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Muse wanted, Pittsburgh area. For details, check here:
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= My OMP Portfolio (Model/Photographer Site):
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You can see the flag-draped coffins
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Journal Entry Begins Below:
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I forget about the journals here, mainly because there is no way to find local people with similar interests like on other sites. Usually, I use these journals when something on this site provokes me. Here's a copy of my latest model/photographer blog on myspace. One day I'll have my sites up and running the way I want.
On one of the model sites, this came up again. A "photographer" posted that he's not making his rent, and while he's a supporter of TF* he wonders if models would be willing to "to pay a photographer say $50.00 that you'd normally be glad to TF* with" or if he should look for other avenues of income.
This is something I find the most "crazy" about the internet modeling sites. In the past, the portfolio mills, and the places charging "models" to "become a model" were harder to find. They were in the classifieds or yellow pages, not mixed into the mainstream of photo/model "life" as they are on the web.
As the economy worsens, there are going to be more and more people who are going to try to PREY upon people's hopes and dream to be a model, or find work. They talk about "investing" in yourself, and all that other crap. It's a LINE pure and simple!! All it will do is lead you further in debt, holding 3 jobs to pay to be "model" -- that's crazy!!!
I need to reiterate the main point -- MODELS DO NOT PAY PHOTOGRAPHERS!! A model is a working person, who GETS PAID!
If you have a job, or a choice of work, why would you PAY to work? Why would a model PAY a photographer? The idea is for a model to GET PAID, just as a photographer's goal is to get paid.
The model gets paid by posing, for her look, her skill, or simply her body.
A photographer gets paid by the sale/use/etc of the images they create.
A photographer who pays models has an outlet for the images --eg: a specific use in an ad, a website, prints, etc.
A model who would pay a photographer (is a client, first of all) but would also have a use for the images, such as her own pay site, or a need for a specific image that she can't find a TF* opportunity for.
When neither the model nor photographer is getting paid by a 3rd party, and they want to work, do something new, show a new look, or just have fun, they collaborate on a TF* project. *THAT* is why there is TF*. It' not trying to get free models or free photos -- it's a *TRADE* and a LEGAL contract.
Photographers are *NOT* supposed to make a living off "models" and models aren't supposed to PAY for work! It would be like a road crew paying to build roads rather than getting paid for building them.
What is the point of having images in a portfolio (unless you are the artist, and want to show off your work) that you paid for? A portfolio is supposed to show off what you can do and will do (often by showing what you have done in the past). The idea is to get more work -- not to PAY MORE TO GET MORE IMAGES IN YOUR PORTFOLIO!!
This works for BOTH models and photographers. What is the point of a "slick" modeling portfolio that *YOU* paid for!! It's supposed to be what people WERE WILLING TO PAY YOU FOR! *THIS* is why model agencies ignore the slick portfolio-mill portfolios and send you to their own photographer(s) for a quick test. Anyone can buy a good portfolio. The idea is WHO WILL PAY YOU to make an image, *AND* if you are capable of making that image without too much stress, or photo shop, or attitude, etc. The model agencies want to know if they can SELL you to someone else who will pay them and you.
Models do not pay photographers. Period.
Scott
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Footnotes:.
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Deviants I've Worked with:
Who pays whom? Models vs Photographers 
Annoyed
Devious Comments
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It's not the size of the lens. It's how you use it.
~me
i am a very big fan of your work, thank you for allowing us the pleasure to see your work and to learn from you. thanks.
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LIFE IS SHORT TAKE ADVANTAGE AND LIVE IT TO THE FULLEST
If you sit back and think about it, it all makes sense. The idea is to get SOMEONE ELSE's (as Danny Divito said, OPM -- Other People's Money). That's why people find more "work" on sites like MySpace than they do on sites like ModelMayhem. It's *not* because *TF* "ruined" the "industry" (TFP has been around longer than most of the people's griping about it's parents), it's because models and photographers don't _IN_GENERAL_ pay each other, unless there is a specific JOB being worked on.
Photographers will pay models to pose, like artists pay figure models and art classes pay models. But where have you ever heard of an art model paying an artist to pose for him?
That is called a "COMMISSION" and is a work for hire.
Anyway, I really feel for the people who have worked 3 jobs to pay model mills, "agents" and photographers for the privilege of working. Someone is always willing to take advantage of another's hopes and dreams.
That's another thing -- you don't pay agents and agencies. They pay YOU when they find you work, and they take a percentage, from 10-30% depending. They ALSO make their money from OTHER PEOPLE. If they aren't willing to pay you, and invest in you -- that means paying for your "book" and "test" images -- they really aren't interested. If they were, they would snap you up, lock you up, sign you up, before their competition did. Think about that carefully. Brutal. Ruthless. But so is the modeling industry.
If modeling is a JOB, as it is supposed to be for most people thinking about it, it should PAY YOU just like any other job. Sure, you invest in yourself -- INTELLIGENTLY and PRUDENTLY. That means doing TF* when it will help you (or even if it doesn't help you directly, by helping others, they REMEMBER and that can help you later on). It means keeping your look in tune -- hair, skin, etc. Doing your nails. Not making changes to your look without updating your portfolio, etc.
A model's portfolio should show what she is capable of doing NOW (or tomorrow) *NOT* yesterday. People don't pay you for yesterday.
Most portfolios for models on MM are very, very bad. Here, on DA, it's different. You can create folders for your past work -- as an art gallery--, as well as a "featured" or "CURRENT LOOK" folder for what you look like now, and are interested in doing NOW -- for your "PORTFOLIO"
A model's portfolio needs to be CURRENT. That is what people pay for.
A photographer's portfolio needs to be a careful mix of what he has done, can do, and is capable of, as well as a concentration on his new work, and what he WILL DO and CAN DO for you tomorrow.
Models and photographers have very different needs in a portfolio, which is why you should pick your images for showing YOU off, and let the photographer pick the images that are creative.
The photographer is selling his art/artistic ability. You are selling your "look" and your ability to sell THEIR product.
Your portfolio shouldn't advertise the photographers, but should emphasize YOU.
A photographer's portfolio shouldn't promote models (unless that's his business) but rather his ability to USE MODELS to promote a product, look, sell a service, etc.
My portfolio here? As I said, I don't post my art. The images I post are usually for the models, and to help people get work, or -- like you -- figure things out.
I'm in my retirement. This is all fun for me
Scott
PS: The "art" modeling and bulk of "internet" modeling is just for fun, making nice pictures, the infamous "seeing naked girls" and such. As such, it's not like trying to "be a model." It's about getting your pictures taken, and sometimes getting paid for it. "modeling" is about a job, an industry, selling a product, etc. Don't confuse the two because it's all called "modeling".
(wow, long enough to be it's own new journal entry!)
i couldn't agree more with you and this whole thing about who makes money and where....you nailed it with your journal ..thankyou!
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a black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere
Groucho Marx
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