Paying models

Linda Brandon · 12-09-2004, 03:21 PM

Hi Jane,

I pay my models $25 for a two hour time period whether I take photos or not.

I am also thinking about giving them a sketch or two after I've worked with them for a while. They always seem to want one.

Jimmie Arroyo · 12-09-2004, 03:53 PM

I'm a real cheap-o. For my drawings, from which I've only used photos, I don't pay anything. I give them an 8x10" print of the drawing.

But before I seem too cheap, they are of course told ahead of time that I don't pay, and they have no problem with it. And it's been over twenty people within a year in a half. They usually act like I'm doing them a favor. Many say that it's an honor, I think they are so flattered that they would be doing something unethical by accepting money. I've also never taken more than a half hour taking pics, so they may not mind much either.

If I start doing live sittings, I would'nt expect them to sit for nothing. I think between $10-15 is fair for someone who's never done it before, and is posing just for the hey of it. There's no way I'm paying someone $25 an hour for an uninteresting experienced model, which seems like the going rate in my area. Experienced and interesting is different.

Mike McCarty · 12-09-2004, 04:14 PM

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Experienced and interesting is different

I do the same thing Jimmie, I've never paid a model.

Cynthia Daniel · 12-09-2004, 04:17 PM

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Originally Posted by Mike McCarty

I do the same thing Jimmie, I've never paid a model.

The mystery continues as to how Mike gets his beautiful, young models.

Mike McCarty · 12-09-2004, 04:33 PM

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I've never paid a model.

I forgot about my model for food program.

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The mystery continues

There should be a certain amount of mystery in ones life.

Jimmie Arroyo · 12-09-2004, 05:06 PM

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Which leads me to the thought that if you are doing a long painting, don't expect their expression to stay the same as it will be the first hour (take photos). These kids got SO bored with it all!

I wouldn't expect to have them sit the entire time anyway. I'd most likely take reference photos, get the likeness down, some basic work done, then have them sit to finish it. Or something like that. It takes me too long to get a likeness these days, so I wouldn't want them sitting during that time.

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I forgot about my model for food program.

Feeding them huh, hmmmm. I'd like to do heavier models.

Michele Rushworth · 12-09-2004, 05:08 PM

Maybe we'll be seeing lovely young ladies standing along the roadsides in Florida with signs that say "Will Model for Spaghetti."

I have paid young kids (age 7 to 10) the $7 rate I mentioned above, and I give their mothers a few 8x10 prints from the photo shoot as a thank you also. I've used these photos as stand-ins for parts of portraits I was painting (hair, hands etc) where I needed better reference than what I got in the client's photo shoot. I may also paint from some of the "model" photos for samples if I need to at some point.

Jane Bradley · 12-10-2004, 12:11 AM

Well, I guess since neither my husband nor I can cook we're stuck with paying the models in cash.

Thanks for all of the input - I have a few people who just want to pose for fun, but for those who are doing it as a job - sounds like what I was figuring - about 15 to 20 an hour is pretty fair.

Julie Deane · 12-09-2004, 04:16 PM

Hi Jimmie -

I paid two teenagers $10 an hour last summer. They were inexperienced models of course. They were okay with that price range.
And they got a fair number of hours' pay.

Which leads me to the thought that if you are doing a long painting, don't expect their expression to stay the same as it will be the first hour (take photos). These kids got SO bored with it all!