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

1. 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.

2. I am traveling to a beautiful location and want to do a shoot.

3. 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.

4. I need models for mentor sessions and styled shoots. When I did workshops I needed them for those as well.

5. I do several commercial shoots a year and need models.

6. 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.

Photographer Model Calls | Why I do them.

I do a lot of model calls and have large group of models I work with. In fact I have a Facebook Group for model calls. I have over 100 members of the group, most in the North Texas area, but others from all over in case I want to do a model call when I travel too.

Why do I have them?
Some photographers use this as a way to boost their income. I have done this in the past, but not something I like to do. That is not my main focus of model calls. Yes some of my models do book a regular session later or buy photos from the model shoot, but they do get discounts off the sessions they book and the products.they buy. They can also earn products with my referral program with points system and purchase products with their points.

So what is my referral program? It’s a points earning system, the more they post on social media the more points they get. Refer someone to me and the get points. They need to keep track of their points, I recommend they develop their own hashtag to keep track of post.

What type of model calls do I do?
Equestrian; Were the focus is on the equestrian with their horse. Some call it horse & rider sessions, but I prefer equestrian sessions as not all equestrians are riders. I will also call them horse and humans sessions. It all depends on your definition of equestrian. These can be range from casual portraits, action under saddle or lifestyle.
Equine; Horses of all breeds. Can be conformation, liberty, headshots, pasture and more.
Model; Only a person or couple or even a family, no horses.

Reasons I do model calls.
Practice: Even though I have been doing this for many years, you can never have too much practice. Especially during slow seasons. I will admit that I loose motivation when I am not busy, so this is a way to get the motivation back. Also keeps me sharp and in “shooting” shape.
Example: After the lock-down last spring, I realized not shooting sessions for almost 2 months I lost the stamina to do a long session. I did a practice session with my daughter when the announced that we would be able to open up again soon and glad I did.
Stock Images: I sell a lot of stock images and their are certain type of images that don’t happen during photo sessions so I will do a model call for these.
Example: I visited a local equine vet and photographed a few procedures.
Need stock images visit my stock image site.
Creative outlet: Sometime I want to try something a little different for my own personal project. Usually involves some sort of props.
Example: Did a July 4th shoot with smoke bombs, earlier in the year-lots and lots of glitter. Every Halloween on of my assistants comes up a great shoot, which is more her creativity, I just find creative ways to photograph it.
Marketing & Social Media; I might need models for an event or other marketing material. Also when I post on my business page for a model call it gets so much interaction it always helps my social media algorithms.
Example: I have family mini sessions planned at a new location and needed images for my website and Facebook event page. I also did a promo video earlier this year.
Want to learn more on social media marketing visit my class on EPN.
Photography education/styled shoots: I do a yearly 3 day workshop and need numerous models. I also need models for mentor sessions, classes and video recordings for webinars. Styled shoots as well require models.
Example: Having a model for a mentor session so I can explain posing, using light is much better than just describing the methods.
Interested in equine photography education, visit my website.
Area I notice I am not getting a response from: I live in areas where there are more horse saturated than other areas. Those more saturated areas I have plenty of clients and get referrals from them. When I notice I am not getting referrals from certain location I will find some one in that area and reach out to them.
Example: My own hometown I have noticed a drastic drop in Senior sessions . I my kids where my referral system, but they graduated awhile back and I haven’t followed up on getting sessions here. I reached out to someone looking on my town’s Facebook group and have them scheduled for a model shoot soon.
My website: I have a style closet that I offer clients to borrow from and need photos of the items. I also want images of locations I shoot at.
Visit my Style Closet.
For fun: I enjoy what I do and love to shoot with other photographers that have the same passion as me. If I have a photographer friend coming into town and wants to shoot, I am glad a I have some great models to call on to set something up.

All the images on this blog where from recent model calls