Shooting Content for your Website (Part II)
TRAINING CAMP
In the first article, the topics covered were the basics of choosing the type of content that you want to shoot and the equipment you need to use. This article will provide you with more in depth details about shooting content.TRAINING CAMP
In the first article, the topics covered were the basics of choosing the type of content that you want to shoot and the equipment you need to use. This article will provide you with more in depth details about shooting content. This includes dealing directly with models, advertising strategies for getting models, and the photo shoot itself.
The first step is to get the models for the shoot. There are a few options when it comes to getting girls. Your first choice could be a local newspaper: They are usually pretty expensive but you will get a good response. One downfall of a local city newspaper is the actual quality of the calls. Quality, meaning, the ratio of calls you will receieve to how many girls are actually willing to do an interview, which is a very important step in obtaining a model for a shoot. Many of the girls in a city newspaper are simply trying to be adventurous and are usually not willing to do much more than nude modeling. Again, everything really depends on what content are you looking for.
Local strip clubs and escort guides are another excellent source for content. The advantage of placing an ad in an escort guide is that fact that they are usually printed monthly, and the girls who are reading it are very much willing to do photo shoots. You will receieve less phone calls, but the ones that do call will most likely be candidates for the shoot.
Your other options would include word of mouth through your friends, which in my experience is not a very good way of getting models. Again, it really depends on your own circumstances and people you might know. And lastly, a very good way in getting models is meeting a fellow webmaster in your area who is also shooting content and who would be willing to trade phone numbers and contacts with you. Simply use message boards or email people, you would be surprised of the feedback.
All your ads need to be as clear as possible as to what it is that you are seeking. City newspapers will not give you much freedom as to what to put in the ad, but all your ads should make clear that you are looking for “Internet models: high pay, no exp. nec., females only (if appropriate)”.
Now let’s move on to actual calls and interviews. After you invest money into advertising, make sure you are available to answer the calls coming in. It’s very important that you don’t miss the initial call that a girl might make. Some of them get just enough courage to dial that number and if you don’t answer, she just might never call back. I would recommend call forwarding to your cell phone. When answering a call, always sound very official. Even if you are running a home-based bussines always announce your company name, and your first name very politely.
It’s important to make a girl feel like she is calling a big establishment, as it simply increases the chances of setting up an interview. Most of the conversations with girls are very similar. You are the one who is going to do most of the talking. You need to tell the prospects that you are an Internet company currently hiring girls to do photo shoots. After making that clear, ask them if that is something they are interested in doing? Than they will ask the money question. Always give them your minimum amount and an option for more. For instance, your response should be: “We are paying $350 minimum per photo shoot and up, depending on what you look like and what you are willing to do”.
If she is still interested, start asking questions about her previous experience and what she looks like. If she is something you are interested in, than set up an interview. There is one fact that everybody should know when it comes to interviews: Girls are sometimes unreliable (faced with this type of interview for the first time, it’s understandable). A very large percentage will set up a time and never show up. This can be very irritating, but you have to deal with it since it’s part of the bussines. Try to emphasize to them to call you before they leave. At least this way will give you some kind of assurance that she really might show up.
The actual interview is the last step before the shoot. Naturally, the first step is to make a girl comfortable. At this time you need to present her with the model release form. Do not start anything without a signed form and a picture taken of a model holding an ID next to her face. Make sure to tell her what is going to happen, step by step. Don’t forget the little details because nobody wants any surprises during the shoot.
The photo shoot itself has to be planned out in detail. Always stick with the plan just like you explained it to the model right before the shoot. After reading these two articles you should have a pretty clear picture of what is ahead of you. Just like any other bussines, you will learn more in the process and gain your own experience that will guide you to your success.