Models -- Would you attend a portfolio building event?

We have been talking about an idea for a long time, but have sort of skirted the issue.

As you know, the philosophy here (besides this being a basically TFP group) is that models do not pay photographers -- else they are the client. Photographers pay models. Clients pay photographers. And, photographers and models work TOGETHER TFP -- trading services and developing artistic images in the "down" time to MUTUALLY benefit and get other jobs. Models paying photographers is *NOT* a revenue stream. That said [again]....

Models pay photographers all the time for "portfolio" images, and looking around at 10's of thousands of portfolios, the results are less than stunning for a number of reasons.

1) the photographer is not working for the model -- although he should be. Mostly it's ego, and they are getting paid to shoot a model, and use the model for their OWN needs, not hers.

2) the photographer is simply not that good, and the images reflect that, or there was no chemistry or "spark" to ignite the session.

3) the sets, locations, lighting, etc are not that good and do not show off the MODEL to her (or his) best advantage.

4) going back to #1 the images are *NOT* showing the model off -- all the things a potential client would need to know about the model such as good angles, bad angles, identifying marks, eyes, hands, legs, etc. All the things that can make or break a "look".

Models do not need heavily made up images, since the clients are going to have their own ideas for makeup.

Models do not have to be in incredibly artsy images that reflect more on the photographer, graphic designer, and such, and the model is barely visible or completely irrelevant. A MODELS PORTFOLIO is about the MODEL!

So, with all that in mind, would you attend an event that was on a regular basis, monthly or such (you didn't have to go to every month, and if popular, you might be limited to 1 time per quarter), that gave you the opportunity to get some new creative images, minimal makeup (unless it's something that needs special makeup) and a chance to work with 1 or 2 other models? There would be at least 2 photographers working as a team to get varied images.

The events would be scheduled on a rolling window, so there would 2-4 models around at any one time. You'd get about 15 minutes of individual shooting, and up to an hour of total shooting. We'd offer critiques of the images (yeah, they are our own, but we are hardest on ourselves, really!), and during the shoot you'd get instruction on posing that you could compare to the end results.

Because we've seen some terrible things (and choices) done to provided images, and the goal is to DEVELOP your portfolio, part of the service is that we'd edit and send you the best images, with only a small copyright/by line on the edge that you could use for non-commercial, portfolio or promotional use. (that means no selling the images, paid websites or downloads, but you can use them on your own websites, model sites, whatever). If we found less than 5 good images, you'd be invited back at NO fee to try again. Sometimes, there are off-days for everyone.

For the first few events, the cost would be about $35. This is not a fee for service, but helps cover overhead, expenses, refreshments, and things that go into the shoot. They will not be simple backgrounds, but fully planned "themed" sets that are different for each shoot. That might go up or down depending on the theme. Some are more costly (eg: bodypaint), others have higher prop costs (food shoots), etc.

These shoots are actually similar to what we provide to private customers for significantly more money. They are *NOT* TFP shoots, since they are angled at the model's portfolio specifically. These are part of our model development, something we've talked about here - to offer services and opportunities specifically for models. During the group shoots, and events, the models get a free ride because such shoots are always heavily weighted on the photographer's side. The model development shoots are PURELY for the model's benefit, and portfolio, so she/he needs to help cover the costs.

Some would call these "test" shoots, but because of the instruction and critique, these are really DEVELOPMENT shoots. New models are welcome to see if they have what it takes (a look, a desire, the ability to work in groups, etc).

Everyone wants to know what is in this for the "other side" so clearly we'd be looking for word of mouth, spreading the word about our services, and this group, and locating new models for our other work (such as our group shoots, art shoots, etc). Because the images from these events are MODEL-FOCUSED, the the "trade" or benefit to us is in FUTURE modeling sessions, not from these events.

We'd like to test this concept later this month, and would like to know if there is an interest, and to find 5-8 models who would like to be in the test group. If you are, and the concept works, we'll let you come to one other shoot for no charge. Remember, the themes will vary from shoot to shoot, maybe holiday themed, seasonal, or associated with a certain look or type of modeling.

So, models, spread the word. Point people here. Please don't repost this, just summarize it and post a link back. Why? The ideas/concepts may change, and we'll be coming up with dates and specifics that people need to see (and they change, the postings would be out of date).

Comments welcome (even from photographers). If these shoots work, and the concept is sound, we might expand it to include photographer development, but not at the same shoot. The two types of work are NOT compatible. "Art" photography is a mutual goal, and somewhat different, which is why TFP works so well for that, but seems to fail, and generate such heated debates for "portfolio development."