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Posted by: Brian C Welch (65.33.90.37) on August 28, 2003 at 02:16:16

Location: orlando Florida

I am sure this question has been raised many times, but lately I have really been curious about the market for web photographers and models.

I have been a photographer for several years (about 12) and have had pretty good luck with the main stream stuff such as portraits, magazines, ads, boudoir and model portfolio. But I cant seem to shake the need to work with internet models, so I spend countless hours surfing portfolio sites, forums and sending emails, very little luck with finding good models, the better ones of course want to be paid, so I look for clients that are willing to pay (I am from the old school, where the client pays the model, not the photographer) and of course these clients want nude images. There is yet another new dilemma. There are fewer and fewer models available for nude work and the ones that are, every photographer has already shot them and therefore no exclusives to offer my clients. So I thought maybe I will test with some models for mainstream clients, well you know how that goes, very, very few models are selected for mainstream work and yet every model on the net wants to get paid (we all do) but like I said I am of the old school and cant pay them with out client backing. So the cycle continues, since I wont pay them I offer Testing, this then raises every red flag in a models head that I maybe a rapist or kidnapper or just plain pervert. So I get my own domain and web site and spent countless hours trying to convince people that I am a "real" photographer. It hardly seems worth convincing someone that will no-show or be difficult to work with to allow me to do them a favor and provide my services for free. Don't get me wrong I know there are a lot of creeps out there and protecting yourself is highest priority.

OK, OK sorry to ramble, my question is, how is it possible to make a living? What is the best way for models and photographers on the net to really benefit each other? How do models sift through all the creeps and hurtful so called photographers? How do photographers get passed all the flakes and models with unrealistic expectations?

There are thousands of us models and photographers that truley love what we do and with the amazing technology at our finger tips, you would think we could come together?

• briancwelch.com

Follow Ups:

• Re: web talent opinions please - Jim Holloman 11:20:40 08/30/03 (3)
  • Re: A footnote - Jim Holloman 11:49:36 08/30/03 (2)
    • Glad to see... - Eric Foltz 00:29:34 09/01/03 (1)
      • Re: Glad to see... - Jim Holloman 12:01:09 09/01/03 (0)
• Adding - SteveD 12:10:06 08/28/03 (0)
• I know - Roger 07:53:34 08/28/03 (0)

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: I am sure this question has been raised many times, but lately I have really been curious about the market for web photographers and models.

: I have been a photographer for several years (about 12) and have had pretty good luck with the main stream stuff such as portraits, magazines, ads, boudoir and model portfolio. But I cant seem to shake the need to work with internet models, so I spend countless hours surfing portfolio sites, forums and sending emails, very little luck with finding good models, the better ones of course want to be paid, so I look for clients that are willing to pay (I am from the old school, where the client pays the model, not the photographer) and of course these clients want nude images. There is yet another new dilemma. There are fewer and fewer models available for nude work and the ones that are, every photographer has already shot them and therefore no exclusives to offer my clients. So I thought maybe I will test with some models for mainstream clients, well you know how that goes, very, very few models are selected for mainstream work and yet every model on the net wants to get paid (we all do) but like I said I am of the old school and cant pay them with out client backing. So the cycle continues, since I wont pay them I offer Testing, this then raises every red flag in a models head that I maybe a rapist or kidnapper or just plain pervert. So I get my own domain and web site and spent countless hours trying to convince people that I am a "real" photographer. It hardly seems worth convincing someone that will no-show or be difficult to work with to allow me to do them a favor and provide my services for free. Don't get me wrong I know there are a lot of creeps out there and protecting yourself is highest priority.

: OK, OK sorry to ramble, my question is, how is it possible to make a living? What is the best way for models and photographers on the net to really benefit each other? How do models sift through all the creeps and hurtful so called photographers? How do photographers get passed all the flakes and models with unrealistic expectations?

: There are thousands of us models and photographers that truley love what we do and with the amazing technology at our finger tips, you would think we could come together?


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