Earlier this week I spent 5 hours shooting with a model who I would describe as one of the best in the world - nine years in the industry, published on over 200 websites including MET-Art and Hegre Archives, covers of major international magazines including Penthouse, and she was asked for her autograph twice in the baggage reclaim area at Gatwick etc etc.

We then spent six hours talking business development - branding, merchandising - perfumes, toiletries, lingerie and condoms, plus new websites, TV channels and a Europe-wide competition to find the next great glamour models.

So let's run a quick poll - are you here:

because modelling is a bit of fun?

to make a bit of extra cash in your spare time?

because you earn a second income from modelling?

because you have every intention of being a household name?

Do you have a business plan? Do you know what you have to do to achieve that plan's objectives over the next one, two, five years?

And coming back to the competition mentioned above, would you be willing to go on an X-Factor style boot camp to learn from and be directed by one of the very best models in the business?

Sensible responses only please. No ramblings off on other subjects, and I'll ask the mods to delete the rubbish.

Barney at bd-company.co.uk / bdfoto.co.uk
01273 251813
07986 183948
Skype: ibudec
Simplicity in Photography for over 25 Years

bdfoto , Photographer  posted on 22/09/2010 08:19:53   Posted 92 times

Located:Littlehampton,West Sussex, UK
Member Since: 06/04/2009

Not all models want to aspire as a household name in the porn industry.

Quoting post from chris
Not all models want to aspire as a household name in the porn industry.

not a very helpful answer but funny none the less.

DragonLady , Digital Retoucher  posted on 22/09/2010 15:26:11   Posted 946 times

Located:London,London, UK
Member Since: 07/11/2008

Quoting post from chris
Not all models want to aspire as a household name in the porn industry.

An interesting, but rather assumptive answer.  In fact twenty years ago I did the very first test shoots for fashion model Claire Mulholland (still with Select Agency) and very much a catwalk fashion model.  This thread was NOT aimed solely at the porn industry.

Barney at bd-company.co.uk / bdfoto.co.uk
01273 251813
07986 183948
Skype: ibudec
Simplicity in Photography for over 25 Years

bdfoto , Photographer  posted on 22/09/2010 15:31:06   Posted 92 times

Located:Littlehampton,West Sussex, UK
Member Since: 06/04/2009

I had no idea that Select had mature models.

My ex'es daughter is with Storm. She did a lot of test shots travelling every few weekends to London.

At the age of 25 she's worked all over the world and has made a shed load of money.
She doesn't even need to go to castings.

All this throu' determination, perseverence and stayed 'picture hungry'.
This is where a lot of net freelance models fail.
I can only name one model that has had this type of drive.

Same as photography, first as a student latter assistant you took any opportunity to take pic's no matter what. ' Picture hungry'.

With my accountants head on ...............................

Having looked at your website, at 10p a day, I'd need 500 members just to feed and clothe myself.

If the site is run on a "50:50 profit-share basis", to earn £50 a day , I'd need 1,000 members.

So perhaps, as your site is unlikely to be much of a money-spinner, models might ask themselves "What is Barney in it for and is he serious about succeeding?"

Also, assuming the sales are spread evenly amongst the models, each model is likely to earn about £1 a day.

Perhaps models are not that dumb after all !

Perhaps you can enlighten us !

Quoting post from CostasK
With my accountants head on ...............................

Having looked at your website, at 10p a day, I'd need 500 members just to feed and clothe myself.

If the site is run on a "50:50 profit-share basis", to earn £50 a day , I'd need 1,000 members.

So perhaps, as your site is unlikely to be much of a money-spinner, models might ask themselves "What is Barney in it for and is he serious about succeeding?"

Also, assuming the sales are spread evenly amongst the models, each model is likely to earn about £1 a day.

Perhaps models are not that dumb after all !

Perhaps you can enlighten us !

Very good point.  My website is there is a promotional tool and I earn my income from published photo sets elsewhere, commercial imagery work in other fields, and commissions.  Trust me - I eat well!  BTW the models are largely fee earning.

Barney at bd-company.co.uk / bdfoto.co.uk
01273 251813
07986 183948
Skype: ibudec
Simplicity in Photography for over 25 Years

bdfoto , Photographer  posted on 23/09/2010 07:06:28   Posted 92 times

Located:Littlehampton,West Sussex, UK
Member Since: 06/04/2009

Quoting post from bdfoto

Very good point.  My website is there is a promotional tool and I earn my income from published photo sets elsewhere, commercial imagery work in other fields, and commissions.  Trust me - I eat well!  BTW the models are largely fee earning.

Barney at bd-company.co.uk / bdfoto.co.uk
01273 251813
07986 183948
Skype: ibudec
Simplicity in Photography for over 25 Years

You are just teasing us then with what sort of shots can be commercially viable? 

Or is this just a side-line.....?

GCImages , Photographer  posted on 23/09/2010 23:50:53   Posted 677 times

Located:Gloucestershire,Hampshire, UK
Member Since: 03/10/2009

Quoting post from GCImages


You are just teasing us then with what sort of shots can be commercially viable? 

Or is this just a side-line.....?

If you check my profile you'll see I spend quite a bit of time doing "boring commercial work" - it's actually in advertising and marketing and involves photography and graphic design.  That accounts for about 50% of my working life.  I don't think HMRC would ever call this a sideline - not with length of time my tax return is taking to do this year.

Barney at bd-company.co.uk / bdfoto.co.uk
01273 251813
07986 183948
Skype: ibudec
Simplicity in Photography for over 25 Years

bdfoto , Photographer  posted on 24/09/2010 00:20:17   Posted 92 times

Located:Littlehampton,West Sussex, UK
Member Since: 06/04/2009

Quoting post from bdfoto

If you check my profile you'll see I spend quite a bit of time doing "boring commercial work" - it's actually in advertising and marketing and involves photography and graphic design.  That accounts for about 50% of my working life.  I don't think HMRC would ever call this a sideline - not with length of time my tax return is taking to do this year.

Barney at bd-company.co.uk / bdfoto.co.uk
01273 251813
07986 183948
Skype: ibudec
Simplicity in Photography for over 25 Years

hey
i am 100% serious about my modelling career and feel i have the passion and ability to succeed
i have a list of goals/targets and slowly but surely ticking off ones that have been achieved
i would love to enter britains next top model but unfortunately i am just a little bit too short for their standards wich is a shame really but theres always other ways and paths in life and maybe that one was not meant for me! and i believe everything happens for a reason
watch this space
Sian Gentle x
*slightly baffled whilst looking through every one elses replies as they seem to be based on a completley different subject to the actual topic, i hope my quote was relevant*

Quoting post from siangentle

hey
i am 100% serious about my modelling career and feel i have the passion and ability to succeed
i have a list of goals/targets and slowly but surely ticking off ones that have been achieved
i would love to enter britains next top model but unfortunately i am just a little bit too short for their standards wich is a shame really but theres always other ways and paths in life and maybe that one was not meant for me! and i believe everything happens for a reason
watch this space
Sian Gentle x
*slightly baffled whilst looking through every one elses replies as they seem to be based on a completley different subject to the actual topic, i hope my quote was relevant*

Have you posted this on the right thread?

GCImages , Photographer  posted on 24/10/2010 01:50:24   Posted 677 times

Located:Gloucestershire,Hampshire, UK
Member Since: 03/10/2009

Quoting post from GCImages

Have you posted this on the right thread?

well the topid does stated *how serious are you about succeeding* in my eyes thats a question that needs to be answerd
and also everything else i put in my comment seemed relevant as other question were along the lines of, have you made goals/aims and would you ever consider going on a reality show
all these things i have spoken about so i do think i have posted it in the correct thread i just think everyone has gone off topic

Quoting post from siangentle

well the topid does stated *how serious are you about succeeding* in my eyes thats a question that needs to be answerd
and also everything else i put in my comment seemed relevant as other question were along the lines of, have you made goals/aims and would you ever consider going on a reality show
all these things i have spoken about so i do think i have posted it in the correct thread i just think everyone has gone off topic

Hi Sian

Thank you for getting this thread back to the original questions.

Barney

Barney at bd-company.co.uk / bdfoto.co.uk
01273 251813
07986 183948
Skype: ibudec
Simplicity in Photography for over 25 Years

bdfoto , Photographer  posted on 24/10/2010 07:37:01   Posted 92 times

Located:Littlehampton,West Sussex, UK
Member Since: 06/04/2009

Models say things like ; 'I want to get to the top'. What is the top ? to the top of what ?

It is my beliefe that a lot of "models" (95%) see these kind of sites as a free way to get some nice images of themselves... beats going to your local guy and spending money.

Most are not serious but they enjoy it, an amature/semi pro photographer may flatter them during a shoot and produce some good images which could give them an idea they can have a stab at doing it more seriously. But as they have entered into it half heartedly or 'for a laugh' they will never have the drive to succeed.

2 pence well spent


Cheers

Big Nige

P.S - I'm waffling again aren't I

nwpp , Photographer  posted on 24/10/2010 17:50:01   Posted 544 times

Located:Sittingbourne,Kent, UK
Member Since: 25/03/2009

Quoting post from nwpp
It is my beliefe that a lot of "models" (95%) see these kind of sites as a free way to get some nice images of themselves... beats going to your local guy and spending money.

Most are not serious but they enjoy it, an amature/semi pro photographer may flatter them during a shoot and produce some good images which could give them an idea they can have a stab at doing it more seriously. But as they have entered into it half heartedly or 'for a laugh' they will never have the drive to succeed.

2 pence well spent


Cheers

Big Nige

P.S - I'm waffling again aren't I

Ooooooooo you cynic

Who said art models don't have a sense of humour!!!!

RedDove , Model  posted on 24/10/2010 18:11:23   Posted 512 times

Located:Chippenham,Wiltshire, UK
Member Since: 27/07/2009

I think the question has answered itself by how few models have commented. Enough said.....

Oh, and just as an aside, with the "porn assumption" early in the thread, one of the girls who did some grid work for me signed a b/g porn deal this year in the states for a 12 month 24 film contract paying her £200,000 net of tax. Not bad eh.... She's back next April with a nice London flat fully paid for!

So to all models out there reading this success is all about opening your legs very wide !

From pit girl to in the pink girl.

Quoting post from siangentle

hey
i am 100% serious about my modelling career and feel i have the passion and ability to succeed
i have a list of goals/targets and slowly but surely ticking off ones that have been achieved
i would love to enter britains next top model but unfortunately i am just a little bit too short for their standards wich is a shame really but theres always other ways and paths in life and maybe that one was not meant for me! and i believe everything happens for a reason
watch this space
Sian Gentle x
*slightly baffled whilst looking through every one elses replies as they seem to be based on a completley different subject to the actual topic, i hope my quote was relevant*

I agree with Sian!!

I too am VERY serios about my modelling and im heartbroken I cant do catwalks and high fashion, or even get into top London agencies because im 2-3 inches too small!!

Its so frustrating, but as a freelance model, doesnt make me even the less determined!!

I work flippin' hard and travel on my own accord to get to destination for a decent outcome!

There are many photogrpahers out there that say, "Oh I would love to work with you, but tis a shame your so far away" - If they want to work with me that much, wouldnt they put some more effort into it?  I dont expecgt every photogrpaher to come and travel to me - nothing wrong with meeting half way is there?

Im so frustrated as I would love to model full time, cuz its my passion, but its hard to do it full time, if some photographers dont put in as much of an effort as I do...


www.rachaelholmes.co.uk - My Online Modelling Portfolio
www.rachaelholmes.co.uk/blog/ - My Online Modelling Blog

Sorry Rachael but you've failed the interview. It's not up to the photographer to meet you half way. It's up to you to travell to the photographer.

If you want to model that badly you'd put in the effort. Even if you were the right height you would fail with what you've written.