Today’s Post by Joe Farace
That’s a question I get asked a lot by aspiring glamour and boudoir photographers. The truth is that finding glamour models is as easy or difficult as you want to make it. Today I’d like to offer one of my real-world suggestions on ways to find models:
Hand out your business cards to potential models.
While it may seem obvious, handing out business cards to potential models you see or meet in your daily life is more than a good idea. Since this can sound like a pick-up line, I only approach models if they are with friends and I’m with my wife. I then ask the potential model to visit my website to see examples of my work and to send me an e-mail if they’re interested.
True story: “Are you a Model?” That’s what I asked this woman (above) when she and her boyfriend were standing in line, along with Mary and myself, while waiting to get into an indoor car show. I handed her my business card and talked with her for a few minutes. A few weeks later, she contacted me and we had several photo shoots after that. I found she was one of the most talented, natural models that I’d ever worked with.
Another tip: I also give business cards to my wife and friends who are not bashful about handing them to potential models they might meet in their everyday lives. It seldom works but if you don’t try, bupkis.
How I made this portrait: The above photograph was made in the dining room of my former home using window light, with an inexpensive (less than $20) 30-inch Westcott Gold/White reflector at camera left. Shot with a Canon EOS D60 and an EF 28-105mm lens that I made the mistake of selling. I replaced it with a EF 28-135mm IS lens but miss the older, smaller lens. Exposure was 1/200 sec at f/4.5 and ISO 400.
For more tips, tricks and techniques for creating studio lighting effects without spending the big bucks on gear, please pick up a copy of my book Studio Lighting Anywhere, which features a cover photograph by Mary Farace. It’s available new from Amazon for $34.95 with used copies starting at the bargain price of $12.28, as I write this. The Kindle version is only $19.99 for those preferring a digital format.