Am I living in a parallel universe?

I'm finding the same as you are.

There are the occasional - very occasional - bad days. But they're greatly outnumbered by the good days. 

And, yes - there are plenty of highly skilled, totally reliable, very lovely people on here. 

I bl**dy love doing this. 

My experience is definitely nearer yours! If I have a problem not doing ‘enough’ (as much as I would like), it is simply down to my time, and definitely not a shortage of amazing models to work with - either TFP or paid, across a whole slew of genres and ideas, each one creative, talented, and fully invested in the process. As I said in my Year Review share a shoot recently I had 17 sessions this year - relatively quiet for me, and I was definitely the limiting factor, not brilliant models to work with - and hope to do more next year.

"I pay models" hehe, hitting the nail on the head there. 

But yep, same. I don't often post in the forums (and when I do I usually end up getting annoyed) as I don't feel much in common with the negative, generally anti-model tone.

I don't think I'm particularly anything much, my work is average at best. But a lot of my time is spent as well sadly having to turn down shoots or put them off until I have the time/resources.

Never had a situation where I couldn't get anyone to shoot with and in nearly all cases, found them to be easy to organise.

But then. I pay most of the time too, want to work more than a couple of hours with an actual concept and often, want to use an interesting location or a studio.

In short make it worth someone's day to shoot with me.

Edited by Grant Menmuir

I guess people are more likely to moan about something than praise it?

If you stick with the best models on the site (as I have started to do more and more - I've worked with three of the five you list) you are unlikely to get problems, but a big part of the membership cannot afford those rates and it does seem that newer/less commited models are generally more flaky than before and in shorter numbers.

The site stats over the last 12 months indicate a general slow decline in casting calls and casting call applications, though interestingly image/profile views have increased slightly over the same time:

https://purpleport.com/purpleport-site-stats.asp

I agree entirely - I don't recognise the behaviours or experiences described by those posts either.  I've come to realise that there's no one PurplePort, and ultimately it's what you make of it?

Well, FWIW, I'm currently working with one of the nicest and most enthusiastic models I've ever worked with on a series of shared projects, TF. And she's only a few km down the road. We have our 6th shoot booked for just after Christmas and we're also discussing some fascinating ideas for the New Year.

Our arrangement has the additional benefit that having dropped her back home after the shoot, I often meander back over Portsdown hill, and capture some snaps of the stunning and ever-changing views across Portsea Island and its environs.

Granted, I'm doing significantly fewer shoots than I did before the COVID crisis - mostly due the demands of my 'day job' and taking care of family matters. This has made me somewhat more selective with regard to those with whom I work. Nevertheless, I have no complaints. :-)

Edited by waist.it

What's the connection between you paying models and how everything is going?

I think some use the threads as a everyday form of communicating with others and maybe don't realise they're posting the same negative posts again and again. I don't get the constant 'art nude models are leaving , no one new is coming in ' thinking.

Maybe it doesn't affect me much because I don't look to shoot much and I am quite picky with who I shoot with. So even if there is this slow down of new faces it's not a problem.

If you want to moan about high prices or lack of new faces you can do it but it's not going to cause some rapid change. You just have to network in a way that works for you.

Edited by Lenswonder

Maybe they contact the wrong models.

Maybe they get turned down as images in their profile are not to a model's liking.

Maybe the best models are too expensive.

Maybe models are not so naïve these days.

Maybe some photographers have a reputation.

Just a few possibilities.

I don't shoot nudity very often these days as it can get a bit samey. I don't think I would find it an issue organising a model to shoot nudes, even though I am very fussy who I shoot with. There seems to be a type of photographer on PP that only want to shoot nudes/lingerie with no thought to the photos looking good. There are also a type that complain they can't post what they shoot on Social Media. They seem to forget that children have smart phones, unlike 10 years ago. I take photos because I want to create, not to prove that I can take photos of naked women. I suppose I have a similar thinking to those who attend Life Drawing classes. I'm terrible at art but like to be creative. I like to achieve, not prove I can do something. Big difference.

I totally agree with the original post.

I pay all the models I shoot.

I don't do casting calls, I just contact a model and ask them to shoot with me .

And I don't have problems getting shoots and the models I shoot with are always bursting with creative enthusiasm.

And I do so enjoy it all.

I've spent the last 3 or so years learning to shoot and edit video, which I've enjoyed immensely and it's largely surplanted my stills photography. Both model and non-model subject matter. As a consequence, I barely use PP any more. I complete 30+ content shoots each year but they're almost always with a small pool of models I've known for years. I've always relied on models approaching me for photoshoots and it's the same for video. Before adopting video, 20ish photoshoots were as many as I wanted to do in recent years. I'm shooting models more often than that now but I'm still enjoying it (for the time being anyway!). I sense that many models have migrated to video/content shoots too - but many struggle with adequate lighting and camera technique when starting out on OF etc so there's a market for videographers who are interested in that.

Edited by FiL

Just wanted to pop my head above the parrot pit and say thank you for mentioning my name alongside such a beautiful and talented group of women !! 🙏

I thoroughly enjoyed working with you Graham and I hope to again one day!!!

I agree that I don't think it's all bad....! There's a lot of wondeful, professional, quality models out there and I think it's only a minority that give the others a bad name. And, as someone else mentioned, the negative experiences always get the most press so to speak!!

Having run Basford for almost 2 years now I have very rarely been really 'let down', and rarely have I had photographers turn up and models not. It does occasionally happen but when I think of the number of people I have met over the last couple of years... its such a small percentage it's hardly worth discussing!! ☺️

No complaints here. Same as most a mix sometimes but generally the cream does rise and we all smile. Fun place to be IMHO.

JPea said

I totally agree with the original post.

I pay all the models I shoot.

I don't do casting calls, I just contact a model and ask them to shoot with me .

And I don't have problems getting shoots and the models I shoot with are always bursting with creative enthusiasm.

And I do so enjoy it all.

That just about sums it up for me, too. 2024 has been a wonderful year and I'm looking forward to 2025.

Edited by Gothic Image

gjp

I guess there's doom and gloom because not everyone can afford £350+ a shoot? Or go on model experience holidays?

Because those who have it good and usually off shooting?

Maybe some folk don't have the resources to aid with things such as editing?

From a personal standpoint I think my shoots have been great. I love where my work is and where it may go.

But I definitely have empathy with those having a tough time. My recent casting got little takers and recent communication with models on here has been shocking. I find the positive count balance sometimes...jarring.

"It's not happening to me so I don't see the fuss!"

I think sometimes it all depends. On here I've always felt I'm fighting against folk in a privileged position. That said I also feel I make it work.

I've had a positive 2024. Lots of good models and good shoots. Never had an issue with comms either.

I personally think that there are some active 'complainers' on here that spend so much time moaning about models instead of producing good images that I understand why a model wouldn't want to work with them.