This is an open message to all new models on Net Portfolio and I hope the moderators will take note and get rid of these idiots once and for all.

 Most of you newbies have posted up blurred images taken with mobile phones (the equivalent of a 19th century pinhole camera)  You all ask for photographers to contact you for pictures that could boost your image.  How is it that when I contact you, I get no response?  You all know who you are and I have to ask what is the purpose of you being on this site?  Do you all expect payment when all you can produce is a mediocre picture taken from the palm of your hand with a mobile phone?

Then there are you intermediates.  You’ve got a few nice pictures on your pages that were probably taken by a pro who charged you (rightly) for their images.  Do you now consider yourselves professional and out of my league?  Only responding to professional photographers who pay £50 an hour for a fashion shoot. I’d like to know why you think it is above your station  to reply to genuine people who are offering their services to you free of charge?  Your time for their pictures and a CD.  Let’s see some replies because no one has put this question to the test yet, as far as I can see.  When I start paying money to models it will be to the genuine girls that have replied to me, you know who you are.

Angry of Mayfair

I know how you feel, I send out about 20/40 messages out a day (Not just on here) I be lucky if I get a reply at all the most I had so maybe 3/4 on a good day! (Only 2 not read yet) and thats it, still no models yet to date but the once that are genuine in replying to my messages I have a shoot with on the 5th,17th, 20th and another local model and the end of March no date set yet. And one of them is a newbie from this site. So there are some very genuine in modelling it's just picking them out!

Got my first no show today  no reply by e mails  or anything and this was a newbie too so first shoot down the pan already!  

........JJ

Rankin's Quote “There’s no point in dressing it up, I love women and I love taking photos. It’s more like a fantastic hobby than a job.”

Thanks JJ - first past the post you win a prize when I think of what to give you.  I will admit that my portfolio images are mostly taken from the 1990's maybe this puts the punters off?  But at least I can say I didn't have to rely on bleedin' Photoshop to get me out of trouble. Everything on my profile has been photographed on 35mm or 120 positive film with the exception of the shots of Kimberley on the tree stumps.
BTW I still think NP is the best website for togs,mods and mua's so please don't ban me yet.  They just need to sort these silly girls out and maybe filter them using some form of Profiling.

Still Angry of Mayfair    Cheer me up!

To be honest your port looks fantastic! I would not even thought you used a film!! Leave them there they are very good as they are. Have you put up a casting yet?

Find somewhere that you like to take a photoshoot maybe somewhere popular so the viewer will know where it is it gives them something to think about. And even offer so much to the travelling expences. Maybe the models think your strange using a film camera as there in the modern day now so take your DSLR and film but use the digital first then ask if you could use your film camera. I remember reading somewhere that a model refused to be shot by a tog with a Canon because it don't make her look pretty!! And her dad said so!

I get stupid looks from people more so from the younger once when they see me with the film camera rather than me using the DSLR, I even had an elderly couple come up to me a compemented me for using a film before so it was a good feeling!

You soon will find a model just keep trying you will get there in the end!

........JJ

PS look forward to my first prize

Rankin's Quote “There’s no point in dressing it up, I love women and I love taking photos. It’s more like a fantastic hobby than a job.”

You may find that many of the so called newbie's are not interested in modeling.
It's all about how many web sites they can be on to show of to their friends. They may never return to the site.

There are also those who think being accepted on a site with models is the same as being signed to a model agency.

' I've filled in the NP application form, been accepted which makes me a professional model'.

Quoting post from chris
You may find that many of the so called newbie's are not interested in modeling.
It's all about how many web sites they can be on to show of to their friends. They may never return to the site.

That is so true! It's more of a show off game than facing the facts that there are people looking to progress. And other thing nothing against the pro togs here, If a newbie like myself offer a shoot and they say yer ok we do this and that then a pro comes and offers a shoot they think Oh I'm better than I think! and they sod the newbie! plus they think there going to get £10000000's for modelling!

Well will have to see what happens next maybe a mod could put up a new rule for them? I don't know what to think!

Rankin's Quote “There’s no point in dressing it up, I love women and I love taking photos. It’s more like a fantastic hobby than a job.”

I've the opposite problem, newbies try to charge me ! and the professional models are happy to do tfp/test.

Newbies also tend to demand all the images shot !

Chris you made a very good point earlier about girls wanting to get on as many websites to show their freinds.  This could be the problem with the newbies and I made a suggestion a couple of weeks ago to the managers of NP about making everyone pay for their membership after a trial period.  I never recieved a reply, but this was something that was debated on The Models Club UK forum  a few years ago (of which I've been a member) and Nick went ahead and did just that,  charging just a tenner a year for membership.  He then cleared out all the useless fodder from the site and left it with serious enthusiasts both models and photographers, amateur and professional.   I can't see a problem paying for my £35 a year membership and there is a cheaper alternative for people dipping their feet in the water of, I think, £25 per year.  What NP has to do is get rid of the social networkers.  Those people who spend their evenings on flippin' faceache - or whatever it's called - Twittering about what they had for lunch or when they last had a dump , 


Why seek the Star, when you are The Star?

Vetting could be tightened up. I see profiles with one mobile phone picture or even no pictures.

I know I just joined the site so I'm kind of a newbie but here goes :)maybe the site should have an application process?Then it's more likely to be someone joining who's more serious,as for no replies, are the ones who don't reply worth your energy?Your portfolio is amazing don't let them get you down :)

I kind of know how you feel. I'm a fairly experienced agency represented model and I often get no reply from some photographers (who I feel are at an intermediate level rather than pro level). They seem to charge the same going rates for portfolios as pros do, rather than do TFCD.

I understand they have a living to make (as does everyone) but sometimes I think it's quite rude to get no reply at all. I'd rather they were just honest and said 'no' to TFCD than ignore my message when I am offering my free time. I have done TFCD with some very pro photographers so I know I am not out of their league. Why should I then pay an intermediate photographer for some shots when I can go to the very top ones and spend my money with them?

It basically boils down to manners, It don't cost anything but some peeps do look down at you for some other reason we all have to start somewhere. Some are lucky some bloody work hard to get where they are today.
........JJ

Rankin's Quote “There’s no point in dressing it up, I love women and I love taking photos. It’s more like a fantastic hobby than a job.”

Arriflex, I totally agree with your comments, I recently had a good whinge about models not replying in the general chat forum in an article entitled "Is it just me?" and things have still to improve.

Dear Angry of Mayfair,

From reading these forums, you can take heart that it is not only you that is sometimes let down, nor is it just models that are doing the letting-down.

Also, there are varying degrees of letting-down.

I personally have always managed to keep firm commitments but have a few "tentatives" outstanding for outdoor shoots, which I will firm-up when the weather gets better.

I think maybe we all just need to accept that a bit of "letting down" is par for the course.

Give us a smile :)

Costas :)

What a shame there are the idiots and divas ruining it for those of us who are fairly new to the modelling industry and are breaking our backs just to build up a portfolio which will lead to paid work. I am as professional as possible (as I feel I should be!) and it's annoying that these type of newbies give the rest of us fairly new to modelling a bad name!

I would gladly work with you and I hope whoever has upset you pulls their head out of their rear for five minutes to take a little rain check ^_^

Elfin, we not just picking on 'All' Newbie's we give everyone a chance, I had a look at your port and I have to say OUTSTANDING! Well perpaired Port lots of Details and strict to the point. You far by the best newbie here well done. This is why I not been in touch with you to see if you would do a shoot with me :(
...JJ

Rankin's Quote “There’s no point in dressing it up, I love women and I love taking photos. It’s more like a fantastic hobby than a job.”

Hi All

Another interesting forum thread on the same old point that annoys so many people.

Im sure a few may not like my thoughts but I feel a simple way to end a lot of messing about is to abolish TF work.

If models were paying and deposits were taken for studio time booked, no shows would dramatically decrease i feel and also without the "freebie" promise, it would deter the timewasting social networkers looking for a set of pics for their mates.

I maybe missing the point somewhere, but why should models charge us togs to use them or expect free photos for their time....has always seemed degrading to me.

I maybe deluded though.

Find me on Facebook : Simon Knights-photography

Kind regards

Simon Knights

Simon,a models time is just as valuable as a photographers thanks

Quoting post from manders
Simon,a models time is just as valuable as a photographers thanks

Model goes home job done.
Photographer has the job of processing images which can be very time consuming.
Not forgetting, clean studio esp. make up left on work tops and hairspray on the floor, pack light and props away, empty bins.

Quoting post from manders
Simon,a models time is just as valuable as a photographers thanks

Agreed with Chris im afraid on this one, and yes a models time is important, which is why i have the argument that togs should expect payment instead of just TF.

A little thought goes a long way i believe

Find me on Facebook : Simon Knights-photography

Kind regards

Simon Knights