Models' fees

Simon Carter said

Huw said

OK, I live in a relatively poor part of the country, so it’s more apparent. Food banks are busy.

I live in a relatively wealthy part of the country and it's apparent here too. Foods banks are busy; restaurants are empty.

Things are strange.

Local Michelin one star restaurant just closed. No customers any more. Prices were twice what the equivalent in France would cost.

Ynis Hir, local two star Michelin restaurant, currently the most expensive in the country, seems busy. Minimum £1,100 for two including a room for the night. People arrive by helicopter. Not somewhere I’ve been….

I want to replace a pair of walking shoes. Berghaus (UK brand), £80 last summer, £150 now. That’s not sustainable.

Edited by Huw

xaldub said

Chris Green said

However, I keep seeing casting calls from photographers offering models around £25 an hour.  I've even seen one offering £15 an hour.  I've also seen comments from other photographers saying things like they won't pay more than £30 an hour (for fashion).  Many of us (photographers) have enjoyed massive pay rises over the last couple of years (for example, junior doctors are hoping to get 35%), State pensions are index-linked, savings rates are higher now than for many years, and the FTSE 100 is close to an all-time high.  With that background, I'm struggling with the concept of £15 to £30 an hour for a professional service.

A few comments :

1. "Massive pay rises" - the wages of many of these professions had fallen way behind in real terms. These people aren't suddenly finding themselves awash with cash to spend on luxuries.

2. Many people in the UK don't even have a pension, yet alone an index linked one. The state pension isn't accessible until age 66+, and in itself isn't sufficient to support luxuries.

3. Most people in the UK don't have savings. Ergo, high savings rates means nothing to them.

Sounds to me like you're projecting you're financial status onto others. Most people aren't as fortunate as you. Happy shooting in 2024 !

Edited by xaldub

The bit in bold - definitely. 

My 'massive' pay rise in the last year is that my basic State Pension has increased from £588.22pm to a whopping £648.04pm*. At times, I don't know how to fitter away such an increase. 

* Shouldn't need explaining, but 'pm' is per month.

CalmNudes said

Retouchguy

2 shooting models is a luxury, a privilege granted to those with sufficient money...

Nonsense.

I've never had a lack of models approach me for a shoot without having to shell out a penny in model fees. Not that I couldn't afford to, and in fact the models I shoot with most often (every 6 weeks roughly) make a pretty decent living too.

Other photographers I know prefer to pay models as it suits their usage and they will decline offers of TF. Nicely, of course.

Naturally, those photographers who never get approached by models have no option but to pay, sometimes handsomely. It's also natural that some of them will resent photographers who aren't in the same boat as them. That is plainly evident to anyone reading this thread and others similar to it.

Model fees aren't a barrier to entry for those photographers who appeal to models. Strangely, there's much more to that than just the quality of imagery although that's usually part of it.

regardless of price and availability there will always be people on the sidelines wanting to try modelling. you can probably create opportunities yourself by looking and doing a bit of networking.

models that successfully make a living out of their talent are only part of the picture. if they happen to become fewer and farther between then you need to look outside of the box and consider all the other options.

careful management of a broad range of resources is an alternative option if you haven't got the means to be affluent with fast cash.

Two possible reasons: 1) People in the UK are skint and can’t afford 100 euros an hr model or b) UK misogyny has decided that pretty women posing for pictures should get a pittance.

There’s a possibility it may be both.

Huw said

Simon Carter said

Huw said

OK, I live in a relatively poor part of the country, so it’s more apparent. Food banks are busy.

I live in a relatively wealthy part of the country and it's apparent here too. Foods banks are busy; restaurants are empty.

Things are strange.

Local Michelin one star restaurant just closed. No customers any more. Prices were twice what the equivalent in France would cost.

Ynis Hir, local two star Michelin restaurant, currently the most expensive in the country, seems busy. Minimum £1,100 for two including a room for the night. People arrive by helicopter. Not somewhere I’ve been….

I want to replace a pair of walking shoes. Berghaus (UK brand), £80 last summer, £150 now. That’s not sustainable.

Edited by Huw

I haven't got a helicopter so McD for me, they're five star restaurants not 2 stars (allegedly) £11.00 for 2 burgers, and you can sleep on a bench outside.

You can get waterproof flip flops for less than a fiver. ;)

Similar to what someone else commented: I love modelling, I see it as a hobby but also as a "side hustle" (but mainly a hobby) so I have set rates, but I'm willing to lower my rates because:

1) It's a hobby lol

2) I'm not super experienced

3) I'm aware of cost of living, so combining this and the previous points I'd like to make myself accessible to the right togs without compromising myself:)

So say a tog was kind enough to purchase some goods for me specifically regarding the shoot, they can be assured I'll knock it off the overall rate! (But that's me personally)

Edited by Laurella Rose

I'm told I'm wrong but very few models shoot TF round here.

The ones who pay tend to expect the images too now as well, which when I started I was happy to do. Nowadays, less so.

There's definitely a big old disconnect now between what models expect to be paid and what photographers are able to pay.

I had one recently quite me £50 for just fashion "as I don't shoot much anymore."

I assume it was therefore an F Off rate.

Sandra Blu said

Two possible reasons: 1) People in the UK are skint and can’t afford 100 euros an hr model or b) UK misogyny has decided that pretty women posing for pictures should get a pittance.

There’s a possibility it may be both.

I think there's a strong possibility it may be both. playwithlight did a good analysis on how often and how much per hour a model needs to work in order to make an average salary for their age - suffice to say there won't be too many salaried photographers earning £40/hour (because that would put them into the 95-96th percentile.)

The Times today reports that the restaurant and associated businesses have had their worst start to the year since whenever.

There is no law that says we should continue to be richer nor is there one that says we are not going to be poorer.

Someone mentioned that the poor are always with us.

9

JamesMt142 that doesn't even make sense what she asked you to pay. This is the thing with modelling rates their really are longer rules it's a scrap to get paid as much as you can get away with.

Usually they tell models if you are less busy charge less , if more busy charge more. However , as seen in your example models who are not busy at all , might have an empty week or month ask the same as what a fully booked model or model of more experience would.

Edited by Lenswonder

Lenswonder said

However , as seen in your example models who are not busy at all , might have an empty week or month ask the same as what a fully booked model or model of more experience would.

Who says she isn't experienced?
Maybe she has a day job and only few days to spare for shooting, and wants to make those rare days worth the while?

And about 50 per hour for "just" fashion - try to book Kate Moss. Also "just" fashion.....

In the end the price is what it is. If it is above my budget - be it for commercial client-paid work
or my own free work - I need to find somebody else who will fit my budget.

JPea said

The Times today reports that the restaurant and associated businesses have had their worst start to the year since whenever.

There is no law that says we should continue to be richer nor is there one that says we are not going to be poorer.

Someone mentioned that the poor are always with us.

Yep. And I'm not going to go away. So there. :)

This model was not exactly at Kate Moss' level. Infact she was relatively inexperienced with all of her references coming from a now-banned user.

Just looking at the stats on Page 2 and how they were disputed.

This is why I distrust numbers and specifically distrust people who use numbers in order to win an argument. Numbers can be twisted to prove ANYTHING. We see it on here all the time.