Shooters. How do you audition your models?

[Paul Markham]

In the old days if we shot something that was not good enough, we did not sell it. So we sent the model home. There was no point in wasting hundreds of dollars on film shooting something that did not work and would not sell.

Be it a set or video the final decision on whether it sold was down to the publisher.

So a reply here http://www.gofuckyourself.com/showthread.php?t=979656 made me think "How do shooters audition models today?"

Most of the time I used to make the girls turn up for a casting and see if they had what it takes. I shot a lot of first timers and if they could not do what they said they could do on a casting, they did not get the job. If a model turned up on the day of the shoot unable to work, she went home.

How does it work today with custom shooters taking an order and often money on the strength of a photo?

Even when we went on a trip to Spain, Portugal or Canary Islands. If the girl was not going to make us a profit she was put on a plane home.

[Barefootsies]

No I do not.

They go through a three step interview process where I essentially try and 'scare' them or chase them off. Starting out timid initially, and each step is a bit more in their face. This has worked well in thinning the herd as it were.

By the time we get to the sessions, they do what they are told like a champ.

[Paul Markham]

No you do not what?

Seems you do some sort of interview or audition. Do you meet them all before you shoot them?

[Jon Oso]

If a girl wants to do porn, I'll bring her by to do some test pics, if they aren't comfortable that's pretty much it for me. I don't want to waste my time no matter how hot the chick is.

So it depends on how their test pics look. I've turned a few girls away for not being able to loosen up on camera. I don't ask them to do crazy shit, just get naked and look cute basically.

[jjmerago]

Porno Magazine, Large Condoms, Bottle of Old Harper a package of panty liners ... some umm ... illegal fireworks and 1 disposable enema ... nah make that 2 enema's

[AmeliaG]

I often book people I meet socially and I have a fairly extensive online questionnaire for folks to fill out. I probably should send someone home if they show up carrying sixty extra pounds or having decided they want me to shoot them with their clothes on (I'm supposed to get paid for that, not vice-versa). But I don't. Sometimes do the shoot, pay the model, and just never get around to using the images. Sometimes cut it short. Once I sent a girl home with half pay when she insisted on answering her cell and her BF made her cry. Because I often socialize in the same circles as my talent, I imagine WWIII would break out if I just sent someone home for having misrepresented herself. A few times I've had girls get super mad in public because I didn't post the images I paid them to pose for.

[AmeliaG]

I should add that this has made me gunshy and I will skip booking someone, at this point, for the most minor of personality tells.

[Paul Markham]

Originally Posted by Jon Oso

If a girl wants to do porn, I'll bring her by to do some test pics, if they aren't comfortable that's pretty much it for me. I don't want to waste my time no matter how hot the chick is.

So it depends on how their test pics look. I've turned a few girls away for not being able to loosen up on camera. I don't ask them to do crazy shit, just get naked and look cute basically.

For solo girl that's what I will do. I always like to see them pose naked before booking them. I want to know if they have a tattoo of Bob Marley on them before spending money. Yes it actually happened.

For lesbian if I'm not sure about their willingness to do it or if they had never done it. I tell them my assistant is bi sexual and will test them to see if they like it. The look on their faces will tell if they can.

Same for boy girl, except I tell them I will test them.

Sounds extreme, but booking a partner, location (sometimes) and shooting a set on film can cost $1,000. If she's not suitable and willing I'm not spending $1,000 to find out.

[Paul Markham]

Originally Posted by AmeliaG

I often book people I meet socially and I have a fairly extensive online questionnaire for folks to fill out. I probably should send someone home if they show up carrying sixty extra pounds or having decided they want me to shoot them with their clothes on (I'm supposed to get paid for that, not vice-versa). But I don't. Sometimes do the shoot, pay the model, and just never get around to using the images. Sometimes cut it short. Once I sent a girl home with half pay when she insisted on answering her cell and her BF made her cry. Because I often socialize in the same circles as my talent, I imagine WWIII would break out if I just sent someone home for having misrepresented herself. A few times I've had girls get super mad in public because I didn't post the images I paid them to pose for.

Models sending old pics of themselves was always a problem. As for sending them home and getting flak, I'm not paying them for sending a photo of themselves shot 5 years ago. LOL

Cell phones are left in their handbags. And BF usually cause grief.

Strange thing about cell phones was when they first became widely available. They were very expensive to buy and use. Good sign the girl was hooking.

[Jim_Gunn]

I shoot a lot of newbies and almost always am able to get a good performance out of them. If they are brand new with no camera experience I will sometimes have them meet me and take a few amateur pics just to see if they are sane and okay with the camera. But in most cases I just go on the photos they email me and then set up a shoot. It is only once in a long while where a model does not look like her photos or will not be able to perform. In those cases, I will salvage what I can from the shoot and send a model home before we do the hardcore.

[Paul Markham]

Brand new models tend to be a better bet when sending pictures. Could usually get a scene out of them. If the worse came to the worse I could always shoot a "Readers Wives" set of them.

[Jon Oso]

Originally Posted by Paul Markham

For solo girl that's what I will do. I always like to see them pose naked before booking them. I want to know if they have a tattoo of Bob Marley on them before spending money. Yes it actually happened.

For lesbian if I'm not sure about their willingness to do it or if they had never done it. I tell them my assistant is bi sexual and will test them to see if they like it. The look on their faces will tell if they can.

Same for boy girl, except I tell them I will test them.

Sounds extreme, but booking a partner, location (sometimes) and shooting a set on film can cost $1,000. If she's not suitable and willing I'm not spending $1,000 to find out.

No joke, I shot a girl that had sponge bob dressed as elvis on one side, and smurfette on a stripper pole on the other. Her tattoos were actually worse than mine.

[CIVMatt]

....by the inch

[arock10]

with my dick