Affiliate Disclosure: We earn a commission if you purchase through one of our links at no additional cost to you.

My friend Steve recently forwarded an opportunity to shoot a sexy woman for a local magazine.  I don’t want to name the magazine. but I decided there are a couple of ways to interpret this casting call.

First, here’s the text of the message.  I’ve omitted any references to the name of the magazine, but it’s otherwise shown here as they delivered it, including the occasional error.

First Shoot for June 8th, Magazine Publication (Open to All)I need to know who is interested in being part of a Pin Up Shoot Both Photographers and Models.  For Printed Issue.   Let’s See You In Print.Submit Request to be part of this event….  NOW.   Message Me Here.Location and Date to be announced soon.  We Already Have the LocationWill be a Week Night between 7pm -9pm,  At local Bar Here in OrlandoSet Up….  

Models both Male/Female will be at a Pool Table in a Real Bar… And, will be in their HOTTEST Outfits.

A set of lights will be onlocation, along with wireless flash relays, Professional Help for those who are new… with the lights, and everything will be LIVE….

Photographers Have 15 mins to work with models … We Have selected for them.   Props and Outfits can be added for your shoot.   No Copywrited or Branded items, Only Personal Stuff.     

We Will Shoot for several Different Ideas.   Best Male Solo, Best Female Solo, best Guy/Girl and Best Girls/Girl.

Winners (photographers/models) Will Have Images featured in “ON LOCATION” section of the Printed Issue, For June 8th, Publication.

 

Requirements:

Models:  18+

Model Release

Not Nude But Very Sexy

Must be willing to work for all photographers on request.

 

Photographer

Publication Release

Limited to Hold Images Until Publication Date (June 8th)

Must Use Models Selected for the Event, but can have favorite models submit ahead of time for consideration.

 

We may have to limit the number of people, due to time limits.

Event will be open to all Members, Happy Hour price on food and drinks….  Bar open after event until 2am to mingle with friends, please bring anyone who is interested …. Let’s Network.

The Opportunity Perception

Let’s start with the positive view. Here’s an opportunity for a photographer to get some exposure with a shot of a sexy woman. Consider it marketing. You compete with other photographers and if you’re the best, you get exposure in a magazine.  Sure, it doesn’t pay anything, but that’s not why you’re doing it. This is your chance to show what you can do. You never know who’s going to see it and the exposure could lead to paying business.

Even if you’re not a professional photographer, it could be fun just to do the event and see what kind of images you can create. There’s an opportunity to network and meet other people – photographers, models, editors. This isn’t the kind of event that you see every day, so why not take a chance? How many times do you find a sexy woman on a pool table waiting for you to take her photo, anyway?

The Opportunistic Perception

Now let’s take a look at the other side of the coin. Here we have yet another magazine trying to use photographers for free content. You aren’t getting a chance to use the publication to showcase your own style. Instead, you have to shoehorn your photos into their format of hot & sexy on a pool table without even knowing when, where it’s at or who you’re going to shoot. Worse, you can’t even show your own photos until their publication date in June.

These people can’t even spell copyright correctly, so how professional is this organization? Have I ever even heard of this magazine before? What kind of exposure am I even going to get for my effort, anyway? Unless you’re a boudoir photographer, how much business are you going to get from another shot of a sexy woman on a pool table, anyway?

Which Perspective is Right?

So is this an opportunity or a rip-off? There’s room for either to be true, and perhaps even both at the same time. I can’t read minds, so I don’t know that the folks who sent this notice have any ill intent. Yet many photographers have rightly become suspicious of any event like this for a publication because so many “opportunities” have been little more than rights grabs and excuses to avoid paying for content. A photo of a sexy woman is a good cover draw to sell magazines. What does it do for you?

These folks aren’t stealing your work, though. They’re asking if you want to submit your work. They’re asking if you want to compete for a chance to see your work in print. That’s a nice draw for some folks who’ve never been published or may see a marketing opportunity. A lot of photographers who shoot for big name magazines really don’t make that much money for their work. Instead, they use it as a marketing effort, a kind of calling-card that shows potential clients what they can do and hope the phone rings with new business because of the exposure in a magazine.

The Sexy Woman on a Pool Table

I’ve decided that I’m unlikely to participate in this event.  After all, I’ve already done my photo shoot of a sexy woman on a pool table before. It’s time for something interesting and new rather than repeating what I’ve already done.

Sexy Woman

Similar Posts

6 Comments

  1. Wow, I can’t believe any magazine let that many grammatical errors through in an ad for their own event. :O It sounds like it was written by a teenager. As someone without access to a lot of gear or experience working with models, I might participate just for the learning opportunity, but if I were in a more experienced place with my photography I wouldn’t bother with something like this.

    1. That’s kind of my feeling, too. If you’re starting out, it could be worth the experience even if they’re using you. For an established photographer, I don’t see much benefit for this particular experience because they don’t have enough circulation to boost your business.

  2. I would love to see if this is legit or not. The fact that they are calling for models and photographers in such an unprofessional way leads me to believe this is someone using the magazine name for their own gain…

    1. I have to admit that I have a suspicious side. However, I decided to play Devil’s Advocate and came up with some reasons why you may want to do this even if they have poor motives. I endeavor to be less suspicious in the future.

  3. Wow. I never noticed that photo had a pool table in the background. You notice something new every day. 🙂

Comments are closed.