I was contacted for a shoot on another site. I've already been contacted by the same model, and I replied that I wanted to shoot, but I was ignored. I told her this time that I wasn't interested because of being ignored before, but said she should try a few more TFPs to fill out her portfolio. She said she is with an agency now, and she wasn't allowed to do TFPs.

That made me look at her portfolio some more. She checked the "Very Experienced" box and wrote "I'm A Professional Model." Looking through her photos though, I found that half the photos looked like a semi-pro had taken the photos, and the other half looked like they could have been taken with a disposable camera. Out of all of them, two had a good facial expression. This is why I recommended TFPs.

She responded that she signed with an agency, and she isn't allowed to do TFCD. On her profile page though, it says, "WILLING TO DO TFP SHOOTS IF I LIKE YOUR PORTFOLIO." Why post that if she isn't able to shoot TFP? If her agency is strong enough to forbid tfp, why does she have to search for paid shoots? Isn't that what an agency is for? And with her writing me to set one up, how does the agency know if the shoots are paid or not?

And to be picky, she doesn't use punctuation marks or capitalize anywhere in her messages. I also don't like her use of all-caps in her profile. If she's really a "professional," should she not act like it?

She also said her portfolio was out of date because she had everything on her web site. She couldn't tell me the address of the web site or the name of the agency. So the reverse came out. She acted, looked and sounded like an idiot. In the end, it turned out she was an idiot. Any models reading this, most of us are hobbyists. We're fine with you being hobbyists or amateurs as well.

Have a look in the 'Photography Marketing Strategies' forum, and you will find a thread called 'Top 10 Tips to Spot a Newcomer Worth Working With' which was started in a light-hearted manner. The honey you found is just perfect for a in mention there.

I read this one as well..or at least one very similar..

They should understand that we are not idiots and can see through them instantly...

So here is a tip to some models that have the written part of their profile completely at odds to the rag bag selection of well below standard pictures...you will find honesty about your levels and experience far more attractive to potential togs then a pack of lies..

And I also say to those very young and often foreign models..beware of "Agencies" on this site that seem to scoop you up, re-direct your e-mail accounts but actually offer nothing..they do nothing for you and are in it of course for their own gain...

DON'T let an agency write your profile...it's just so obvious and completely false with zero credibility...

I will never work with any model, who is a beginner, on NM who is "represented" by an "Agency"...check out the top models on here..even if they are assigned to an agency for commercial reasons, they still operate as themselves and on a one to one basis enabling photographers to contact them directly...works for all of them?!

You know how in goes Brian, and the sad truth is that there are knuckle heads out there with cameras that will pay them if they show them their boobs. These guys could care less about making a good photo, they just want to see tits and ass. And if they have photos of it to brag to their buddies all the better.

Stupid is stupid, in any direction that you are looking. I say let them have each other and don't worry about them.

Later,
Ernie

“You can't depend on your eyes if your imagination is out of focus.”
-Mark Twain

Agreed Ernie! I know lots of photographers and most of them fit this category. I do a lot of "glamour" but it's all creative/artistic work and refuse to work with the newcomers to the modeling scene that think they can call themselves "top models" just because they think they look good.
I would much rather work with someone who isnt a '10" and has a little humility. It's much easier to be creative and have fun that way.