have.
"Thanks, and I hope to work with you soon!
"Ken" Are you a writer as well? That seems far more inviting than my bland messages. I'm not a writer at all. Thank you for the awesome advice! I really appreciate it!
Photographer
Joe Wow Photos
Posts: 657
Dayton, Ohio, US
Your work is pretty good, so Its probably just lazy girls who don't reply well. Liek suggested, try a casting call, for some reason that gets some activity, though I rarely do it myself. I stick with the same few models that I know to be reliable rather than chase the flakey ones.
Photographer
Ken Warren Photography
Posts: 933
GLENMOORE, Pennsylvania, US
Miss Kitty Marie wrote:
You, sir, are a gentleman and scholar.
If everyone messaged me like you write messages then they would get a very accepting and prompt reply. If only everyone were so professional and sensible! Ryan McCool wrote:
Are you a writer as well? That seems far more inviting than my bland messages. I'm not a writer at all. Thank you for the awesome advice! I really appreciate it! I have been refining this through conversations with models. It tells a model why I want to work with her. It tells her I've read her bio, limitations, requirements, etc. It tells her what I want to shoot. It tells her if she wants to shoot something in a style I do regularly we can negotiate that, and that compensation is available too.
There are still ways to screw up communications, usually through being too eager and (in my case) too open and honest. For example, I was unexpectedly free the weekend before the 4th of July. I messaged a model about last minute availability, and in the email chain mentioned that I was completely free as far as scheduling things, as my wife had been called out of town. And then <crickets>. So I pulled some chain link fence posts with a farm jack, which was something I'd been wanting to do anyway. (Not...)
We managed to shoot several weeks later (I need to get to work on the results, there's a number of decent images in there) and had a good laugh over it, but I learned my lesson.
Also, sometimes I will message a traveling model to let her know that I've seen she's in my area regularly, and that she should let me know the next time she comes through. That's less formal up front, but we still go through all the same details in the first couple of messages when it comes time to try to schedule.
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