There was a question on a forum about working with online models, especially ones with ‘attitude’ or the flaky ones who show up late and unprepared… if at all. Online agencies have no guardian or gatekeeper. Anyone can simply sign up and they are now a ‘model.’ There really is nothing wrong with that, and it is a terrific way for talented models who may not be tall enough for the traditional agency. Agencies typically will not consider models under 5′8″ with 5′9″ being the norm. Working with agency models has always been a wonderful experience with me. I have never had a no-show, or had issues with wardrobe and professionalism with agency models. Online agencies are a different matter.

The author of the question was wanting to know why models don’t show up, or want to bring ‘escorts’, or show up with their clothes in a bag - wrinkled beyond recognition. Why models with no credentials want to be paid money for shooting when the photographers are wanting to get paid? And how to deal with a model with ‘attitude’? We simply cannot go into all of those, but we can discuss how to make your dealings with online models easier.

There are some terrifically talented models in the 5′5″ range and they work a lot. From commercial to print to glamor and more, the height restriction doesn’t get in the way for a large group of models who market themselves and have a look that sells. The two largest Online modeling sites are OMP (www.onemodelplace.com) and Model Mayhem (www.modelmayhem.com). Both have terrific models and both have duds. Lots of duds.

Getting a wonderful, talented model is a joy on a shoot. Having a dud means in many cases that there is no shoot… she didn’t show. It can be worse, model bringing brooding boyfriend or chatty girlfriend who then team up with under the breath ‘private’ conversations. Personally those things simply don’t happen to me. I have things I look for when booking a model through an online agency. In most cases there is a ‘conversation’ that happens at the beginning of a booking. If I note a model who looks like someone I want to shoot, I have some criteria that I apply to determine if there may be any problems. Foolproof? Nawww… but it hasn’t failed me yet.

Here are a few things that I think about when conversing with models. In somewhat order of importance.

1. What does her portfolio look like? Does it have a bunch of poorly lit, stupid topless crap? Does she look like a hooker (or a Governors girlfriend…. heh)? Does the portfolio have camera phone images with a mix of her sticking her pierced tongue out or making that stupid gang thing with the hands? Or her and her girlfriend making out at a bar? Yes to any of them is a NO for me. Serious models would either know better or not go there to begin with.

2. When I post a casting and I am meticulous in giving all the information needed, and I get a return message that says…”I’m interested… send me more information…” Gimmee a break! I did that in the casting and the model seems to be too stupid to read. That’s a big NO to me. Life’s too short, ya know. If they cannot take the time to read the well detailed casting call, they are not models. Models know how to read a casting call.

3. A model that sends me a note responding to a note I sent to her 6 weeks ago? “Are you still looking.? Naw… dork! Now that girl will not show up at the shoot either. She is either only interested when she is bored or simply not ‘into’ it. I work with people who are ‘into’ it.

4. Models with big egos and small talent. Nope… not interested. You know the ones. Five crappy pics at the beach and she is “…only interested in paid assignments.” Not with me… I want to see you can shoot first. I may want to do a ‘test’ before the shoot. (Yes, I still call them ‘tests’ - I guess someday I will have to change to the strange ‘TFP’ thing (time for prints)… but to me that means that the models time is worth prints from me. OK… sure. I believe that a model has to work hard to be a model, trying to take a shortcut means they don’t.

5. This is a personal thing for me: Tattoos, piercings and such. Nope. NOTE AGAIN: This is a personal decision on my part. I have many friends, talented friends who have tattoos. But I don’t shoot them for my port. I may shoot them for a personal, fine art thing, but not my book. (I will discuss this further in another post about creating a portfolio that shows what you do… watch for it.) If, however, you are looking for piercings and tattoos, it would be nice if the model had photographs that showed what they are. Then there is no surprise waiting… I hate surprises.

6. Finally… does the profile read like a MySpace blog about a childish, self-indulgent moron. Favorite color, what band she likes, how her BF is so hott… If she refers to herself as a GRRRLLLL or whatever. She wont show cause it isn’t serious for her. You want to work with people who are seriously interested in making images and growing their career.

Information for today’s photographer. From novice to pro, LE Magazine has it all.

What I look for:

7. I like models who have a variety of images in her portfolio… diverse as far as looks and wardrobe. Do her poses look fresh and real? Does she present a set of faces that range from big smiles to sultry vixen. Can she do both well? I want to see an attempt at modeling as a living reality instead of modeling as passive participant. I am not sure how to even explain it… does she look wooden or lifelike? How is the skin? Weight? Hair?

8. A profile that speaks to what she is looking to do as a model without telling me about her latest tattoo, or her angst about her mom seeing her ‘private’ pictures is very much preferred. If the model states she doesn’t do nudes and half of her images are nude or that crap they call ‘implied’, it tells me that there is simply a mental problem there I don’t need. A profile that states goals for the modeling she wants to do, photogs she has worked with (listed in a professional manner) and a statement of what she is looking for at the moment… that’s professional and cool for me.

9. When initial contact is made, we move to the next level. If the response is timely and professional that means she will show up. If she is interested in making images that are what you want to do… that is a good thing. If she responds with questions like… “what do you have in mind?” after reading the well crafted post I sent her - sheesh, she just doesn’t get it. Maybe it is an insecurity, a general disinterest in what I worked so hard to prepare, or simply stupid. I don’t have time. I take time to craft a fully informational casting call (dates, maps, wardrobe, MU/Hair status, style (editorial/glamour) even links to images to be considered as guidlines. And I get… “I’m interested. Tell me more…” Forget it.

10. To be fair, models want some direction from the photographer. If you can’t tell her what you want to do, how does she know that you are as serious as you think you are? Simply saying that you want to get together to “do some shoots…” is not enough. Models calling me to do the same are not interesting to me. State that you want to do some location editorial, maybe send them to a website that has images that are sort of what you want to do… “See this page, I love the feeling of the shots… do you have any wardrobe like this? I have a couple of locations that will work.” “I need some headshots that are retro… do you have access to any hats or retro like wardrobe that could fit in this genre or look?” Then when the model reads your post she realizes that you have a vision, a point to the shoot. She also understands that you are very interested in making a good shot… one that both can use to move their careers forward.

11. Ask for recommendations. If the model has photogs listed, send a note to a random selection asking how she was and did she show up on time. Tell her to do the same “Here is a list of models I have worked with lately. Give them a ping and ask how their experience was.”

12. For Photographers: get the reputation of the photographer that delivers the prints or images when they said they would. Briana is waiting for images she shot with a photographer over 4 months ago. Yeah, that’s just great… models deal with asshats like him and we (photographers who are not, well, asshats) all pay for it. Deliver… be enthusiastic. Be professional. Pick up girls in bars, not on your shoot. Don’t ask for things that will make her uncomfortable. If you don’t know what that is, you are not ready to be a photog… Drive the shoot… don’t hold back. Be enthusiastic, excited, professional and creative.

Before you know it models will be seeking YOU out for shoots.