Finding Models for Photography

A

AdrParkinson

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As a hobbyist photographer, how would I go about finding willing subjects for photos? I mean for posed photos, not candid street photos.
I have tried sending a few messages through one model site, so far with no response. I don't know if it's because I can only offer TFP or the ones I messaged just aren't active anymore.
So are there any other options open to me? Or am I just going to be forced to shoot my own face?
I'm in Durban, BTW.
 
Well, I have an account that I hardly use. I post my images to Flickr and 500px instead as I don't really like Instagram.
 
AdrParkinson said:
As a hobbyist photographer, how would I go about finding willing subjects for photos?
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Two decades ago Mr Hegre asked himself the same thing - and now look!

Anyway, now that everybody is losing their jobs and the churches remain closed, you are soon going to have no shortage of subjects...
 
Polymathic said:
Social Media groups
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There was one Facebook group I looked at which was supposed to connect photographers and models. Instead, it was all full of people selling water bottles, face masks, and fingernails. Do you have any groups you'd recommend?
 
AdrParkinson said:
Well, I have an account that I hardly use. I post my images to Flickr and 500px instead as I don't really like Instagram.
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Well if you've got nowhere to show off the cool shots you've done, why would a model make the effort of driving out somewhere to meet some random? Not sure what you're expecting here tbh. Would make more sense to show your photos on the platform that models probably use more (instagram).
 
Hmm. I see you do aerial photography, underwater photography, land photography, object photography, subject photography. Hmm. Quite a range.

What kind of photos do you plan to do with these models?
 
abzo said:
Hmm. I see you do aerial photography, underwater photography, land photography, object photography, subject photography. Hmm. Quite a range.
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All from the comfort of Terra Firma. The shot of the planes was actually from the beach as they were banking, creating the illusion of them being at the same level as me. And the shot of the turtle was at uShaka.
abzo said:
What kind of photos do you plan to do with these models?
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I've had a few ideas, just something to add to my portfolio and to gain experience with shooting with models. One of my ideas was something kind of like this (not my image, obviously):

0e77bab4db13a571ac8d5058204f0c25.jpg
 
Back in the day modelbase was supposedly the place to look, but that was before instragram took off.

There are probably a bunch of "photographers" who want to use photography as a way to meet hot chicks, so I think you need to sell yourself in a way that will make it worth their time.
Models who already have good looking instragram profiles are probably less likely to bite.
 
AdrParkinson said:
There was one Facebook group I looked at which was supposed to connect photographers and models. Instead, it was all full of people selling water bottles, face masks, and fingernails. Do you have any groups you'd recommend?
Click to expand...
I haven't used Facebook in years.
 
AdrParkinson said:
As a hobbyist photographer, how would I go about finding willing subjects for photos? I mean for posed photos, not candid street photos.
I have tried sending a few messages through one model site, so far with no response. I don't know if it's because I can only offer TFP or the ones I messaged just aren't active anymore.
So are there any other options open to me? Or am I just going to be forced to shoot my own face?
I'm in Durban, BTW.
Click to expand...

Most modeling agencies won't entertain "shoot for free" offers at all. Models often get paid a daily rate and paid usage on top of that depending on where the image is published. It can get expensive very quickly.

Your best bet is finding friends / family or social media as others have suggested.
 
AdrParkinson said:
As a hobbyist photographer, how would I go about finding willing subjects for photos? I mean for posed photos, not candid street photos.
I have tried sending a few messages through one model site, so far with no response. I don't know if it's because I can only offer TFP or the ones I messaged just aren't active anymore.
So are there any other options open to me? Or am I just going to be forced to shoot my own face?
I'm in Durban, BTW.
Click to expand...
If you know any attractive people ask them first. After that reactive your instagram - that's where you'll find them. This is a pretty good read on how to approach them. https://petapixel.com/2017/08/05/contact-book-model-photo-shoot/

Most areas have a local camera club. You'll probably find them on facebook. Join their group and ask around.

Will you be paying them or are you hoping to find ones that will shoot for their book?
 
AdrParkinson said:
Well, I have an account that I hardly use. I post my images to Flickr and 500px instead as I don't really like Instagram.
Click to expand...
MightyQuin said:
Reading the first 3 posts of a thread. Ever heard of it?
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I did and it doesn't seem like he really has. It's not about what you don't like it's about what everyone uses.
 
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