It’s time to take hold of the reins and become a professional photographer!
Are your friends and family tired of being used as subjects in your photoshoots? Or perhaps you’re looking to improve your portrait photography skills, experiment with new shots for your portfolio or use your passion for photography as a way to break into the fashion industry.
If so, it might be time to think about hiring a model.
How to hire a model for a photo shoot
It can be daunting to find and hire a model for the first time. Do you go straight to a modelling agency? Do you find recommendations from family? Do you reach out over social media? What are you expected to pay? As with many other things in photography, the answer depends on the scale, scope and budget.
Plan the shoot
First of all, you need to think about how to plan a photoshoot, including as much detail as possible. Planning the shoot helps you to envision how it will look, and it will also help you explain to a model or agency exactly what you’re looking for. Put together a plan of your ideal model, what the shoot will entail and how you want to take the photos; these details will help you when it comes to holding the shoot.
The details can also give you information on where to find a model. If the planned shoot is going to be informal or low budget, consider starting your search on social media platforms and through contacts.
How to find a model
If your shoot is for more professional purposes, you could look into finding image models for hire. Image model sites connect models with talented photographers, businesses and brands to star in their photos or appear at VIP events.
Public boards that connect models, stylists, photographers and other creative amateurs work well too, as you can view different castings and do an advanced search to narrow down age, experience, appearance and compensation.
If you find a model you love the look of and want to work with, ask her if she could send a current selfie, ideally with minimal or no makeup, as hairstyles and appearances may be shown different to what’s shown on their profile. Be specific about tattoos, piercings and other details that might not fit into your vision of the shoot. Having to edit them out afterwards may make the process longer.
Working out the costs
There are models that are willing to work for free, or in exchange for images. But finding models for free isn’t always a good option as they can often be no-showers. Some model’s profiles specify hourly rates, but the costs are often negotiable.
Getting a signed model release for every shoot you do is a wise idea. Just because a model agrees to one shoot, doesn’t mean she agrees to another. It’s a good idea to build up a portfolio of women with their details so you can always call on someone.
Looking at modeling agencies
If you’re looking to go down the agency route, the results can be different. Agencies see the interaction between a photography and agency should be like a long-term relationship, not just a one-off assignment.
Modeling agencies often look for photographer’s portfolio work. Even if you haven’t done much fashion photography, it’s good to showcase your current skill set and for the agency to pick out your strong points.
These useful tips should set you on your way to becoming confident enough to hire a model for your next photo shoot!
Identity Magazine is all about guiding women to discover their powers of Self-Acceptance, Appreciation, and Personal Achievement. We ask that every contributor and expert answer the Identity 5 questions in keeping with our theme. Their answers can be random and in the moment or they can be aligned with the current article they have written. In that way, and as a team, we hope to encourage and motivate each other, thus inspiring you to Get All A’s.
1. What have you accepted within your life, physically and/or mentally? Additionally, what are you still working on accepting? Now, we’re talking about resignation, rather stepping into, embraced, and owned.
That my writing style isn’t for everybody. Not everybody will enjoy my writing.
2. What have you learned to appreciate about yourself and/or within your life, physically and mentally? On the other hand OR in contrast, are there elements of who you are that you’re still working on appreciating?
The opportunity to write for multiple publications
3. What is one of your most rewarding achievements in life? Tell us not only what makes YOU most proud but also share the goals and dreams that you still have.
Succeeding as a writer
4. Of course, we all have imperfections, or so we think. In truth, we are all perfectly imperfect. What are your not-so-perfect ways? Likewise, what imperfections and quirks create who you are–your Identity?
My quirkiness
5. “I Love My…” is an outlet for you to appreciate and express all the positive traits that make you…well…YOU! In fact, sharing what you love about yourself will make you smile, feel empowered, and uplift your spirit and soul. (We assure you!) Therefore, Identity challenges you to complete the phrase “I Love My…?”
I love my writing
Featured article by Kit Junglist
