Dan Howell wrote:
The headline of your post is accurate. It's just about 10 years late. I think even Instagram has seen its horizon.

HAHA thank you, I may have posted it 10 yrs ago also.
Just seems much more drastic now.  Extra dead  -Although still strong in places like Germany. - Horrible in New England where I am.

Any thoughts on how to spark more interest in regular people? Have social norms, digital isolation turned peoples minds completely off from real interactions?

TestShoot wrote:
Modeling websites for amatuers and hobbyists were in a bubble. Not a lot of great shooters, not many models either, people lost motivation. Sometimes there was a diamond in the rough, but it was not often.

Social media allowed insecure people to produce content without any planning or quality, so when it is emotional, there is little motivation to use a real camera.

Interesting. This "hobby" was strong in the 40's through maybe 2010 ish, not sure when it started to fade........BUT I have seen a tiny resurgence in Flim with hipsters, prompting me to get more interested in shooting with film and alternative gear and to try and find real people vs models.   Swimming upstream against the tide but maybe there will start to a an interest in real shooting as an antidote to first filters and now AI...so nice to make real images.

Maybe I am dreaming

Bob Helm Photography wrote:
MM and IG complement each other. IG is free and offers unlimited phots, allows messaging  but doesn't give any narrative or location info and is subject to their 1950 Community standards

MM gives location and personal stats and has community standards more aligned to the community is serves.
Personally I feel cheated if a model only has one because you dont see a complete profile

right, this used to bother me, specifically because you also didn't know what kind of content a model would shoot, compared to MM

but in my latest experience, more women are fine being nude and portrayed nude that you can just run a project by them. they can't post it to instagram so they don't really care, and they consider any social/professional consequences to be a failing of the individual doing those consequences to them, who they will absolutely try call out and cancel

so that's an interesting evolution, right at the tale end of model photography's relevance

MM is still active in Los Angeles, but it's not necessary here given the multiple orders of magnitude of women open to it on other sources. Just run a classifieds ad again. Run a targeted ad on instagram or facebook. Be around women in general. 1 out of 10 has an Onlyfans already nationwide, talk to hot ones and its like 1 out of 5. 1 out of 2 in LA. You can tell.

There's also that niche of travelling internet models, but they're just kind of annoying at this point.

Bob Helm Photography wrote:
MM and IG complement each other. IG is free and offers unlimited phots, allows messaging  but doesn't give any narrative or location info and is subject to their 1950 Community standards

MM gives location and personal stats and has community standards more aligned to the community is serves.
Personally I feel cheated if a model only has one because you dont see a complete profile

I do wish more IG models would post their MM on their Linktree though, that is if they even know what MM is. My guess is a lot of 25 and under models either aren't aware of MM or have heard so many (exagerated in many cases) horror stories that they stay away.

You know.. this thread got me wondering what Internet Brands actually does. So I went over and checked out their corporate website and it's still not too clear. It seems that many of their properties are stuck in 2010. And Model Mayhem isn't even listed as one of their holdings.

Arizona Shoots wrote:

I do wish more IG models would post their MM on their Linktree though, that is if they even know what MM is. My guess is a lot of 25 and under models either aren't aware of MM or have heard so many (exagerated in many cases) horror stories that they stay away.

Most of the models I work with are 18-30ish age range, found through IG connections, referrals or Facebook groups. They do not, by and large, know about MM. Younger models today have never heard of MM, unless they primarily shoot nudes as a revenue source. MM is not particularly relevant for models who are working in fashion and beauty genres. MM has always catered primarily to nude artwork and glamour styles.

TestShoot wrote:
Social media allowed insecure people to produce content without any planning or quality, so when it is emotional, there is little motivation to use a real camera.

This is the number one reason for the slow down of traffic to this modeling website as well as others that are specialty websites.  There is now so much garbage on the Internet that it is a huge chore to weed through it all regardless if you are looking for photographers or models. 

As far as the planning and quality of producing content, it just takes a cellphone.  Everyone is taking pictures now that the "easy button" is in their hand.  I started with film over 40 years ago and got my first digital camera system around 20 years ago.  Now the digital camera system I still use is so outdated that cellphone quality easily leaves me in the dust, that is unless I'm prepared to invest several thousand dollars into a newer up to date camera system.

E Louis Photography  wrote:
Interesting. This "hobby" was strong in the 40's through maybe 2010 ish, not sure when it started to fade........BUT I have seen a tiny resurgence in Flim with hipsters, prompting me to get more interested in shooting with film and alternative gear and to try and find real people vs models.   Swimming upstream against the tide but maybe there will start to a an interest in real shooting as an antidote to first filters and now AI...so nice to make real images.

Maybe I am dreaming

Actually I have found that it's easier to sell my film cameras than my earlier digital cameras.  I'm trying to unload my old digital camera gear and it appears like I may have to give it away. I'm wanting to invest in better, more up to date digital gear, but the damn cellphones keep getting improved so much that I can hardly find a DSLR to keep up. I'm not sold on those mirrorless cameras yet .. having to swap to an entire system of new lenses is something I don't look forward to.  Guess what?  I'm going back to shooting film!

I should add that I've been a photographer for about 45 years, and my family photography creative genes go back through my mom and her father .. my grandfather was shooting with a view camera in the very early 1900's with a view camera before Ansel Adams came along.  As a creative society, we humans have developed a lot!  I do see AI as being just another tool, but it is somewhat scary how it can be used.

Bob Helm Photography wrote:
MM and IG complement each other. IG is free and offers unlimited phots, allows messaging  but doesn't give any narrative or location info and is subject to their 1950 Community standards

MM gives location and personal stats and has community standards more aligned to the community is serves.
Personally I feel cheated if a model only has one because you dont see a complete profile

It is true!  I spend time now scrolling through a models social media where as before I'd meet them in person at a coffee shop or school and we'd look through each others portfolios.  The Internet can save time in some respects, however I will always treasure the meeting in person, face to face experiences I've had.  Back in the day I snuck into a model call being put on by a large agency.  I was young and could pass as a model or actor then.  I sat down next to a beautiful young lady who I handed my photography portfolio to, and after chatting a bit .. the waiting was too long, so we walked out together and did our first shoot.  Erin Cleaver was her name, and she became one of my favorite muses of that time.  Those were the days!

Audrey Rinehart wrote:
Most of the models I work with are 18-30ish age range, found through IG connections, referrals or Facebook groups. They do not, by and large, know about MM. Younger models today have never heard of MM, unless they primarily shoot nudes as a revenue source. MM is not particularly relevant for models who are working in fashion and beauty genres. MM has always catered primarily to nude artwork and glamour styles.

You are 100% right!  There are still many great models on Modelmayhem, that is if you work with the more mature aged ones.  I used to get many younger models starting out at 18 years old on this website.  Before digital cameras, I was shooting with models and actors in their teens with parents paying for printed zed cards and headshots.  I also enjoyed freelancing for many newspapers and magazines. Now print media is nearly extinct.  Yes, I do use social media. Most younger models have never heard of Modelmayhem.

E Louis Photography  wrote:
Fewer new faces, less activity, and fewer real collaborations here. Back when Millennials and older were the core, MM felt alive — now it feels quieter.

Is this just aging out? A shift to Instagram/TikTok? Or changing attitudes about safety, nudity, and collaboration?
Now it feels different. “In-person” life disintegration in favor of “online living”? Maybe it’s because Gen Z leans more toward Instagram, TikTok, and self-branding. Maybe it’s a shift in how people approach nudity, safety, and vulnerability — with some being more expressive than ever and others more cautious than ever. Did GWC ruin it for models?

👉 Do you see the same slowdown?
👉 Why do you think it’s happening?

When MM started until Covid in 2020 there was a bubble.  The models needed photographers and digital cameras made more photographers.  We could all take pics and be seen on this site.  But now girls who want to model can take their own pictures and use their own filters or AI to edit them.  Then upload to IG where you can get a following and monetize your page.  They can take their own nudes and video and monitize them on OF.  MM can not compete with that.  Having a popular port on MM that brings traffic to the site doesn't get you anything.

Garry k wrote:
This is a question that would have been better asked about 10 years ago

( Edit ) and I said this without reading any of the previous comments

In all fairness, I think we did have this discussion 10 years ago.
Further steam has been lost since then.

But MM still has little bursts of life, and I still find models here....

E Louis Photography  wrote:
👉 Do you see the same slowdown?
👉 Why do you think it’s happening?

I see on your profile that you've only joined MM in 2014.
You have NO IDEA how good this place once was.
By 2014 it was already a shadow of itself.
And yes, it just keeps getting worse

DSP Photography wrote:
I have been on MM for 10 years and it has steadily gone downhill since

So it's YOUR fault!

Patrick Walberg wrote:
I'm not sold on those mirrorless cameras yet .. having to swap to an entire system of new lenses is something I don't look forward to.

You haven't looked far enough.
Come out of the darkroom and look around a bit!

First of all, the Fuji cameras are relatively cheap, versatile, and their own lenses and color-rendering produce gorgeous images and video.

Secondly, the camera-body may be virtually all that you'll you need to buy! They support many brands of lenses via readily available adapters for all sorts of them, including for cine-lenses!

Buy an inexpensive used Fuji mirrorless-camera body (X-series), add a few adapters, and see what you can do with it. Rent a cine-lens (if necessary) and repeat the process, including trying their high-quality video capabilities.

Unless you have a particular love for the darkroom, kiss those days goodbye!

You can thank me later.

Keith Allen Phillips wrote:

I see on your profile that you've only joined MM in 2014.
You have NO IDEA how good this place once was.
By 2014 it was already a shadow of itself.
And yes, it just keeps getting worse

My recollection of those "good old days" was a bunch of regulars in the forums who felt like they owned the show, ganged up on others, posted incessantly and used it as their personal platform.

Omaroo wrote:
My recollection of those "good old days" was a bunch of regulars in the forums who felt like they owned the show, ganged up on others, posted incessantly and used it as their personal platform.

That was the "Mayhem" part.

Arizona Shoots wrote:

That was the "Mayhem" part.

It would appear. However, it was also the huge turnoff part.

Another huge turnoff is the Americans in MM acting like every topic is American-only.

I'm American, btw, and yes I do completely understand the sentiment of America being a place that includes all of North, South, Central and the Caribbean. I just don't think USA'er has caught on yet. I'm thinking of getting a t-shirt.

E Louis Photography  wrote:
Fewer new faces, . . .

Yes, fewer faces for sure.

E Louis Photography  wrote:
Fewer new faces, less activity, and fewer real collaborations here. Back when Millennials and older were the core, MM felt alive — now it feels quieter.

Is this just aging out? A shift to Instagram/TikTok? Or changing attitudes about safety, nudity, and collaboration?
Now it feels different. “In-person” life disintegration in favor of “online living”? Maybe it’s because Gen Z leans more toward Instagram, TikTok, and self-branding. Maybe it’s a shift in how people approach nudity, safety, and vulnerability — with some being more expressive than ever and others more cautious than ever. Did GWC ruin it for models?

👉 Do you see the same slowdown?
👉 Why do you think it’s happening?

I would say model mayhem start really taking a dive in activity one social media really took off Facebook and so forth and then I think we sort of hit a plateau for a while because we got a lot of GWC and a lot of you know wanna be models on social media, who are starting to turn to professionals to really increase our reach But I think with the technology in the phones and the camera is improving so exponentially recent years I would say that, yeah in the last few years MM has really taken a bit of a nose dive with activity.

As an example, I used to be able to find models anywhere in the world very easily on mayhem 10-15 years ago now that I’m living in Japan in the western end of the country and I can’t find nothing. I found that finding models now was harder than ever because I don’t have much luck finding anyone on social media at least not as far as real models go.

Shashinka Ichiban wrote:

I would say model mayhem start really taking a dive in activity one social media really took off Facebook and so forth and then I think we sort of hit a plateau for a while because we got a lot of GWC and a lot of you know wanna be models on social media, who are starting to turn to professionals to really increase our reach But I think with the technology in the phones and the camera is improving so exponentially recent years I would say that, yeah in the last few years MM has really taken a bit of a nose dive with activity.

As an example, I used to be able to find models anywhere in the world very easily on mayhem 10-15 years ago now that I’m living in Japan in the western end of the country and I can’t find nothing. I found that finding models now was harder than ever because I don’t have much luck finding anyone on social media at least not as far as real models go.

The slow down in popularity of Modelmayhem does have to do with the increase of popular platforms that are inclusive of modeling as well as a large diversity of other topics and issues.  I still use Modelmayhem for my NSFW or images that might get me booted off the other platforms, but there is much more than just the social media competition.   

Someone else mentioned the lack of International appeal for new members. It is the truth!  This website is slow growth, and not very proactive in reaching out to potential members of other countries.  I know when I communicate with people in various languages on Facebook that there are translation tools available.  Maybe something like that would make this website more popular?  The tools for communication are better on these other platforms.

selfmadephoto wrote:
Who else is Really over the "Work Safe" Stasi here on Model Mayhem?? Copy and paste into the Shout box if you are!!

Is that what the "Shout Box" is used for?  The "Not Safe For Work" tag is important!  We need it for the reason that many of our images would never be able to get posted.  I can't post nudes on Facebook or Instagram.  This social media site is unique in that it is still one of the places we can post more of our photos without censorship.  At least "more" images are acceptable here.   Keep the "NSFW" label on photos here! 

I've tried to get on some photographer sites where I was told my work did not met the "artistic" standards of that particular website.  I never had that problem with OMP in the late 90's and early 2000's .. until it was bought and sold, then they wanted a lot of money.  Since the creation of this Modelmayhem site, I've been accepted here.   I am not even close to being as good as some of the photographers here.  I enjoy photographing models.  I consider myself good, but my style has always been more of a journalist than an artist.   

"Losing steam?"  Maybe if you are judging by what you see in the forum, however the forum has fewer snobs and bullies now which I believe is because of the work the moderators have done here.  It is also because of Reddit and Facebook where the snobs, bullies, trolls, and AI bots have gravitated to.  This website is older, and slower, but still has a purpose.

Patrick Walberg wrote:

This is the number one reason for the slow down of traffic to this modeling website as well as others that are specialty websites.  There is now so much garbage on the Internet that it is a huge chore to weed through it all regardless if you are looking for photographers or models. 

As far as the planning and quality of producing content, it just takes a cellphone.  Everyone is taking pictures now that the "easy button" is in their hand.  I started with film over 40 years ago and got my first digital camera system around 20 years ago.  Now the digital camera system I still use is so outdated that cellphone quality easily leaves me in the dust, that is unless I'm prepared to invest several thousand dollars into a newer up to date camera system.

Do what I do... RENT!
LENSRENTALS - my best friend.
I have 40+ years' worth of Nikkor and Nikon-mount lenses.
I rent a D850 and Z8 and have at it.
A week rental sets you back 5% of what the camera would cost.

Nigel W wrote:
About time this place had the option to delete "friends" on the page of the model / tog etc. I have a lot of "friends" who no longer shoot and don't communicate. This place needs to move with the times and be more user friendly.

As a basic member who contributes nothing toward the upkeep of Model Mayhem, you say you want this place to move with the times and be more user friendly by deleting "friends" on the pages of the model / tog etc.

Perhaps in support of your free advice, you could lead by example and delete a lot of your 'friends" (1967) who no longer shoot and don't communicate.

HOTTIE SHOTS wrote:
When MM started until Covid in 2020 there was a bubble.  The models needed photographers and digital cameras made more photographers.  We could all take pics and be seen on this site.  But now girls who want to model can take their own pictures and use their own filters or AI to edit them.  Then upload to IG where you can get a following and monetize your page.  They can take their own nudes and video and monitize them on OF.  MM can not compete with that.  Having a popular port on MM that brings traffic to the site doesn't get you anything.

Thus endeth the lesson.