So you have a nice camera?
You've even gotten out there and taken some real good pics with it.
You're friends have all seen your work by now and you have heard lot's of positive comments.
So it's official: You?re a photographer.
Being a photographer is something that no matter how good you are there just seems to always be something you can learn.
Some other area, some other subject, something you haven't photographed yet.
I'm a photographer too.
But like everyone else I am far from perfect and I still find myself constantly learning.
I am always signing up for classes, or researching the internet, or even just going out to get some pictures of something I have never photographed before.
What I specialize in is adult entertainment.
Yea, I know, some of you are disgusted by that and some might think it's pretty cool. I get both reactions.
Some photographers out there don't think the adult industry even has "real" photographers in it.
However in my area of San Luis Obispo County in the state of California it does pay my bills.
As a matter of fact I own the largest studio in our area.
The ultra cool wedding photographers are losing their studios because they can't pay rent and I am still plugging along.
Anyway we're not a bad bunch in the adult world but I am faced with something every day that other people in my industry as well as other photographers from all walks of life ask. How do you get the girls willing to get photographed naked?
If I lived in L.A. it would be simple but expensive.
There are thousands of girls in big cities ready, willing, and able to get photographed in their birthday suits.
These are professional models and actresses. But I live in a town with only about 25,000 people.
My town is small and we consider it to be the next Napa Valley.
Wine people tend to look down at adult modeling and instantly think of porn.
A girl modeling in a bikini is considered porn by some of the snobs that live in my area.
So??..
small town girls, always worried about friends and family finding out. In a small community like mine this is very possible and even likely.
Before we get started I do have to remind you that there are many laws concerning adult photography.
This is a whole other article in itself but make sure you get the details about 2257 compliance issues like ID's (models HAVE to be over 18) and model releases.
This can save you a world of headache down the road.
Let's get on with it. To start with I have lived in the small town of Paso Robles for many years.
Everybody knows me which in my case is a good thing. Your reputation will matter a lot to the girls you will be trying to photograph.
In many cases the girls have never done nude modeling before or for that matter modeling of any kind. Before you hit the street with total strangers you might try your friends.
Friends and girlfriends are an excellent tryout. However most of these friends that are willing to help you out won't sign a release to go on the internet, magazine, or any other publication.
It is an excellent tune-up before a stranger comes in which you must pay for.
Usually these friends of yours will only want a nice print. Something larger like an 8 1/2 x 11 would make them very happy.
Tune up accomplished and it's on to the real thing. Hit the street runnin'.
I got some of my first models from businesses where the girls knew me. It started with bartenders and customers from a couple of places I would hang out and have a beer with my buddies.
Next were a couple of girls from a local gas station that I used to fill up at. After that the local pizza delivery girl and a waitress from my favorite Mexican food joint were posing for me.
I have found over the years that good looking girls tend to have good looking friends. Treat these girls with the utmost respect and make them feel very safe and very beautiful.
Their friends will soon be calling you. Pay them as promised up front and ALWAYS honor their limits or "lines" as it's called in the business.
Pay in my area from me is $50 an hour for bikini and lingerie
. I give $100 an hour for nude and of course this is one of the proverbial carrots that I dangle in front of the model as an incentive to shoot nude. It's simple; take off your bikini and your pay doubles.
I printed out some 4 x 6 cards with a couple sexy non-nude pictures on it.
On this card I had my e-mail address, name and a cell phone number.
A little brief statement about modeling and that was it, nothing too involved.
These were used more for what I refer to as cold calling.
Cold calling is the most risky, pain in the butt, and even dangerous way to find models.
Approaching a stranger on the street and out of the clear blue sky ask if she would like to work for you.
This will absolutely give you the highest percentage of rejections.
I have a batch of cards printed out especially for this with all the same info but with the name of Jeff instead of my name Gary Lee on them.
When a stranger calls up saying his wife was given this card by Jeff I can pass it off as "some college kid we hired to try to find models".
I would consider it the ultimate compliment if someone thought that my wife or girlfriend was so beautiful that she could be a model as long as the person wasn't rude but you will always run across that one guy that it offends.
How about where you're at right now? The internet is perfect for some photographers especially if you?re a little shy.
There are plenty of girls on the World Wide Web ready to make some money.
Be cautious!!! There can be some real weirdo's out there in computer land.
I have had criminals with boyfriends who simply were trying to find my place to be their next burglary.
How about girls so hopped up on drugs that they want to work RIGHT NOW because they gotta have the money, and no-show's?
My highest percentage of no-show flakes comes from the internet. First thing to remember about cyberspace it is such a vast area.
You don't need to interview models from New York when your studio is in California. One site that get's them rounded up from your area is craigslist.com.
This site let's you put your search into just your area. I simply go to United States, California cities, and then San Luis Obispo County. Voila! I'm there!
Now you can click on the adult section and place your ad to get your phone ringing. Remember these girls are one's you definitely need to meet in public.
You might even be scared in public with a few of these girls. My ratio runs about 10 calls and about 3 actually show up.
Then out of those 3 only 2 I'm willing to hire with only 1 actually showing up for her appointment for work. 10% is not very good odds but it is easy I will say that.
Just an occasional real weird lunch that's all. Another site full of flakes but runs a 10% finding rate is modelmahem.com. It also lets you search by specific area.
When you put up your info to join remember to list that you shoot nudes. I list that and I still get girls calling me for work and then telling me that they don't shoot nudes.
Some girls just don't read and always remember to go over about shooting nudes on the phone or in your e-mails.
Never assume the model has read the ad you put up. That way you don't have a girl coming all the way to your town for initial interview and then she gets offended when asked about nude work.