Getting models for nudes....the RIGHT way...

[Robert Kennedy]

O.k. This may sound weird but....

How does one go about getting models for nudes the RIGHT way?

Now I say with because of the following -

I live in a city with a large university and a pretty decent photography program (no, not Rochester....). So I know a few people who have been either in the program or are starving artists in their own right.

Anyway, i have heard from more than one, that getting models for nudes can sometimes be ummmmmmm.........

Well........


"Interesting"

They have usually resorted to taking out ads in the local weekly newspaper and the student paper. On at least one occassion, they have hired models who turned out to be well....not exactly the church-going type if ya know what I mean.

In one case the model demanded EXTRA money half-way through the shoot and called her rather large and angry boyfriend on the phone so he would come over and help her get the money.

In another the model started offering "other" services for a fee. If ya know what I mean. Which was really weird because EVERYONE knows photographers have NO money...

Anyway, these are just two examples of numerous incidents I have heard of where the models have been less than ethical. In fact down right sleazy.

So the question is, how does one avoid such a situation? How do you seperate the wheat from the chaff?

 

[Sean]

It's a tough one. You might be able to go through a modeling agency but they would likely charge you heavily. It seems the best models are the entry level ones trying to build a portfolio for themselves. You end up helping each other out. They help your photography and in return they get some nice photos for their modeling portfolio. So I guess if it were me I'd target models who are trying to make it, that maybe don't have a lot of cash for portfolio work, and would jump at the chance for you to photograph them. Just stress that it will be tasteful of course.

 

[corrie]

yes i agree
barter is always a goer!
i use a lot of nude in my work.....and bartering has been a great assett... especially in the begining...................
my family and friends have also been extremely supportive with my art...
i am a woman and in some cases i think that probably helps...

i have found that once you have exhibited your work and have established a sound rep of how you present your nudes... and in what context ... ..people offer their services and want to pose for you....
now thats nice
corrie

 

[argentic]

Hi Robert,

I don't do nudes myself. But I technically advise a friend of mine who does a lot of glamour portraits and nudes. He began nudes when he already had some beautifull results to show as a portrait photographer. Women, men and couples came to him for portraits, sometimes a nude back etc.

Because he inspired confidence and because his wife assisted him sometimes, he could suggest topless pictures. He showed these pictures on the web (with consent ofcourse) and started attracting new customers who deliberately came to do nudes. Now he does nudes 50 % of his time.

greetings

Gilbert
http://www.photocrack.com

 

[Peter Charles Fagg]

Some years ago I entertained an English photographer, Roger Noons, who specialises in nudes. The same question arose in our discussion. Mrs. noons was in her words the "Procurer" of those whom Roger wished to photograph. It worked along these lines, he would see a lady who possessed the attributes he wished to photograph and the lady was approached by Mrs. Noons carrying a portfolio of her husbands work. It appears to have worked.

 

[edbuffaloe]

On the Links page of my UnblinkingEye.Com site I have links to several model forums, including FigureModels.Org, FineArtFolios.Com, One Model Place, and Web Models. These are excellent resources for finding models. http://unblinkingeye.com/Links/links.html

Models who are just breaking into the business will often pose in return for photographs. This is called TFP--time for prints. Approaching people you don't know is problematic at best, so the above forums are the recommended place to start.

You should also consider creating a page with a standing request for models that gives your location, e-mail address, and the terms you offer. I have such a page at http://unblinkingeye.com/Links/Model/model.html. Be sure to add the proper description and key word tags so search engines can index the page, then send the URL to all the major search engines. It may take time, but eventually you will begin to receive responses. It also helps to live in a college or university town.

 

[Robert Kennedy]

O.k. An update here.


I went to OMP and did some searching. After I threw out every wanna-be porn star, I ended up with a handful of possibles. Almost all of whom turned out to be "managed" by some outfit called "Doubletakes" run by a woman named Corinne. As far as I can tell all Corinne does is get people to agree to be managed by her. She is otherwise pretty ineffective and it seems to me a bit dodgy.

I talk to her about TFP. She says she has some girls who will do "'very' partial nudity" for TFP (her bad grammer, not mine). Under my offer I was pretty generous. Offering to shoot what the models NEEDED for their portfolios as well as what I needed (which, since I am developing an art portfolio are very different things). I'd scan all the images onto CD for them, and even provide a certain number of prints. I even offered a contract which made sure I wasn't gonna be selling the pictures etc.

More than fair.

Well then as we hash out a deal, "'very' partial nudity" becomes "you can only show from the waist up, and then only the back straight on." Which if you look at it makes one wonder what "partial nudity" is if that is "'very' partial nudity" is. You see that at the beach and it in no way works for what I want to do. Plus I am informed that this is "at the limit". As if I was pushing too hard here. Not that I would show much more, but this is a nude shoot. Just showing your back doesn't cut it.
And then the kicker comes....

"Well, if they do more than that it will cost you......"

Which makes me feel like this is someone who is trying the old bait-and-switch. They offer one thing and then deliver something else.

Is this normal? I mean is this common? I am feeling like if I do a shoot with these models, they'll do something and then ask to get paid. Or they will show up in parkas and claim showing an ankle is a nude shoot.

Plus this "agency" seems to post a lot for VERY particular TFP shoots. Ones that are very well orchestrated. And strangely enough sound like they are on spec. for a magazine. In other words the photographer shoots for free and the agent sells the images to a magazine and makes out like a bandit.

I am I off base here?

 

[Robert]

Does the school use models? If so maybe you could ask for an introduction so to speak.

 

[corrie]

robert
forget that agency!
you will not achieve your goal ...........and possible get ripped off!
go back a few articles here..and read you"ll lget better info and ideas to follow....
cheers
corrie

 

[Robert Kennedy]

I'm just wondering if it this town or what. I mean sheeesh....isn't there a moderately ethical person out there?

 

[Jorge]

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Robert Kennedy @ Sep 24 2002, 07:46 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>I'm just wondering if it this town or what. &nbsp;I mean sheeesh....isn't there a moderately ethical person out there?</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Maybe you are too close to Las Vegas.....or those centers of debauchery south of the border...

I am wondering though why dont you ask your girlfriend to pose for you?
Seems both you and her would be more comofrtable .....

 

[John Luke]

Is there a fine art department with a figure study/drawing class? If so, ask them where they get their subjects. Sometimes people in the ballet department will pose. If there are no such programs at your college, try another local one. Does you community have a local arts alliance? If so, they could point you to professional artists who may have accesss to subjects.

 

[Aggie]

..

 

[Ole]

Obviously, "very partial" is another way of saying "fractional". Or should that be "fictional"?

You must have met the only traditionalist islamic model agency in the US!

Better to try an art department, dancers, drama classes, gyms

etc...

 

[Robert]

How about asking for references?

 

[Eric Rose]

lots of gin always works for me!! LOL