Thread: Modelling rates

Hi,

I'm new to, well pretty much everything, so I thought I would see if there are any words of wisdom that can be learnt from just asking questions!

I am looking at getting into burlesque , but also modelling and I was wondering if anyone on here did both and what their experiences are.

Also a few questions...
What have people been paid for modelling assignments?
Are there any "open mike" style nights where burlesque performers can sign up and give it a go for the first time in public?

(Also, I wasn't brave enough to pick a topic to post this in and didn't want to go all wrong so I picked general discussion, if I'm in the wrong place, please let me know.)

Thanks!!

Georgia Star

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You might find some people being quite touchy on the subject of their rates.
I've been paid £20-£300 for modelling sessions, although you will find a whole host of 'models' with massive portfolios shooting with photographers and no money exchanging hands at all. The money is in comercial modelling, but I have also found it hard to just jump into. Getting gigs for me has involved more making contacts with a lot of people and putting in the effort to find these gigs. It is a lot of work and sometimes you won't get any for a few weeks (beans on toast weeks).
I've shot with several household names getting the gigs off my own back but I am now looking into getting some proffesional representation as I feel I have enough experiance now and have shown the initiative for a company to feel that having me on their books would be worth their while.
Also if you are anything like me, and have an alternative look a lot of companies won't use you.

Oh and it is not a job for the easily offended, people will be very blunt with you sometimes.

getting paid for modelling work is pretty much a no go zone until it's corporate/commercial
even for clothing companies etc - you usually get paid in clothing/items they sell. and your expenses covered...
its very very rare for money to exchange hands.

just as a heads up - if someone offers to shoot you, and you're new to it. then you say you have rates, it will more than likely get backs right up, upsetting/annoying people....


and as for performing , think about what your name and experience is worth
if you're new - its not worth anything (harsh, but true)
think about what it is you're doing as well... and this is for future reference once experience is under the belt.
if you're wearing a pretty costume and stripping to a generic vegas grind compilation track - people probably won't be so willing to part with large amounts of money.

if you're carrying large equipment, and have a specialist skill... then money would probably be invested in your performance.


i don't even know if i made sense.
i'm feeling floaty today...

Ah, the old 'what to charge' question. You'll find people won't want to say. In terms of finding places to start performing , look on the jobs for performers forum here. I see you are in London, so you may find it easier than most, I seem to spend most of my time trying to find cheap train fares and places to stay, and balancing the number of bookings I take against my diminishing finances. Paid slots are hard to find, but unpaid newbie ones are not so tough. Try the 'Vivacious Variety Virgins' post by Roxanne von Noir. If you are prepared to travel, Jimi Infinity at the Guilty Lily in Edinburgh runs nights for new performers, too. People will often take newbies for charity shows, too. I find the main thing about this business is it's who you know, and I don't know many people so it's going fairly slowly, but I have a couple of very good friends now who are helping me out, and if you can do a good performance as a newbie the promoter might be prepared to give you a reference, which can also help.
Promoters also have their own rep to protect, so if you can stretch to getting some professional photos, and get a friend to video a routine or two, this can show people what they are getting before they commit to presenting you to their audience. I've found it easier to get bookings since I posted my showreels on Facebook, and the more you get, the more you can get (if you see what I mean).
Hope this helps!
Lily x

Thanks for all your help. Some REALLY useful advice! I am just itching to get stuck in and I know things take time, but it helps getting the right advice at the start.

Thanks!

Georgia Star

Re: modelling- I have a few friends who get paid assignments from Model Mayhem but be careful, take a chaperone if possible. I also have a friend who actually interviewed to be on a company's books for paid work and is with an agency too. Occasionally photographers might pay your travel, and sometimes you have to pay theirs if you are bringing them to you. But mostly its either modelling time for photos, or performers paying for shoots. Good luck hun. Remember to get a release form signed outlining the deal on paper.

Originally Posted by Georgia Star

Hi,


I am looking at getting into burlesque , but also modelling and I was wondering if anyone on here did both and what their experiences are.

Also a few questions...
What have people been paid for modelling assignments?
Are there any "open mike" style nights where burlesque performers can sign up and give it a go for the first time in public?
Thanks!!

Georgia Star

If you drop a PM to our wonderful Mod Deb of TIPTOP PHOTOGRAPHY, she will give you chapter and verse on the modelling side of photography AND costs AND the many pitfalls. Failing that, or, including that, log into PURE STORM the modelling and photographic hosting web site, have a chat with the liikes of Nick Giles etc and models like Pyretta Blaze to get a feel of the scene as it is now. You might also want to spend a few hours looking through the various posts on Pure Storm coz we have covered them all from nude to fully clother, from take a chaparone to no chaparones etc and so forth.

If you are brand new to modelling it might be in your favour to seek out a professional /semi professional /good amatuer photographer on Pure Storm who is willing do you some TFCD. That is take pics of you and you get a CD of a set amount of images for nothing. No money changes hands at all.

If you were down here near Wareham I would do shoot with you but...........There we go

Just take things slowely and try not to get cought out by the "If you PAY us £300, we WILL make YOU a SUPER model!!" type websites. You WILL get a few images, maybe, after a few weeks of winging at them.

Any thing esle you want to know, PM me or, as I say, PM deb at TipTop.

From my experience as a photographer theres only really a cash payment if I'm shooting specifically for a company who has gave me a budget and allowed me to search for a model. If you had a look that would work really well then regardless of experience I'd pay you whatever the company offered, or the advertised amount.

If for my personal portfoilio to forfil my own project with an advertised payment, yet again if I thought youd be perfect I'd pay whatever I had advertised. If you contacted me and said your rates from first contact I'd maybe concider you for future work, but due to you experience would be very reluctent to pay in cash.

This is how I work but many photographer will not pay you for work due to your experience for paid workm unless it's nude. Always take what type of modeling is required and always get a release form which will state you can and can't and is pretty much legally binding. Make sure you understand is asked of you and your confortable.

I apologise if any one has contrasting views and takes affence to my rambelings this is just how I work and not all photographers have the same terms.