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Photographer

fawlty128

Posts: 3

Port Orange, Florida, US

In the past month I've received 5 friend request of which 4 were from models that Only do Paid shoots. My profile indicates that I'm looking for models willing to work on a TFP basis. Does no one read profiles or are they just looking to get as many "Friends" as possible?   I would think the only friends you would want on MM are people you're looking to collaborate with. I'm beginning to think that just like on FB/IG, models just want "Likes" on their posted photos (which is strange since most of the photos they post are well over 5 years old.
I assume the issues I'm having are due to looking for TFP models and if I was willing to pay, then most of the friend request I received would turn into actual shoots.  If that's not the case then I really don't understand what's going on.

Sep 11 25 02:22 pm Link

Photographer

Chris Macan

Posts: 13197

HAVERTOWN, Pennsylvania, US

fawlty128 wrote:
In the past month I've received 5 friend request of which 4 were from models that Only do Paid shoots.

This is not new,
Traveling models, paid only models, and retouchers have always used all avenues to look for work,
It was just less noticeable in the heyday of MM because more people overall were friend requesting.

I'm with you on limiting friends to people I actually know and local people I might want to work with.

Sep 12 25 06:03 am Link

Photographer

Dorola

Posts: 528

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I'm happy when any model sends a friend request. There is a chance that they may like my work and may want to work with me. I don't see everything that goes on in the industry, so when a model sends a friend request, I take the time to review their portfolio and maybe learn something. Some I convince to work with me on a TF basis, others I hire and pay their rate. I look at friend requests from models as a door for opportunity opening, not a nuisance.

Sep 12 25 07:07 am Link

Photographer

Sablesword

Posts: 392

Gurnee, Illinois, US

It's ModelMayhem Management policy to push members into loading up with lots and lots of 'friends.' That's what I was told, anyway, back when I was complaining about the then-new feature change of "Basic members can only message Friends now - but they get unlimited messages to Friends!"

A major reason given for that change was to cut down unwanted cold-call messages. So we got unwanted friend-requests instead, along with other distortions as people tried to work around this "only-message-friends" policy.

It still leave the fundamental spam problem. People want to be sent the messages they want to see (in your case TFP models) and want to not be sent the messages they don't want to see (in your case Paid Only models), with different people having different want/don't want categories. But for the senders, spamming messages (or friend requests, or tags) to likely and unlikely prospects alike is cheap and easy compared to taking the care to reach out only to likely prospects.

Sep 12 25 08:18 am Link

Photographer

G Wilson

Posts: 82

Dallas, Texas, US

fawlty128 wrote:
In the past month I've received 5 friend request of which 4 were from models that Only do Paid shoots. My profile indicates that I'm looking for models willing to work on a TFP basis. Does no one read profiles or are they just looking to get as many "Friends" as possible?   I would think the only friends you would want on MM are people you're looking to collaborate with. I'm beginning to think that just like on FB/IG, models just want "Likes" on their posted photos (which is strange since most of the photos they post are well over 5 years old.
I assume the issues I'm having are due to looking for TFP models and if I was willing to pay, then most of the friend request I received would turn into actual shoots.  If that's not the case then I really don't understand what's going on.

Don't know what you're complaining about... do you have so many contacts that you can't be bothered? Are you so tied to the idea that models must appreciate your talent that they'd be blessed to work for you for free? Is there one in a million chance that one of these might inspire you to actually for their services? Take your wins where you get them.

Sep 15 25 04:50 pm Link

Photographer

Wotam

Posts: 15

Orlando, Florida, US

fawlty128 wrote:
In the past month I've received 5 friend request of which 4 were from models that Only do Paid shoots. My profile indicates that I'm looking for models willing to work on a TFP basis. Does no one read profiles or are they just looking to get as many "Friends" as possible?   I would think the only friends you would want on MM are people you're looking to collaborate with. I'm beginning to think that just like on FB/IG, models just want "Likes" on their posted photos (which is strange since most of the photos they post are well over 5 years old.
I assume the issues I'm having are due to looking for TFP models and if I was willing to pay, then most of the friend request I received would turn into actual shoots.  If that's not the case then I really don't understand what's going on.

I personally don't see a problem. They probably looked at your portfolio and liked your shots. That would probably lead some of their friends to look at your shots too. I know I look at other members friends and check out their work. It might lead to something and it might not. I doubt it would hurt anything though.

Nov 08 25 10:41 am Link

Photographer

Bob Helm Photography

Posts: 18974

Cherry Hill, New Jersey, US

This is a networking site so people network.Depending on membership type some can only contact "Friends". I get monthly mailings from Anderson Windows, I dont need windows so I throw out the mailings ... sent stork out over it.

Nov 09 25 12:38 pm Link

Photographer

Eric212Grapher

Posts: 3848

Saint Louis, Missouri, US

fawlty128 wrote:
In the past month I've received 5 friend request of which 4 were from models that Only do Paid shoots. My profile indicates that I'm looking for models willing to work on a TFP basis. Does no one read profiles or are they just looking to get as many "Friends" as possible?   I would think the only friends you would want on MM are people you're looking to collaborate with. I'm beginning to think that just like on FB/IG, models just want "Likes" on their posted photos (which is strange since most of the photos they post are well over 5 years old.
I assume the issues I'm having are due to looking for TFP models and if I was willing to pay, then most of the friend request I received would turn into actual shoots.  If that's not the case then I really don't understand what's going on.

Just send them a message:

" Thanks for the friend request. As you know from my profile, I only shoot TFP. Since you initiated the friends request, I'm assuming you appreciate my work and are willing to shoot on that TFP basis. I'd be delighted to schedule a time for us to collaborate for a TFP session. "

You never know. Perhaps the model is willing to shoot with you on a TFP basis. Just because they stated they "only do paid shoots' does not mean they might not make an exception for a talented photographer. They initiated the contact with you, so you can accept, decline, or negotiate.

Nov 09 25 03:14 pm Link

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