Model Calls: Why I do them and what other reasons to do them.
What are some of the reasons why photographers do model calls?
I do a lot of model calls, especially during my slower months. I want to talk about why I do them and why other photographers do them. They can benefit both the you and the models involved. Here are some key reasons why other photographers and why I do model calls:
Portfolio Building: Model calls can provide you with opportunities to expand their portfolios. By working with a variety of models, you can showcase your versatility and skills across different styles and genres of photography. Remember to photograph what you want to shoot. If you want to photograph equestrians, don’t use families or bridals for example (unless they include a horse of course) in your model calls.
Not always but I do prefer to use model call images on my marketing materials.
Skill Enhancement: Working with different models challenges you to adapt your techniques and skills. You can learn new posing, lighting, and composition strategies, which ultimately improves their overall proficiency as a photographer. I prefer to use my models to try and develop different poses. Do use different body types and don’t limit to only female.
Creative Exploration: Model calls encourage you to explore new concepts, themes, and ideas. You can experiment with different looks, moods, and settings, pushing the boundaries of your creativity.
Skill Exchange: Model calls can be a platform for skill exchange and mutual learning. You can share their knowledge and expertise with models, while models can provide insights and feedback from their perspective. If you are working with an experienced model, they can provide you with an easy session where you can pick up some great poses. If you see something you. like, ask them to breakdown the pose.
Marketing and Promotion: Model calls can be used as marketing tools to promote a your work. Sharing behind-the-scenes content, final images, and testimonials from models can attract potential clients and increase visibility. You can even use your models to promote you. Listen to this podcast on one of my methods.
Some photographers use model calls to make money through various strategies and approaches. Here are some ideas to help you monetize model calls. Although I know longer do this, I did use a model program as I talked about in the podcast for Seniors to promote my business. I also did another program to make money. My model team was require not only to promote me to earn images, they could also pay for their images. I much rather them to earn them.
Now the main reasons I personally do model calls
Practice. Never stop practicing. especially after slow months. Helps you get back into shooting shape. I almost always do a model call after a slow period.
I am traveling to a beautiful location and want to do a shoot.
Trying new poses. I do not want to experiment with a client. I want to test it out and tweak it as necessary. I may try the same pose with different body types, some poses do not work for all.
I need models for mentor sessions and styled shoots. When I did workshops I needed them for those as well.
I do several commercial shoots a year and need models.
As i get older, I am moving more to passive income and am building a large library of stock images and so model calls to get subjects.
Where do I get models from?
I have a page on my website for model applications, in fact it is the most popular page when it comes to internet searches. Occasionally I will make a post on social media to get more applications, I also have the link in my link in bio on Instagram. After they fill out the application I invite them to my private Facebook group. At the moment I am just shy of 200 models.
Do I need to pay models, or should they pay me?
I personally do not charge even if they lack experience and all my models sign releases. I do give social media images. The amount depends on how much effort they go into prep or how much work. Getting a horse ready is no small task and if they have to haul to a location, that is not cheap. In some case where theyhave to band or braid, I will give a high res image in exchange.
A contract is also a good idea so models know what is expected of them, what they get, what they can do with the images and so forth.
