Intro

[AustinModelsAndTalent]

It's always great to see another resource for photographers and talent to communicate online, there are so few legitimate places. I just joined you today. Although my primary business is as a Talent Agent in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio, I have been a photographer for well over 20 years. I shoot now primarily digital. I wish you great success with the forum here and look forward to participating.

[Steelsun]

Cool! welcome onboard!

[cbuhay]

Hi Jeff,

Welcome to the forums! I'm an amateur, but I've always been interested in shooting models for portraits, fashion, editorials, or glamour. Problem is, I don't know how to get in touch with models or even how much models charge for a photo session. Even then, I don't know if I am able to afford it. Do you know any resources in the Houston area where I might be able to find models that are willing to do a TFP or TFCD with an amateur photographer?

Thanks, I appreciate any input...
-christian.

[AustinModelsAndTalent]

You might try our site forum - we have almost 2000 Texas models and talent registered and may are open for TFP work. Avoid stating "TFCD" as it is a first indicator of "Internet photographer" and will throw caution to some of the more experienced models. TFP is TFP whether the model is receiving prints, transparencies, or digital images. Models who do TFP generally want to look at examples of your work in advance - a website portfolio at a place like OneTalentSource.com is often a good start (places like One Model Place are more adult oriented and probably should be avoided). A good place to start people photography is with friends, girlfriends, children, etc. This helps you at least build some examples and then you can move on to aspiring amateur models. Agencies don't supply models to photographers, even for a fee, but you can always find aspiring models who want some experience and photos. The other option is attending one of our monthly free TFP shoots. We conduct these in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio every month and have as many as 10 photographers attend, and from 20-50 models (note: The Austin shoot is monthly and the other two cities are random). These are great experiences for seasoned and amateur photographes alike... and gives an opportunity to meet models that may later be interested in individual shoots.

(Photo: Model/Actress, Rachel Leigh - Austin Models & Talent Agency)

[cbuhay]

Originally Posted by AustinModelsAndTalent

You might try our site forum - we have almost 2000 Texas models and talent registered and may are open for TFP work.

Thanks, I'll give your forum a try!

Avoid stating "TFCD" as it is a first indicator of "Internet photographer" and will throw caution to some of the more experienced models. TFP is TFP whether the model is receiving prints, transparencies, or digital images.

Thanks for the tip. The last thing I want to do is make any potential subject feel uncomfortable, or think that my intentions are questionable.

Models who do TFP generally want to look at examples of your work in advance - a website portfolio at a place like OneTalentSource.com is often a good start. A good place to start people photography is with friends, girlfriends, children, etc. This helps you at least build some examples and then you can move on to aspiring amateur models.

I have a webgallery on pbase (link here) where I have taken portraits of my fiance, friends, and children.

The other option is attending one of our monthly free TFP shoots. We conduct these in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio every month and have as many as 10 photographers attend, and from 20-50 models (note: The Austin shoot is monthly and the other two cities are random). These are great experiences for seasoned and amateur photographes alike... and gives an opportunity to meet models that may later be interested in individual shoots.

That would be really cool! I would be very interested in doing something like that. Could you keep me posted of when something like this would come to Houston? When do you usually do it in Austin? For something like this, it might be worth going up to Austin for -- just for the experience, and for possibly networking. Do the photographers need to pay a fee, or fill out some kind of paperwork prior to the shoot?

Thanks very much for all the tips! I really appreciate them.

[AustinModelsAndTalent]

That would be really cool! I would be very interested in doing something like that. Could you keep me posted of when something like this would come to Houston? When do you usually do it in Austin? For something like this, it might be worth going up to Austin for -- just for the experience, and for possibly networking. Do the photographers need to pay a fee, or fill out some kind of paperwork prior to the shoot?

The shoots in San Antonio and Houston are done rather random throughout the year, but the Austin one we hold faithfully every month. We've had them every month for two years now. Each month we pick a specific "theme" and shoot to it. The talent that come out must conform to that theme. We've done things like Sports, Mock Product Ads, Fashion... for four years we have done an annual "Halloween" shoot (this last one, we donated a digital camera and had a free raffle drawing for it!). In July we do our annual "Stars and Stripes" shoot where everyone dresses in red, white, and blue (we even had a full costumed Uncle Sam, complete with real white hair and beard, one year). We often do a 'car theme' shoot, with the models posing with classic cars, or I bring out a couple of Corvettes, we even one month turned it into a charity event and raised money at the shoot via donations from spectators for Children's Hospital of Austin. In the summer, we go to the waterfalls and do the swimwear shoot, which is always popular. Imagine Sports Illustrated type images once a year! We have had actual film and television celebrities come out as well. There is no fee to the models and no fee to the photographers. The only stipulation is that the photographers make the images available (digital) to the people that they shoot. This can be done by sending them a CD, or I provide a rather large FTP site where the photographers can upload images for the talent to access. The talent sign a general release form that allows for use of the images by anyone for "self promotion purposes only." Many 'starter' photographers who came out originally to learn are now selling their photo services doing shoots and such built on the name/reputation from attending the monthly free shoots. The shoots fill up fast, so it's best to watch our site for the sign up and get on the list ASAP. The next shoot in Austin will be in January. We already completed the December shoot - and will be doing one this weekend in San Antonio. Usually, they are held the third Saturday or Sunday of each month.

[Chris911]

Hello all,
I have been in and out of this website for about a week now. I think it is great. I just came over to digital and love it. I shoot with a fuji finepix s3100. I hope to invest in a canon digital rebel next june. I recognized some of the names from other forums. Soopah I loved your website. Lucian that was a killer sunset picture. I am looking forward to learning so much from all of you.

P.S. Abel I would love to start a picture a day photolog. How did you start it? I am a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to computers, so I would need very simple programs to start with, any suggestions?

[Aoide]

Hi Chris. Welcome.

You can find some info about photoblogs here:
http://wiki.photoblogs.org/wiki/Main_Page
Since it is a wiki it is not complete, but it definitely has some useful information.


A great place to check out photoblogs is:
http://www.photoblogs.org/

[lydiapenn]

i'd like to know what tfp and tfcp are. O_o

[AustinModelsAndTalent]

Originally Posted by lydiapenn

i'd like to know what tfp and tfcp are. O_o

"TFP" is a term used in the modeling industry. It is more in line with amateur modeling, however, as it is referred to as "Testing" by professional photographers and agencies. TFP = "Time For Prints." It means a model gives her time and the photographer gives the model prints from the shoot in return. Now generally this doesn't really mean "prints." It can be anything from access to a contact sheet, a few enlargements, copy slides, digital files, etc. The term's been around at least since the 1970's when I first heard it. "TFCD" is more of an internet invention and is a term better off avoided. It means "Time For CD." TFP, however, encompasses that... except that photographers who have just bought their first camera and found the Internet invented a new term without fully understanding the original and the fact that it refers to more than just prints. Always has. Back in the days before digital, I NEVER shot print film (egads!), except for black and white. If I did do a TFP or testing with a model, it was transparencies and I'd make available on the light table the results and let them pick a few to have prints or copy slides made from. Today, photographers trade their time shooting with models in exchange for giving them a CD with the high resolution images. Models use it for experience, and to build their portfolio... and photographers for the same reasons... or, to establish a name with agencies... or to try new equipment or techniques.

This photo of Kim Tran was shot on a "TFP."
Later, this photo got her a job with Motorola doing a poster for their Asian market.