The Midlands - is there anyone left out there?

JamesMt142 said

I'm noticing a massive paradigm shift at the moment. Not sure if it's just me or it's actually the case for others?

I'm really struggling to find models in the Midlands now, and that's certainly been reflected in the low response to castings; I do not mean the one I have up for today, but a previous casting got just two responses. One was way out of my budget and the other really wasn't suitable, even though she accepted I wasn't prepared to pay a deposit.

18 months ago I'd have been inundated with models falling over the top step to get work.

I've also noticed the models who are left are generally older - over 30 - who started when they were in their late teens or 20s. I'm not being ageist but it appears to me the ones born in the 80s, who perhaps started out in the mid-late 2000s, are still hanging on. However, as these models begin to naturally retire, there isn't a new generation coming through to replace them.

Is this the case for others elsewhere?

Not here. More than 20 shoots already this year and another four next week. Models' age range early 20s to early 40s.  

I'm nothing special - nor is my wallet - but one thing that might give me an advantage is that I don't repeatedly model-bash on the forums. Just saying. 

Even Stevie Wonder could see that last comment coming, but I take everything else.

Haven't we had this discussion many times previously in various guises?

Very experienced models here based in Birmingham :)

I know many models in the midlands, they may not be active on this site.

I host Birmingham Creatives networking socials, but people can also join the Facebook group and post castings there too if of interest.

I'm Midlands based and generally pretty busy but then I think we shoot different styles so that might be the difference.

I do think that new models are probably more likely to be found on the likes of Instagram as that seems to be the social media of choice. There's a few I work with who have profiles on here but actively say they prefer to be contacted on insta.

I shot with two models in the (East) midlands yesterday, and I make the trip up there (Both East and West Midlands - I am in the South East) several times a year to shoot models based in the area. As for age, while I generally prefer to shoot models over 30, there are plenty of models in their 20s (as were both yesterday) on the circuit - both the midlands and elsewhere. I don't shoot teens. My constraint is definitely not the availability of brilliant models - just money and time!

Edited by JonC

When I search around the Midlands models do pop up and I'm sure if I really wanted to shoot there I'd find someone. Focus on your shoots and better self representation and models respond.

Edited by Wondrous

Careful with the 'older models' i.e. Over 30 reference.....! I know of a lot of models including myself who may not look too kindly on that wording....!

I'm based in the midlands and I know A LOT of brilliant models in the area who I would highly reccomend 😁👍

Thanks folks, interesting perspectives.

Holly Alexander - where are they hanging out then?  FB?

Miss_C said

Careful with the 'older models' i.e. Over 30 reference.....! I know of a lot of models including myself who may not look too kindly on that wording....!

I'm based in the midlands and I know A LOT of brilliant models in the area who I would highly reccomend 😁👍

Not being ageist, but obviously a lot of people in their 30s have changes of direction in their lives causing them to naturally retire.  The point was these models started out in their young adult years, but there isn't a new supply of models coming through doing that now compared to 10-15 years ago.

JamesMt142 Instagram, Facebook, real life networking events and group shoots.

I was based in the Midlands for majority of my life and still happy to travel and work there. Luckily now that I am old I’ve moved so I can continue my modelling

JamesMt142

The best way to look at this situation is to step back and to see the bigger picture.

As I live in the Midlands I can say that I have worked with many great models from this area.

But another way to look at this is, let us say that both you and I individually booked three two model shoots. So we each worked with six different models over the course of our three separate shoots.

Let us also say that the six models that you worked with were different from the six that I worked with.

Let us say that all three of my shoots went really well.

Meanwhile you had various issues with the models during your three shoots.

The above mentioned events does NOT mean that the Midlands (or any other area for that matter) has no good models.

It just means that you were unlucky and dropped on some awkward/difficult people.

Dennis Bloodnok Photography said

JamesMt142

The best way to look at this situation is to step back and to see the bigger picture.

As I live in the Midlands I can say that I have worked with many great models from this area.

But another way to look at this is, let us say that both you and I individually booked three two model shoots. So we each worked with six different models over the course of our three separate shoots.

Let us also say that the six models that you worked with were different from the six that I worked with.

Let us say that all three of my shoots went really well.

Meanwhile you had various issues with the models during your three shoots.

The above mentioned events does NOT mean that the Midlands (or any other area for that matter) has no good models.

It just means that you were unlucky and dropped on some awkward/difficult people.

Agree with that, but it's amazing how few replies I've gotten when I've tried to cold-call models using the search function - and I accept by design there's a lorra lorra dormant accounts.

Holly Alexander said

Very experienced models here based in Birmingham :)

I know many models in the midlands, they may not be active on this site.

I host Birmingham Creatives networking socials, but people can also join the Facebook group and post castings there too if of interest.

JamesMt142 I was going to suggest Holly Alexander both as a model and photographer who's very active on the scene in the midlands.  She's a great person to know, and a fabulous creative!