When You Should Book A Professional Model.

Summary

• Introduction
• Dispelling 3 Common Misconceptions
• Caveats
• One Key Take Away

I enjoy working with clients who are small to medium-sized brands because I like the opportunity to coach and implement the best production practices I have learned in almost twenty years in the business.

Frequently, the conversation over booking professional, agency-repped talent comes up.

When is it appropriate to hire professional models vs non-professional talent?

I am not here to tell you that agencies have a monopoly on the best models, but I want to dispel a few misconceptions about hiring models so you can make the most informed decision possible for your business and brand.

MISCONCEPTION #1

"Models are just professional, good-looking people."

Being attractive and being photogenic are two very different things. A model is someone who is photogenic and has a "Look" that resonates.

Agencies have already done the hard work by sifting through thousands of submissions of attractive people and choosing the few they feel will stand out the best in a crowded field.

What do I mean by "Look"?

If someone has a look, it's someone who doesn't look like anyone else while also being photogenic. Having a look is essential for your brand, as one key characteristic that good business and good art share is the practice of differentiation. If your model has a unique look, your images and, by extension, your brand will too.

A unique, subtle look will do wonders to stand out in a crowd as you compete with your competitors for attention.

MISCONCEPTION #2

"We like shooting "real" people because we don't want posey shots."

I understand this impulse when the goal is to capture candid, lifestyle moments, and I have been the photographer on successful shoots with "real" people like this. However, I can always expect one, if not all five, of the following to occur on shoots like these.

• Increase in time spent coaching and directing.
• Fewer shots and scenarios captured.
• Fewer viable selects.
• More time (and money) in post-production.
• Reshoots.

The truth is that an experienced model is not unlike an actor, able to shift between moods, activities, and even characters effortlessly. They take your direction, can process it, and mix it with their experience quickly. If spontaneous, candid moments are what you are after, this is where booking professional talent is the most important in my opinion. Any money that you think you are saving on the front end, you will be paying on the back end.

And just for the record, models are "real" people, too, and know how to look natural walking down the street or sipping a latte as much as anyone else.

MISCONCEPTION #3

"We can get the same results shooting on non-models."

Maybe. It depends on what your goal is in the short and long term. You don't need a professional model for every single shoot. There is, however, something more important than a model's look that you get with booking a professional model––professionalism.

A professional model will arrive on time (if not early), fresh-faced, well-rested, and with a positive attitude. They now know how to maintain their energy over a full day of shooting and dozens of outfits. It's their job and they take it seriously.

An agency-repped model is reliable, engaged, and comfortable experimenting in front of the camera until you get what you want.

We all know attractive people who take great photos, but can they sustain that magic and energy over an entire day?

When you book your friends or acquaintances or even pull from a casting call on Instagram, eventually and without warning, you will have no-call/no-shows, ruining your whole photoshoot and budget.

If a professional model comes down with the flu or their flight is canceled, the agency will be ready with a backup booking for you so the show can go on.

CAVEATS

Here are a few scenarios when you don't need a professional model.

• You are only shooting a few items to show scale.
• Non-recognizable P.D.P. shots.
• Close-up shots demonstrating how to use something.

ONE KEY TAKEAWAY

If you take one thing away from this article––As with anything in life, you get what you pay for, and cutting this corner may be more costly to your business than hiring a pro. Be sure to consult with your photographer before making this decision.

Stay Hungry.