modelracheljay wrote:

Models, say you come across a new model in your area on one of the various modeling sites.

She's, say, 5'1" and 180 lbs, is an "up and coming" model, who's dreamed of modeling her whole life, since everyone's always asked her if she was a model.  She wants to do high fashion and runway, demands an escort at all shoots, and only wants paid jobs.  She talks about how inexperienced she is with modeling, has one senior-portrait-style shoot under her belt, but goes on and on about how she loves to be in front of the camera, and proclaims "ZOMGZ PERVS!  NO NUDES DON'T EVEN ASK!!!" in her profile.

Do you message her and attempt to offer her some polite advice?

Or do you just let her get a rude awakening on her own?

I personally am back and forth on the subject... I have done both, but wonder what others do, if anything.

Business opportunity! Send her a cloying PM telling her that you can help make her dream come true...for the low low price of $3500 you'll teach her, train her, and put her on the cover of Vogue!

Then kick me a few hundred to do portfolio pics and we are all good.

It's not my job to educate the masses.
Unless she goes out of her way to contact me, it is unlikely I would contact her.

Nope, not from Nigeria.

It was actually stupidly hard to write that 

And, um, so much for models answering my question... 

cwen wrote:

I don't see why it's anyone's duty to inform them unless the person specifically asks. 

I tend to agree. 

When I started as a Model Mentor on MM, I used to randomly welcome one new model in my area a month with a PM.  I'd let them know there were local events, encourage them to check references (sometimes I'd even recommend a few photographers), link to newmodels.com and remind them that if they had any questions they were more than welcome to ask me.  But I stopped doing that after like, 3 or 4 months. 

This whole thing sort of came up in a conversation with someone, and I thought it would be interesting to see if anyone ever offered unsolicited advice to those who seem to need it.

bthphoto wrote:

I can't imagine that a model with a profile like that would take advice, no matter how well-intended, as anything other than you being jealous of her and trying to knock out the competition.

Hmm... interesting way of looking at things.  I never thought of it that way.  And I was in a sorority 

I would not even bother, I have been ASKED for advice more than once, more than 2x more than 3x.
I have even been asked for advice on internet modeling; after me wasting hours of my time to be told.

"that sounds like too much work"

[color=#FF4080]Ummmm.....I'm not so good at "polite". <!-- s]

Approaching someone like that unsolicited is pretty much ALWAYS a recipe for disaster.

If said person posts I believe in being polite but blunt.  Success rate that way is about 25%.

Lumigraphics wrote:

I think we are into national treasure territory here anyway- steer the wannabes to him 

Which is why I said in another thread that I agree that Bob should get his own forum, and that it should be called "N00b Forum" 

MonaD wrote:

See now I just don't understand why she would write something like that.  I was 185 and thick, so 5'1?  But ITA with other posts, giving her unsolicited advice may not come across well. She already has her mind made up so let that go.

If anything and you really want to extend an olive branch, you can welcome her & let her know that if she ever has any questions she can ask. This way, the ball is in her court if she wants to learn.

Otherwise it'll be a lot of   in your future...

You and I are on the same page with how to approach someone it seems.    What's the saying... you attract more flies with honey than vinegar?  Seems to fall under that premise.

I love the emoticons here hehehe.  And I like that there's been civil discussion, and that we're going on, what, 3 days without a "ZOMG Model Flaked!" thread in the model forum

modelracheljay wrote:

You and I are on the same page with how to approach someone it seems.    What's the saying... you attract more flies with honey than vinegar?  Seems to fall under that premise.

I love the emoticons here hehehe.  And I like that there's been civil discussion, and that we're going on, what, 3 days without a "ZOMG Model Flaked!" thread in the model forum

Threads by photographers bitching about models do not belong in the Model forum.
They'll either be moved to the Photography forum or Off-Topic.
Or I may just ask Chris to make a "Bitching about shot issues" forum in Off Topic, and that way threads by models bitching about photographers can go there too.

modelracheljay wrote:

Models, say you come across a new model in your area on one of the various modeling sites.

She's, say, 5'1" and 180 lbs, is an "up and coming" model, who's dreamed of modeling her whole life, since everyone's always asked her if she was a model.  She wants to do high fashion and runway, demands an escort at all shoots, and only wants paid jobs.  She talks about how inexperienced she is with modeling, has one senior-portrait-style shoot under her belt, but goes on and on about how she loves to be in front of the camera, and proclaims "ZOMGZ PERVS!  NO NUDES DON'T EVEN ASK!!!" in her profile.

Do you message her and attempt to offer her some polite advice?

Or do you just let her get a rude awakening on her own?

I personally am back and forth on the subject... I have done both, but wonder what others do, if anything.

Well, Rachel, I really need your advice please!

Modeling has been dream of mine! But since I don't meet the criteria of what the industry is looking for, I decided to get behind the camera instead. But I still want to break into the industry and I'd be grateful for any advice you might have to offer.

I'm 4'11" and about 232 lbs. (before lunch). I'm wearing a spare tire under my elastic belt, but I'm doing sit ups to tone up that area (5 a day). I've still got a few sparkling silver hairs that's shoulder length. People tell me that I should trim it down, but it's so curly that it looks like...well...think of Grandpa's lower regions.

And speaking of Grandpa...I'm really not 89 years old. I'm a young 93 year old! There's got to be a small segment of the female population who's interested in my look. Is there such a thing as a Grandpa fetish? Think I can pull it off? I do have a nice set of teeth and they're brand spanking new.

The good thing is that I don't require an escort...if the photographer can give me a piggy back ride from the car to the shoot location. I have bad hips that sometimes goes out on me.

I would even consider doing erotic nudes as long as the photographer can capture the best angles. I'm not opposed to spread shots either. Hey - you only live once, right?!

But the only thing I won't do is wear thongs! Not only does it feel funny but it makes me look funny!

So...would you be willing to steer me in the right direction or maybe give me a few pointers?

Sincerely,


Awannabe Amodel