If you are a beginner photographer working with amateur models, you can dream of one day working with a professional model. Are there any notable differences between working with professional models and amateur models?
I work with both types of models quite often, and while neither is better than the other, there are indeed some glaring differences between the two. I have no hobbies. For me, who is the right person for the particular project I’m shooting is always out of the question.
One difference between dealer models and non-dealer models is that non-dealer models tend to be more comfortable when photographed outside of the established parameters of the shoot. If an agency model is hired to shoot footwear in a photo studio, she may not be interested in rooftop portraiture during her lunch break. Last week, I went to the set and there was a model present that had been booked through an agency for hand modeling. I am ready for the possibilities of light and digital technology. I also took BTS photos of her during the shoot. At the end of the shoot, she wore a jacket and then a colorful head scarf. That is an interesting look. We were both standing near a chandelier-style dressing table. I asked her if she would snap in the mirror. She replied, “I’m sorry, but I’m really tired.” During the shoot, she was very cooperative, even exceeding her expectations. She assisted the photographer in cutting the strawberries needed for a scene and even helped with the background paper swap. Her refusal to my request had nothing to do with the actual work of posing and everything to do with the photo that should have been created. Maybe she didn’t feel comfortable photographing her face without makeup, or perhaps she didn’t trust my photography ability to capture a powerful portrait of her in the scene. there. Maybe she saw my Instagram and didn’t want to appear there. I had no problem with her refusing to take my picture, and I knew when I asked for it there was a chance it would be denied. An amateur model would have more confidence in my vision and would probably be more than eager to be photographed. The same amateur model may have suggested the self-portrait vanity. When I shoot multiple models for a good photo shoot, I don’t usually shoot them together but I’ve had several times when an amateur model befriended another model on set and asked if they could take a photo together. each other no. I see amateur models always interested in being photographed once they are on set.
Reseller models can be less fun to work with than their amateur counterparts. This may or may not be important to you. If your goal is to schedule a 4-hour catalog shoot and complete it within the allotted time, you may not care how many times the model can make you smile. You want to work with a professional who will get the job done. However, if you bought a brand new modern device Nikon Z 9 And you want to sign up for a full football team and shoot a YouTube video of that team, you might want a model to help make the day fun for everyone involved. While I often have a hard time with any given shot, I’ve worked with many agency models who just seem to execute the same movements as someone doing a 9 to 5 job. During the downtime on set, it’s common to see a non-agent model taking a selfie and asking people to handle it on their social media. In contrast, an agency model might just sit in the corner quietly scrolling through her phone. I did a lookbook (a catalog of 20-80 photos of a model wearing the latest collection from a clothing line) with agency models, where we spent more than five hours together but barely spoke to each other. . The agency model may not mention your footage on her social media or follow your account once the shoot is over. If she regularly applies for jobs, your footage may not be worth mentioning on her IG. If she’s shot something similar many times in the past, your photo may not be representative of where she’s trying to make her career. Conversely, the pictures you take of a non-agency model may be the best pictures she’s ever seen of herself. She may ask you to take all the pictures from the shoot and if you give them to her you can rest assured that she will post every picture you take of her.
This article is not intended to evaluate either model type. I am merely sharing my observations. I’m making generalizations here and things don’t always turn out exactly as I’m describing, but the statements I make are based on my experience on set for many shots. with both model types. It should be noted that the agency model may have learned that if she is too friendly on set, it is easy for men to get the wrong impression of her. If she’s modeling swimwear or lingerie, or if she’s alone in another state or country, it’s wise for her to make sure everyone on set understands that she’s a Professionals are always there to get the job done. Party time can come when the job is done, on her terms and with whomever she wants. For a non-agency model, who probably does a boring office job, your shoot could easily become the highlight of her month. All eyes are on her, and she’s full of talented artists working to make her the best version of herself she’s ever seen. So it’s understandable that she’s fully involved in the on-set experience.
When it comes to their actual ability to make a good photo, the biggest difference between the agency model and the non-agent model isn’t their looks. Rather, it was their effectiveness in hitting the target. If a girl has the right face for good photography, I am confident that I can create a strong image no matter how little experience she has. I love working with first-timers in the field. However, the difference with working with a professional is how quickly I can capture the footage. It may take 10 minutes for an amateur but only 10 seconds for a professional. When I’m doing a test shoot or a YouTube video, this distinction might not matter at all, especially when you consider that I can book amateur tickets for free. However, for certain client jobs, efficiency really matters. The total number of goalkeeper images I was able to create was also important for some shots. While I can guarantee I’ll make an amateurish killer image, I can’t promise I’ll deliver the full six-page spread. Whenever a client hires me to shoot a catalog where we will shoot more than 40 outfits, I make sure to book in advance with an experienced model who knows how to pose.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FmLMMCBp-CO
Raw video of Brittani Bader posing. Notice how she can be fluent in almost a minute without me training.
You can improve your modeling skills by working with a professional. If you’re at the point where your lighting and camera skills are good, but you don’t know what to do with the model once it’s time to hit the shutter, working with a dealer model can teach you. many things. I worked with models who didn’t need me directing. They may have poses or body movements you’ve never seen before. These models can help you create photos that don’t even resemble the work you normally would, and that can help take your photography to the next level. During test shoots, I quickly let my makeup artist, fashion stylist, or anyone else suggest a pose or idea. I am working with these people because I respect their creativity. Once I’ve photographed a model doing a particular pose, I now own the pose and it becomes something I can use for my next shoot.
Agency models can also help you with catalog shots if they are keeping track of what specific images need to be captured. During a lookbook shoot, I usually get in touch with the model and she understands that for each outfit, we will take photos in sequence along the front lines of the outfit, left side, right side, the back and then a close-up of the shoes. . If we get to skin number 27 and I forget to shoot on the left, she’ll let me know. She understands that if we fail to take this photo, at some point in the day the client will review the image and realize that the photo is missing and she will have to re-wear the outfit to We can shoot the left side. Likewise, reseller models are adept at noticing things like tags or loose themes that shouldn’t be in the photo. In contrast, a model who is not an agency focuses on herself and she cannot understand what is going on as it relates to the various factors that make up the shoot. Sometimes, I feel like there’s nothing an out-of-office model loves more than taking a black hair band out of my hair, putting it on my wrist, and leaving it there for the entire shoot. Of course, no one on the glam team ever captured this, and I had to untie my hair ties in post-production. For details on this process, check out this Fstoppers article: Tips to remove those sticky hairs from photos.
The most important difference between the two is their reliability. If you book an agency model, she’ll be there and she’ll be on time. With a model that isn’t an agency, you won’t know if she’ll show up until you see her open the door and walk into your studio. Even if she texts you, “I’m leaving in 10 minutes,” you can’t rest assured that she’ll show up. Non-agent models have no problem with not showing up no matter how much time or money you put into the shoot. They don’t care about the four or five people waiting for them. While amateur models often benefit the most from the shoot, they are the only ones most likely to cancel at the last minute. Many of them won’t even tell you they’re not planning on showing up. If I’m booking an amateur in a studio I’m paying for, or if I’m involving people other than myself for the shoot, I always book at least one additional model so we can photographer if the first model doesn’t show up. My policy when an amateur says she is late is to keep my contact with her to a minimum. When she started sending a series of texts explaining that she would be late, my response consisted of only “ok” or “I understand”. If she is absent, I will delete her contact from my phone and unfollow her on social media. I live in NYC, where we have thousands of models that fit the projects I shoot. If someone is unreliable, I don’t want to give them a chance to work with me again.
Although the article details the positive and negative aspects of working with professionals and amateurs, I hope that your focus will be on the benefits of working with each type of model. . Perhaps you’ll even consider booking the opposite of what you usually do when planning your next project.
