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where to source models in post-internet era
the fashion industry has always had young models, teenage, and pretending like I was booking that crowd was fine when model mayhem's crowd was in their 20s model mayhem's crowd is not anymore, but equally as important, even the profiles still here are relying on a different way of communication which may or may not be posted on their profile instagram is an okay alternative but you don't know availability, stats, genre, and the greatest of all time filter: tattoos. additionally, instagram DM's are practically broken for most attractive women, especially the ones in the business of validation seeking behavior. even professionals don't have a good user experience to consistently notice all their inboxes on instagram. has anyone found a better way to source models? I've mostly reverted back to having a network of studios and photographers, booking who they recently booked, as it at least tells you "she showed up". trawling lookbooks, campaigns, and private collections for talent, reaching out to whoever booked them and seeing if they can get me in contact. word of mouth. but the main deficiency is that this is still far more arduous, pretty easy for finding a model that you might imagine in a TJ Maxx corporate inclusion handbook, but less so for other genres how have you adjusted how you source talent? Nov 12 23 08:28 am Link I use to use Availability and travel notices in Casting calls here and in my area there seem to be a good number of traveling models still working. Not so many locals still post availability, but there are occasional posts 'looking for a photographer' on there. I've found a few models on IG, but have never booked one through their dms on there. I have found a few on FB that way too. Sometimes they post a booking email. Nov 12 23 08:39 am Link Red Sky Photography wrote: Los Angeles has decent amount of people posting availability notices, and a paid casting call can get hundreds of responses. Traveling models come into my DMs a bit as well. Nov 12 23 12:29 pm Link I did not realize that we are in the "post" internet era. How am I sending this message? Nov 20 23 04:47 pm Link LA is a fantastic place to find models. OP, I looked at your work. Consider doing some clothed fashion shots and go to the agencies. There are a LOT of smaller agencies in LA. March is LA fashion week time. You can hook up with local designers who will help you with models. Nothing wrong with looking here or IG. but once you're on a few models rounds list and going to fashion shows and shooting people you'll have more models than you'll ever need. https://www.bynataliemichelle.com/proje … alifornia/ Nov 20 23 06:24 pm Link Tony Lawrence wrote: yes, it absolutely is! Dec 01 23 07:21 am Link "the fashion industry has always had young models, teenage, and pretending like I was booking that crowd was fine when model mayhem's crowd was in their 20s Maybe cease and desist "pretending like" and commence on shooting Fashion moving forward... A quick glance at your MM book reveals only token Editorial Fashion... Please consider making this your primary genre of choice... And then you will likely not be challenged find & booking talent... Your MM book is predominately soft porn... Why? To whom are your marketing to? Certainly not high end Fashion Agency in my humble estimation. I actually view MM books like yours and others with same genera as a reason for the implosion of MM... Which btw was indeed frequented by a multitude of 18 to 20 year old talent seeking a gateway into Agency Representation and always my mission purpose. That was until MM decided to entirely close the door on 18 to 20 year old talent, which sadly may have contributed to it's current demise... In my market (Washington DC) T.H.E. Artist Agency is the primary and most respected Fashion & Talent Agency... Our team has worked with many of their talent even before they were signed. And our Team's MUA is in fact a signed Fashion Model with T.H.E. Artist Agency... There is much synergy on our team and I've always been focused on expediting the career paths of many who have pass through on their professional career journey... Hope this helps Roaring or is at least food for thought... Wishing you much joy and success on your career journey Dec 02 23 08:11 am Link The OP has a fantastic image on his profile. LA is our film capitol, people travel there from small towns all over America and from other countries. Truly stunning models live there. Source on Facebook. If I were there I would do small meet up's with other photographers. Don't be afraid to hand a business card out as well. Dec 02 23 01:02 pm Link Thomas Van Dyke wrote: mmmmm, no. I don't want to book models that can only shoot fashion. I generally don't want to shoot fashion and my portfolio here is intended match what I reach out to models to shoot. The correct people associate with it, that isn't the problem at all. Dec 02 23 03:36 pm Link Tony Lawrence wrote: New meetups are a good idea! Business cards can leave an impression even if that's not what people will reference to follow up, I might do it Dec 02 23 03:50 pm Link "I didn't realize MM doesn't allow 18-20 year old talent any longer." You are indeed correct Roaring... My apologies, I was asleep at the wheel here... was thinking back to 2007... when I believe Mayhem did allow 16-18 old talent aboard as Models, albeit I could be wrong again. The bottom line is you are correct sir, no minors just those who have reached the age of majority (or are legally emaciated by court decree). That said Roaring you do have two stellar Fashion Editorial renderings in your MM book, and thus reason I championed that paradigm i.e. genre to you since I honestly believe you would be very successful in recruiting talent for Fashion & Beauty Editorial assignments. At least this has been my experience in the Washington DC marketplace. As for California verses Washington DC? Yes the socially acceptable norms are likely very different, thus you are right from your perspective albeit I stand my ground for setting a higher bar for thematic content and thus I'm obviously not mainstream west coast Mayhem. Again I reiterate that I wish you much success on your photographic journey, though I believe you should reconsider Fashion and Beauty Editorials... Enough said. Peace... Dec 05 23 01:34 pm Link Thomas Van Dyke wrote: Thank you! if I have a series of fashion ideas I'll put together a portfolio exclusively of that kind of work and approach agencies Dec 07 23 07:13 pm Link I’m to the point of going back to the “pre internet” era where I used to approach (and get) models on the street lol Dec 28 23 04:49 am Link Tony Lawrence wrote: Everytime when I'm in LA I can't help feeling that one of two waitresses in the coffeehouses and diners is "actually" an actress or model... Jan 01 24 05:40 am Link I approach a potential model on the street and I am lucky if she will give me the time of day I approach a potential model at a fashion event ( with my IPad to show my IG ) and I have over a 90 per cent chance that they will shoot with me if they are not agency signed I used to work with a few agencies in the past - but since I started my own AI Fashion Imaging Business a few months ago - they don’t seem too friendly to me anymore lol lol That being said LA MM has been good for me when I have visited in the past Last time I was there I shot with a Ukrainian Model and realized there were a lot of displaced models from that part of the world who can’t yet legally work in the US … I would recommend tapping into that community as one possibility Jan 08 24 07:40 am Link Thomas Van Dyke wrote: Another sabotage by autocorrect. Jan 11 24 06:34 pm Link TomFRohwer wrote: LA is full of actresses that don't know they're baristas Jan 11 24 10:19 pm Link Garry k wrote: yes, beautiful Ukrainian women everywhere, people have been trying not to say anything but we see them, they're fun Jan 11 24 10:44 pm Link |