Freelance Models are models who are not represented by a Modeling or Acting Agent or Agency. They manage themselves and decide who they want to work with, where, how, and for what price. I DO NOT RECCOMEND ATTEMPTING TO BECOME A FREELANCE MODEL IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A FULL TIME INCOME! I know people who have freelanced full time, and I've done it myself briefly with a good success rate (working about 3-4 times per week); however, if you looking for a full time career I suggest you refer back to agency representation. There are few models who have enough knowledge of the industry and at the same time are willing to put in the time and energy to make it work. If you have kids DO NOT ATTEMPT TO BE A FULL TIME FREELANCE MODEL...if you go to school full time...DO NOT ATTEMPT TO BECOME A FULL TIME FREELANCE MODEL...if you have a full time job....You get the idea. It's a very busy lifestyle that involves a lot of travel and a lot of .....everything.
Now if your looking to supplement your current income or you feel your agency is just not getting you the amount of work you want, then freelancing can be a great option to get extra work, free portfolio images, network, and make industry connections. As a Freelance Model, you need to have a few things in order before you start attempting to get yourself work.
- Do you have a portfolio? It's ok if you don't, but you should always be working towards having a complete protfolio and constantly adding better pictures as you aquire them. The minimum amount of shots I would reccomend to start getting paying work would be roughly 4. This gives the client a good idea of what you look like and what you have done. Until you have 4 strong portfolio looks, I would reccomend sticking to TF shoots. Freelance Models shouldn't make investments such as paying a photographer for a portfolio, because it's just not neccessary. You can do TF (Trade For) shoots with photographers who are looking to add to their portfolio as well. What you want to pay close attention to is the quality of the photographers work. If you don't like the way it looks, guess what, your pictures will probably turn out something like that, so skip it. Freelance Models need to educate themselves about what kind of pictures they will need for the work they want to do. Example: Are you only interested in doing commercial and fashion work? Then it makes no sense to do an artistic nude TF shoot. Your portfolio should contain the type of images you want to be payed to create. If you are uncomfortable with a photographer, a concept, a shoot...just skip it. You are your own boss. You can do whatever you please.
That being said, Freelance Models still need to maintain a professional attititude. Having a portfolio, a comp card, a business card, a personal website and a WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE about the industry can take you a long way! If you don't know the answer...THEN GOOGLE IT! Then ask a few people to see if you get a similar answer. It amazes me how aspiring models will get themselves in bad situations because they haven't looked into something. When you are a freelance model YOU NEED TO LOOK INTO EVERYTHING! You are the only one responsible for your well being and safety! If you were represented by an agency, they would worry about that for you. Questions to ask yourself before shooting with a photographer or accepting an assignment would be:
1) Have I worked with them before?
2) Have I seen their portfolio? What is the content and quality? Do they have a portfolio?
3) Have they given me a clear description of the job so I am in full understanding and agreement? If the answer is no, don't even think about shooting with them or accepting the job. You'll have no idea what you could be walking into.
4) Have they given me a set pay rate? Or have they agreed to my pay rate? (When you are a freelance model, you must set your own hourly, half day (4hours), full day (8hours) and overtime rates. Clients will ask for them if there is not already a set rate for the job. You should also always ask if the client will pay your ttavel expenses, especially if the job is low paying and you need to travel a considerable distance to got there. Figure out ahead of time how far you are willing to travel for work and at what rate. Set your rated lower when you start out then raise them as you gain experience. No one will pay a ridiculously high rate for an inexperienced model, no matter how pretty she is. Remember, your not being payed for how you look per say...your being payed based on: How you look + experience + professionalism + quality of your portfolio.
5) Do I know anyone else who has worked with them? Were their reviews good or bad?
Until these questions have been clearly answered, do not accept a job.
. ... HOW TO FIGURE OUT WHEN YOU SHOULD BE PAYED FOR SHOOTS......
As you start out, you will be working for free doing TF shoots. This simply means that you and the photographer will both provide your services for free because you will mutually benefit from your collaboration.
You might be able to pick up a few paying jobs along the pay, and you should accept them for experience sake, not matter what they pay. (I never reccomend working for free after you have a quality portfolio and a solid resume)
As your portfolio becomes more complete, you need to observe the quality of the photographers portfolio even more closely before agreeing to a shoot. If the quality of their portfolio is better than your than gladly accept a TF shoot with them, it will help add quality to your portfolio. If the quality of the photographers portfolio is lower than yours, it's time to start charging! Give them your hourly, half day and full day rates. Don't be surprised if you don't hear back from them or they think that you should shoot with them for free. If they are less experienced than you, they won't know any better. I know photographers and even worse "photographers" aka a guy who owns a camera, who think they should be payed for every shoot they do, which is fine, if they are contacting models who need and are willing to pay for their services. However if you are a Freelance Model and you only plan to do freelance work, then you simply won't benefit from paying a photographer for a photoshoot. If a photographer is seriious about improving his skills, and he likes your look, then he will pay! Keep in mind you won't be charging an unreasonable rate. There are too many quality photographers that are more than willing to shoot with you TF for one reason or another, some just might be willing to help you because you asked, and some might just be updating and adding on to their portfolios and you crossed paths at the right time. All you need to do is go find them. Don't just shoot with every photographer you meet without figuring out what you'll accomplish and gain from it first!
$$$ HOW TO DETERMINE YOUR RATES $$$
You are free to charge whoever, whatever you wish, since you are your own boss. However, overcharging won't get you much work, and undercharging won't get you much....$ So here's a good way to determine a fair rate to charge: (Warning: this involves actual research! ..told you freelancing wasn't easy!)
Do an internet search for the Modeling and Casting agencies in your area. Believe it or not, some actially have their talent rates posted somewhere on their website. (It won't be on the home page, you'll have to look around) Write down the general or average rates that the agencies are chargng. If you can't find the info on their site, which you will not be able to with the majority of them. Then simply call and say that you have an interest in modeling and/or acting and you would like some information on the general rates. Not every agency will 1) Know the answer (every job has a different pay rate, so they may not have a set minimum. or 2) Be willing to tell you. Write down the numbers that you can collect. If you aren't getting enough consistency then you have to just do the research via internet (remember to use only the info from the agencies in your area)
Take the rate that you come up with as your average. Divide it in half. That's the number you shoudl start with. As you gain experience you can raise your rates slowly, but never go above the average rate you came up with. Stay slightly under it. While you might find a few individual situations where you can charge the same rate or even more than an agency model, stick to less that the agency rate, as your rule of thumb. People willing to pay for an agency quality model, won't be willing to pay the same rate for a non-agency model. This is because clients know what they are getting when they go through an agency. Their relationship is with the agency, not the model. When you are a freelance model, you are your own agent, and the first time you work with a client, they won't know what to expect from you, or even if you'll show up, so therefore they won't shell out the same amount of $ they would for an agency model.
WARNING: Beware the phrase "Compensation: EXPOSURE" Exposure is not compensation. Money is compensation. If you are a freelance model planning to become an agency model, then the only people you want to expose yourself to is an agency! So "exposure" won't help you! If you are planning on only doing freelance work, I still would not reccomend it! Yes you have a chance of networking and possibly connecting with future clients...but the odds are no different than they are anywhere else you go in your daily life. If you network everywhere you go already, then you won't have to worry about working for "exposure" aka FREE! Models don't need exposure, they need paychecks! If you are an aspring actor, that's a different story. If you get an audition for a student film or something that will add quality to your acting reel, then you should definitely take it! However, don't continue to work for free if you have a good reel! Get yourself an agent!
HOW TO GET WORK
In addition to networking, you will need to make profiles on websites for freelance modelig and you should also attempt to make connections with independent agents. These are agents who will take their commission if they get you a job, but they won't require you to have a full portfolio as an agency will, and they submit you for work using the photos you already have, if they are interested in working with you. They will not charge you any fees upfront. I do not reccomend paying for any modeling or casting websites as a freelance model. There are enough free castings available, you just need to be searching for them, that is also part of your job, always looking for new sources to find work and castings.
Some websites to join:
modelmayhem.com
modelwirenetwork.com
There are a lot of agents who operate more locally as opposed to nationwide. Find their websites before you pay to join a nationwide casting network. If someone can give a an actual success story from using one of those I'll listen, but I honestly just don't know anyone who's had any success using them.
