Advertising Campaign with Model Portfolio Services... what you think?

[ChrisAdval]

I'm strongly considering this type of advertising campaign to attract consumers to pay for my services in providing model portfolios. And when I say model portfolios I mean designing a flyer/postcard, etc... advertisement to encourage specific demographics to trying out being a model by paying for my model portfolio services. Now there is two ways I may want to do this one at my college where generally speaking would have my target demo (young women 18-23 who may be interested in getting into a side gig business like the freelance modeling world) and since I'm allowed to post for-profit commercial advertising on my campus I'd just offer a free test shoot (for trade of course, to use their images for advertising purposes of my services), and after the first shoot and they still need more shots I can provide them my services and they would be more likely to come back to me because of my experience with them on the first test shoot.

So, thats one direction, but another is going directly to people on the streets or in person hand out my for-profit/commercial postcards anywhere I can get into, but of course handing them to my primary demo and placing them in "hot spots" around towns near by that have my demo in a normal hang out area like bar/club, etc...

I just need an outsider's opinion on this if this is going over board or I'm leading myself into a dark hole or anything... Remember my goal is to provide model portfolio services, but at the same time get some TF models to experiment on experimental concepts that would normally cost money to hire a model for some of my nude and/or implied photography.

[Niresangwa]

...and how exactly do you plan to not come across as a "guy with a camera"? you know... one of those guys.

Sounds to me like you'll end up doing a whole lot of leg work for not much return. Why is this going to succeed where using something as well established as MM will fail?

[ChrisAdval]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

...and how exactly do you plan to not come across as a "guy with a camera"? you know... one of those guys.

Sounds to me like you'll end up doing a whole lot of leg work for not much return. Why is this going to succeed where using something as well established as MM will fail?

I meant my demographic is people who may or may not be thinking about being a model (is on the fence), and has no knowledge of the freelance world like MM... those are my potential customers. Also referrals from local modeling/talent agencies (is the goal as well). Yea the experienced models, or even amateurs on MM don't need to pay for portfolio services, but they'll pay if they want a consistent result unlike free/TF photographers on MM it's 50/50 or worse depending on the area.

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by ChrisAdval

I meant my demographic is people who may or may not be thinking about being a model (is on the fence), and has no knowledge of the freelance world like MM... those are my potential customers. Also referrals from local modeling/talent agencies (is the goal as well). Yea the experienced models, or even amateurs on MM don't need to pay for portfolio services, but they'll pay if they want a consistent result unlike free/TF photographers on MM it's 50/50 or worse depending on the area.

Why do you think that people who aren't even thinking of being a model will pay for shoots, over a targeted population of wanna-be models on MM?

Why do you think agencies would refer clients to you, when they themselves are vendors... the people they deal with already have portfolios otherwise they wouldn't be dealing with these people. Why would they refer to an unknown GwaC?

Sorry, but your logic appears backwards.

Basically your proposal condenses to this:

You want to approach young girls out of the blue and offer them a free 'fashion' shoot (or leave flyers where they hang out), in the hopes of inspiring them to want to become models, and from this you expect to garner paying work. You're also planning to spend money advertising to go through with this.

[3bayjunkie]

what the heck is MM? I'm so lost!!

[ChrisAdval]

Originally Posted by 3bayjunkie

what the heck is MM? I'm so lost!!

model mayhem (modelmayhem.com), which is a place where model photography people who wants to create model photography... generally Make up artists, models, model photographers, body painters, publications, and hair stylists mostly, but primarily models and photographers.

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

Why do you think that people who aren't even thinking of being a model will pay for shoots, over a targeted population of wanna-be models on MM?

its the mentality of being on TV, once a person is given a chance to get on TV they'll take it in many cases for whatever the reasons they want to be on TV.

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

Why do you think agencies would refer clients to you, when they themselves are vendors... the people they deal with already have portfolios otherwise they wouldn't be dealing with these people. Why would they refer to an unknown GwaC?

I'm not sure what you mean here, yes many self-proclaimed, unestablished, "modeling and talent agencies," do sell photography portfolio services, but the established ones yes only deal with models who have a solid portfolio and look that agency wants so referrals won't exist. And if they did of course it would be someone who's been in the industry for 10+ years only.

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

Sorry, but your logic appears backwards.

Basically your proposal condenses to this:

You want to approach young girls out of the blue and offer them a free 'fashion' shoot (or leave flyers where they hang out), in the hopes of inspiring them to want to become models, and from this you expect to garner paying work. You're also planning to spend money advertising to go through with this.

yea, I may try just it with 500 postcards, and the ones that actually tried a test shoots with me and possibly fall in love with being a model or at least pursuing it as a career (or part time) I would have the opportunity to offer them my services... yea I agree its not a huge market, more of a niche market but bigger markets like weddings its just not for me or my style right now, and if it is I don't want to do it without at least a 70-200mm lens or longer for the type style I would want to shoot in for weddings. But thank you for your opinions very much Nire.

[BK553]

Traditionally the not-pro up-and-coming-model-photographer dynamic was free head shots (for the model) for free portfolio work (for the photographer).

Today, here are so many scammy, shitty preying companies now that trick young girls into paying money for head shots, an "agent", casting calls etc... that I doubt very much there is much work left for you . It seems you don't have much to offer other than photos, while these companies have a much more polished turd to sell.

[ChrisAdval]

Originally Posted by BK553

Traditionally the not-pro up-and-coming-model-photographer dynamic was free head shots (for the model) for free portfolio work (for the photographer).

Today, here are so many scammy, shitty preying companies now that trick young girls into paying money for head shots, an "agent", casting calls etc... that I doubt very much there is much work left for you . It seems you don't have much to offer other than photos, while these companies have a much more polished turd to sell.

that would depend on the area, and I don't think these "model agencies" are sending out or spending any form of advertising/recruiting, at most they'll just go on MM and claim they want to represent the model and make the model pay for a portfolio (if they don't have a solid port-according to their standards).

Traditionally yes its free, but is it 100% guarantee to get good quality photos? no (at most its 50/50 chance of getting good photos), just impossible to guarantee that, but if the photographer is confident to charge money for those photos (like myself) that a 100% guarantee could be more likely to be given.

What I want to do is maybe give the potential wanna-be model an opportunity (to give them a free test shoot [1hr photo session and 5-6 retouched photos]) and they sign away their likenesses (model release) and if they're worth anything to me in my portfolio and advertising my services I'll use their photos. And if the chance they like the experience they could come back to get a full package service at a fraction of the price an established and more experienced photographer would charge for a portfolio (which generally would be around $500+ vs. $200-$300).

What I want to provide, I don't see it as a trick, but I see it selling a service to those who may want a second job, side job, or just want to try a new thing as a model, just when they're presented with the opportunity in their faces its more likely they would take it than if it was not presented to them at all.

I'm doing this for many reasons not just for possible profits and potential customers, I'm also doing this for I can get more models into my pool which right now has been depleted from model mayhem (for TF work). I'm not going to wait and check everyday for new models to join MM, and when they do its at max 1-2 per week new models join in my area (of 50mile radius). This campaign could increase my model pool by 30-60% and the more models I can shoot the stronger portfolio I have for many different types of portfolios I'm trying to build. And having the same model over and over is virus I currently have in my port (even if its about 12models in my port) I need to shoot at least 50 different models I think to get my portfolio goals met.

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by ChrisAdval

that would depend on the area, and I don't think these "model agencies" are sending out or spending any form of advertising/recruiting, at most they'll just go on MM and claim they want to represent the model and make the model pay for a portfolio (if they don't have a solid port-according to their standards).

Traditionally yes its free, but is it 100% guarantee to get good quality photos? no (at most its 50/50 chance of getting good photos), just impossible to guarantee that, but if the photographer is confident to charge money for those photos (like myself) that a 100% guarantee could be more likely to be given.

What I want to do is maybe give the potential wanna-be model an opportunity (to give them a free test shoot [1hr photo session and 5-6 retouched photos]) and they sign away their likenesses (model release) and if they're worth anything to me in my portfolio and advertising my services I'll use their photos. And if the chance they like the experience they could come back to get a full package service at a fraction of the price an established and more experienced photographer would charge for a portfolio (which generally would be around $500+ vs. $200-$300).

What I want to provide, I don't see it as a trick, but I see it selling a service to those who may want a second job, side job, or just want to try a new thing as a model, just when they're presented with the opportunity in their faces its more likely they would take it than if it was not presented to them at all.

I'm doing this for many reasons not just for possible profits and potential customers, I'm also doing this for I can get more models into my pool which right now has been depleted from model mayhem (for TF work). I'm not going to wait and check everyday for new models to join MM, and when they do its at max 1-2 per week new models join in my area (of 50mile radius). This campaign could increase my model pool by 30-60% and the more models I can shoot the stronger portfolio I have for many different types of portfolios I'm trying to build. And having the same model over and over is virus I currently have in my port (even if its about 12models in my port) I need to shoot at least 50 different models I think to get my portfolio goals met.

so...basically this is just doing exactly the same as the thousands of other people? Doing a free shoot for your portfolio.

[BK553]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

so...basically this is just doing exactly the same as the thousands of other people? Doing a free shoot for your portfolio.

I guess this is what I'm getting at... What exactly are you asking? Building a "pool" as you call it is what I call "industry relationships", which is what your entire career will consist of later. Unless I'm misunderstanding, you're doing exactly what every other photographer interested in fashion/commercial work has done. I see you mentioned an advertising campaign, I would advise against that for now, you'll find that most of your clients will come from referrals from past clients who liked your work. I'm afraid advertising money could be much better spent on better lenses, bodies or lighting (Elinchroms are expensive)