Posted by Justin: 
Yeah. Some of us are just at different levels, y'know. If I can have a model pay me for this shot, that's great, but I don't see it happening. And I just don't know of anyone who'd pose for this shot for free. So if I want this shot, I'm going to have to pay someone to help me with it.  And I wanted this shot.

Several possible solutions to this dilemma:

1) Have your girlfriend pose for you
2) Have your wife pose for you
3) Have a cousin (by marriage *grin*) pose for you

Posted by ( ANT ) Mgaphoto: 

Posted by Hugh  Jorgen ©: 
You guys pay models?

Paying models doesn't always mean you aren't getting something back. Maybe you don't understand some of the business aspects of photographry, like visual mindscapes, but hey it is all good

Jeeesh!! No sence of humor

Thats alright i have no sence of Buisness!!

(:---

Posted by Brent Burzycki: 
Do you write it off photogrpahers at the end of the year...

Everything! A business write off is a good thing. Especially, where expenses and losses are concerned.

Posted by Justin: 

Posted by Hugh  Jorgen ©: 
You guys pay models?

Yeah. Some of us are just at different levels, y'know. If I can have a model pay me for this shot, that's great, but I don't see it happening. And I just don't know of anyone who'd pose for this shot for free. So if I want this shot, I'm going to have to pay someone to help me with it.  And I wanted this shot.

Justin
See it happining!!
Thats the only diff between us!!
I see it happining!!
Your work is good!!
My work is no better than yours!!
But my Confidence is off the scale!!

Posted by AshleyDanielle: 
At any office products store you can get a receipt book. I keep one for my personal use. Just helps me keep track of monies earned for tax purposes. I make one for each time I get paid so I have a running balance.

Some books have 2 and 3 copies, so when you pay a model/photographer in cash you have a signed record of the money transaction. The books aren't expensive.

I also use these pages to keep track of my expenditures, clothes, mileage etc and attach my receipts to the page.

Helps me keep track and might help some others. 

Here's a tip I learned from running several small businesses. Get a seperate checking account. Wells Fargo has a feature that automatically categorizes your expenses every time you use your associated Visa/ATM card. Having a seperate account in conjunction with Microsoft Money (Small Business) or Quicken (SB) makes it even easier to download your statements and generate your Profit and Loss statement.

Posted by ( ANT ) Mgaphoto: 

Posted by * Visual Mindscapes *: 

Posted by ( ANT ) Mgaphoto: 
Paying models doesn't always mean you aren't getting something back. Maybe you don't understand some of the business aspects of photographry, like visual mindscapes, but hey it is all good

What exactly are you getting back?  With the rates of some of these models, I'd have better luck hiring a hot escort or stripper for an hour.  At least for sure I would be getting a lap dance and get a chance to see some breastesses.

Oh wait, strippers have money, therefore, they would be paying me.

The business of photography.  It's not a business if you aren't making money.

People pay me, I don't pay them. 

You probably get paid with crack lol!

Tee hee...

It's just dog eat dog and the lord save ya if you're a puppy! Hey you could move to Thailand and get really cheap models.

Posted by Hugh  Jorgen ©: 
Justin
See it happining!!
Thats the only diff between us!!
I see it happining!!
Your work is good!!
My work is no better than yours!!
But my Confidence is off the scale!!

I appreciate that, Hugh, and some of your work is clearly better than mine.  I'm highly impressed by your abilities. Obviously, there's going to be difference in tastes, and the general body of my work appeals more to me (or else I'd try to shoot your kind of work).

I really don't have a dilemma about this payment issue.  In my real world, I charge people to provide them what they need, and I pay people to help me. 

This isn't any different.  I'm paying somebody to help me get to my goal.  It doesn't bother me at all.

You're right.  I lack confidence.  When/if I have the time to learn the technical aspects of photography more, I'll approach it with more confidence.  But that's for a different thread.

Posted by Hugh  Jorgen ©: 
You guys pay models?

why do you think we do all this? just so we can have hundreds of pretty pictures of ourselves?

Posted by Rick Jolly: 
I've paid with business check, have the model sign the check and cash it for her. I deposit into my bank account and get a copy of the cashed check. My bank doesn't have me sign it so the models signature is the only signature on the check.. That's my receipt for tax purposes.

Excellent solution to having a paper trail for the photographer and removing the concern by the model of getting a bad check.

Posted by DJ Foothill: 

Posted by Brent Burzycki: 
Well all I know is I pay anyone shooting topless or nude - or if I do a site for them it is TFP with money from the site membership....

I will not shoot topless or nude without money changing hands - #1 - Earns respect with the model #2 - In court if money changes hands - there is a reciept - I win... and the model cannot say she was forced blah blah - you came to my studio - took the check - signed the reciept - then had regrets after - and trust me i give all sorts of outs...

Hey now I didn't say that money doesn't change hands. I just said it wasn't for that shoot. =o)

And a release will save you in court not a reciept. TRUST me on this one. Seen it happen to people.

Posted by AshleyDanielle: 
At any office products store you can get a receipt book. I keep one for my personal use. Just helps me keep track of monies earned for tax purposes. I make one for each time I get paid so I have a running balance.

Some books have 2 and 3 copies, so when you pay a model/photographer in cash you have a signed record of the money transaction. The books aren't expensive.

I also use these pages to keep track of my expenditures, clothes, mileage etc and attach my receipts to the page.

Helps me keep track and might help some others. 

Posted by Light Sketch: 
Many people write bad cheques.  They also take time for the bank to clear them.  Cash or money order, but get a recipt!  That works for the model and the photographer's books...  Only my opinion.. Means nothing... really...