Not a Pity Post

Everly Rose

£35 is a great rate for an experienced model like you shooting to your levels. They’re just trying it on.

I’d shoot you but our stars aren’t aligning: Fuerteventura in September is a great time to be there so if any photographers fancy a cheap break then they should kill two birds with one stone (not literally). It’s a pity I won’t be there then.

Hang in there.

Thelema said

The 5 no shows would stop me contacting a model frankly! Sorry admin if this comment isn’t allowed.

Even if you were down south it would be somewhere like London and I’d still need to travel up from my location and probably pay to book a location to shoot at. An investment I can’t afford to risk on a model who no shows. Imagine if I’d I paid for a location only for the model to no show or cancel last min? I’m then stuck extremely short notice having lost money on a studio and it’s too late to book someone decent to shoot at the studio instead! For this reason I skip model profiles who have late cancellations or no shows, doesn’t matter how great their portfolios may look!

This isn’t a personal attack though, just an answer to explain what would stop me booking a model!

The lack of rates mentioned on the profile wouldn’t necessarily put me off, but while messaging asking about them, I would suspect that they would be abnormally high and that’s why they’re hidden. An assumption probably a lot of photographers on here might make? So that’s not a dealbreaker for me, depending on what they come back as, however, LOL

There are a lot of models I would love to shoot with who sometimes tour down south. The setback for me is they usually don’t book a location they can shoot at which isn’t a criticism, but it does mean I’m then scouting around looking for a location at an additional cost, which sadly I can’t stretch to at the moment. But if a model who is touring down this way, find a place to stay, that’s great to shoot at as well. I’m probably going to be more likely to book her than if she didn’t book such a location if that makes sense? There are a couple of models ive messaged who were touring they didn’t have a location to shoot at and that was the one dealbreaker for me in those instances

Hope my answers helped in some way

Yes Unfortunately A while back I had a terrible breakdown. It happened very suddenly and I had to get help immediately and came off all social media and sites for a while. I was due to go on a tour the week it happened and couldn't let anyone know what had happened as I was very unwell. When I was well enough to come back online I had to explain what had happened but I already had the refs and I accept that. I do like to think that the many other positive references go in my favour and thankfully my mental health recovered and I've been having a great few years and some lovely references about my work ethic and personality.

I'm going to adjust my notes now to include my rates :)

When I tour I always arrange somewhere to shoot unless the photographer has a preference and wishes to book somewhere themselves, I tend to hire a studio for a day, I like studios that have something a little bit different like Neon Dreams or  I often arrange to shoot at a friends home in the area I am touring in or book a quirky hotel. I've also booked some cool places like dungeons and any location shoots I always do plenty of research to find somewhere unique especially beaches and forests and there are so many beautiful places in the South. I don't actually go to London too much, I've toured there twice but I tend to find I have more success In the Reading, Essex Suffolk and Norfolk areas and accommodation and locations are much more purse friendly too. I try and plan my tours thoroughly and will go down twice a year for around 10 days and try to offer as many different shoots as possible from studio days to Beach group shoots etc.

Thanks for your feedback and taking the time :)

A good businessman I know said to me "fish where the fishes are".

Notwithstanding all points made above, if you get booked up out of area, travel quite a lot. 

Me, the Wirral/Manchester is a bit too far, prices on show are encouraging, I'd photograph you if you were nearby, and I was free.  This tends to be sporadic, alas.

Everly Rose said

JonC said

35/h is an entirely reasonable rate for your experience, the levels you work, and your versatility. Anything about your portfolio that would put me off booking you? Yes - your location. I don't know what the NW scene is like, but the fact that your are well utilised on your tours further south I think is the nub of it - not just the novelty factor.

While I suspect that my work wouldn't do you justice (and my paid shoot opportunities are fully booked until the end of the year), if I was further north I would seriously consider booking you

Edited by JonC

Thank you so much.

Im actually pretty lucky where I live, The wirral has it's bad parts but we are in a lovely area with miles of green belt land on the door step, 7 beaches and 2 country parks plus I live on the boundary of Port Sunlight, a vintage village that's part of the national trust and is picture perfect so there are hundreds of location opportunities nearby.

I do have spare rooms so can always offer BB to photographers travelling from a fair distance, I will update my port notes to reflect this.

Again thank you for the feedback :) x

….. and

- the marine lakes at West Kirby and New Brighton.

- Woodside Ferry with the tram museum, submarine museum and The Priory.  

- Birkenhead Park (including the lakes, Japanese bridge, Roman pagoda, the rock garden).

- Numerous exquisite hotel gardens (especially Leasowe Castle with its private wood) and Thornton Hall that has an amazing outside Jacuzzi.

- Lots of hotels make perfect indoor locations if a photographer books them for an overnight stop and shoots there (Leasowe Castle, Leverhulme boutique hotel).

- Parkgate,

- The Wirral Way,

- New Brighton,

- Hilbre Island,

- Royden Park,

-Thurstaston,

- Bidston Hill and windmill.

- Ness Gardens

And a quick train ride to Liverpool or a trip on the ferry (a mega unique opportunity in itself) takes you to ….. well …. The Liverpool waterfront and the Albert dock. 

20 minutes up the road in the opposite direction takes yo to the Roman City of Chester including a beautiful river with so many photogenic opportunities. 

I have shot at all these places and the opportunities are phenomenal. And all within very short drives from each other. So I would work out a couple of ‘planned shoots’ at these locations and offer them up to photographers as ‘themes’. We are all busy and having the day of photogenic opportunities for you to model at makes life so much easier and booking a shoot so much more appealing. I would also be happy to send you and let you use all the shots I have of these locations to use to show their potential for a days shoot itinerary.

Good luck and don’t loose faith. You have got so far and have too much to loose by scaling back. 

Edited by fineportraits

fineportraits said

Everly Rose said

JonC said

35/h is an entirely reasonable rate for your experience, the levels you work, and your versatility. Anything about your portfolio that would put me off booking you? Yes - your location. I don't know what the NW scene is like, but the fact that your are well utilised on your tours further south I think is the nub of it - not just the novelty factor.

While I suspect that my work wouldn't do you justice (and my paid shoot opportunities are fully booked until the end of the year), if I was further north I would seriously consider booking you

Edited by JonC

Thank you so much.

Im actually pretty lucky where I live, The wirral has it's bad parts but we are in a lovely area with miles of green belt land on the door step, 7 beaches and 2 country parks plus I live on the boundary of Port Sunlight, a vintage village that's part of the national trust and is picture perfect so there are hundreds of location opportunities nearby.

I do have spare rooms so can always offer BB to photographers travelling from a fair distance, I will update my port notes to reflect this.

Again thank you for the feedback :) x

….. and

- the marine lakes at West Kirby and New Brighton.

- Woodside Ferry with the tram museum, submarine museum and The Priory.  

- Birkenhead Park (including the lakes, Japanese bridge, Roman pagoda, the rock garden).

- Numerous exquisite hotel gardens (especially Leasowe Castle with its private wood) and Thornton Hall that has an amazing outside Jacuzzi.

- Lots of hotels make perfect indoor locations if a photographer books them for an overnight stop and shoots there (Leasowe Castle, Leverhulme boutique hotel).

- Parkgate,

- The Wirral Way,

- New Brighton,

- Hilbre Island,

- Royden Park,

-Thurstaston,

- Bidston Hill and windmill.

- Ness Gardens

And a quick train ride to Liverpool or a trip on the ferry (a mega unique opportunity in itself) takes you to ….. well …. The Liverpool waterfront and the Albert dock. 

20 minutes up the road in the opposite direction takes yo to the Roman City of Chester including a beautiful river with so many photogenic opportunities. 

I have shot at all these places and the opportunities are phenomenal. And all within very short drives from each other. So I would work out a couple of ‘planned shoots’ at these locations and offer them up to photographers as ‘themes’. We are all busy and having the day of photogenic opportunities for you to model at makes life so much easier and booking a shoot so much more appealing. I would also be happy to send you and let you use all the shots I have of these locations to use to show their potential for a days shoot itinerary.

Good luck and don’t loose faith. You have got so far and have too much to loose by scaling back. 

Edited by fineportraits

Hello

Yes I've often shot at these locations and in the past offered 4 hour shoots which is a maix of a 1 or 2 hour home shoot followed by 2 or 3 hours at several locations of their choice.

If you have images of local locations that would be amazing as I can make a album and put a link into my notes :) Thank you so much x

I personally don’t think £35 is unreasonable at all. Everyone else is having to up their prices/rates, so why is it frowned upon for models?

I think £35ph is a very standard rate for a model with a few year’s experience, but with your experience of so many years and also your photography experience I definitely think you could charge more.

I definitely feel like photographers will be willing to pay higher rates for the right person and knowing they will get good results/professionalism.

I think photographers forget that often in the freelance scene that the models they are hiring are also the MUA and stylist. Plus, it’s not likely that we will be shooting all day every day like a standard 9-5 job.

Once we have also paid tax on that £35ph and taken out costs for makeup/appearance upkeep/wardrobe we really aren’t left with much actual profit.

I think it’s a funny time for everyone right now. A positive is that you are selling out well on tours etc though! I wouldn’t recommend reducing rates, but perhaps you could offer a discount for a short time to see if that helps?

I do feel like for models who have 5-6 years+ experience a rate of £40-60 is pretty standard and completely reasonable. Photographers who work with me always say how it’s like night/day when working with someone with experience. All they have to do is click the button and get the full package of someone who knows how to pose, their angles and can do their hair/makeup to a good standard. I think people often forget what goes into work as a model.. all the small things like manicured nails/feet, good quality makeup, expensive wardrobe and regularly looking after yourself.

Hope this helps and sheds some light!

Edited by Serenity.

Yey. I have a little project. I will get on it today. If you private message me your email address I can send them to you by Wetransfer. It may take a couple of weeks though.

Oh and don’t forget Hadlow Road railway station as a brilliant location too. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadlow_Road_railway_station

Edited by fineportraits

I think your prices are very reasonable compared to some i see. I usually pay models and would happily pay. Great portfolio btw.

For me, it's location.

Same with many models I'd like to work with.

Hence probably why you are selling out on tour.

fineportraits hi Yes I've done Hadlow Road alot bit found some amazing locations during my scouting hikes lately I will inbox you about as don't want to make them public until I've shot there if that makes sense.

RHM.Photo looks like November now as I am assisting a photographer on his shooting holiday so will be over for at least a week.

Let me know dates. We’ll be moving out of our place here in November.

If I was not affected by illness I certainly would have booked you for another shoot, your rates are a lot less that than others with less experience than yourself.

Everly Rose said

fineportraits hi Yes I've done Hadlow Road alot bit found some amazing locations during my scouting hikes lately I will inbox you about as don't want to make them public until I've shot there if that makes sense.

Same as the locations I send you with image examples. I am not bothered if you use them but as you say, as a fellow original Wirralian, I want you to benefit from them first.

Your rates are more than reasonable for your levels and experience. Don't undersell yourself.

Your location is just a little too far out for me, otherwise I would have absolutely no hesitation booking to shoot at your home for that rate.

In the meantime, I'll just have to look at when your tour dates align with my availability.

I think you're rates are very reasonable, loads of models quote 50/h these days.

I nearly contacted you recently as I was up in Liverpool, but my available time didn't quite suit a shoot.

One other thing, that may well apply to me only, is when a model is also a good photographer, my imposter syndrome kicks in and it's slightly off-putting... Basically I worry the model will be sitting there thinking I haven't got a bloody clue what I'm doing and I'm a total muppet :)