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Posted by: royce (205.188.209.42) on May 29, 2003 at 00:11:53

Location: ATL

What does work for potential models and model hopefuls?
Grocery stores in blue jeans and a T-shirt, walking down the atreet w/friends (a couple of very well known models have been discovered this way)
Or how about expensive photos from a top fashion photgrapher and weekly open calls? (Some gorgeous and very qualified "models" have done this for years and still need to wait tables in order to eat.)
What was unnaccepted yesterday is the norm today(Internet model directories) What was a norm today is outdated tomorrow (uninspired zed cards)
Today, more than ever, the evolution of time saving devices has made time an even more elusive "animal"- yet, you would contend and would have models believe that the ability to, in minutes, flip through a book of quality images or tap a button from your laptop is not preferrable for agents and scouts looking to find the "ONE", as oppossed to wading through , sometimes hundreds of possibles for hours, and still not finding the "ONE".
We would have models believe that a poloroid snapshot,taken by cousin Elroy, will offer them quicker admittance into this "billion dollar" world than a professional and marketable zed card bound in a book.
Past incarnations of this idea will not allow me to factually debate your concerns -But as I stated earlier , times change.
I believe the issue here is not whether or not it (The Modeling Directory) will be used as a tool, but whether or not the consistent quality of the images and service validates and allows it to be used as a tool.
The answer to that is "yes", not because it has or has not worked in the past (can you imagine if we,as photographers adhered to that creed when creating our images) but because every industry, without exception, looks to streamline and create more efficient and effective ways of doing what they do.
Roger, I applaud your efforts to police an industry that is fraught with fraudelent individuals looking to make a quick buck on the dreams of dreamers, but i respectfully say that we as fashion/portfolio photographers, especially those of us with vision
(at least in our minds) stand on a moral and ethical high ground that, often, does not allow us to see our own hypocrisy.
We create images for hundreds of model hopefuls and potentials (Unless we are in that elite group who only shoots working models), and if we're lucky maybe one them or two make it to the level where they can truly be considered a professional model, yet we, with complete absolution, cash every check,money order and credit slip we receive- and it is doubtful that even one of us has ever considered lowering our rates for those who,we know, stand little to no chance of gracing anything other than a possible spot in our portfolios.
Do we not have a moral and ethical obligation to give our perception on their potential marketability in the fashion industry?
Models spend hundreds and sometimes thousands on portfolios and comp cards,(from reputable photographers)tools that do not work for some and others never use or take advantage of.(Even those with potential. So can we honestly say that this opportunity, one with the consistent "slimness" as virtually all of the "opportunities" the world of fashion and modeling has imposed on all but a chosen few, is posed as anything more or less than that- An opportunity.

Follow Ups:

• Even with the best of intentions ... - Doug Lester 10:38:46 05/29/03 (0)
• Re: What Works? - Marc Grant 09:17:51 05/29/03 (0)
• Hard back vs. hard body??? - Dan Howell 09:12:37 05/29/03 (0)
• What doesn't work - Roger 07:43:53 05/29/03 (0)
• KISS - Michael McGowan 05:17:50 05/29/03 (0)
• And what of YOUR vision - David - WebModels 04:28:38 05/29/03 (0)

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Comments:
: What does work for potential models and model hopefuls?
: Grocery stores in blue jeans and a T-shirt, walking down the atreet w/friends (a couple of very well known models have been discovered this way)
: Or how about expensive photos from a top fashion photgrapher and  weekly open calls? (Some gorgeous and very qualified "models" have done this for years and still need to wait tables in order to eat.)
: What was unnaccepted yesterday is the norm today(Internet model directories) What was a norm today is outdated tomorrow (uninspired zed cards)
: Today, more than ever, the evolution of time saving devices has made time an even more elusive "animal"- yet, you would contend and  would have models believe that the ability to, in minutes, flip through a book of quality images or tap a button from your laptop is not preferrable for agents and scouts looking to find the  "ONE", as oppossed to wading through , sometimes hundreds of possibles for hours, and still not finding the "ONE".
: We would have models believe that a poloroid snapshot,taken by cousin Elroy, will offer them quicker admittance into this "billion dollar" world than a professional and marketable zed card bound in a book.
: Past incarnations of this idea will not allow me to factually debate your concerns -But as I stated earlier , times change. 
: I believe the issue here is not whether or not it (The Modeling Directory) will be used as a tool, but whether or not the  consistent quality of the images and service validates and allows it to be used as a tool.
: The answer to that is "yes", not because it has or has not worked in the past (can you imagine if we,as photographers adhered to that creed when creating our images) but because every industry, without exception, looks to streamline and create more efficient and effective ways of doing what they do.
: Roger, I applaud your efforts to police an industry that is fraught with fraudelent individuals looking to make a quick buck on the dreams of  dreamers, but i respectfully say that we as fashion/portfolio photographers, especially those of us with vision 
: (at least in our minds) stand on a moral and ethical high ground that, often, does not allow us to see our own hypocrisy.
: We create images for hundreds of model hopefuls and potentials (Unless we are in that elite group who only shoots working models), and if we're lucky maybe one them or two make it to the level where they can truly be considered a professional model, yet we, with complete absolution, cash every check,money order and credit slip we receive- and it is doubtful that even one of us has ever considered lowering our rates for those who,we know, stand little to no chance of gracing anything other than a possible spot in our portfolios.
: Do we not have a moral and ethical obligation to give our perception on their  potential marketability in the fashion industry?
: Models spend hundreds and sometimes thousands on portfolios and  comp cards,(from reputable photographers)tools that do not work for some and others never use or take advantage of.(Even those with potential. So can we honestly say that this opportunity, one with the consistent "slimness" as  virtually all of the  "opportunities" the world of fashion and modeling has imposed on all but a chosen few, is posed as anything more or less than that- An opportunity.


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