Well, I'm a little late responding here...the Scottsdale Artist's School pays its models, I think, $15/hr 3 hr minimum. Probably $1-2 more for nudes. Let me also mention that all the models are fantastic. They are professional, and absolutely understand how to do what I certainly could not do.
I have paid, usually, nothing - a set of the photographs, an 8x10 print of the painting, a copy of my book.
When I conduct a workshop, I pay $100 per day, with breakfast and lunch, and charming interactions with interesting artists
plus a CD of all the photos we take. So it represents a full day of work and a little extra over the school. I have heard that some of the school's more 'ethnic' models charge up to $50 per photo or some such thing. That's way beyond my interest.
Last year I was a last minute exhibitor at a Western Art Show and had to produce 8 original 'western' oils in about 3 -4 weeks time, way too much stress and way too little time to do this leisurely. I went to the local movie extra casting company and asked to see the Native American databases, the Hispanic databases, and the Italian and Jewish databases. I called late Thursday, went in Friday, picked my model out in about 6 minutes, and arranged a photo shoot for the next Monday. My model (professional) was more perfectly gorgeous and gracious than should even be allowed, and I was able to complete three paintings of her for the show. I have about 4-5 more portraits waiting in the batch I took, and hope to actually start one next week. The agency charged $50 per hour , 3 hour minimum. And I knew I could count on her showing up. So, getting 8-9 portraits out of the session was an excellent value. It just doesn't work economically for me to hire for the workshop, although I would love to have her again, for me.
When I asked some western artist friends how they get models, they told me, "Well you have to sign up for a 2- week excrusion in ND, it costs $2000, but it's already over for the year..." or "Drive up to Wickenburg, ( a 1hr+backroad venture,) and ask around for a guy named ____" One of my favorite students from Tucson, says, "Hey, come paint ____. Everyone does." So if you wonder why all of the Indian Chiefs in SW ART Magazine look the same, it's because they ARE the same.
So that's a lot of rambling. I have enjoyed just introducing myself to people I think are beautiful, asking them to model, and have been so very fortunate. They have all turned out to be lovely individuals as well. Too bad I didn't have the same insight in picking boyfriends 25 years ago.