Hey there.

Newcomer here

I've been quite skeptical towards sites like this, OMP, etc etc. Since I began modeling i've been with my agencies and have depended solely on them to get me bookings etc.

Coming here I noticed a lot of people do both, the agency route and a lot of internet freelancing.

How profitable have some of you found it to be?

Just looking for some inside info, as this webpage is fairly easy to access and create new accounts without much verification and what not so im just seeing if its, for the most part legitimate and an effective means of gettings jobs.

Dennis

The "categories" of modeling are a confusing jungle of terminology.

But, the longer I am involved in this, the more I start to see things as "hobby" and "professional" when you get down to it.

To break it down simply, I would say in the easiest terms, it comes down to this ...

INTERNET MODELING:

1. Hobbyists. You can make a few extra bucks. Get hired to work for dirt-poor designers who can give you clothes or $200 for a shoot. You can also get the good old Guys With Cameras (GWCs) to pay you to shoot with them. You can attend those "shoot-outs" too and make some chump-change.

2. Porn. You can make pretty good money and actually earn enough to make a respectable living if you have a lucrative adult website.

3. Transitional. People with the ambition to be commercially successful and making a living with modeling/photography and are using the networking opportunites of the Internet to reach that aspiration.

AGENCY MODELING:

1. Lame Agency. Pretty much the equivalent of a Hobbyist Internet Model. You'll make a few extra bucks. The difference is, it might be for bigger clients. But the agency doesn't push you as a model, so you don't make much.

2. Supportive Agency. This is what most people who "want to be models" are hoping to attain. Working through an agency that really tries to get them paying gigs for big clients. Travel the world. Shoot for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. Shoot for a spread in Vogue. Bigtime stuff.

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Personally, I am #3 - Transitional. I'm using the Internet to attempt to hook up with models with similar ambitions of commercial-success so we can each benefit from having some quality work in our respective portfolios. But, that really means I am nothing but a GWC with ambitions and aspirations to earn my living with photography. So, my assessments MIGHT be total bullcrap. I'm just saying that based upon what I have observed at this point, that will be my report back to the Mothership.

NOTE: As a male, you might have a harder time with Internet stuff because much of it is GWCs who like to shoot women. And of course, adult sites tend to all be female-based too.

Right on.

Thanks so much for a very, informative reply to say the least.

You basically nailed it on the head I guess unless other people have conflicting ideas. My agencies are supportive and do land me well paying jobs, but ambition and a drive to suceed, sense for the money if you will drives me to find opportunities to make extra cash or strenghten my portfolio. Thats how I landed here.

Anyways, thanks much for the reply and good luck to you.

Dennis

MM compared to OMP.  Well, I've got attention of a few models (and photographers), who have never noticed me on OMP.  I have these 2 models on here that I'm putting together a shoot with.  They get thousands of emails a week on OMP.  They got back to me right away, with a simple send of a message via MM.

My opinion... MM is more personable, rather than a OMP Referral for ****, which is why I almost died when I got banned a few weeks ago, lol.

Hell, MM has been supplying me with a lot of models I didn't know existed, plus thanks to IZM Magazine, my schedule is booked up.