How to ask for modeling

Hey Elwood · 01-18-2009, 04:36 PM

Hi everyone,

I was out this morning picking up some hardware from a local ACO store. When I went up to the counter to pay for my purchases I noticed how stiking the young lady was behind the register. Of course me being the amatur photographer I am (plus the fact that I don't have any money to pay for models) I starting thinking about talking to her about possibly modeling. I was about to ask her if she was interested when I started thinking what she might think of me (some stranger asking her to model and such). I ended up not asking her and kept kicking myself all day.

With this, I'm wondering, how would you approach someone in passing (not using a modeling agency or experienced models) about possibly modeling for a shoot? Just wondering?

Tom S. · 01-18-2009, 04:49 PM

Just be honest and up front. Don't gush over her telling her how great she looks, etc. Tell her you would like to photograph her and tell her if she likes, she can bring a friend (male or female) or relative. Some times you get lucky and the 'friend' is worth shooting too. Offer to meet her on her terms - that is at a location she is comfortable with. It also helps to have cards with your number on them. Be prepared to pay the going rate, unless you can work out something with photos instead of cash. It's been a LONG time since I shot any models in the Detroit area, but going rate was around $50 per hour, probably double that now.

And don't drool...

Wheatfield · 01-18-2009, 07:54 PM

Make yourself some sort of business card that you can hand out.
Now you are a PHOTOGRAPHER, not a GWC.

Don't ever ask a person if they have thought about modeling.
Tell the person you are interested in photographing her/him and hand over a card.

Vylen · 01-18-2009, 08:13 PM

tell them their hot, dont make eye contact, while the drool off your mouth with the palm of your hand then offer to shake their hand with that hand....

simple ingredients to success

Gooshin · 01-18-2009, 08:48 PM

Originally posted by Vylen

tell them their hot, dont make eye contact, while the drool off your mouth with the palm of your hand then offer to shake their hand with that hand....

simple ingredients to success

truth

10char

JCSullivan · 01-19-2009, 03:33 AM

Since this is not an acquaintance or a friend perhaps you could get a small portfolio and a web link to give them to show you're not a crack-pot.

Clicker · 01-19-2009, 02:11 PM

Don't make any reference to the police looking for con artists posing as photographers

...but yes, agreed on the up front "ask" letting her know that you're an amateur but also offer a print(S) min 8x10 as payment.

Wheatfield · 01-19-2009, 04:53 PM

Originally posted by Clicker

Don't make any reference to the police looking for con artists posing as photographers

...but yes, agreed on the up front "ask" letting her know that you're an amateur but also offer a print(S) min 8x10 as payment.

The present "pay" for amateur models on one of the forums I hang out on seems to be a CD with ready to print files. How many you put on is, of course, up for debate.
Any time I shoot TFCD I try to give the model a couple of dozen ready to use files.

krypticide · 01-19-2009, 06:41 PM

I've been working on this myself too. With the business card, so far 0% result. Then again, I've only handed it out once!

Vylen · 01-19-2009, 06:48 PM

Originally posted by krypticide

I've been working on this myself too. With the business card, so far 0% result. Then again, I've only handed it out once!

your business card needs more bloodstains

krypticide · 01-20-2009, 01:26 PM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

Make yourself some sort of business card that you can hand out.
Now you are a PHOTOGRAPHER, not a GWC.

Don't ever ask a person if they have thought about modeling.
Tell the person you are interested in photographing her/him and hand over a card.

Interesting tip. So something like, "I just wanted to say that you're very beautiful. I'd love to take pictures of you sometime. Here's my card with a link to my portfolio." ?

Wheatfield · 01-20-2009, 01:44 PM

Originally posted by krypticide

Interesting tip. So something like, "I just wanted to say that you're very beautiful. I'd love to take pictures of you sometime. Here's my card with a link to my portfolio." ?

Pretty much that's it.
Stay very low key with it. You may only get a 1 in 20 hit ratio, but if you hand out half a dozen cards a day, you will be shooting every weekend.

stevebrot · 01-20-2009, 02:36 PM

These posts look like they are from a dating advice forum...

"How to approach women with serious intention without looking/feeling/being a total dweeb"

Steve

Wheatfield · 01-20-2009, 07:58 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

These posts look like they are from a dating advice forum...

"How to approach women with serious intention without looking/feeling/being a total dweeb"

Steve

I've done model searching. You have no idea how close you are to the truth.

Hey Elwood · 01-22-2009, 06:55 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

These posts look like they are from a dating advice forum...

"How to approach women with serious intention without looking/feeling/being a total dweeb"

Steve

You are very close to the truth. I feel like I'm asking for a date when I'm already married. It just feels weird but I can't afford to pay for a model to come in. For example, I had a friend ask some models at a wedding fashion show if they were interested in having me photograph them and they told him that they were professionals and the going rate was like $250 per hour. I definately can't afford that.

01-18-2009, 04:36 PM	#1
Hey Elwood Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Highland, MI Posts: 336	How to ask for modeling Hi everyone, I was out this morning picking up some hardware from a local ACO store. When I went up to the counter to pay for my purchases I noticed how stiking the young lady was behind the register. Of course me being the amatur photographer I am (plus the fact that I don't have any money to pay for models) I starting thinking about talking to her about possibly modeling. I was about to ask her if she was interested when I started thinking what she might think of me (some stranger asking her to model and such). I ended up not asking her and kept kicking myself all day. With this, I'm wondering, how would you approach someone in passing (not using a modeling agency or experienced models) about possibly modeling for a shoot? Just wondering?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
AF 540 flash modeling lamp	ceojr	Flashes, Lighting, and Studio	7	09-28-2010 07:33 AM
My first modeling shoot...	Senseriffic	Post Your Photos!	8	03-23-2009 04:32 PM
I just got my first paid modeling gig	little laker	Photographic Technique	16	09-19-2008 07:55 AM
Can't get test flash/modeling flash to work on af360	ffuller22	Flashes, Lighting, and Studio	0	10-31-2007 05:11 PM

01-18-2009, 04:49 PM	#2
Tom S. Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 4,317	Just be honest and up front. Don't gush over her telling her how great she looks, etc. Tell her you would like to photograph her and tell her if she likes, she can bring a friend (male or female) or relative. Some times you get lucky and the 'friend' is worth shooting too. Offer to meet her on her terms - that is at a location she is comfortable with. It also helps to have cards with your number on them. Be prepared to pay the going rate, unless you can work out something with photos instead of cash. It's been a LONG time since I shot any models in the Detroit area, but going rate was around $50 per hour, probably double that now. And don't drool...

01-18-2009, 07:54 PM	#3
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,986	Make yourself some sort of business card that you can hand out. Now you are a PHOTOGRAPHER, not a GWC. Don't ever ask a person if they have thought about modeling. Tell the person you are interested in photographing her/him and hand over a card.

01-18-2009, 08:13 PM	#4
Vylen Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,262	tell them their hot, dont make eye contact, while the drool off your mouth with the palm of your hand then offer to shake their hand with that hand.... simple ingredients to success

01-18-2009, 08:48 PM	#5
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	Originally posted by Vylen tell them their hot, dont make eye contact, while the drool off your mouth with the palm of your hand then offer to shake their hand with that hand.... simple ingredients to success truth 10char

01-19-2009, 03:33 AM	#6
JCSullivan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Windsor, Canada Posts: 3,056	Since this is not an acquaintance or a friend perhaps you could get a small portfolio and a web link to give them to show you're not a crack-pot.

01-19-2009, 02:11 PM	#7
Clicker Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,241	Don't make any reference to the police looking for con artists posing as photographers ...but yes, agreed on the up front "ask" letting her know that you're an amateur but also offer a print(S) min 8x10 as payment.

01-19-2009, 04:53 PM	#8
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,986	Originally posted by Clicker Don't make any reference to the police looking for con artists posing as photographers ...but yes, agreed on the up front "ask" letting her know that you're an amateur but also offer a print(S) min 8x10 as payment. The present "pay" for amateur models on one of the forums I hang out on seems to be a CD with ready to print files. How many you put on is, of course, up for debate. Any time I shoot TFCD I try to give the model a couple of dozen ready to use files.

01-19-2009, 06:41 PM	#9
krypticide Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,079	I've been working on this myself too. With the business card, so far 0% result. Then again, I've only handed it out once!

01-19-2009, 06:48 PM	#10
Vylen Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,262	Originally posted by krypticide I've been working on this myself too. With the business card, so far 0% result. Then again, I've only handed it out once! your business card needs more bloodstains

01-20-2009, 01:26 PM	#11
krypticide Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,079	Originally posted by Wheatfield Make yourself some sort of business card that you can hand out. Now you are a PHOTOGRAPHER, not a GWC. Don't ever ask a person if they have thought about modeling. Tell the person you are interested in photographing her/him and hand over a card. Interesting tip. So something like, "I just wanted to say that you're very beautiful. I'd love to take pictures of you sometime. Here's my card with a link to my portfolio." ?

01-20-2009, 01:44 PM	#12
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,986	Originally posted by krypticide Interesting tip. So something like, "I just wanted to say that you're very beautiful. I'd love to take pictures of you sometime. Here's my card with a link to my portfolio." ? Pretty much that's it. Stay very low key with it. You may only get a 1 in 20 hit ratio, but if you hand out half a dozen cards a day, you will be shooting every weekend.

01-20-2009, 02:36 PM	#13
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	These posts look like they are from a dating advice forum... "How to approach women with serious intention without looking/feeling/being a total dweeb" Steve

01-20-2009, 07:58 PM	#14
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,986	Originally posted by stevebrot These posts look like they are from a dating advice forum... "How to approach women with serious intention without looking/feeling/being a total dweeb" Steve I've done model searching. You have no idea how close you are to the truth.

01-22-2009, 06:55 AM	#15
Hey Elwood Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Highland, MI Posts: 336 Original Poster	Originally posted by stevebrot These posts look like they are from a dating advice forum... "How to approach women with serious intention without looking/feeling/being a total dweeb" Steve You are very close to the truth. I feel like I'm asking for a date when I'm already married. It just feels weird but I can't afford to pay for a model to come in. For example, I had a friend ask some models at a wedding fashion show if they were interested in having me photograph them and they told him that they were professionals and the going rate was like $250 per hour. I definately can't afford that.