| Secrets of Finding Glamour Models,
Part 2
"Where DO you find models? That was a
question I began answering last month, and this month I wrap it up with
five more tips. Then you will know all of my "secrets," if you
want to call them that.
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A Friend of Another
Model
Amelia was the friend of a model I
had shot previously. She had seen and liked many of the photographs,
so she called and asked for a test shoot.
This is from our first photo session
together and was made during and her second-ever model shoot. As you
can tell, she's a natural. This photo was made during our first
half-hour of the shoot, which I like to do outside in a nearby park
if the weather is cooperative.
Image captured with Canon EOS 10D set
at ISO 200, EF 135 ƒ2.8 SF set at f/5.6 with 1/125th of a second
using natural light supplemented with fill from a Canon 420EX flash. |
Secret Number 5
Your own Website. If you have a website be sure to include a Model Search
section and provide information about test shoots and show your price
structure as well. I like to work in packages to keep it simple, but you
can use an ala Carte method if you like. Just show what you charge for
this service. Over time, having a model search section on my website has
been the single best source glamour models I've found. I may get more
models from the agencies, but the models with the best attitudes have
usually come by contacting me through my Model Search page.
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A Model Search Page
As you begin to build both print
and on-line portfolios, the number one source of model referrals
will come from models sending you e-mail. Make sure your own
website has a Model Search page that shows examples of your work
as well as a description of the kind of models you are looking
for. Show the prices for the various modeling packages you offer
too.
If you scroll down to the bottom of
my
page, you will see a three-tier "Modeling
Packages" price list. Feel free to borrow what you like from
anywhere on this page.
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Secret Number 6
No Website? So you say you don't have or can't afford a website at this
time? Don't let that stop you from having an on-line presence. Check out
the many inexpensive portfolio sites on the Internet that allow you to
post images. You can view two of my own on-line portfolios at GlamourModels.com
and AZShoots.com
. These on-line portfolios have been my second best source of
finding great models.
| Luck
Sometimes you're lucky enough to meet
fabulous models at photographic shoots and that's what happened with
Anna Lieb and me. (www.annalieb.com - contains explicit images)
Anna is not just incredibly gorgeous,
and sexy with an amazing petite figure, she's fun to work with
too.
This image was made in Phoenix at
CJ's Studio, but could have been made anywhere. It was shot with a
Canon EOS 10D and 28-105mm lens at 105 with natural light (late in
the day) and fill flash from a Canon EX420 and Sto-Fen
diffuser.
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Secret Number 7
Ask Them to Tell a Friend. Another good source of glamour models referrals
is from other models that you've photographed, but don't count on them
thinking about it. At the end of every shoot, I give each model several of
my business cards and ask her to hand them to any friends that might be
interested even if that person never thought about modeling, other than it
might be fun. Some photographers give money to models for anybody that
they refer. I've tried this method but it didn't work for me. It may work
for you however if you have specific model types in mind.
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| Are you a Model?
That's what I asked Tasha when she
and her husband were standing in line waiting to get into a car
show. I talked with her for a few minutes and handed her my
business card. We had several photo shoots after that and I found
that she was one of the most talented, natural models I've ever
worked with. Captured with Canon EOS 10D set at ISO 200, EF28-105
mm zoom at 58mm set at f/4.5 with 1/60th of a second using natural
light supplemented with fill flash from a Canon 420EX. |
Secret Number 8
Hand out Business cards. While it may seem obvious, handing out business
cards to potential models you see on the street is a more than good idea.
Since this can sound like a pick-up line, I only approach models if they
are with friends and if I am with my wife. I just tell them to visit the
Model Search section of my website and send me an e-mail if they are
interested. I give business cards to my wife and friends who are not
bashful about handing them to potential models they might meet in their
everyday lives.
I also photograph cars and often place my automotive
business card on hot-looking vehicles with notes asking if I can
photograph them too. So far I've had NO takers on this offer with cars,
while I have photographed dozens of models by just presenting a card and
letting them follow up.
Secret Number 9
Let Everybody Know You're Looking for Models. Show your print
portfolio to everybody. Show it to your neighbors, show it to other
photographer/friends, and show it to the waitress at Denny's. If people
know you are looking for aspiring or amateur models, they will refer these
models to you.
No matter which of these nine "secrets" you try, the most
important thing to remember when looking for glamour models is to be
yourself and always be honest, respectful, ethical, and courteous in all
of your dealings.
Click
here to read part I
| Joe
Farace is Colorado-based photographer/writer who has written
or edited 24 books, many of which are is available through www.joefarace.com.
But it's not all glamour. Be sure to visit www.joefaraceshootscars.com
to see Joe's automotive work. |
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