myfotographer wrote:
The value proposition isn't there for the models.

To expand upon this a bit more, to the OP, your casting call is very specific and limited. That in itself isn't a bad thing, you know what you want. However, you might ask yourself if what you propose also provides what the model needs. This, in my opinion, is a key to successful TF* interaction. If your portfolio examples are indicative of the kind of expected results from your casting call, does that highlight the model? That's not a critique of genre, quality or execution, just a question of output and need.

Just a thought, but perhaps you could propose what's currently in your CC as a portion of a TF* session, instead of its entirety.

tl;dr - the more specific the request, the smaller the number of eligible or interested parties.

myfotographer wrote:
Just stopping by to see if you reposted your casting call in a way that was valuable to your local models. I hope you were able to find one so you could do the shoot you wanted to do. Playing with light and shadows is fun, fun, fun!

I removed the old casting call, but I have not yet reposted. Instead, I sent some messages to models with whom I would like to work. I am still waiting to see how that works. Most of the models have not yet read the message that I sent.

ronbigelow wrote:
I removed the old casting call, but I have not yet reposted. Instead, I sent some messages to models with whom I would like to work. I am still waiting to see how that works. Most of the models have not yet read the message that I sent.

You don't have to do casting call or personal message. I generally do both as I get different responses from both approaches. My experience has been that not all models monitor the casting calls so models you want may not be seeing it. I'm not sure why they don't monitor calls as work is work. I usually get casting call interest from models that aren't on my radar. Personal messages work to make sure a model is aware of an opportunity. In either case, the value poposition has to be there for them.

It also seems that if they aren't interested models often just don't reply. That is a different topic though. You might want to make sure the models you take the time to contact models that are active - the default search activity is 365 days. I limit my searching to activity within 16 days (8 days when traveling) and thus my direct contacts.

The wider the net you cast, the more likely you are to find the right model.

In addition to my casting calls and personal messages, I also review casting calls and availability notices for where I am or will be (since I travel a lot). I contact models that express a desire for what I want or am willing to create for in addition to what they want. I've found other photographer casting calls for shoot shoots - and I reach out to see if they have models I should create with and vice versa. This works.

Cast a wide net - Use good bait

myfotographer wrote:
You don't have to do casting call or personal message. I generally do both as I get different responses from both approaches. My experience has been that not all models monitor the casting calls so models you want may not be seeing it. I'm not sure why they don't monitor calls as work is work. I usually get casting call interest from models that aren't on my radar. Personal messages work to make sure a model is aware of an opportunity. In either case, the value poposition has to be there for them.

It also seems that if they aren't interested models often just don't reply. That is a different topic though. You might want to make sure the models you take the time to contact models that are active - the default search activity is 365 days. I limit my searching to activity within 16 days (8 days when traveling) and thus my direct contacts.

The wider the net you cast, the more likely you are to find the right model.

In addition to my casting calls and personal messages, I also review casting calls and availability notices for where I am or will be (since I travel a lot). I contact models that express a desire for what I want or am willing to create for in addition to what they want. I've found other photographer casting calls for shoot shoots - and I reach out to see if they have models I should create with and vice versa. This works.

Cast a wide net - Use good bait