Professional model photographers in Chicago?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Some folks I know say I should try modelling. Shortly after I spit whatever beverage I have in my mouth all over the place, I ask them why they think so. I get comments about my eyes, my smile, my this, my that. Alright, so I don’t take compliments well … but the idea of at least getting some professional photos taken of myself has crossed my mind more than once if for no other reason than to have some attention-grabbing quality photos of me which don’t involve friends, relatives, bad framing, unflattering lighting, or any combination of the above.

My thought was that I’d need to go somewhere besides a family photo studio with velvet backdrops and big umbrella lights designed for photos in wedding albums. You know, something with some sizzle … interesting framing, black and white shots, modelling type angles, not looking into the camera, etc. Something that looks sexy but not overly staged. I suppose what I’m looking for is a modelling studio or a photographer who works in one, but I don’t quite know how to go about finding a good one (at a reasonable price) in the Chicago area.

Anyone ever done this? Looking for suggestions and/or recommendations.

2

Photography classes are always looking for models, particularly free models. So it’s fairly common to trade modeling time in trade for photos for a portfolio. Just make sure it’s for a reputable class – you might try contacting your local art association.

3

There’s always GlamourShots. You should see the classy things they did with my half-sister, Cheryl. Turned her from a $5 whore to a $300/hour an escort right proper.

4

Since there is no factual answer to a factual question, let’s move this to IMHO.

samclem GQ moderator

5

[QUOTE=threemae]
There’s always GlamourShots. You should see the classy things they did with my half-sister, Cheryl. Turned her from a $5 whore to a $300/hour an escort right proper.
[/QUOTE]

Ditto on that. A co-worker of mine had one done for her husband for Valentine’s Day. This girl was neither built like a model nor particularly sexy looking in any way. With the right lingerie and expert makeup, staging and photography, she came away looking like a million bucks. The transformation was astounding.

6

I’m sorry, my irony meter is down. Are you serious or kidding?

7

I don’t think Glamour Shots is what you’re looking for. To “break into modeling”, everything I’ve ever read indicates some black & white (and/or color) head shots and maybe some full body shots would be all you need.

Don’t get me wrong - I love Glamour Shots. When I hit the 100 pound lost mark, I had some done. They were so good, I hesitated to send them to people, because I sure don’t look like that naturally :stuck_out_tongue:

Maybe check Craigslist for a barter thing with a photog for some head shots?

VCNJ~

8

Actually for a modelling portfolio you want to get a photographer that is familiar with doing those kinds of shots. You will wnat to use a few different outifts and change your make-up and hair.

They want to see how you look, not necessarily how make-up and soft lighting can make you look.

Are you talking about print or runway? How old are you, how tall? This will all come into play when you arrange the shoot.

WARNING - it can be expensive to start your own portfolio

If you think you have potential - take a few shapshots and send them into a reputable agency with your height and weight/ measurements. There would be no charge to you if they decide to try and market you and they will get your portfolio started. Some of the bigger ones - Ford, Wilhemina and Elite come to mind.

DO NOT be sucked into the agencies that want you to pay for classes or anything. The big ones don’t charge prospective models anything, they expect to make anything they invest in you back on your work.
Your age and potential will be the biggest factor. If you have runway potential and are young (under 22) they big agencies will still look at you.

I would recommend “Model:The Ugly Business of Beautiful Women” for any younger aspiring model. It’s a scary business and it pays to knwo what you are getting into.

If you want some more advice please feel free to email me, I know more than I need to about this stuff.

9

Slow down, everyone. I appreciate the suggestions, especially Poysyn’s, but my OP isn’t really about breaking into modelling. I’m sure that in the unlikely event things ever ended up going that route, then advice about how to become a runway model would be invaluable and Poysyn would clearly be one of the first to turn to for insight. :slight_smile:

GlamourShots is essentially what I’d be looking for, as far as franchises go. Trouble is, the nearest franchise to me is 30 miles away. There’s gotta be something closer in Chicago. While it’s probably true that the going rate at a franchise is more affordable than hiring an independent professional, going to a freelancer or a class with a “barter offer” (they get a model, I get free photos) sounds like it’d be cheap but with mixed results. Sounds like a good way to get one’s feet wet, though. What kind of art associations are there that I can contact for this stuff in Chicago? I’d imagine there are tons of photographers who belong to such an entity, but my online searching is coming up short. I’ve only come up with associations for art dealers and photojournalists. The CPPA (Chicago Professional Photographers Association) doesn’t seem entirely helpful, at least from skimming the website … seems more oriented towards photographers who’re actually practicing the trade.

I would’ve just as soon starting calling run-of-the-mill family photo studios for advice on where to go, but my feeling tells me they’d never give potential business away to somebody else and would try to sell me on their services instead. If I had to base my decision on what made one agency more “reputable” than another based on the content of their websites (and the ease with which they can be found), then I’d be up a very smelly creek …

10

Not that its any of my business, but hey, its a message board:

Ask yourself right now where you’re going to draw the line re: photographs and nudity. Whatever you decide…Stick to it like glue, no matter what they say. And make darn sure you know who gets the negatives and the rights to the picture.
(aka Read That Release…every word)

You don’t want to have to explain 30 years from now to your kids why there’s a naked picture of you on the net… :dubious:

11

Modelmayhem dot com would be a good place to go.

Look for a photographer that will to TFP/TFCD (time for prints/time for disk)

You will also be able to look at samples of the photographers work to get an idea of what they do. You may want consider hiring a MUA or Makeup Artist. Believe me, they can make a difference.

12

[QUOTE=anamnesis]
Slow down, everyone. I appreciate the suggestions, especially Poysyn’s, but my OP isn’t really about breaking into modelling. I’m sure that in the unlikely event things ever ended up going that route, then advice about how to become a runway model would be invaluable and Poysyn would clearly be one of the first to turn to for insight. :slight_smile:

GlamourShots is essentially what I’d be looking for, as far as franchises go. Trouble is, the nearest franchise to me is 30 miles away. There’s gotta be something closer in Chicago. While it’s probably true that the going rate at a franchise is more affordable than hiring an independent professional, going to a freelancer or a class with a “barter offer” (they get a model, I get free photos) sounds like it’d be cheap but with mixed results. Sounds like a good way to get one’s feet wet, though. What kind of art associations are there that I can contact for this stuff in Chicago? I’d imagine there are tons of photographers who belong to such an entity, but my online searching is coming up short. I’ve only come up with associations for art dealers and photojournalists. The CPPA (Chicago Professional Photographers Association) doesn’t seem entirely helpful, at least from skimming the website … seems more oriented towards photographers who’re actually practicing the trade.

[/QUOTE]

Even more advice :slight_smile:

I am sort of going this route right now, I am supposed to be competing in a contest come late summer and need to get a few shots done before that.

The photographer should just be one that you like their work. Most professionals are familiar with using models - but not all are good. Check them out online and look at their work. Make an appointment to talk to them. They should make you comfortable and be easy to chat with about what you are looking for.

As far as make-up and hair goes - it depends. If you have the cash you can shell out for a pro, or you can call some beauty schools and see if anyone wants to help out in exchange for some portfolio shots of their own.

If you are lucky, you can end up bartering the whole thing (what I did). You can find a photog that has an interest in expanding their portfolio, stylist and make-up person for the same and you get to be the model.

If not it can end up costing some serious bucks - barter what you can. As the photog (within reason) if there are some shots he has wanted for a while. Be upfront with what you are comfortable with.

If you end up having to do your own makeup, take out some books, Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier and especially Kevyn Aucoin have some excellent books out there and can help you practice some “looks”.

If I can help anymore let me know.

13

Glamour Shots is the opposite of what you want if you want to model. Call agencies in your area, they will tell you that to look at someone who wants to model, they want plain pictures. Until a model works up a professional portfolio of work, they use Polaroids. Agencies want to see what you look like in basic clothes and without makeup, or very light makeup. They look to see if you are naturally photogenic, not if you can look good after a Glamour Shots photo, as others have pointed out almost anyone can look good after a Glamor Shots photo. If you can look good in a Polaroid, you can take pictures.

If you just want pretty pictures for your own benefit that is different, but don’t spend money on staged photos if you want to use them to get modeling work. In fact, I just sent out a request for info from a local modeling agency to see if it is something I would like to get my child involved in, and all they asked for was a few basic stats and 5 photos, professionally taken was not a requirement at all. Some places specifically don’t want professional photos since they can be altered so much.

If you do want some nice pictures just to have them, then I would go with a place that specializes in portraits. You can always ask to see a photographer’s work, they should have tons of samples and books for you to look at so you can get a sense of their style. Professional photographers are used to having people come and look at their stuff knowing they are looking at every other place in town too. Just to have a basic session shouldn’t be tons of money, you can specify what you want. I have actor friends who got their headshots done that way, simple, good photos.

14

[QUOTE=anamnesis]
Slow down, everyone. I appreciate the suggestions, especially Poysyn’s, but my OP isn’t really about breaking into modelling. I’m sure that in the unlikely event things ever ended up going that route, then advice about how to become a runway model would be invaluable and Poysyn would clearly be one of the first to turn to for insight. :slight_smile:

GlamourShots is essentially what I’d be looking for, as far as franchises go. Trouble is, the nearest franchise to me is 30 miles away. There’s gotta be something closer in Chicago. While it’s probably true that the going rate at a franchise is more affordable than hiring an independent professional, going to a freelancer or a class with a “barter offer” (they get a model, I get free photos) sounds like it’d be cheap but with mixed results. Sounds like a good way to get one’s feet wet, though. What kind of art associations are there that I can contact for this stuff in Chicago? I’d imagine there are tons of photographers who belong to such an entity, but my online searching is coming up short. I’ve only come up with associations for art dealers and photojournalists. The CPPA (Chicago Professional Photographers Association) doesn’t seem entirely helpful, at least from skimming the website … seems more oriented towards photographers who’re actually practicing the trade.

I would’ve just as soon starting calling run-of-the-mill family photo studios for advice on where to go, but my feeling tells me they’d never give potential business away to somebody else and would try to sell me on their services instead. If I had to base my decision on what made one agency more “reputable” than another based on the content of their websites (and the ease with which they can be found), then I’d be up a very smelly creek …
[/QUOTE]

Just be aware that Glamour Shots is HUGELY expensive. Hugely. They took I think 20-25 poses in 3 (4?) different outfits. I chose 4 poses and I ended up paying about $900 for an 8X10 and two 5X7 of each pose. They’re fairly hard sell, too…they can show you right on the spot how the pictures will look once they’ve been retouched, so the temptation is great. They kept trying to sell me some $2000 package that had something like 20 wallet photos - I’m like “What am I going to do with that - give them to the girls at school?” :smiley:

The poses in the purple shirt, the jeans & “the shoes” were the ones I settled on - Private Group Photo & Video Sharing. I liked the one with the shoes - everything was in black & white except the shoes. (They asked me to bring in “props” that reflected my personality, so there you go). I was very pleased with the results.

The quality was excellent, but just be prepared for the price.

VCNJ~

15

[QUOTE=anamnesis]

I would’ve just as soon starting calling run-of-the-mill family photo studios for advice on where to go, but my feeling tells me they’d never give potential business away to somebody else and would try to sell me on their services instead. If I had to base my decision on what made one agency more “reputable” than another based on the content of their websites (and the ease with which they can be found), then I’d be up a very smelly creek …
[/QUOTE]

Seriously, I think calling a few local shops and looking at their portfolios for this specific type of photography is a good place to start. Call three or four right near you.

The Glamour Shots site really does look like what you want: http://www.glamourshots.com/index.htm

If you can manage to make it over there to the Western suburbs. It IS an inconvenient location.

16

[QUOTE=Velma]
Glamour Shots is the opposite of what you want if you want to model. Call agencies in your area, they will tell you that to look at someone who wants to model, they want plain pictures. Until a model works up a professional portfolio of work, they use Polaroids. Agencies want to see what you look like in basic clothes and without makeup, or very light makeup. They look to see if you are naturally photogenic, not if you can look good after a Glamour Shots photo, as others have pointed out almost anyone can look good after a Glamor Shots photo. If you can look good in a Polaroid, you can take pictures.

If you just want pretty pictures for your own benefit that is different, but don’t spend money on staged photos if you want to use them to get modeling work. In fact, I just sent out a request for info from a local modeling agency to see if it is something I would like to get my child involved in, and all they asked for was a few basic stats and 5 photos, professionally taken was not a requirement at all. Some places specifically don’t want professional photos since they can be altered so much.

If you do want some nice pictures just to have them, then I would go with a place that specializes in portraits. You can always ask to see a photographer’s work, they should have tons of samples and books for you to look at so you can get a sense of their style. Professional photographers are used to having people come and look at their stuff knowing they are looking at every other place in town too. Just to have a basic session shouldn’t be tons of money, you can specify what you want. I have actor friends who got their headshots done that way, simple, good photos.
[/QUOTE]

This is absolutely true, if you are trying to get signed with an agency - except a head shot (for acting) and a modelling shot are very different. Same with portraits, a good industry photog is going to take a different shot than someone at a portrait studio. I have gone through various books for casting agents/modelling agents – you can really tell the difference from those that used a good photog or just anyone…

To take a headshot/modelling shot you are still talking about a fair chunk of change. Here (smaller and cheaper than Chicago) it would be about 500.00.

If you are doing only one sitting/one roll invest in a good make-up artist - they can do it very natural looking but will make the difference between good and bad shots. Decide ahead of time if you want black and white or not - different make-up.

Remember - all of this is moot if you are trying to get on with an agency - just snap a few photos of yourself (just regular old pics) and send them in. This is a good place to start because it’s so cheap. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t hear anything back - they may have a full roster of “your look” . You can always go the self-funded way later.

Children’s modelling is different. They change so fast that usually snapshots are fine and they need new ones every few months.

17

[QUOTE=Veuve_ClicquotNJ]
Just be aware that Glamour Shots is HUGELY expensive. Hugely. They took I think 20-25 poses in 3 (4?) different outfits. I chose 4 poses and I ended up paying about $900 for an 8X10 and two 5X7 of each pose. They’re fairly hard sell, too…they can show you right on the spot how the pictures will look once they’ve been retouched, so the temptation is great. They kept trying to sell me some $2000 package that had something like 20 wallet photos - I’m like “What am I going to do with that - give them to the girls at school?” :smiley:

The poses in the purple shirt, the jeans & “the shoes” were the ones I settled on - Private Group Photo & Video Sharing. I liked the one with the shoes - everything was in black & white except the shoes. (They asked me to bring in “props” that reflected my personality, so there you go). I was very pleased with the results.

The quality was excellent, but just be prepared for the price.

VCNJ~
[/QUOTE]
Nice shots! The website said something about $40/sheet, whatever that means.