Royal House Photography wrote:
Hello!

I wanted to ask if anyone here (photographer or model) has any tips about looking for the right creative match when seeking a  model as a photographer. What are the right questions to ask and how do I gauge if our creative interests and styles are in line?

Thank so much!!

Work with many models on smaller, simpler projects, then when you are looking for one for a special concept, one model will spring to mind.

Eric212Grapher wrote:

Work with many models on smaller, simpler projects, then when you are looking for one for a special concept, one model will spring to mind.

Great point!!!!

Al_Vee Photography wrote:
I rather enjoy working with the same people over and over again. As I get to know them, my images become about *them,* rather than me.

A very important part of the "secret" and an answer to those who cay that a shoot is a "professional" encounter, not a "social" one.  Actually, the best shoots are both.

I would suggest taking the time to meet with prospects first, if possible, in person and in a non threatening space.  A coffee shop or even a city park or atrium, to just talk over tyour individual goals and interests.  Then you can art company with no harm done if the "vibes" aren't right, make plans for another, different shoot if you don't have a perfect match for the shoot you had in mind, or just get comfortable in how the two of you perceive the project at hand.

This ( https://vimeo.com/82853853 ) together with four other shoots over a three month period, was the product of just such a face-to-face meeting.

All IMHO as alwasy, of course.

Rays Fine Art wrote:
...This ( https://vimeo.com/82853853 ) together with four other shoots over a three month period, was the product of just such a face-to-face meeting.

All IMHO as alwasy, of course.

That is sad.

Al_Vee Photography wrote:
I rather enjoy working with the same people over and over again. As I get to know them, my images become about *them,* rather than me.

This,  working mostly with new talent I find as comfort levels grow so does quality of image.

Rays Fine Art wrote:
A very important part of the "secret" and an answer to those who cay that a shoot is a "professional" encounter, not a "social" one.  Actually, the best shoots are both.

I would suggest taking the time to meet with prospects first, if possible, in person and in a non threatening space.  A coffee shop or even a city park or atrium, to just talk over tyour individual goals and interests.  Then you can art company with no harm done if the "vibes" aren't right, make plans for another, different shoot if you don't have a perfect match for the shoot you had in mind, or just get comfortable in how the two of you perceive the project at hand.

This ( https://vimeo.com/82853853 ) together with four other shoots over a three month period, was the product of just such a face-to-face meeting.

All IMHO as alwasy, of course.

I can't remember the last Model who I've met with before a shoot

I mean - I like the idea but young women these days all seem to busy to have the time for this

But they seem to have no issue jumping in a car with a complete stranger and driving a couple hours to some beach to shoot

( i am referring to my last trip to LA a few months ago )

Strange

I am finding that a general PinInterest Board works best for sharing any shoot ideas that go beyond what my existing on line work covers

Royal House Photography wrote:
Hello!

I wanted to ask if anyone here (photographer or model) has any tips about looking for the right creative match when seeking a  model as a photographer. What are the right questions to ask and how do I gauge if our creative interests and styles are in line?

Thank so much!!

Ideally, the idea/concept flows from you as does even thoughts about styling and makeup. Once you have a good plan then you post, say here, a casting and you state what you're looking for physically. Ray thinks of it as get-to-know-you-process. It's a photoshoot, not a torturous Q and A for the model. And the copyright is yours because you're the creator. It's not a partnership, a marriage of minds. It's your job to impress the model or models with organization and thoughtfulness.

You should know what look will work and you should be able to direct the model as if she is inexperienced, you're all he/she has.

Anything less is an abrogation of creative responsibility, and you quite likely to produce junk. It's not her job to create your vision. It's your job or a Creative Director's job if it is a commercial venture. A model may inspired by you come up with something interesting, but you are the Prime Mover. Otherwise, have her retouch and select and tell you where to point your camera, when to click, and you can give her the copyright. . . .

Fleming Design wrote:

That is sad.

Huh?

Was that a critique?

Rays Fine Art wrote:

A very important part of the "secret" and an answer to those who cay that a shoot is a "professional" encounter, not a "social" one.  Actually, the best shoots are both.

I would suggest taking the time to meet with prospects first, if possible, in person and in a non threatening space.  A coffee shop or even a city park or atrium, to just talk over tyour individual goals and interests.  Then you can art company with no harm done if the "vibes" aren't right, make plans for another, different shoot if you don't have a perfect match for the shoot you had in mind, or just get comfortable in how the two of you perceive the project at hand.

This ( https://vimeo.com/82853853 ) together with four other shoots over a three month period, was the product of just such a face-to-face meeting.

All IMHO as alwasy, of course.

The music for you slide show is beautiful along with your location. They are the cherries on top of the sundae.

Al_Vee Photography wrote:
I rather enjoy working with the same people over and over again. As I get to know them, my images become about *them,* rather than me.

I agree especially of TFPS. They know yr style and you know how they can model. Most models starting out can only give a generic pose and hard to get them to do different ones. Occasionally you find a gem. As for professionals you have to pay which I agree but when it's just for your own creative venture it hard when you also have to source accessories and clothes.
Meet model first, unless they live far away. Then you can gauge what they can do and both come on board on the right page.


It's different when you have a campaign and then look for the right model thru agencies to fit your concept. And that you pay dollars.....

Ivy Wild wrote:
I spent some time putting together a pinterest of things I find inspiring and I send it to photographers who contact me for a shoot without a specific concept in mind. Of course, it is not exhaustive of my interests. Pinterest doesn't really have nudes.

Here it is, for any photographers who think that we might be aligned : https://www.pinterest.com/ivywild8/

Hey Ivy,

I also use Pinterest to both find and document things that peak my interest.  It's definitely one of the places I go to when speaking with a model about a concept and one I've used to help refine a concept.  It can be a great tool when used in the right context but also a detriment when people don't understand what they're seeing. 

I often have brides who bring me Pinterest images and say, "I want that!" when referring to what they want in wedding photography.  The often unfortunate part is we I have to explain that what they're seeing is not someone else's wedding day photography but a photo shoot.  I explain that I can do shots like that days in advance of their wedding but the time required in setting up lighting and everything else that goes win it would be too consuming on their big day.  And then the arguments start....UGGH!

Todd Meredith wrote:

Hey Ivy,

I also use Pinterest to both find and document things that peak my interest.  It's definitely one of the places I go to when speaking with a model about a concept and one I've used to help refine a concept.  It can be a great tool when used in the right context but also a detriment when people don't understand what they're seeing. 

I often have brides who bring me Pinterest images and say, "I want that!" when referring to what they want in wedding photography.  The often unfortunate part is we I have to explain that what they're seeing is not someone else's wedding day photography but a photo shoot.  I explain that I can do shots like that days in advance of their wedding but the time required in setting up lighting and everything else that goes win it would be too consuming on their big day.  And then the arguments start....UGGH!

Hey, thanks for the feedback! I never thought of this.

I mostly use it to have a bunch of concepts in my back pocket to inspire a photographer. The vast majority of my modeling is paid work so it would never make sense for me to demand a concept be carried out exactly like a pinterest photo. It's more of just a way to express my general interests.

Ivy Wild wrote:

Hey, thanks for the feedback! I never thought of this.

I mostly use it to have a bunch of concepts in my back pocket to inspire a photographer. The vast majority of my modeling is paid work so it would never make sense for me to demand a concept be carried out exactly like a pinterest photo. It's more of just a way to express my general interests.

Morning Ivy,

No worries!  I'm glad it helped.  Sharing information and viewpoints can be very beneficial.

I really do see the value in using the images as a guide, a starting point on which to build a concept for a shoot.  Inspiration can come from anywhere.    I don't recall ever having a model demand a shoot be done exactly as a Pinterest image but, like I said, I've had plenty of bridezillas demand I make them look like an image they've found.  The problem is usually more rooted in they want to look like a super model in a wedding dress and have more in common with Fred Gwynn in his role from the Munsters than any super model.  It's sometimes hard to get the point across that I'm a photographer, not a magician.

Best of luck to you in all you do.

Camerosity wrote:
There was a time when I started with a concept and then tried to find the right model for it.

In the process, I disregarded a ton of models (and potential shoots), wasting unproductive weeks or months, while I tried to find the perfect model for a specific shoot.

I have several dozen concepts and ideas in the back of my head (and many of them on a list in my computer), just waiting for the right model, the right location or the right hard-to-find wardrobe or prop.

Anyone know where I can find and access a Third World prison yard with just dirt (no vegetation), with tall stone walls with guard towers in the corners, (and some foreign military-style guard uniforms) in the US? Fidel never responded to my emails (jk). I already have the stopwatch...

Many of those ideas (especially the ones that have been on my list for a long time) I consider “special.” Not just any model will do. Some of them date back to the 1970s. If it’s a complex and/or killer idea, I want to shoot it once – and get everything right the first time.

A few years ago, during a shoot, a model friend asked about some of my ideas. I mentioned an idea for a hair shoot that ideally would be shot with a model with brown hair (or at least somewhere between blonde and black hair). I won’t go into the details here. The model had black hair.

The model and the MUAH got excited about it, and the things that would go in the model’s hair were in a cottage cheese container on a shelf in my equipment storage room. We did the shot, and it fell flat.

Now, instead of looking for a model who fits a specific concept, I look for a model I’d like to work with. Then I either build the concept(s) around the model and the available wardrobe or, once in a while, I pull an idea that she’d be a perfect for out of the vault.

As often as not, I’ve found the perfect model for a particular concept standing in my studio, when we’re doing another type of shoot. In fact, a majority of my shoots in the past few years have been with models whom I’ve shot before (as many as 17 times).

Actually working with a model, rather than justt finding a nice portfolio on MM, removes any doubt about whether a model is a good fit for a particular concept or not.

I am quite intrigued by your comment

" the first things that would go into the modles hair were in a cottage cheese container on a shelf in my equipment storage room "

Garry k wrote:
I am quite intrigued by your comment

" the first things that would go into the modles hair were in a cottage cheese container on a shelf in my equipment storage room "

I shop at Sam’s Club. I buy low-fat cottage cheese in in 48-oz. plastic containers, M&Ms in 62-oz. plastic containers, pimento cheese spread in 24-oz. plastic containers... I buy protein powder from bodybuilding.com in 5-lb. plastic containers.

When they’re empty, I wash the containers and use them to keep small stuff (various sizes of clamps, speed rings, Pocket Wizards, costume jewelry, assorted cables, tips from models, stuff to put in models’ hair, etc.) together at the studio.

What can I say?

I'm glad you found some useful information in the post. lol

Camerosity wrote:
I shop at Sam’s Club. I buy low-fat cottage cheese in in 48-oz. plastic containers, M&Ms in 62-oz. plastic containers, pimento cheese spread in 24-oz. plastic containers... I buy protein powder from bodybuilding.com in 5-lb. plastic containers.

When they’re empty, I wash the containers and use them to keep small stuff (various sizes of clamps, speed rings, Pocket Wizards, costume jewelry, assorted cables, tips from models, stuff to put in models’ hair, etc.) together at the studio.

What can I say?

I'm glad you found some useful information in the post. lol

Sorry I was too focused on the cottage cheese and not the container

Garry k wrote:
Sorry I was too focused on the cottage cheese and not the container

Have you tried back button focus?