Monday
Nov082010
Agency Models and Testing - Is It Worth It?
Monday, November 8, 2010 at 7:56AM
I get asked a lot from photographers whether it is worthwhile to test with agencies when they already have full books, especially because of all the risks involved. A single bad test shoot can ruin a perfectly good working relationship with an agency -- this can be especially harmful when the cause of the unsuccessful shoot may not be entirely the photographer's fault, but instead the new model's.
However, as far as I'm concerned the reward far outweighs any risk -- with the caveat that you are at least a semi-competent photographer.
Starting at the bottom of an agency's board you will get new models with very little experience or if you are lucky experienced models who have changed and need to update their look. However, even the new models have what agencies are looking for which means you will have an influx of new, stunning faces to work with. Posing and facial expressions can be taught, explained, and pulled from a model, but the look can only happen naturally.
Do a great job with testing and you may even get the chance to pull from the agency's higher tier for your work, which will open up even great opportunities for you. You can never have enough in your book and you should never let your book get stale, constantly keep testing, practicing and updating/upgrading what you can offer -- don't become a dinosaur.
Instead of explaining even more I'll show you some images from my most recent shoot and let you decide both how I did and whether it is worth it or not. Personally, I felt the model was amazing and the shoot turned out great.
©David Cajio Photography
©David Cajio Photography
©David Cajio Photography
However, as far as I'm concerned the reward far outweighs any risk -- with the caveat that you are at least a semi-competent photographer.
Starting at the bottom of an agency's board you will get new models with very little experience or if you are lucky experienced models who have changed and need to update their look. However, even the new models have what agencies are looking for which means you will have an influx of new, stunning faces to work with. Posing and facial expressions can be taught, explained, and pulled from a model, but the look can only happen naturally.
Do a great job with testing and you may even get the chance to pull from the agency's higher tier for your work, which will open up even great opportunities for you. You can never have enough in your book and you should never let your book get stale, constantly keep testing, practicing and updating/upgrading what you can offer -- don't become a dinosaur.
Instead of explaining even more I'll show you some images from my most recent shoot and let you decide both how I did and whether it is worth it or not. Personally, I felt the model was amazing and the shoot turned out great.
©David Cajio Photography ©David Cajio Photography ©David Cajio Photography
Reader Comments (4)
The models are beautiful. I think they used to model for Weddings Monthly on the wedding photography settings.
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