Tampa Bay Model Portfolio Photography Suggested Rates. Tampa Bay Modeling. A modeling resource web site based out of Clearwater Beach, Florida. Serving the Tampa Bay modeling industry. We are looking out for models!

Suggested Model Photography Service Rates for Tampa Bay

Why model portfolio photographers charge high rates.

This is not a fashion capital, but yet many photographers try to charge New York rates in the Tampa Bay area or rates that approach commercial photography rates. We have seen many photographers outright scam models by charging high rates and lie about their experience and industry connections. These photographers will say or imply that they can get the model magazine print work if they have their portfolios done with them, and may even offer to "manage" them. Some of them go so far as to make up fake tear sheets or steal the work of other photographers and present it as their own.
Some photographers are just greedy, and some don't really know how much a fair rate for their work should be.
We are not saying that every photographer that is charging rates that are too high is unethical. It could be a warning sign of other things that are wrong. Sometimes, the laws of supply and demand come into play. If their work is low quality and useless for the professional model, the photographer may not be getting much work. In that case, the photographer will have to charge higher rates in order to make up for their small number of jobs. The few models that are sold are usually misled with false claims or promises that they never intend to keep. The model gets emotional and loses their objectivity, and they pay little attention to the actual work of the photographer and more to what they say. Either way, why should models pay for the inexperience or the unethical conduct of a photographer?
Be objective when you negotiate rates with any model photographer. Leave your emotions at home. Emotional decisions will cost you. As a consumer, or a buyer of the photographers services, you have the leverage to call the shots. You are their boss.
Photographers who promise a model future compensation to sway their decision to book services from them are unethical. Such promises should be made AFTER the model has booked and worked with them. Walk away from any photographer who tries to convince you to book their services with offers of jobs or managing your career. In Florida, it is against the law for a anyone to make money by booking a model into a job unless they have a model agency license. If they have a model agency license, it is against the law for them to make money from services that a model would buy such as portfolio photography. See the conflict? If the photographer cannot legally make money by booking models into jobs, then there is no incentive to do so and follow through on their promises. If a model wants to be managed, and the rational behind such a desire makes no sense in today's modeling industry of independence, then they should seek the services of a model and talent agency after they get their portfolio done.
A wise thing to do is to check the photographers references before you book them. Be safe. There are forms that you can take to the consultation which you can make the photographer sign, which will give you leverage in checking their references. The form that we are talking about is called a Photographer Reference ASA. You can get these forms for free from our friends at Independent Modeling, IndependentModeling.Com .

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