Have you exhausted the patience of friends and family members to act as subjects for your photo shoot?

Or maybe you want to improve your portrait photography skills, experiment with new looks for your portfolio, or enter the fashion business.

If so, it may be time to hire a model.

Finding and hiring a model for the first time can be difficult. Do you go straight to a modeling agency, or reach out on social media? What can you expect to pay?

As with so many things in photography, the answer depends on scale, scope, and budget.

First, imagine the photo shoot and plan it in as much detail as you can. Not only does this help you make your own intentions clear, it helps you to explain to a model or agency what you're looking for. Spontaneity during a shoot is one thing, but approaching a project with nothing more than "take pictures for two hours on Saturdays" is a tough sell.

That scope also explains where to start looking for a model. If the shoot is fairly casual or low-budget, consider starting a search using your social contacts.

Photographer Ron Martinson, who writes about photography and camera gear at ronmartblog.com, said he sometimes finds friends of friends on Facebook comment on their need to be polite and over-the-top about their shared connections. force and why is he reaching them.

Mostly, though, he hires models through a public board site to connect model mayhem, models, stylists, photographers, and other creative hobbyists and (sometimes) professionals. The site currently lists about 13,000 "castings" who are all over the map in terms of age, experience, appearance and compensation.

An advanced search page lets you specify features that fit your idea of ​​the photos you want to create. Once you find a potential model, Martinson recommends asking for a current selfie, ideally with minimal or no makeup, as hairstyles and other appearances may differ from that shown in a model's profile photo. can. Also, be specific about tattoos, piercings, and other details that may not fit your vision of the shoot (or which may need to be improved upon later).

Many models are willing to work for free or in exchange for images, but Martinson cautions that you can expect the occasional no-show at that level. Some models' profiles specify an hourly rate, but finance is often negotiable. Martinson notes that rates are typically in the range of $30 to $50 an hour; He also offers a post-shoot bonus to models with whom he wants to work again in the future.

Martinson's last piece of advice is to issue a signed model for every shoot. "Just because one model agrees to one shoot doesn't mean she agrees to another, so you can't just get one and think you're good forever," he said.

(For more information on photographers' contracts and licenses, see the free video Understanding Licensing and Contract Agreements, part of Photography and the Law: Understanding Copyright Course with Ben Long and Carolyn E. Wright.)

Going the agency route can be a little different. I spoke to McLynn Valenciano, director of New Faces at SMG (Seattle Models Guild), an agency focused on the fashion industry. He sees the interaction between a photographer and agency as a potential long-term relationship, not just a one-time assignment.

Before working with a photographer, Valenciano wants to see a body of work. Even though they haven't done much fashion photography, "I can really see the inherent talent in some photographers, and it takes some time to harness that talent," he said.

In almost all cases, Valenciano recommends doing a model test shoot, which involves three to four different costume changes to showcase a photographer's range and versatility. It also shows that a photographer can work with models, hair, makeup and wardrobe.

SMG and other agencies provide photos and information about the models they represent on the web, so you can browse listings and find a model that best suits your vision. However, Valenciano also notes that just as often SMG works with photographers to find models that complement the shoot.

Pricing ranges between $150 and $175 per hour with a two-hour minimum, although it is possible to shoot a photo for free with the expectation that the photographs will benefit photographers and model books. There are also options for lower rates for editorial work if the model magazine will end up with tear sheets.

"We are looking for photographers who will provide good permanent photos in the model's book," he said.