Model Portfolios

[MrsPGreen]

Is anyone out there doing Model portfolios? I've been asked to help a young lady put together her first portfolio.

From a good source I am told she will need a good head shot, a full body shot and various other poses displaying her different looks. I've also, been told the typical portfolio is made up of 8 x 10's.

Need a voice of opinion, thought and experience, here. Typically, how many 8 x 10's?
Do you price it as a package deal: x amount of dollars for a two hour photo session including 8 x10' s Or, do you price it x amount of dollars for a two hour sessions and then the cost of the 8x 10's? What is the standard here?

Any other information, you'd be willing to share, would of course be welcome.

Thanks, so much.

Patty

[HotHolly]

My main suggestion is - totally push them to hire a MUA. It is 100% worth it. The images turn out soooooo much better. Win win for both of you.

And I'll let someone that shoots models more frequently chime in on the rest as I think Im an oddball.

[MrsPGreen]

Please, excuse the stupidity.....MUA?

Where do I find him/her/it???? hahahaha

BTW- I can't speak for the rest of them, but, I can honestly say I think your great and a doll. I'm looking forward to meeting you, Miss Holly.

[Ahh!]

Originally Posted by MrsPGreen

Please, excuse the stupidity.....MUA?

Make Up Artist

[daveb]

I do a model package for 500 that includes 10 8X10 FINISHED (retouched) images. (Mostly a 50 50 mix of studio and location And a comp card.

Additional prints are at 50% off my normal rate . And yes ... several different looks including full 3/4 and headshots and at least a couple of bw.

and yes a MUA is a great addition ... It makes the post a lot faster !

[Kathi]

Patty, feel free to check out our website at www.thegirlfactor.com We have different packages for the girls to choose from there and that should give you a good idea of where to go with it. For the packages that include an MUA, keep in mind that $100 per look (i.e. the MUA changes their hair or make-up) is paid to the MUA and the rest is our part.

[MrsPGreen]

Duh! A makeup artist. That had to be the furtherest thing from my little brain!

Hope everybody, is laughing too!

Oh, the things we learn. Thanks, everybody. Ya'll are great. I love this resource.

Ok, more research is needed. I'll start with the link provided in the last post: thegirlfactor.

Thanks, Holly, Kathi and Dave.

Patty

[MrsPGreen]

And, Peter thanks for clearing up the confusion as to what in the world a MUA is.

[carlyerin]

Originally Posted by Kathi

Patty, feel free to check out our website at www.thegirlfactor.com We have different packages for the girls to choose from there and that should give you a good idea of where to go with it. For the packages that include an MUA, keep in mind that $100 per look (i.e. the MUA changes their hair or make-up) is paid to the MUA and the rest is our part.

woahhhhly COW! I don't charge that much per look as an MUA! Kathi you are seriously overpaying. Even the greats out there don't get much mor than 6-700 for a full day!

You can see MY MUA stuff at http://modelmayhem.com/member.php?id=144223
or
http://www.carlyerin.com/MUA.html

AND... my second thought on this is standard agency book size is 9X12

:) hope it helps.

[Outlaw]

My experience on the independent modeling side of the game (as opposed to agency) is that my modeling clients want web-images only. We offer prints for purchase, just like any other shoot.

We slap our logo nice and big on every image, and the models love it. Several have gotten paid work after posting our images to their online portfolios (something I always love to hear). Heck, I've gotten paid work for a few of them by having their images in my portfolio - and clients specifically requesting them for a their paid shoot with us.

So to answer your question from a different perspective, we charge $500 for 4-5 hours of shooting (probably more time than I should give for the money, but once I get started, I like to work through to the end of the creative train), 2-3 looks, pro MUA, and web-sized images on CD.

As I understand of the agency side of things, the pretty and made-up images that we like to provide are not as useful for a starter model as "basics" images which just show the natural look of the model, sans make-up, cool wardrobe, dramatic lighting, etc. I've seen posts on this elsewhere here; a search should turn up those threads.

Money-wise, we make more money off of young moms wanting the "model's treatment" than from models themselves. Who am I to argue!

[HotHolly]

Miss Patty - there is an excellent MUA near you. Her rates are pretty good, she uses MAC, and knows what shes doing. Tell her I sent you to her and you may get a better rate. Here is a link to her MM page. I found her right when she 1st started. She takes her time, but the person will be totally flawless. Give her at least an hour prior to the shoot for hair and MU.

[Kathi]

Originally Posted by carlyerin

woahhhhly COW! I don't charge that much per look as an MUA! Kathi you are seriously overpaying. Even the greats out there don't get much mor than 6-700 for a full day!

We have other rates worked out for various things. For the packages listed on the website, we pay them $100 per look though - up to 4 looks. One of our MUA's is a celebrity MUA friend of mine that bases himself out of LA most of the year. He works with me here when he is home. In LA, he charges a minimum of $250 per look. And gets it. He knows he won't get that in Houston though and is only working for the "extra pocket change" when he is home.

You know what though? Both Tara and Terry are worth every penny that I pay. I have a cosmetology background and know what they spend on their products - MAC isn't cheap. I also figure they have to pay for their gas to get there. Then there is their time and creativity. The Houston market allows them to charge what they do. Tara travels the country for other clients too. I've seen some of your work - you're damn good too! Maybe you aren't charging enough? Just my 2 cents...

[carlyerin]

Originally Posted by Kathi

We have other rates worked out for various things. For the packages listed on the website, we pay them $100 per look though - up to 4 looks. One of our MUA's is a celebrity MUA friend of mine that bases himself out of LA most of the year. He works with me here when he is home. In LA, he charges a minimum of $250 per look. And gets it. He knows he won't get that in Houston though and is only working for the "extra pocket change" when he is home.

You know what though? Both Tara and Terry are worth every penny that I pay. I have a cosmetology background and know what they spend on their products - MAC isn't cheap. I also figure they have to pay for their gas to get there. Then there is their time and creativity. The Houston market allows them to charge what they do. Tara travels the country for other clients too. I've seen some of your work - you're damn good too! Maybe you aren't charging enough? Just my 2 cents...

thank you for the compliment on my work.

just a side note: MAC isn't all it's cracked up to be. Product it's good. There's better out there for sure, but their ethics are fabulous. They LOVE to undercut the freelance artists industry. . it's a long story really, but a LOT of MUAs I know have completely rebelled against using their product.

[Kathi]

Originally Posted by carlyerin

thank you for the compliment on my work.

just a side note: MAC isn't all it's cracked up to be. Product it's good. There's better out there for sure, but their ethics are fabulous. They LOVE to undercut the freelance artists industry. . it's a long story really, but a LOT of MUAs I know have completely rebelled against using their product.

You're welcome

And we've heard that too, but Tara and Terry get the results that I want and that's what they use for now....

[AndrewCCM]

Originally Posted by daveb

I do a model package for 500 that includes 10 8X10 FINISHED (retouched) images. (Mostly a 50 50 mix of studio and location And a comp card.

Additional prints are at 50% off my normal rate . And yes ... several different looks including full 3/4 and headshots and at least a couple of bw.

and yes a MUA is a great addition ... It makes the post a lot faster !

How many of these are you booking? I see you're in Arlington (as I am)...Unfortunately, model shoots are just my creative outlet...

Too many photogs out there doing it for free (or little to nothing...or even paying models to shoot them) . I get contacted constantly for test/tfp shoots.. but rarely if ever are they willing to pay. 99% are poor college students that think they're models. I mean...if you have a Myspace account and are female, you're a model right? LOL. Funny times we live in...

Weddings/Events are still my bread and butter (photography-wise). Always interested to hear other's stories trying to earn any "real" money in this particular area of the biz.

BTW: to the original poster.. yes.. definitely get an MUA...a good one will save you a lot of time in post and both you and your client will be happier with the results.

QUESTION: How often are MUA's approached about doing TFP? Just curious if it is common to work for free like 99% of the photogs/models. It's not like their makeup and time are worth any more/less than a photogs time and money spent on equipment, etc.

I realize there are a few out there that do this quite successfully...(Kathi, Marty, Greg, Tracy, etc)... At this point, I am on the outside looking in on making this stuff profitable. :(