Finding home grown models

I wrote to GMP some months ago about how I approach girls in the street (politely) and ask them to model for me. It caused quite a stir and the editor asked if I would write an article about how I do it. Well I don't know if my writing skills are up to it, but I thought heck why not!

Well basically I started photography as a hobby about twenty years ago and always enjoyed photographing people best. It has never bothered me to walk up to a stranger and ask if they mind if I take their photograph. Usually this is met with suspicion, but I just expalin I am a photographer and I find them an interesting subject. Very rarley do I get a negative response. I find providing I approach smiling and don't move in to close to their space all goes well.

I have a very small and cheap studio set up at home, but I am lucky as my lounge is 20ft long by 14ft wide so their is plenty of space. I have two main lights which were originally tungsten light stands and reflectors, which I have added cheap screw in flash units. I bought a second hand small pro flash at a boot fair that was broken and had it repired. Non provide modelling lights, but I have been using them for so long I can see how the picture will work.

So after some years I wanted to try my hand at glamour photography and hired studios and models, but after awhile the costs became quite prohibitive to do it more than twice a year. I spent many hours practicing on neighbours, friends and even friends wives until I was happy with the work I was producing. It was then I started to approach girls in the street to model for me.

Now it took quite a time for me to learn the best method of approach, but through trial and error I think I have a very good success rate now. Most importantly I have learnt that women have the most amazing sixth sense. If you see a very pretty girl and think how much you would like to see her with her clothes off, she'll know. I see a gilr that I think has potential as a study for me to photograph. Not necessarily as a model, but interesting enough for me to want to photograph her. If she's on her own, or with friends my approach will be different.

If she's on her own I will walk beside her and say, "Excuse me, but I couldn't help noticing you. I'm a photographer," at this point I hand her my card. "and I wondered if you would be interested in modelling for me?" I don't even stop for a breath before I carry on. "Look I certainly don't expect you to respond to a stranger in the street, all my details are on the card if you feel you would like to know more give me a call." Then I pick up my pace and wak on. Sometimes I get called back, but usually the card goes into a handbag and is remembered later.

That's it. For every ten cards I give out I get eight phone calls. All my details are on the card including address, phone number etc. so she can feel reassured.

If the girl I am interested in is with friends it's a little harder. You will undoubtedly get others saying things like, "Watch him he's a pervert." and such like. So my approach is a little different here. I'll lean into the crowd and hand the one I am interested in a card and ask, "Have you done any modelling?" She'll glance at the card at reply. If she says yes I usually ask about her agent and then leave. If she replies no then I simply tell her to give me a call sometime if she would like to know more. Her friends will usually after I have gone wnat to know what that was all about, and it turns out they are quite persuasive for her to act positively

Finally if a girl I am interested in is with a group of boys as well I usually don't bother. Not because I am concerned with my safety or any such thing, but because peer pressure is the reverse, unless we are looking at the late 20's early 30's age group.

When they phone they will have lots of questions. Yes they can bring a friend, not male, simply because they will not be themselves. I love it when they bring their mum, but more of that a bit later. Yes I am happy to show them work I have done as this is very much, and rightly so, part of their need for reassurance. I am also happy to pass on names of girls that have modeled for me before. No I can make no promises about if they can become models, I also make it clear it is glamour, swimsuit, etc. I couldn't say how good they will be until I have done a test shoot. Yes they can have a full set of prints for themselves after.

From the eight phone calls I get at least three shoots in my lounge. I never ever ask a girl to do more than she is comfortable with as it shows in the pictures. Neither do I amy more try to guess what a girl will be like. I guarantee the ones I think will be great are not, and visa versa. Mums coming along are great. They usually really get into it and help relax the model and help her perform even better. I have had two mothers that ended up posing for me at a session set up after their daughter who were brilliant.

If a girl turns out to be really great then I make sure that she has a quality portfolio and try and help her find some work. You gotta give back!

So when you approach a girl don't do it wearing obvious working clothes, her first perception has to be you are a photographer. Secondly be sure you have practice as working with new girls is not easy, unless they are very natural. Practice will also give you a portfolio to show. Be prepared to go to her house and talk to mum and dad before she can do it, oh and very importantly do not approach young girls that might be less than eighteen. If you get a reputation for dropping your card with school girls you could find yourself in big trouble.

Be professional at all times because if you are not word will get round quicker than wild fire. For me it's a hobby, one I love and enjoy. Now it only costs me the film and deving costs. Some girls are wonderful and actually helped me to produce work which I get paid for and which I shared with them. Some have gone on to model, but most just loved the experience and have the pictures. After the intial questions I find most dads proudly display some of the pictures on their living room wall.

Remember that even the most attractive gilrs you see will be flattered that you think they are worth the time, and I promise you one thing. You'll have some amazing surprises.


A selection of Steve's work using home grown models!

How to find your own models!