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Best places to find paid gigs
Hey, It's been a long time since I have posted to the forums, but this year i am working on becoming a full time professional freelance model. (That was a mouthful-I also lost access to my old account due to loosing passwords) I worry my rates might be a bit too high for my area (even though they are standard for what other models are charging in my area), and I'm not getting booked for many paid shoots yet. There also seems to be a rush of younger, less experienced talent popping up and most of the groups for the Seattle area on Facebook are "trade" only. This makes finding professional work a challenge. Craigslist (for my region) is mainly scams and porn. So I'm wondering if I am missing something, a place or way to book gigs. Should i consider lowering my rates for the time being? What do you recommend? I use instagram daily, and have started using my facebook profile in a professional manner as well. Jan 12 18 05:20 pm Link If you were in SoCal... I could help you out. Lots of income opportunities in this region. Let me know if you plan on traveling to this area...  Jan 12 18 05:49 pm Link This is a big question without a simple answer. One thing I notice immediately when I look at your profile is that it's very focused on describing your rates around shoots, but I don't really see anything that explains who you are and what you do. The bio and profile pic are the first thing people see when they visit your profile, so that's the first place to generate interest and excitement. What do you specialize in? What makes you unique? What is it about you that photographers can't live without having in their portfolio? Eleanor Rose has a good free e-book with some tips on this: https://empoweredmuses.com/ Other than that, there are a ton of ways to get your name out there, but one thing I'd recommend is to get involved in the community. Group shoots don't tend to pay fabulously, but they are a good way to get to know who's in your area, and can result in paid bookings over time. Find out who the best photographers are in your area and ask if they'd consider doing trade shoots with them. This will greatly enhance your portfolio (which looks nice, in my opinion, but could have more in it), and will help show people that you are experienced. It can take some time to build up freelance modeling into an income that can support you, but the more you can get your name and face in front of people, the more they will be thinking about you as someone who's available for hire when they are looking for someone for a shoot. Jan 12 18 05:50 pm Link So basically you're asking us all how to run a business? I think you're in the wrong forum for that. Jan 12 18 07:03 pm Link RinaLo wrote: social networking would not help much. and you have to define "professional" in the correct context. you are missing something; understanding the target market. all the successful models i know, know where the clients are and how to approach them. all of it done by hard work. very hard work over time and then more constant hard work. you build up a great book, learn about the targets and hustle like mad. Jan 12 18 08:19 pm Link Mina Salome wrote: Unfortunately, I'm a bit of Grammar Nazi when it comes to emails, articles, profiles, and other "professional" writing situations. Forums and text messages, not so much. How to be a Grammar Nazi. Jan 13 18 03:50 am Link Why would anyone pay your standard rate when you are willing to negotiate? How long do you want to be a full-time freelance model for private photographers? What are you going to do after that? Jan 13 18 05:15 am Link So, as a traveling model, I've booked pretty well in Seattle in the past at my rates ($125/hour, $350/3, etc). But, the PNW in general is not known for being great in terms of paying work - especially for local models at full rates. In addition to that, the competition in your area is a bit crazy. You have some amazing nude models out there - Nicole Vaunt, Genuine Porcelain, Lillias Right, Floofie, Diana Jean, Katlyn Lacoste, etc. And that doesn't even consider all of the traveling models who come through. Your best bet is to travel. San Francisco and Sacramento are good areas to go in terms of a shorter trip. But, Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver are notoriously difficult to book paying work in at the current industry rates many of us have. I'm suspecting my success in Seattle is mostly based on my being a traveling model (so rarely ever available there) doing nudes and having no tattoos. So, you'll likely need to travel more to get full rates. There are a lot of art classes to model for in your area though so you should definitely look into that. But, you should also probably do a rewrite of your bio that states what you're looking to do as a model without detailing all of your other work that does not at all pertain to modeling. And perhaps organize the content a bit better - i.e. one section for who your are/what you do, one for booking info (this would be for rates), one for the wardrobe you offer, one for your physical appearance, etc.. Jan 13 18 08:14 am Link I am going to agree with he others that you need to do rewrite. Everyone that has put in any effort in their response has made good points. I notice the first thing you do is say you have a standard hourly rate. Is that the most important thing about you? Is that the thing that is the most important marketing highlight. Then, one of the last things you do is mention how you except payment. You book end your profile with money issues. This makes you sound like the money is your highest priority. There is nothing wrong with attending to business, but you want people to be interested in buying your service first. I will second what Liv says for you to look into posing for artists. Getting a good model for live posing is harder than getting a photo model. Set reasonable rates. Around here, the sketch clubs pay 15 an hour plus tips (sometimes) and a private sitting will garner 20. Some ask for 30. I know one that I would love to work with that asks for 50. Guess why I haven't worked with her. At that rate, I might as well hire a photo model and get shots for 20 paintings. Being a life model is hard work but it will also teach you about posing and you are getting paid for a larger part of the process. And if you aren't making bigger bucks in front of a camera, at least you are making a decent amount in the meantime. Life sessions are usually 3hours, give or take. Talk to art departments at schools about modeling and put up flyers in those locations so that students find you as well. Look for places that have public art classes or drawing sessions. Consider making a post in the critique section for other feedback. Jan 13 18 08:59 am Link Hunter GWPB wrote: Art classes are an invaluable experience for anyone who does a lot of artistic work - either nude or clothed - and you'll learn more about your body, about what a pose looks like from different angles, how to best position yourself in an artistic way, and about lighting and how it falls on the body. You'll also likely learn more about art in the process of these gigs - I really value all of the artists I've had a chance to talk to and all of the art books I've looked through while working for them. Jan 13 18 09:52 am Link A few thoughts: 1. What you can commend is a function of supply and demand. This includes not only what other, similar models in your area make, but how you market yourself. I don’t see your rates listed in your profile, but if you are not getting takers, that should tell you something. 2. In comparing yourself to other models, consider that what many models ask for and what they accept are often very different things. I’ve had models contact me offering a rate that is half what they state on their profile, and accept half that. Many models state high rates because they will get the occasional photographer who will offer that rate. Also, when comparing yourself to other models be sure you are really comparing yourself to models with a similar look, with a similar portfolio and who shoot the same genres. 3. For feedback on your portfolio, profile asking rates and how you might improve those to get more offers, you should post in the critique forum. Jan 13 18 11:41 am Link Not everybody is going to make it and you need to keep in mind that failure is a distinct possibility. Having said that let me break it down to what I’ve observed are the 2 routes you need to take to make a living as a model. #1 Internet model. Promote yourself via social media but just know that you won’t make sustained income unless you A) Have a great look and B) get naked. In this case, your clients are mostly amateur photographers. They really aren’t going to pay for a shoot unless you are naked. If you aren’t willing to be nude then I suggest you just have fun with it. #2 Agency model. Agencies are places photographers who have clients contact for talent. This could be fashion, advertising, etc... Getting with a reputable agency can be quite difficult because they have very specific looks and requirements. If you have any in your area they tend to have open calls once a month. Show up and see if you’ve got what they are looking for. You don’t need a portfolio. They can see with their own eyes. If they don’t like you, more practice or a better portfolio isn’t going to help. Jan 15 18 05:04 am Link My experience tells me there is one way to make a living as a model, I did it for a dozen years. You have to have a good look, be physically fit, move well in front of the camera or runway and act professional. You probably don't have the time and resources to find, pursue and negotiate competitive rates for projects so an agency is essential. In fact, multiple agencies are needed if you plan to travel and work multiple markets. Agencies in large markets have relationships with Ad Agencies, Catalog Houses, Photo Studios and Manufacturers to name a few and can introduce new talent easily. They also have cashflow so you get paid the next week rather than chasing your own invoices. Jan 15 18 06:45 am Link Green Wave Photo 312 wrote: tcphoto wrote: Age: 25 tcphoto wrote: this isn't true in all markets; in fact, next week payment is rather rare. agencies wait to be paid by the client first, then it's process through their system. sometimes it's 90-120 days. Jan 15 18 06:53 am Link Best places to find paid gigs? I'll go all zen-like and answer, "The best place to find paid gigs lies within yourself". ... Who in your area hires models? --- How do you compare with the models who land the paid gigs? --- What do you need to improve to be able to compete and/or dominate these models? --- How can you network with the people hiring these models? --- What rates do your successful competitors get? ... How do you market yourself effectively & efficiently? ... What can you do to improve your look? ... What can you do to improve your efficiency? ... What unique qualities can you bring to a photographer? Can you improve these? ... Can you improve your negotiation skills? ... etc. Modeling can be a very competitive business. Increase your desirability as a model, and paying work may follow. There is always something constructive you can be doing. Do that. Jan 15 18 08:21 am Link I shoot a fair amount but from 2009 through 2016 I shot almost 200 shoots a year. I have slowed down now that I retired and I will shoot around 50 to 60 shoots in 2018. If I am going to pay a model her rates she has to have strong modeling skills usually with an athletic background or a dance yoga background. I look at her port to see the strength of posing and emoting even with new or amateur photographers. Also, I think about projects or publications that she would be a good fit for. A model looking to be paid has to bring something to the table beyond just willing to be naked. Unless I miss something when I read your profile I am not sure what your rate is, or what constitutes a standard rate to you. I do know that I find your travel stipend a bit of a turn off . You might do better to just add that in the rate you charge so it doesn't feel you are Nickle and diming your photographers. Of course you will be able to find new togs and GWCs to shoot with locally and IMHO they are usually willing to pay just about any rate to work with a nude model. However, this type of photographer wants to constantly shoot new faces so the local togs will dry up in time. If that's the case you can become a traveling model and charge your rate. I think it is important to not just shoot with a tog once you want them to be happy enough to hire you on an ongoing basis both locally and when you come back to a city if traveling. If you want to charge your rates with top photographers ( fine art or glamour) you have ask yourself what you bring to the equation that will allow you charge them your full rate. I would look at the work of top nude fine art and glamour models on this site there are some amazing models on MM or even Model Society. I also think Hunter's and Liv's suggestion of working as an art school model would be a great help. If you are not happy with the amount of jobs you are getting your rate might be too high for what you bring to the table and you may consider reducing it. Lastly I think you may want to ask this question in the Critique section to get an honest opinion of what photographers may be willing to pay on an ongoing basis. Jan 15 18 09:14 am Link tcphoto wrote: I'm no expert on agencies but its my understanding they provide vouchers for their models who give one to the client and they keep a copy and the last is for the agency. Payment can range from 30 to 120 days and models are considered independent contractors. I've never know any who paid models from their own cash. My experience is with Elite in Chicago which changed to Aria and David & Lee as well as a few small agencies. This was in Chicago which is a pretty good sized commercial market. OP you can of course try to get signed but your height and size may limit you. Freelance models have a difficult time. Many are only going to be booked by amateur photographers who often can't pay much and it may also require some travel. The good news is there is work out there. The bad news is you really have to hustle. There is a model I know on Facebook. She's pretty average looking but she used to book a lot of work. I recall someone asking her in a comment how. She said, I show up. Jan 15 18 09:28 am Link I guess that I showed my age, I worked in Chicago back in '86-90. I was with A Plus, Chicago Model Group back when Hallie Barry was with them and then Elite before I pursued my photo career. If you dropped your voucher of on Friday, you were paid the next Friday except for rare cases. Jan 15 18 02:50 pm Link |
