The Midlands - is there anyone left out there?

Huw pleasure.

I had only one response when last back in Leicester to a paid casting, and as her portfolio said she would only do nude work with photographers she had previously worked with, one has to question why she responded when we have not shot together before

RMF I've had an even better one today.

There's one model who hammers every casting I put up. She's replied to mine today.

Thing is, not only was she significantly out of the age range I was casting for (under 30) she doesn't shoot anything beyond implied/concealed topless.

She hadn't read a single word of the casting.

I don't want to damage any perceptions of me further but reading the castings is just basic. A new model I could understand it from, but this model has been here nearly a decade, with references in the three figures.

undoubtedly there are fewer full time models that shoot in the week because the gig economy died during covid.  I would contact models directly that you really want to work with rather than cast.

Personally, I have reached the conclusion lately that late 20's to early thirties is the prime age group for the types of model that I like to work with. They tend to have the experience and are far more laid back on set than some younger models, particularly if you shoot nudity. 

JamesMt142 said

RMF I've had an even better one today.

There's one model who hammers every casting I put up. She's replied to mine today.

Thing is, not only was she significantly out of the age range I was casting for (under 30) she doesn't shoot anything beyond implied/concealed topless.

She hadn't read a single word of the casting.

I don't want to damage any perceptions of me further but reading the castings is just basic. A new model I could understand it from, but this model has been here nearly a decade, with references in the three figures.

Some simply spam every casting without reading it.

If we make assume that *most* models are female, between 18-30, and wanting to get paid… then let's remember the industry for that demographic has changed *hugely* since Covid. I agree with the comment that the models are still out there, they're just mostly on Instagram and TikTok (less so Facebook, that's an 'old' way of doing things, as are portfolio sites to a certain degree!).

Aurora Phoenix said

Everly Rose

This is odd tours for me have always been very booked up in the midlands it’s one of my best areas.

However, East Midlands Nottingham hasn’t sold as well as West-Midlands so maybe that area is better for shoots. Was more of a push for Nottingham area but it got booked up in the end with only a few slots left.

But I have toured Birmingham/West Midlands around 6 + times now. Nottingham it’s my first time touring this way trying East Midlands.

Aurora :)

It was a weird one and for me something that hasn't happened in other parts of the UK. It was literally radio silence. I was offering a studio day at Happy Jacks on the Saturday and I also put out castings for the Friday evening and the Sunday, my rates are very reasonable compared to other models of the same experience (over 10 years), I drive so could also do locations or I was willing to book a hotel or air bb to work from. I do all levels and genres and feel my portfolio shows I am a  strong model and very adaptable.

I would be really interested to hear from photographers on this thread based in the midlands why they think I didn't sell anything at all there. Only thing I can think is the few no show refs I obtained 5 years ago when I had a mental health episode and ended up in hospital although I think my 100s of positive ones well overshadow the few bad ones and the past is well behind me but maybe people still look at those from years ago and feel they wouldn't work with me because of that?

Everly Rose

It’s really hard to tell some areas sell better than others really. Some areas that work really well for some people don’t work as well for others.

Also sometimes timing is a little off like everyone happens to be away/on holiday typically on the studio day date or something.

For tours I tend to offer 3-4 dates. This way if people can’t do one date they have the choice of doing another. But some may be away on all dates. Still I give weekend dates & some weekdays and I tend to do Monday - Friday’s. If it’s 6-8 days like a bigger tour then yes I get stuck with lots of weekdays but there’s still a weekend as part of that tour.

I have never done a studio day in Birmingham/West Midlands only tours of 3-4 days long.

Studio days are hard especially as it’s just 1 day that you are offering.

Aurora :)

Vapour Trail Photography said

If we make assume that *most* models are female, between 18-30, and wanting to get paid… then let's remember the industry for that demographic has changed *hugely* since Covid. I agree with the comment that the models are still out there, they're just mostly on Instagram and TikTok (less so Facebook, that's an 'old' way of doing things, as are portfolio sites to a certain degree!).

But surely any model who is actually serious about modelling would try every marketing opportunity open to them?

The East Midlands a desert?  Well... In the last six months or so three of the models I've worked with here in Somerset have come from Nottingham. First-rate models, lovely people - highest possible recommendation for all three of them.

If they're prepared to travel from Nottingham to Somerset, I'm sure they're also happy to work closer to home.   

Margo Jost said

....This site seems to be dead from my own experiences/ observations...

...Conversely I've heard that adultfolio is doing a roaring trade and is very active so maybe there is just a general community switch to higher levels.

I did about 80 or 90 shoots last year. I've done about 20 or so this year. And my shoot diary is almost full until the end of June. Every single one of those shoots was arranged via this site or directly with models with whom I had first made contact via this site. 

It's not just me. Look at all the new stuff that's uploaded on here every day. Even if the activity on here is a bit down on what it was a couple of years ago, there's still a LOT of activity on here. 

Adultfolio... I was on it for about a year. Never actually arranged any shoots on there, so rather than seem like a stalker I deactivated. But my impression of AF was that the activity on there was only a fraction of the activity on here - fewer uploads, fewer CCs, less shoot activity.    

But what do I know? I just use this site for arranging shoots. I'm not on any social media so I don't hear gossip from people who talk a lot but don't actually do much.    

Orson Carter

Such is the power of having several hundred FPI’s and the most liked image on the whole site. Ever! 😁

Aurora Phoenix said

It’s really hard to tell some areas sell better than others really. Some areas that work really well for some people don’t work as well for others.

Apologies for posting again...

When it comes to areas of the country, I'm going to do another of my 'fings look OK to me'... Several times throughout the year I spend a week in a different part of the country, and while I'm away I like to do a location shoot. It means that I get to use a different location, and by working with a local model I get to work with someone with whom I wouldn't usually have the chance of working with. 

Consequently, in recent years I've done shoots with local-ish models in Norfolk (thanks, Clara!), Northumberland, Kent, Cornwall, Devon, Oxfordshire, mid-Wales, Shropshire and loads of other places. I always book shoots on here, and I've never found anywhere to be a 'desert'. 

Indeed, I've been in Dorset this week (back at the holiday cottage for the afternoon - it's just started piddling down) and I did a location shoot near here couple of days ago. That was arranged with a local-ish model at less than 24 hours notice. 

Sorry if I seem like Mr.Smug about all this, but when I see 'we're all doomed' posts I don't recognise the scenario that's being described.   

Gothic Image said

Vapour Trail Photography said

If we make assume that *most* models are female, between 18-30, and wanting to get paid… then let's remember the industry for that demographic has changed *hugely* since Covid. I agree with the comment that the models are still out there, they're just mostly on Instagram and TikTok (less so Facebook, that's an 'old' way of doing things, as are portfolio sites to a certain degree!).

But surely any model who is actually serious about modelling would try every marketing opportunity open to them?

I don't necessarily think so, no. I'm serious about photography, and simply don't have *time* to try every marketing opportunity open to me, so I focus on things that I find most effective (or the least tiresome, etc). I imagine the same is true of models, and they either don't know about this place or know about it but don't feel it's worth the investment of their time. Obviously a generalisation, but… you know what I mean?

And this is, of course, 'serious' models. I think there are a lot more *un* serious models, doing it for a laugh, a hobby, or some extra cash (or combinations thereof). It's those who are more likely to just be on Insta (and etc) and not bother with places like this in the way they might have done five years ago.

Thinking about my own anecdata, I'd be surprised if one in four models I've worked with since Covid (be they serious or otherwise) have a presence on a portfolio site, and if they *do* it's most likely to be AF.

I have an account on AF. I need to get it verified really but it's a lot of money for a membership on there compared to here.

Although it does, in my opinion, have a more modern interface then here the models over there do seem to charge a LOT more money than here. One quoted £150 an hour for, and I quote, "anything except being pooed on" 🫨 - I personally feel AF is a bit too far for me as I've no interest in anything that extreme.