Soliciting models, how-to?

[Janet Kimantas]

I wouldn't mind some input on approaching strangers and asking them to model (for photographs to be painted from).

We bought some luggage this past weekend at a location near where I work. The young girl who served us was stunning and I wanted to paint her. For the time being I am not accepting commissions and only working on portfolio stuff. I have all the time in the world and some money to spend. My question is how best to approach her - she is between 17 and 25 and I would suspect on the younger end of that. I don't want to look like the crazy woman and scare her off. I thought that I could offer that her dad OR her boyfriend could come, that we could do it at my house, her house or a third,neutral, location. I am willing to pay her, but would like to have some kind of contract between us (let's say her boyfriend enjoys extortion). What kind of money would be fair and reasonable? I live in a prosperous community of above average income with pockets of poverty-and who knows if she is in a pocket?

I'd like to be fair, not too weird, and protected.

Thanks, Janet

[Mike McCarty]

I have all the time in the world and some money to spend.

Janet,

These are the kind of words I like to here from a woman.

I've done my share of these types of arrangements and I would say that there are no set formulas for success. Each person, each circumstance has to be played differently.

If I were you I'd start out in the broadest of terms and find out if she is at all interested in the concept of doing some photo modeling. If she is game then work in the idea of payment and contract as you get to know her mind. You just have to present your idea and then let it play out in a common sense way. Being a woman would surely make these approaches easier.

You might also look for a professional model in your area. This would be so much simpler.

[Kimberly Dow]

I've gotten much better at approaching folks, even the younger girls. When I used to be worried about it, I'd talk too fast and act nervous and that's a sure way to scare someone off. All I do now is give the person a card, tell them I'd be interested in using them as a model, tell them I pay $10/hour and usually will use them only a couple hours. Then I tell them it will be fun, it is nothing to stress about. It works for me so far. Then of course there is a contract signed beforehand. If you know what you want to pay and what you want for poses, clothing, etc.. - I think it's easier to be taken seriously. Oh - and I also ask them for their phone number right then if they think they will be interested because often unless I call, they are too shy to make the first call.

[Janet Kimantas]

Originally Posted by Mike McCarty

These are the kind of words I like to here from a woman.

Too bad you're so far away, eh?

Anyway, guys, thanks for the tips. It makes sense that relaxed common sense is the way to go. I'm sure that there have been postings of sample contracts, so I will cruise around looking for those. In the meantime, something else to consider. Our area has had a lot of recent immigration from Sub-Saharan Africa, and I believe that this girl is a product of this. She didn't appear to have much of an accent, but it is likely that her parents are more traditional. It does put a bit more complexity into it all. Oh, and I was thinking more along the lines of $20-25/hr.

I will be using a professional child model that we used at work. Never thought of an adult though.

Janet

[Mike McCarty]

Oh - and I also ask them for their phone number right then if they think they will be interested because often unless I call, they are too shy to make the first call.

If I took this approach I would soon be doing life studies of convicts.

People are very skittish of strange men these days, and understandably so. It's probably true of strange women as well, but to a much, much lesser extent. This is just a fact of life that those of use so gendered have to be aware of. In fact, if you naively go about your business thinking - "hey, I'm no pervert, I don't have to worry about those things" you could be setting yourself up for a bunch of trouble.

Even when such encounters appear to be going well they could turn on you in an instant. I have been very lucky in my career in this regard. But when I think back upon the many times when "I" was vulnerable (and I mean the possibility of exposing yourself to false accusations), it makes me shiver.

As I stated above, I have done my share of courting strangers, but, I think it might be a very good policy to just stop it all together and only deal with professional models. Maybe I'll come back as a woman some day and I won't have to worry about such matters. Come to think of it, if I come back as a woman, I've promised myself that I'd be in a different profession.

The climate for these types of encounters has definitely changed in the last few years. I try and keep this in the very front of my mind.

[Janet Kimantas]

Mike,

I took the tone of your last post as being very cautionary. I then took a long, hard look at the whole scenario and came up with this: I'm approaching a young (possibly very young) possibly new Canadian from a possibly vastly different culture and offering her what mostly likely would be 3 times her normal salary to pose for some "pictures". Yikes. I might as well go down to the police station now. If my daughter got such an offer, I'd certainly want to report it. It really doesn't matter so much about being a woman in such a situation. As you say, these days...

Anyway, since this city has 2 Universities and a Community College, if I continue to have a burning desire to paint a young adult stranger, I will approach these schools about posting an ad.

I'm so glad to have had the opportunity to look at this from a few different points of view.

Oh, and as for the phone number situation, I too would not feel in any way comfortable in asking for that. Maybe the type and size of community I live in is a factor.

Janet

[Anthony Emmolo]

Hello Janet,

First, I must say I am not a professional portrait artist. I make my income from still-life sales through a gallery. However, I do have experience asking people to model for me and have had good success. I found that people were much more likely to take me seriously when I showed them my portfolio and then discussed the possibility of them modeling. I wouldn't go in unprepared. By showing the portfolio, (mine is a still-life portfolio,) people see the professional side of you first. The experiences that I've had is that most people find it a compliment, and for the money are happy to do oblige.

I do live in China, where foreigners are a bit of a rarity and people seem to want a foreign friend. That may be what makes it easier for me. Also, in China there would be no law suit or hassles from a local to a foreigner, so I may be completely naive to the difficulties that you were all writing about. Still, I say go for it if you feel good about the relations with the girl after you speak with her, and ask that her father is present at least the first time.

Good luck,
Anthony

[Sharon Knettell]

I worked for years as an illustrator befor I segued into portrait/figurative work. I have slunk around the toy departments at malls, visited ballet schools (really good) advertised on college web sites, hung out posters at colleges and asked friends if they knew anybody suitable.

The first thing you do is ask if they are really young is ' is your mother nearby'? If they are older I say "I would like to talk to to you about modeling but I MUST talk to your parents first." Tell them what you pay an hour, I pay $15 in New England, ask if they would be interested, give them your phone number, never ask for theirs, tell them if you have a web site or if not, say you have references.Tell them that you would like to talk to their parents first and have them come out to check you out. If they are older they can bring a friend.

I just found an Asian beauty in a very upscale neighborhood. Fortunately for me the kid was thrilled at the money as she was not one of the richer residents.

[Janet Kimantas]

Thanks, Anthony and Sharon,

You've given me new courage to approach this young lady. And you know, I could go back to the store and find that what I thought I saw in her isn't even there, that I just made it up. Or else that she changed jobs and I'll never find her again. So maybe I'll go up to the Mall this weekend with a business card and see what happens.

Thanks again.

By the way, Sharon, I am just itching to make the same segue as you did. Patience is a virtue...