ideas on finding models/subjects to build a portfolio

[atris3]

I've been an "enthusiast amateur" photographer for years with a focus

on nature photography. Lately, I've been drawn toward taking more

photographs of people. I would like to get some practice and build

up a small portfolio. I'm looking for ideas on how to best find

models for portraits, etc. My first thought would be to tap my

friends, but my and I family have recently moved into a new area and

we don't know a lot of folks yet.

 

Does anyone have any thoughts on finding models/subjects for building

up a portfolio? . . . . . thanks!

[james_oneill]

It depends where you live, how much money you are prepared to spend, how you feel about approaching people and what kind of pictures you want to do. I've used professional models, although I'm more interested in figure/artistic nudes. Experienced models are good because they need less direction, and a decent one will help the photographer to relax which is a huge help when its all new.

 

You may find that shooting a mixture of stuff that you want and that your sitter wants and letting them have copies (Time for prints) is a low cost way of expanding a thin portfolio, although it's not worth a model risking the time if you're a totlly unknown quality.

 

<A href="http://www.onemodelplace.com">one model place</a> has pretty much world wide coverage lots of different "looks", levels of experience and differnet degrees of undress. If "Portraits etc" means just portraits, don't ask a wannabe porn star, but if the etc means showing more of the body, then don't try to talk someone who only does fashion into it.

[doug_raddatz]

If you have a commmunity college in the area it's a great place to start. Make sure to go to administrations to get authorization to hang up ads/flyers for it. You can get quite a few good models this way cheaply of for prints for time.

[chris_waller]

Students, musicians (the local guitar/keyboard/drumkit shop is a gold-mine).

[h._p.]

Back when I did this sort of thing, I found that people who wanted to be photographed made much more interesting pictures than people who had to be paid. Paid models are very good when you have to get an image to meet a deadline but they were seldom, in my experience, as much to work with as what you might well call 'amateurs'.<div></div>

[h._p.]

Correction: 'as much FUN to work with...'

 

<grin>

[stevenbarall]

This is a great question. Find local theater groups or dance schools or other theatrical types. These people always need portraits and I am sure that you will be able to find people willing to pose in exchange for prints of your photos that they can use as handouts. AND it's a great way to meet interesting people in a new community and a great way to build a business.

[atris3]

Thanks to all of you for your help and advice. I've put several of your suggestions into play. I've already recieved several response from www.onemodelplace.com. Thanks to all!