Models who last.... and stand the test of time.

Well for my next blog I decided to write a short ish article on models that I have had the pleasure of working with over the years.   This also got me thinking about the lifespan of a model?  Some of you out there reading this might be starting to think about this too so stay tuned and we will see where it leads us.    It all began when I decided to back up some more recent images and then took a peek at my archive hard drive.  This one is much older than the one that I currently use but contains a considerable number of images, it takes over five minutes to load up these days at the Terabyte drive was quite advanced for its day and fast but with it almost full when I moved on to my next one it has stood the test of time.

Looking through the endless index listing of name of models I noted that a few of them stood out for me and it got me thinking about those models who are still working in the industry after five, ten or fifteen years of modelling.  Its nice to know that these young ladies still look stunning and are producing outstanding pictures for us photographers.   So to illustrate this I decided to pick three girls that I have had the pleasure of working with and are still smiling for the cameras today.

Firstly the Pleasure.

Firstly Rachel Travers.    Great model whom I have had the pleasure of working with on a number of time, still modelling and with a stunning figure.

Although taken in 2003 they really show what a fun model she was and still is to work with. Thanks Rachel.

Next up on my list of Brill Girls is someone whom I got the chance to work with a lot and still models today mainly from her home which is superb, I mean of course none other than "Raven". others know her as MH.

Its always a pleasure to work with Raven and she always delivers top notch images just as she did back in 2004 when these were taken at a now closed studio in Sheffield which was at the top of an old mill building.

Finally on the list of Celebs I must add the name of Jocelyne Booke Hamilton to the listing she was stunning to work with back in 2005 and still delivers outstanding pictures for those who work with her.  A real professional model wanting to go that extra mile to deliver.

Sadly I have only managed to work with her the once back in 2005 but it was an experience that I will never forget with her ability to put the photographer at total ease and work to produce outstanding images.






So getting back to the blog:

Lifespan of a Model?

I also wondered about the effective lifespan of a model in the industry and what she has to look forward to if she wants to make a go of being a photographic model.  You only have to take a peek at the websites for models and photographers to see those who are tying to start out, a good set of images would help so many and the ability to communicate is another essential but what is their actual lifespan.

Sadly from looking around its not very long in fact they peak very quickly (No pun intended) and then vanish into the background, no replying to e-mails or phone calls.    Its a dog eat dog world out there and the bitchiness really does get to a few girls who give up when they meet other models or so-called models socially or on shoots.  Its also a fact of life that girls get bored, get boyfriends, get dogs(Or cats) or even get pregnant.   Some come back afterwards but find well toned and more motivated models out there having taken their crown they don't want to give it back.

Attitudes to models have changed over the past ten or fifteen years in that photographers take them for granted and tend not to stick with one girl to support and move them forward.  I can think of only half a dozen photographers who have done this successfully with girls that they have trained and those girls are doing really well indeed with that support.   Most are left out on their own, some make a go of it others fall by the wayside, in fact more fall by the wayside because modelling is considered to be seedy by friends, family and work colleagues.  Do models have a sell by date tattooed on them, well some have tattoos but that is not what I was meaning, is it just ok for a few years or do models have a time when they decide to pack it in for good and bow out gracefully as they have lost their looks or body shape?

Going back to the basics when models start acceptable training courses for models are sadly in the minority telling them the facts and laying out the reasons why they can do well and or how they can improve.   To be honest we need some sort of mentoring service to advise and assist models with this to allow them to gain information that will enable them to engage with customers, become more effective and independent.  So where are they now, take a look down the high street and you can see them, "Be a model, No Way, I aint taking my Kit off for nobody"!   Its a shame but hopefully in time things will change and restore modelling to something of value and not something seedy and hidden away in private when mentioned in conversation.

Till next time hope you enjoyed this.  Please feel free to comment.    Paul Rowe