There was a thread elsewhere about recruiting models, so I thought it might be helpful to put something in here.
Seriously and I am not trying to be clever here. How many of you recruiting models have been in front of the camera as a model or/and been on a management training course that involved employing people?
Because teaches to think from the other side of the coin. It's a management term for thinking like the other guy and appreciating how she/he see the situation and using it to your benefit and either getting the best out of her/him or letting her/him go. For now I will use the female but it applies to males as well.
This is the most important part.
THEY'RE ALL INDIVIDUALS WITH DIFFERENT NEEDS, AIMS, MOTIVATIONS, PERSONALITIES, CHARACTERS, FEARS, LIKES, DISLIKES, ATTITUDES AND HISTORY.
I can't emphasise that enough. Each model who comes to you is an individual, to start thinking of them as the same is a big mistake. Remember it's your job to get the most out of them if you want your work to stand above the rest. You need to see it from their POV as well as yours and use it to your benefit. Or spot those who will be trouble and let them go.
Let's look at it from the two sides. And it's general.
MODELS SIDE.
(A) Models do not look on being a porn star as a positive career move.
Sounds obvious but it needs to be stated. It's a means to an end, to get money. VERY few girls end up behind the camera after their modeling career is over and that tells you a lot.
(B) In most cases they know your job is a one off job, especially if they're bad. Fewer models today get re booked like they used to.
It has changed a bit in the last few years with so few people shooting, but it's still true. most models feel this is a one off job and they fell there is little benefit in them giving a bit extra in their performance. Shooters like Michael Ancher and Dean might disagree with this and they are right, from their POV.
But even if you're shooting a solo girl site of the girl she will have a clue that you are going to do 5 to 15 days with her and that's it. You need X amount of content and she may get the idea that half way through you're so committed she has the whip hand. Be very very careful how you handle these situations. One of the sad things about these solo girl personality sites is there is little input from the girl after she has finished her posing. Which is probably why so many failed.
(C) There is little communication between shooters, so if she or he is crap there is little come back for them.
Back in the "Good Old Days" (
) shooters talked to each other and we soon knew who was a bad egg and who was a good one. I used to get phone calls from other shooters who would ask if "Jane Doe" was a good or bad girl or how to to handle or shoot her. The bad models soon found they had no work. Today it's a different situation and I offer few solutions. It is possible to ask her if she would be free for a day next week as you might have a job that needs someone similar to her. If she's doing solo you can ask her if she would do a 2 girl shoot next week, you can get someone to phone and pretend to be a model working with you asking for more work. Gives the impression you shoot the same girl many times. You need to judge each situation on it's own merits.
(D) They have little reason to give you a good, average or poor performance, other than you kicking them out or your "model's management" skills.
It's 100% down to you if you get the performance you want in the can. The model has little invested in whether the scene is good or bad, she did not come to work to further her porn career, to get fucked or even have a good time. Your skills as a model manager are crucial to get her to produce something that's worth buying.
(E) The previous people she worked for might of been clueless at handling, training and guiding models on how to maximise themselves. AND accepted what she or he did.
This is the BIGGEST problem today with models. no one teaches them what is right and what is wrong. So many shooters are lacking in skills and hiding behind the "Amateur Niche" they are unable to teach a model how to pose or act in front of a camera. OK I have not shot for a long time but I doubt if it's changed. But I've lost count of the models who said "No one else has said it's wrong." Or "No one has told me how to do it." Yet when you show the model what they're doing wrong they see it immediately.
Models learn bad habits, it's our job to teach them good ones. And if the tail wags the dog, heaven help you.
(F) She or he thinks you will be making a fortune out of her or his body.
This is in some cases true. I've had models that have worked a few days for $500 a day, or less, and made a return of $10,000. My very best day ever was a 2 girl 1 boy shoot. Models cost $1,500. We must of made $50,000 that day. Sadly these days are exceptional and in todays market it's a lot tougher, but the models still think they're getting the short end of the stick. Be very careful what you say to them. Don't be too flash and arrogant and on the other hand appear like you know what you're doing and know the business.
(G) You're about to shoot them and give the content to 1,000s of affiliates, plus all the thieves to stick in places their family and friends will find the content. They're giving up their anonymity.
Nothing has limited and reduced the quality of models we have today more then the fact that the content will go everywhere and anywhere. It does effect models, who applies, what they will do and how they will do it. In a community of webmasters who hide behind nick names, hide their domain registrations and few want their neighbors to know what they do. Think about what the model is giving up for her $500
(H) They need the money. How badly depends what you get from them.
And this is the key. They need the money. Use it gently and with thought and you can coax a good performance out of them. Think it gives you some right to act like a tyrant and it will reflect in the work. This is a simple rule that applies to all employee/employer relationships.
SHOOTERS SIDE.
(A) If you want YOUR work or a site to sell and retain you need a great performance out of every girl or guy on your site.
IT REALLY IS THAT SIMPLE. You're either stacking shelves with tins of meat or creating a feast of pornographic fantasy.
It's down to your skills to manage the models. Some lack self confidence needing constant reassurance. One of my best models over the last 30 years could not work well if she did not think she was turning me on and I would make love to her after the shoot. Yes we were dating. Many are a constant battle to get off their high horse and stop them thinking I was in the least interested in sex with her her. Usually applies to the very good looking ones who get hit on all night in a bar. And there are everyone in between these extremes.
Some will fuck anything at the drop of a hat if they fancy you, some are terrified they will have to fuck you. Some like to be treated like ladies, some like sluts, but most want to be treated like human beings doing a job AND WITH RESPECT.
Do your job well and you end up with a product that has a chance to stand out in a sea of mire, do it badly and you're part of the mire.
Always remember, the models need your money less than you need a great performance out of her. It's an attitude of mind that will effect your approach. But still remember you're the boss, just a good one.
Sorry for it being long winded but the above was learned on a training course that took two full weeks. It was for a multi national company not for a porn company, but a lot of what I learned is very useful when dealing with models.
The final point is this.
LOOK AT A COIN FROM BOTH SIDES AND SEE THE DIFFERENT SIDES. SAME COIN DIFFERENT SIDES.