Over the last few weeks I have been looking through the many groups that I am in on social media and I have started to notice a theme as of late. I guess it is that time of year and everyone is wanting to update their portfolios so a lot of the discussions in the various groups have turned to how to do a model call and/or do I need to do a model call.
I will admit that this is something that I have thought about for a while. Is a model call something that I need to do? Is it something that I want to do? Is it something that is going to help me and my business? If so how is it going to help? I will admit there are several areas that I am not so sure that it will help, but I am sure that over all there are some benefits.
So the first thing to address is do I really need to do a model call? I think that this is a by photographer basis only. It depends on how much work you have been putting out in the previous year, and it depends on where you plan to take yourself this year. For example if you are strictly a family photographer but now you want to branch out to newborn photography I believe that a newborn model call is in order. One it helps you get clients in the door, and it gives you time to practice while there is little to no expectation from the client. This also gives you the chance to figure out several things about newborn photography. First, is this even something that you like? Lets be serious for a moment, why would you want to start offering services for something that you realize is just not "your thing"? It is not going to benefit you, your brand, and most of all it is not going to benefit your client. Second it gives you a chance to figure out your niche within that particular type of photography. For example do you prefer stylized newborn photography or do you prefer lifestyle newborn photography? These are all things that you have a chance to figure out just with a model call.
The second purpose to a model call is to build your portfolio in that particular genre. In order to get clients you have to look like you are already doing work in that area. No one paying money ever wants to be a guinea pig for a photographer. Your clients typically are going to pick you based upon previous work that they have seen of yours. However, if there is no previous work for them to look at, they are unable to believe that they are going to get a product that they love. They are also unable to determine your style, or concept without having previous sessions to view. Previous work can be crucial for getting the next client, and if you don't have it you are more than likely going to have less bookings then the photographer that has a portfolio with something to show.
Model calls are great for other reasons as well. For example maybe it is a slow month for you and you decide that it is time to tackle a project that you have been working on for months. You put together your model call, get a few willing participants and you are now able to complete the dream project that you have not had time to do, or did not have willing subjects to shoot for in months. Model calls are also great for just practice. Again, there may be some down time for you. You decide you want to work with your off camera flash and get better at that skill. You get a few models through a model call and practice. Not only are you getting the chance to practice a skill but you are also getting the chance to potentially create photos for your portfolio.
Now in the beginning I eluded to the fact that there are some times that I feel model calls are not worth it. First, they are not worth it if the model or the models parents are not going to let you publish your work. The whole purpose is to be able to publish your work and if you are unable to do so, you have just wasted your time and energy for almost nothing. I also do not feel model calls are needed every year just to update the current portfolio. For example, you as the photographer had a great year the previous year, and it is time to update the work that you show to new clients before they book. There is no reason to have a model call to create more photos when you have previous real clients that you can show off. Believe it or not I have actually seen where some have gotten a better reception from potential clients when they see that their friends or family are in the portfolio of the photographer. It gave that photographer the extra edge I believe in order to gain the trust of the client before the session even began. One last area that I am not keen about model calls is brides. I believe that the coordination for this in of itself would be horrendous first of all. People who are modeling as brides are not stressed, they are just models and they are doing it for fun. This is a far cry from the actual bride who is stressed, has a mother and a mother in law breathing down her neck over every little detail of the wedding, or is just the dreaded bridezilla that happens from time to time. The dynamic is completely changed in this area if you are using a model call. Not to mention if you use a model call for brides you will not have a wedding portfolio to show the end result... the wedding... to a client, and this can potentially be a discredit to you and your business.
Here are some other issues that I can also see with model calls. Typically for the model the shoot is free and it includes hair and makeup. How many of us can really do hair and makeup? I know I can't, I am a tomboy at heart so my answer to everything is a little bit of lip gloss and a ponytail. That is not going to work for a model call. So who is going to pay for the hair and makeup stylist, well, my friend that is going to be you. Unless of course there is some sort of crazy deal that you can work with them as well where maybe they use your photos in their portfolio, but that is a whole different ball of wax that I am not going to get into. So you are going to be out of pocket for this portion. Another issue you run into is the lack of listening on the end of the model. You may be going for a styled look, and you express this to the model, they agree yet on the day of the shoot they show up with sweats and a t-shirt and expect you to make them look amazing. Realize still that you are out of pocket for a makeup and hairstylist, and everything else is free.
My last big issue is the application process. I saved this one for last because I am not a fan of confrontation and I believe that there will be a huge amount here. When you put out on your social media sites that you are going to do a model call you are going to get potentially a large number of responses. Now you have to go through each application and pick and choose which models you are going to use. This is going to leave some models complaining and whining and wanting to know why they were not good enough to be picked by you. This is something that I am just not good at dealing with, and therefore causes me to shy away from model calls all together.
So do you need model calls to build your portfolio? Maybe. It is going to be a case by case basis. Are model calls really worth it? I think that this is something that is also a case by cases basis. There are huge number of pros and cons that are associated with this, and well, it really boils down to personal choice.
Are there other subjects that you would like to see discussed here? Please leave suggestions in the comments below. Do you use model calls? What have been your experiences? I would love to hear your perspective on the topic, lets talk about it in the comments, or send me an email!
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