Photographer
Photography by BE
Posts: 5652
Midland, Texas, US
I had a model ask me about submitting images of her to Playboy, and at one time thought I had a link to that information. Anyway, can anyone help?
I know if the model is selected as Playmate of year or month or something like that she receives a lot of cash, and the photographer gets some also. I have no fear that will happen with any of my images, but who knows.
What about a regular submission where the model appears in Playboy?
Thanks
Photographer
American Glamour
Posts: 38813
Detroit, Michigan, US
With all do respect, and this is a flame, anybody can submit images to Playboy through the mail. I am just wondering, if you have to ask on the forums how to do it, why would you think that there is anything you could do to help a model get in?
This isn't meant to be nasty, there are a number of us here who've workd with Playboy on a regular basis. We obviously have contacts and credibility. If you are going to do nothing more than to send in photos through public channels, why doesn't the model just do it herself?
Photographer
Richard Tallent
Posts: 7137
Beaumont, Texas, US
Alan from Aavian Prod wrote:
If you are going to do nothing more than to send in photos through public channels, why doesn't the model just do it herself? Uhm, maybe the aforementioned finder's fee?
If the model can wish on a star, I guess the photographer can too...
Photographer
Sophistocles
Posts: 21320
Seattle, Washington, US
I've sent in images to Playboy because models have asked me.
I did it with the same mindset that I might pick up my wife's dry cleaning or take an envelope to the post office for someone if I happen to be going anyway.
As much as I'd consider it a life-highlight to shoot for Playboy, I'm under absolutely no illusion that it'll ever happen.
If the OP is just doing someone a favor... fantastic. If, on the other hand, he's under the impression that he has any influence on the process, well, then I'm going to nod at Alan.
Photographer
ddtphoto
Posts: 2590
Chicago, Illinois, US
any submission would be to get the model selected. they aren't going to use the photo's you send in and they won't be hiring you as the photographer should they choose to use her for something.
i only say this because it seems a lot of people think that the way you get published in a magazine like playboy or any other is to send in a "cool" picture. actually, it's quite the opposite... they hire the photographer specifically to take a specific photo for the publication. and playboy has been using the same people since before i was born (slight exaggeration). some of the photographers that shoot for playboy have camera mounts on their walkers (more lies).
also, playboy does have a slew of publications besides "playboy magazine".
finally, if she's got what it takes, she'll also have to be persistent and into old men that smell like out-of-production cologne.
Photographer
HerbP
Posts: 546
Winter Springs, Florida, US
The odds of someone submitting photos out of the blue that actually result in getting into a issue of Playboy magazine make winning the lottery look like a sure thing. There is a still small but about three orders of magnitude better possibility of getting into one of Playboy's spinoff issues.
Playboy magazine really has only three nude pictorial features each month. One is a celebrity shoot. Women who are lucky enough to be a combination of both famous and beautiful have probably already received a query from Playboy. A second is a "girls of ..." shoot in which they pick a college conference or other pool of girls that they hold casting calls for and send one or more of their regular and favorite photographers out to shoot the screening. The third is a girl they select from somewhere in the world, probably almost without exception recommended by one of their regular photographers like Alan, to be the Playmate of the Month. That makes for pretty long odds for the thousands of out of the blue hopefuls that submit pictures.
But for a photographer, I guess it would be a neat line to be able to say to a wannabe model, "I regularly submit photos to Playboy. You just might be the one they pick."
Photographer
JA Sanchez
Posts: 6830
Miami, Florida, US
It doesn't matter what the odds are, they are certainly worst if you don't try.
Model
Bethany Paquin
Posts: 171
New York, New York, US
SouthFLpix wrote:
It doesn't matter what the odds are, they are certainly worst if you don't try. I really like that quote. I really like that.
Photographer
ddtphoto
Posts: 2590
Chicago, Illinois, US
SouthFLpix wrote:
It doesn't matter what the odds are, they are certainly worst if you don't try. yeah, except once it starts costing money some practicality has to get involved.
like, i'm about to do my first big mailer. i've signed up with a database of agencies and magazines that cost me about $1,200 for the year. i want to do 1,000 pieces to both advertising and editorial creatives...
well, so far i've got the editorial mags down to around 2,600 nationwide. the advertising stuff is around 12,000 so far (this is with editing!)... so obviously i need to do some more research until i can bring the grand total of both down beneath 1,000 units... i can assure you playboy won't be getting a promo. nor maxim or any other major publication where i know that the photo editor gets so many promo's daily that they pitch them w/o even looking once.
Photographer
HerbP
Posts: 546
Winter Springs, Florida, US
SouthFLpix wrote:
It doesn't matter what the odds are, they are certainly worst if you don't try. That's absolutely true. However, that ignores the economics of ROI or Return on Investment of money and time. If that part of the equation has no meaning to you or you have no alternative with a better ROI, by all means, go for it!
Photographer
Doug Jantz
Posts: 4025
Tulsa, Oklahoma, US
Christopher Ambler wrote:
I've sent in images to Playboy because models have asked me.
I did it with the same mindset that I might pick up my wife's dry cleaning or take an envelope to the post office for someone if I happen to be going anyway.
As much as I'd consider it a life-highlight to shoot for Playboy, I'm under absolutely no illusion that it'll ever happen. Why not?? I read the story last year on this guy and that is exactly how he got into it with Playboy, sent in a couple of pics of a girl. Guess what he does now full time??
http://www.onemodelplace.com/photograph … P_ID=68348
Photographer
glenn my name today
Posts: 1025
Lancaster, California, US
i am a friend of Jarmo and the way you write it makes it seem so easy.
Jarmo ended his modeling career and decided he wanted to shoot beautiful women. good enough, he's not the only one.
the difference is that Jarmo studied every single issue of Playboy he could find, practiced every single lighting situation, set-up, type of lighting, daylight fill, etc. he didn't do this once, or twice, or for a few weeks. he did it for years.
then he scouted beautiful women every way possible. and he became incredibly selective about the girls, picking out only the ones he knew the editors would like because he had seen so many of the picks they selected.
and if a girl wasn't up to Playboy standards, then he didn't shoot her.
and then he learned every little aspect of make-up and hair style, and he got so picky about it he could probably do it better than the make-up artists and hair stylists he hired. and he makes them redo it if it was not perfect.
and then he got obsessive about clothing and styling and can pick out the outfits that will make a model look amazing.
so the entire process from when Jarmo decided to send in a picture until the time he became one of the top 3 Playboy shooters was a little bit more involved then just sending in a pic of some pretty girl.
and when you work for Jarmo, the day starts at 6-7 AM and ends about 9-10 PM, just to shoot 2-3 sets. It may look like fun but its back breaking work for everyone on the crew. I've assisted Jarmo a number of times and everything has to be perfect or you do it again until it is perfect.
But back to the original question, right NOW, the best way to get in front of the Playboy editors is to go to one of their casting calls around the country, they have them every few weeks and this is really the preferred method to get face time with the Playboy people. The casting calls are listed on the Playboy.com website.
Photographer
HungryEye
Posts: 2281
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
glenn my name today wrote:
i am a friend of Jarmo and the way you write it makes it seem so easy.
Jarmo ended his modeling career and decided he wanted to shoot beautiful women. good enough, he's not the only one.
the difference is that Jarmo studied every single issue of Playboy he could find, practiced every single lighting situation, set-up, type of lighting, daylight fill, etc. he didn't do this once, or twice, or for a few weeks. he did it for years.
then he scouted beautiful women every way possible. and he became incredibly selective about the girls, picking out only the ones he knew the editors would like because he had seen so many of the picks they selected.
and if a girl wasn't up to Playboy standards, then he didn't shoot her.
and then he learned every little aspect of make-up and hair style, and he got so picky about it he could probably do it better than the make-up artists and hair stylists he hired. and he makes them redo it if it was not perfect.
and then he got obsessive about clothing and styling and can pick out the outfits that will make a model look amazing.
so the entire process from when Jarmo decided to send in a picture until the time he became one of the top 3 Playboy shooters was a little bit more involved then just sending in a pic of some pretty girl.
and when you work for Jarmo, the day starts at 6-7 AM and ends about 9-10 PM, just to shoot 2-3 sets. It may look like fun but its back breaking work for everyone on the crew. I've assisted Jarmo a number of times and everything has to be perfect or you do it again until it is perfect.
But back to the original question, right NOW, the best way to get in front of the Playboy editors is to go to one of their casting calls around the country, they have them every few weeks and this is really the preferred method to get face time with the Playboy people. The casting calls are listed on the Playboy.com website. ClapClapClapClapClapClapClapClapClapClapClapClap...
![https://bradford_pettigrew.tripod.com/share/Misc-Word.jpg]()
Model
Jane Burgess
Posts: 433
Tempe, Arizona, US
There are many ways to submit to Playboy. You can send images to the address on their website or in their magazine. They do also have castings in different cities. You can also contact people that have worked with Playboy. Playboy does also scout models online. I am doing their golf event in Scottsdale and I am doing a charity event at the Mansion. They found me online and contacted me about working with them. I know they are also looking for women in different cities to promote their new energy drink. They have a few different websites for all these events.
Photographer
The Don Mon
Posts: 3315
Ocala, Florida, US
Alan from Aavian Prod wrote:
With all do respect, and this is a flame, anybody can submit images to Playboy through the mail. I am just wondering, if you have to ask on the forums how to do it, why would you think that there is anything you could do to help a model get in?
This isn't meant to be nasty, there are a number of us here who've workd with Playboy on a regular basis. We obviously have contacts and credibility. If you are going to do nothing more than to send in photos through public channels, why doesn't the model just do it herself? ouch...
lol
sometimes they dont realize they can i think...
Photographer
Mikell
Posts: 26725
Santa Cruz, California, US
The Don Mon wrote:
ouch...
lol
sometimes they dont realize they can i think... yeah 35 years ago ( so ouch for another reason) I submitted photos for a model
(this is when I was a student, so calling me a photographer back then would be pushing it) she got a test shoot with one of the photographers about a year later
she really didn't need me to but it made her feel more comfortable
Photographer
Photography by BE
Posts: 5652
Midland, Texas, US
Alan from Aavian Prod wrote:
With all do respect, and this is a flame, anybody can submit images to Playboy through the mail. I am just wondering, if you have to ask on the forums how to do it, why would you think that there is anything you could do to help a model get in?
This isn't meant to be nasty, there are a number of us here who've workd with Playboy on a regular basis. We obviously have contacts and credibility. If you are going to do nothing more than to send in photos through public channels, why doesn't the model just do it herself? I said I had no fear that anything I sent would have a huge impact on the world of Playboy.  My question was not about me, i twas about a model that asked me how.
Since you have contacts, I look forward to hearing more from you.
It has been a long time since I talked to anyone at Playboy. A long time ago, I did have some cordial and informative telephone conversations with the late Pompeo Posar, who I consider one of the great photographers. He even invited me to visit the Chicago studio, but unfortunately the day I was scheduled to visit he had a heart attack. He died years later, and I never actually got to meet him.
No one needs to inform me how difficult it would be to actually have one of MY images appear. That was not even in my op, except as a small joke when I said , "who knows". I am very aware of the workings of most magazines.
And, yes a model can send them, but I was gathering information for her, and figured if she made it big, she might let me hitch a ride on her coat tails (another bit of humor, fyi).
But it was not about me, and I asked because I needed to know. Thanks
...edit......... I can assume from your reply that you are a contributing photographer to Playboy? The models on your website represent models you have submitted images for and your images have appeared in Playboy?
If so, that is what my question was all about.
Photographer
Henri3
Posts: 7392
Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
glenn my name today wrote:
i am a friend of Jarmo and the way you write it makes it seem so easy.
Jarmo ended his modeling career and decided he wanted to shoot beautiful women. good enough, he's not the only one.
the difference is that Jarmo studied every single issue of Playboy he could find, practiced every single lighting situation, set-up, type of lighting, daylight fill, etc. he didn't do this once, or twice, or for a few weeks. he did it for years.
then he scouted beautiful women every way possible. and he became incredibly selective about the girls, picking out only the ones he knew the editors would like because he had seen so many of the picks they selected.
and if a girl wasn't up to Playboy standards, then he didn't shoot her.
and then he learned every little aspect of make-up and hair style, and he got so picky about it he could probably do it better than the make-up artists and hair stylists he hired. and he makes them redo it if it was not perfect.
and then he got obsessive about clothing and styling and can pick out the outfits that will make a model look amazing.
so the entire process from when Jarmo decided to send in a picture until the time he became one of the top 3 Playboy shooters was a little bit more involved then just sending in a pic of some pretty girl.
and when you work for Jarmo, the day starts at 6-7 AM and ends about 9-10 PM, just to shoot 2-3 sets. It may look like fun but its back breaking work for everyone on the crew. I've assisted Jarmo a number of times and everything has to be perfect or you do it again until it is perfect.
But back to the original question, right NOW, the best way to get in front of the Playboy editors is to go to one of their casting calls around the country, they have them every few weeks and this is really the preferred method to get face time with the Playboy people. The casting calls are listed on the Playboy.com website. I'm pasting this on my wall........excellent info...& wake up call.....I TRULY love his work, videos.
Photographer
S W I N S K E Y
Posts: 24378
Saint Petersburg, Florida, US
glenn my name today wrote:
i am a friend of Jarmo and the way you write it makes it seem so easy.
Jarmo ended his modeling career and decided he wanted to shoot beautiful women. good enough, he's not the only one.
the difference is that Jarmo studied every single issue of Playboy he could find, practiced every single lighting situation, set-up, type of lighting, daylight fill, etc. he didn't do this once, or twice, or for a few weeks. he did it for years.
then he scouted beautiful women every way possible. and he became incredibly selective about the girls, picking out only the ones he knew the editors would like because he had seen so many of the picks they selected.
and if a girl wasn't up to Playboy standards, then he didn't shoot her.
and then he learned every little aspect of make-up and hair style, and he got so picky about it he could probably do it better than the make-up artists and hair stylists he hired. and he makes them redo it if it was not perfect.
and then he got obsessive about clothing and styling and can pick out the outfits that will make a model look amazing.
so the entire process from when Jarmo decided to send in a picture until the time he became one of the top 3 Playboy shooters was a little bit more involved then just sending in a pic of some pretty girl.
and when you work for Jarmo, the day starts at 6-7 AM and ends about 9-10 PM, just to shoot 2-3 sets. It may look like fun but its back breaking work for everyone on the crew. I've assisted Jarmo a number of times and everything has to be perfect or you do it again until it is perfect.
But back to the original question, right NOW, the best way to get in front of the Playboy editors is to go to one of their casting calls around the country, they have them every few weeks and this is really the preferred method to get face time with the Playboy people. The casting calls are listed on the Playboy.com website. QFT (i have been there)
jarmo is a great guy...a hard worker and expects the same..
Photographer
Photography by BE
Posts: 5652
Midland, Texas, US
Thanks for all the comments. I am not actually in a position at the moment to even shoot the model, but was getting information for her, and thought this might be a good place to start.
Just to make it clear, I had no delusions that any photo I sent would be published.
I did photograph one girl who was sending photos to Playboy, but that was about 10 years ago. I do not think she ever made it in any of their publications.
I stated in an earlier post, I used to visit on the phone with Pompeo Posar, and Ken Marcus, and know a bit of how it works.
That should indicate how long I have been around. Probably few even remember those names. I once did photograph 3 lovely bunnies and one invited me to the Bunny club that used to be in Dallas.. I told you I had been around a long time.
Not trying to brag about any of that, cause it is just simple facts.. I did not personally know these people and only had the exchanges that I stated.
But how many others ever got invited personally by a bunny to a Bunny club?
Food was good, BTW. LOL
Model
Chernise Yvette
Posts: 72
Chicago, Illinois, US
I say check out the Playboy submission policy. The model can submit herself, but if you submit her you MAY get a finders fee. It's a good deal for you and the model. If I would have known I could have got someone paid for just submitting my photos I would have let them, instead of sending my photos on my own.
Photographer
Photography by BE
Posts: 5652
Midland, Texas, US
Chernise Yvette wrote:
I say check out the Playboy submission policy. The model can submit herself, but if you submit her you MAY get a finders fee. It's a good deal for you and the model. If I would have known I could have got someone paid for just submitting my photos I would have let them, instead of sending my photos on my own. Thanks, I did read the policy, and even though the model can submit her own, only the submitting photographer --->might
Photographer
Bluwaterandsand
Posts: 105
Ocean City, Maryland, US
Christiami wrote:
I really like that quote. I really like that. Same here. I'm thinking that one can challenge the "I'm the man and you're not" attitude and actually help a girl fulfill her dream of getting into the big time. Sitting on the porch with the small dogs watching the big dogs run isn't my bag.
Photographer
Midwest Photographic
Posts: 505
Derby, Colorado, US
Christopher Ambler wrote:
I've sent in images to Playboy because models have asked me.
I did it with the same mindset that I might pick up my wife's dry cleaning or take an envelope to the post office for someone if I happen to be going anyway.
As much as I'd consider it a life-highlight to shoot for Playboy, I'm under absolutely no illusion that it'll ever happen.
If the OP is just doing someone a favor... fantastic. If, on the other hand, he's under the impression that he has any influence on the process, well, then I'm going to nod at Alan. I've seen actual photographers public advertisements implying they shoot for magazines like Playboy, Maxim, FHM etc. If you read the fine print they never come right out and say it directly, but the implication is clear. All they are doing is the same, mailing them in through the public channels, but in my oppinion they are misleading models into thinking they are connected in some way.
As a matter of fact I was in Columbia last week on business and saw a flyer being passed around MU from a local photographer that was this way, it read something like.
"-This week special- I am behind on my Playboy magazine submissions, so I am looking for anyone that thinks they could make it, please help me out I do not want to loose my place in line with Playboy so I have to get my submission count up. Rates will be greatly reduced for your help"
Photographer
c_d_s
Posts: 7771
Lubbock, Texas, US
HerbP wrote:
The odds of someone submitting photos out of the blue that actually result in getting into a issue of Playboy magazine make winning the lottery look like a sure thing. Could I interest you in a nice game of Texas Hold'Em?
You don't seem to know much about odds.
Photographer
Midwest Photographic
Posts: 505
Derby, Colorado, US
c_d_s wrote:
Could I interest you in a nice game of Texas Hold'Em?
You don't seem to know much about odds. Have you been on MM long..lol.. odds, statistics... pahleez... lol.
Send some of that logic over to the model forum where they think every 3rd photographer is a serial rapist/killer. If the percieved/implied likelyhood of violent photographer on model attacks were even close to what they make it out to be, you couldn't drive down the road because it would be strewn with model bodies.
Photographer
JRSFoto
Posts: 693
San Francisco, California, US
The following quote is from an actual Playboy Playmate.
"If Laura still wants to test for Playmate, just send a good bikini photo of her. If she makes it, you will get a finder's fee. The Playboy photo editors are the best in the biz, and they can spot a Playmate in the making. Marilyn Grabowski, V.P. of Photography at Studio West, found me at the Miss California World pageant and I was wearing a one-piece.
Professionally speaking, Playboy wants full control and uses their own photographers. It would be a waste of your time and money to do a layout shoot.
I'm not always right - but I'm right on this one"
Since this was a private letter, you'll have to take my word for it, but I assure you, it is first hand advice.
Photographer
Tony Lawrence
Posts: 21554
Chicago, Illinois, US
C'mon folks. Why is it almost every time someone asks about how they can get
published or help a model get published anywhere the boo birds go on the
attack. Instead of being negative lets give them the information and leave it
at that. Not well the odds are your never going to make it. Not your work or
look is lousy so don't waste your time. The odds are against most of us making
it but shouldn't we still try.
This is a general comment and not directed at any one poster but a overall
observation. Lets be positive and offer useful advice. This isn't to say that
when model asks about shooting for Vogue and they are all of 5'2" but more for
photographers. So many of us seem so ready to knock even the most innocent
of questions.
Photographer
Photography by BE
Posts: 5652
Midland, Texas, US
BEllison wrote:
I had a model ask me about submitting images of her to Playboy, and at one time thought I had a link to that information. Anyway, can anyone help?
I know if the model is selected as Playmate of year or month or something like that she receives a lot of cash, and the photographer gets some also. I have no fear that will happen with any of my images, but who knows.
What about a regular submission where the model appears in Playboy?
Thanks I can understand how my op (quoted) is confusing.
I said this earlier, but will do so again. I had no thoughts of my images actually being published in Playboy. I know enough about how most publications work to know for certain that would never happen. I did wonder about submitting images for a model's benefit.
HerbP wrote:
But for a photographer, I guess it would be a neat line to be able to say to a wannabe model, "I regularly submit photos to Playboy. You just might be the one they pick." I believe that is true. I have had more than one girl tell me a photographer has asked to photograph them and submit to Playboy. As best as I remember the model said the photographer frequently submitted images.
I never used that line, but it seems to work, Yeah, I might just try that, which would not actually be a false statement. I could get them in, shoot some nudies, and submit to Playboy, or maybe another men's magazine. If they ever were selected, then I could spend my remaining years shooting nude girls for free. heheheh
Funny how a guy starts thinking after the soc sec checks begin, huh?
For my Canadian friends.. make that.. .. eh?.. 
Model
Lynn5665
Posts: 323
Fayzābād, Badakhshan, Afghanistan
Richard Tallent wrote:
Uhm, maybe the aforementioned finder's fee?
If the model can wish on a star, I guess the photographer can too... with playboy the photographer gets a $2,500 finders fee for a playmate.
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