Need Advice From my Fellow Photographers

[Arcusmedia]

Ok So I got invited to shoot the Hot Bod's 2012 Calendar. Now this shoot is located in Clifton Texas on Lake Whitney. With that being said I would have to buy Food and Gas and maybe a hotel Room...

Now here is the kicker....
All new photographers will have a $50 fee. However everyone is eligible to earn money from the calendar! $100 for the cover, $20 per large picture and $5 per small picture. This adds up!!! The models choose their favorite picture. Money will awarded at the Calendar Release party. Date and time will be determined at a later date. For more details RSVP with me ASAP.

So on the positive....
I get to work with Dallas's Hottest Bikini Models
Images for my Portfolio
Chance to earn money
Experience

On the negative...
I am out 100 or so bucks and do not know when and IF i will get paid.
I am outside all day working and not getting paid
I am competing with other photographers for the spot.

So what do you think guys?

[Tom]

Tell them to **** off. If you want to work with models and build your portfolio, do it on your own terms where you can control the situation.

[studiocygnet]

I don't know, you can't even hire one model for $100, let alone have a whole bunch of them. Is a model release included in the entry, so that you can use the photographs any other places?

[dmcantrell]

I had a look at the "Hot Bod" website and it looks like a bottom-of-the-basement operation. I'm not so sure I'd assume you'll be working with "Dallas Hottest Bikini Models".

It seems to me that the organization is trying to find a way to get a large amount of photographic material to choose from on everyone else's dime.

[Arcusmedia]

Originally Posted by studiocygnet

I don't know, you can't even hire one model for $100, let alone have a whole bunch of them. Is a model release included in the entry, so that you can use the photographs any other places?

I do not know that is one question I am going to ask her...

I do know that any photo I take will be Marked... Watermarked and Copy Protected and that they would have to pay in order to revive them.

Originally Posted by dmcantrell

I had a look at the "Hot Bod" website and it looks like a bottom-of-the-basement operation. I'm not so sure I'd assume you'll be working with "Dallas Hottest Bikini Models".

It seems to me that the organization is trying to find a way to get a large amount of photographic material to choose from on everyone else's dime.

That,s the feeling i am getting... there is a couple of hot girls on the team...

[Rson]

Skip it.....sounds like a fancy Craigslist ploy for free work.

[dmcantrell]

Originally Posted by Arcusmedia

there is a couple of hot girls on the team...

Sure, but "hot girls" does not mean "good models".

Heck, there are "a couple hot girls" at every establishment in Dallas and you don't have to pay $50 and drive an hour to see them!

[Arcusmedia]

I have shot with a few of the girls and they are really good models with great bodys.

[d2creative]

Here's the way I see it.
If you think what you can get out of it (at a minimum some experience and some portfolio shots) is worth $100 and some of your personal time, go for it. A little cash/time invested into a learning experience is usually a good thing.

Now if you were a seasoned pro, this would not be even worth discussing.

[ggeen]

Don't think of it as work. Think of it as experience and having a good time. I spent more than that on a photography weekend before. Also, I hired a model for $100/hr plus studio time. The model was pretty but she could not model. It's a crap shoot, isn't it?

[Jeff_Green]

Do it. You are out $50 fee and you get experience working around and with other photographers of varying abilities and backgrounds. Learn from them, learn from the models, and have a good time. If you get your money back or more, that is a bonus.

[Arcusmedia]

Im Waiting on the release to see what it says then I will make my choice!

[Nikonfan]

I say, if you can afford the $100 then it would be experience and networking. But I certainly wouldn't give up a paying gig for this or expect to make money off of it. If you do end up seeing a profit, then great.

[BenE]

Originally Posted by Arcusmedia

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So what do you think guys?

I think........ I am visualizing a lot of guys with cameras trying to elbow each other out of the way to get a look at, and get a shot of, girls in a very small bikini.

I am not understanding why a photographer has to pay in order to photograph them. Do you get lunch? Is this a fee for the space you will be taking up while standing in the sun all day?

[Arcusmedia]

According to the Email... These will be the best models in the Hot Bod Bikini field and you will get to shoot them! This year we will have staggered groups for shooting. You will get a chance to shoot with all models. Throughout the day but it will be organized so that the photographers that start with group 1 models at 7am, will have all models shot by noon and have the choice to stay or go home. Group 2 photographers will not start until 8am, group 3 starts at 9am and the last group starts at 10 am....

Sounds like a mess....