What's Your Take on Model Mayhem?

[Timarie]

So, I'm brand spankin' new to the modeling thing (as in, first shoot this week) and I've heard quite a bit about MM. Two things I hear is 1) the girls on there are pretty competitive and will get pretty catty and 2) if you just post pics the offers will come rolling in. My question: true? are the girls really that mean? I don't get along with girls often b/c of this very reason (can't STAND all the nastiness). AND is it really that easy? what have your experiences been? I'm pretty intimidated about the whole experience, but I want it so bad! This site seems so genuine and all the people seem so nice and supportive, but there isn't a very good representation of FL (hopefully that will continue to change!) so getting and MM account seems like it will up my chances of breaking in to the field.
ONE MORE THING:
I know this discussion is all over the forum, but IM SO NERVOUS! any tips? specifically on how to chill out in those few nerve-wracking moments before the camera starts clicking?

[NolaChick™ {Madam}]

Whoa. I guess I'm lucky. All of the people I have met on there have been legit and the photographers that contact me don't ask for nude, because I put on my page that I'm not interested in that, unless it's for a certain project that I think is worth it (no project has been worth it, yet. HA!). Anyway, I would also suggest going on there and networking with other models. The best people to give you and idea of what photgraphers are any good are other models.

Wink Holliday said:

The current casting calls in my area:

...The premise of this shot will be to have the [nude] model covered in jewels...
...model to be painted like the st. pauli girl...
...not specifically looking for nudity...however...i do have ideas...
...3 models to do a nude/implied shoot...
...high end "Playboy style" nude photography...
...Body Painting Finals...
...new 'suicide girl' type web site...
...adult nude video and photo production...
...extremely Hott models...
...very selective in my models and I am in need of 21+ Females... (read as: nudity)

Sigh.

[Sweet Surrender]

I've been on MM for a year now, and I too never go to the forums. I browse, search casting calls, and check out pics. I have never experienced any cattiness personally. Since joining, I've gotten to work with many great photographers and MUA's. It took a little while for the shoots to start rolling in, but now, I have to limit myself to no more than 3 per month to keep me from getting burned out. I'm currently booked all the way through the first of March. As far as being nervous, I don't get as nervous anymore, but when I did, I would always just focus on my escort I brought with me, since he's a familiar face. I would just have to glance up at him and smile and I would be okay. Also, some photographers I've worked with either had a stereo with music playing, or would allow me to bring my own. Good music really helps me loosen up. As far as Florida having no good representation, I currently have several awesome photographer friends in Florida. All you have to do is search for them using their search engine. I hope all this helps!

[Whirlingturban]

Here's some input:

Sometimes I need models and photogs because I am a designer and have a clothing company. Sometimes I see that a model or photog will give a model mayhem or a myspace link instead of a website. I do not like this because I either have to spend time registering or search for my danged password and monkey around. I want to go straight to the information. Also, if the person doesn't have their own website, I assume they are an extreme amateur (esp. with photogs!). (This advice wouldn't apply to you because you are still an extreme amateur- nothing wrong with that- but it is something to put into the whole picture of your eventual marketing strategy). Things like those places, to me, should be supplemental, not your only "portfolio" or the only place info about you can be found. And they are not QUICK- sometimes people you want to reach are busy, they take an interest in you, and you need to give them the option of quick, easy access.

For now I also like this place (PL) because it is smallish. People are not yet overwhelmed here with members and people they don't know. There is a TON of networking to be done here if you are pro-active and don't just sit back and wait for the offers to roll in. Want to get less nervous in front of the camera? Just do a lot of modeling- practice! There are lots of newish photogs here who would love to shoot you.

Katherine / Whirlingturban

[Ellie Retrophilia]

Not everyone can afford to build a website, not everyone has the knowledge to maintain it or the money to pay someone to maintain and update it. So MM, Myspace and PL are good alternatives to that. Trust me, if I had the money I would have had a website for my artwork long time ago. But since I don't have the money to be able to create a good website, I maintain a PL profile, MM profile and several Myspace profiles (one for modeling, one for my artwork and one for the chapter of GQs I'm in charge of).

[Edson Carlos]

Your post actually leads me to my next tidbit of services, what if for a small fee we could help forward a domain name that you purchase over to your PL profile? ;)

This way you give out your custom domain name and it takes people straight to your well maintained PL profile. I have 2 of my domains setup this way.

Ellie Retrophilia said:

Not everyone can afford to build a website, not everyone has the knowledge to maintain it or the money to pay someone to maintain and update it. So MM, Myspace and PL are good alternatives to that. Trust me, if I had the money I would have had a website for my artwork long time ago. But since I don't have the money to be able to create a good website, I maintain a PL profile, MM profile and several Myspace profiles (one for modeling, one for my artwork and one for the chapter of GQs I'm in charge of).

[MS JO]

I dont hang on the forums but I have had a great ecperience on MM. Great exposure and if your looking to build your portfolio that is the place to be. I got hits the very first day I started. Also some tips for your nerves.. I learned in my experience if you are nervous or not comfortable with the shoot then it will show in your pics and you dont want that doll. Have fun with it and just know that every pic is not going to be perfect your a newby so dont be so hard on yourself. Hope that helped and good luck sugar!

[Honey B Hooligan {Madam}]

hmmmm that's a pretty rad-tastic idea there DC!

Daddy Cool said:

Your post actually leads me to my next tidbit of services, what if for a small fee we could help forward a domain name that you purchase over to your PL profile? ;)

This way you give out your custom domain name and it takes people straight to your well maintained PL profile. I have 2 of my domains setup this way.

Ellie Retrophilia said:

Not everyone can afford to build a website, not everyone has the knowledge to maintain it or the money to pay someone to maintain and update it. So MM, Myspace and PL are good alternatives to that. Trust me, if I had the money I would have had a website for my artwork long time ago. But since I don't have the money to be able to create a good website, I maintain a PL profile, MM profile and several Myspace profiles (one for modeling, one for my artwork and one for the chapter of GQs I'm in charge of).

[River Taylor]

I also have been on Model Mayhem since it first started and before that I was using OneModelPlace to get a lot of shoots.

I do a lot of shoots for free or TFP so I can get my name out there and just build up my port.

The forums are kind of a catty place, so I would stay away from there.

I find it hard to believe that there are no opportunities for photographers in Denver. It is a big city and I was recently going to move to Kansas.

I did a search on Model Mayhem to find photographers there to see just how boondocks it might be and there was a ton all over, so you could try using the search engine and maybe not depend solely on the casting calls.

You can also try OneModelplace as well if you want. That is another great site with many good photographers, especially since they have to pay to be on the site, unlike with modelmayhem.

It is free for the models though.

I think the more you get your face out there the better.

I also have used craigslist to find photographers.

You just have to try a lot of different avenues and be ambitious.

The more shoots you do, the better you will get at it and the more confident you will be with posing, costumes, make up, etc.

And not to brag about this, knock on wood, but I have never had any problem with a photographer where I felt like I was in an uncomfortable situation, although my boundaries might be a little bit more free than most.

As long as you take a good look at their port and know what they are shooting, usually I think more often than not, serial killers don't hang around on modeling sites, even in New York.

But yeah having an escort can be a good thing to make you feel safe and help you carry your luggage. Hehe

[Brenda Starr]

What great words of advice!! Something every aspiring model needs to consider....
Whirlingturban said:

Here's some input:

Sometimes I need models and photogs because I am a designer and have a clothing company. Sometimes I see that a model or photog will give a model mayhem or a myspace link instead of a website. I do not like this because I either have to spend time registering or search for my danged password and monkey around. I want to go straight to the information. Also, if the person doesn't have their own website, I assume they are an extreme amateur (esp. with photogs!). (This advice wouldn't apply to you because you are still an extreme amateur- nothing wrong with that- but it is something to put into the whole picture of your eventual marketing strategy). Things like those places, to me, should be supplemental, not your only "portfolio" or the only place info about you can be found. And they are not QUICK- sometimes people you want to reach are busy, they take an interest in you, and you need to give them the option of quick, easy access.

For now I also like this place (PL) because it is smallish. People are not yet overwhelmed here with members and people they don't know. There is a TON of networking to be done here if you are pro-active and don't just sit back and wait for the offers to roll in. Want to get less nervous in front of the camera? Just do a lot of modeling- practice! There are lots of newish photogs here who would love to shoot you.

Katherine / Whirlingturban

[Morna Maeve]

i've experienced drama on model mayhem, but i also get a lot of paid work on there, so i will continue to use it until the resources are wrung dry.

[Soda Shop Sue]

getting fed up with that fREAkiNG service!
i just sent a TFCD special to the local models in the area, trying to meet some models, that are accually from my area... somebody wrote back that they wouldt want to "take a step back" in there modeling career... F-THAT!!! how lame is that person!

i hate MM, most of the models dont know a classy pinup if it hit them in the side of there head.... PINUP HEAD
PUNCH TO MM!!!! (but i'm still on it)

xoxo soda shop sue

[Wink Holliday]

Ms. Sue: I, for one, would be happy to do TFCD with you. And then we could grab a coffee and gripe about MM together. I wish we were in the same area!

Soda Shop Sue said:

getting fed up with that fREAkiNG service!
i just sent a TFCD special to the local models in the area, trying to meet some models, that are accually from my area... somebody wrote back that they wouldt want to "take a step back" in there modeling career... F-THAT!!! how lame is that person!

i hate MM, most of the models dont know a classy pinup if it hit them in the side of there head.... PINUP HEAD
PUNCH TO MM!!!! (but i'm still on it)

xoxo soda shop sue