Finding the right person for your photographs can elevate your work from a simple snapshot to a compelling image. Securing a model involves clear planning, effective outreach, and professional preparation. For photographers building a portfolio or tackling a new project, understanding how to source and work with models is a necessary skill. The process can be adapted to fit any budget, from collaborative efforts with aspiring talent to hiring seasoned professionals through an agency.
Clarify Your Project and Model Needs
Before searching for a model, define the specifics of your project. The theme and aesthetic you aim to capture will inform the kind of model you need. Consider if the shoot is for a commercial client, an editorial piece, or your portfolio, as this shapes the required look and experience. For example, a sportswear brand might require an athletic model, while a high-fashion editorial may need someone with avant-garde features.
To solidify your vision, create a mood board or a brief. This document serves as a visual guide, outlining the desired style, posing, and atmosphere of the photoshoot. It should include inspiration images, color palettes, and notes on the target demographic. This preparation clarifies your ideas and provides a concrete concept to share with potential models, ensuring alignment on the creative direction.
Finding Models Through Collaboration
For photographers building their portfolios, collaborative arrangements offer a way to produce high-quality work without a significant financial investment. These partnerships are built on mutual benefit, allowing both the photographer and the model to gain experience and new images for their portfolios. This approach can also lead to valuable networking opportunities.
Using the TFP (Trade for Portfolio) Method
A common collaborative method is TFP, which stands for “Trade for Print” or “Time for Print.” In a TFP arrangement, a photographer and a model work together without monetary payment. Instead, the model receives a selection of the final, edited images from the photoshoot to use in their portfolio. Both parties contribute their time and skills to create professional photographs for their respective portfolios.
Successful TFP shoots require clear communication and mutual respect. Before the shoot, both parties should agree on the number of edited photos the model will receive, the delivery timeline, and how the images can be used. This method is not just for beginners, as experienced professionals use TFP shoots to experiment with new techniques or work on personal projects.
Asking Friends and Family
When first starting, your friends and family can be a convenient resource for models. Working with people you know creates a relaxed environment, which is helpful for practicing your directing and technical skills in a low-pressure setting.
The downside is that friends may not have the specific look your project requires. Their lack of professional experience might mean you need to provide more guidance on posing. It can also be awkward to direct people you have a personal relationship with, so you will likely need to branch out as your needs become more specific.
Leveraging Social Media and Online Forums
Social media platforms are useful for finding models. On Instagram, search for location-specific hashtags like #[yourcity]model or #[yourcity]photographer to find local talent. You can also post a casting call on your feed or in your stories, detailing the type of model you’re looking for and the project concept.
Beyond Instagram, dedicated Facebook groups for local photographers and models are hubs for collaboration, with members often seeking TFP opportunities. Websites like Model Mayhem and Purpleport are designed to connect photographers with models, stylists, and makeup artists. These platforms allow you to filter for collaborators based on experience and location.
Hiring Professional Models
When your project requires a specific look, reliability, and a high level of skill, hiring a professional model is a good option. The primary way to do this is by contacting a modeling agency. Agencies represent a roster of vetted models, and working through them provides professionalism and accountability for commercial or high-stakes shoots.
Models signed with an agency have experience, understand how to take direction, and possess strong posing abilities, which saves time on set. The agency acts as an intermediary, handling contracts, scheduling, and payment. Rates for professional models vary based on their experience, the market, and the project’s scope, with payment structured as an hourly or daily rate.
To begin, search for modeling agencies in your city or a nearby metropolitan area. Most agencies have websites where you can view their roster of models. When you reach out, consider contacting the “new faces” booker for models who are still building their portfolios, as they may be available for more accessible rates or even select TFP projects.
How to Professionally Contact Models
Whether you are offering a paid gig or a TFP collaboration, your initial contact with a potential model must be professional and clear. A well-crafted message demonstrates respect for their time and establishes you as a serious photographer.
Your outreach, via email or a direct message on a platform like Instagram, should be concise yet comprehensive. Start with a polite greeting and briefly introduce yourself and your work. Include a link to your online portfolio so they can see the quality and style of your photography.
In your message, clearly outline the following details:
- The project concept, including the theme, location, and potential date.
- The compensation, stating upfront if it is a paid rate or a TFP arrangement.
- The intended use of the images, such as for a personal portfolio, social media, or a commercial client.
- A clear call to action, asking if they are interested and available to discuss the project further.
Preparing for a Successful Photoshoot
Once a model has agreed to work with you, careful preparation is needed to ensure the photoshoot runs smoothly. This involves handling logistical details and legal formalities ahead of time.
Have the model sign a model release form, which is a legal contract that grants you permission to publish the photographs. The release should outline how and where the images may be used, protecting both you and the model from future legal disputes. This document is necessary if you plan to use the images for any commercial purpose, such as advertising or selling them as stock photography. You can find many free templates for model release forms online.
Maintain clear communication in the days leading up to the shoot. Create and send a call sheet to the model and any other team members. A call sheet is a document that outlines all information for the shoot, including the date, start time, location with parking details, a schedule, and contact information for everyone involved. Confirming these details a day or two before the shoot helps ensure everyone arrives prepared.