Its quite hard work spending money on models

Hi Martin, 

I've put a casting out for a male paid shoot last year, only had one guy respond and he was covered in tattoos -  my casting stipulated no tattoos . 

The majority of non professional models ( TF shoots ) I've worked with have excellent coms. via messaging on here, WhatsApp or Instagram. 

Having said that one model did take over a year to get back to me........ no reason given why it took so long.

PS 

Still interested in your workshop, ( if you can find a model lol )

Martin I’ve experienced much the same as you and had four “no shows” this year. In fact I had this very conversation with Angel Black on Monday this week when we worked together (she really is a star).

It’s kind of made me rethink photography back to landscape and wildlife and scale back from model shoots in 2025 so the home studio in my garden looks like it will need to become a multi-functional space and not be permanently setup.

Are not give up but certainly be cutting back.

It feels like there's two polar sides to this.

On one hand you've got the models who basically don't want the work. They don't see a problem in 11th hour cancellations or no showing entirely.

On the other, you've got the models who are packing shoots in at a high density level. Some are so busy that they're effectively living out of their cars and are able to find photographers willing to host them overnight to give them a place to sleep.

It's that middle bit that appears to be dying out.

My reply to first contact rate is 100% up to now, however, I don't send out that many contacts, and the ones I do are carefully selected, I always look at the last logged-in date, and if it is more than 2 weeks I don't bother. 

I have just had a look at your profile. As a female (photographer in my case) there are two things which sound the alarm bells for me.

1) your studio is at your house. This represents additional risk for me from a personal safety point of view

2) you don't accept chaperones unless they are yours. I'm sure you are a perfectly bona fide person but I wouldn't be taking that risk, especially in conjunction with point 1. Bluntly put, sexual violence is life-changing and there's no way I'd prioritise your hurt feelings over my safety.

I don't use casting calls often on here but usually the model response rate to messages is pretty good. So hopefully the above will help.

Jennie Blythe all fair points but do remember the model can always choose a studio and then the campanion issue is done. However from what I read some studios have had security issues as well. Either way there is always work arounds to any concerns.

Jennie Blythe said

I have just had a look at your profile. As a female (photographer in my case) there are two things which sound the alarm bells for me.

1) your studio is at your house. This represents additional risk for me from a personal safety point of view

2) you don't accept chaperones unless they are yours. I'm sure you are a perfectly bona fide person but I wouldn't be taking that risk, especially in conjunction with point 1. Bluntly put, sexual violence is life-changing and there's no way I'd prioritise your hurt feelings over my safety.

I don't use casting calls often on here but usually the model response rate to messages is pretty good. So hopefully the above will help.

Studio at the house?
Less safe than one on some industrial estate in the middle of nowhere?

Huw said

Jennie Blythe said

I have just had a look at your profile. As a female (photographer in my case) there are two things which sound the alarm bells for me.

1) your studio is at your house. This represents additional risk for me from a personal safety point of view

2) you don't accept chaperones unless they are yours. I'm sure you are a perfectly bona fide person but I wouldn't be taking that risk, especially in conjunction with point 1. Bluntly put, sexual violence is life-changing and there's no way I'd prioritise your hurt feelings over my safety.

I don't use casting calls often on here but usually the model response rate to messages is pretty good. So hopefully the above will help.

Studio at the house?
Less safe than one on some industrial estate in the middle of nowhere?

I can see her point!

Yes Sparticus. It's a thing.

Very hard to work this one. I've learned to treat hiring like Tinder dating. You get ghosted, ignored by the ones who are not serious however, even in my limited experience on this site there are the girls who will travel sometimes a great distance for a shoot. I'd consider them professional. They get paid, treated well, like a subcontractor and if the shoot goes well i often pay a bonus.

As to the dilema. You're working in the feminine imperative so that's how you treat it.

Models have alternatives.

OF shooting from home for example.

Huw said

Jennie Blythe said

I have just had a look at your profile. As a female (photographer in my case) there are two things which sound the alarm bells for me.

1) your studio is at your house. This represents additional risk for me from a personal safety point of view

2) you don't accept chaperones unless they are yours. I'm sure you are a perfectly bona fide person but I wouldn't be taking that risk, especially in conjunction with point 1. Bluntly put, sexual violence is life-changing and there's no way I'd prioritise your hurt feelings over my safety.

I don't use casting calls often on here but usually the model response rate to messages is pretty good. So hopefully the above will help.

Studio at the house?
Less safe than one on some industrial estate in the middle of nowhere?

Yes of course you are right as well on the location of studios, and personally I'd be a little wary of those too depending on the circumstances (number of photographers, etc). The home studio angle is for me about how well the potential perpetrator of a crime could plan something, it's about the advantage of a known environment vs somewhere slightly less familiar to someone with intent. 

Maybe you think I am over-reacting but sadly sexual violence exists against both sexes but moreso women, and it only takes one such occasion to scar you deeply for life. It has never happened to me, thank goodness, but it pays to be street-wise. I certainly wouldn't be offended if someone wanted to bring a chaperone, because ultimately it isn't about me. 

Jennie Blythe

Totally understand what you say, but therfore if an external studio don't work either I may well find shooting models for me maybe at it's end of the road. Sexual abuse is about in every walk of life. Too many business turn a blind eye looks at Harrods 😓. My wife is a phycologist registered with police and extremely well qualified if she is no good for a females protection then what is. It is actually her rule about no chaperones she feels that unknown models are enough of an invasion in her life without chaperones as well. So I guess my days in this industry are nearing an end.

Jennie Blythe I can sympathise with your viewpoint. 

I’ve occasionally had a boyfriend acting as a driver, but nobody has felt the need to bring a chaperone in about 40 years shooting in wild countryside miles from anyone.

Possibly reading my references helps.

The single exception is shooting under 18s, where I insist on a parent being present and signing the release form.

Spartacusimages if someone brought a chaperone then I would need one there for my own protection.

Fortunately my wife and adult daughters are generally there, and enjoy visitors.

Spartacusimages said

Jennie Blythe

Totally understand what you say, but therfore if an external studio don't work either I may well find shooting models for me maybe at it's end of the road. Sexual abuse is about in every walk of life. Too many business turn a blind eye looks at Harrods 😓. My wife is a phycologist registered with police and extremely well qualified if she is no good for a females protection then what is. It is actually her rule about no chaperones she feels that unknown models are enough of an invasion in her life without chaperones as well. So I guess my days in this industry are nearing an end.

Precisely re: Harrrods. It's everywhere. The majority of people are not predatory but some are - I really would not be offended by someone being streetwise.