• Asked by
• Melik M.
• |
• July 14, 2011
• |
• Nobody else has this question

How do you pay your models?

This question is regarding the models and their release forms.
I would like to know:

How do you get your models?Do they know about stock photography and do they know that you are going to receive income from their photos?

Do you pay them when you receive income from their photos, or do you just pay them to take the photos and no furthur residuals from the amount of photos sold on the sites?

Please answer these questions because we are new in the microstock photography and dont want to take the wrong route. But we want to make money too.

Thank you ,
Melik M

• Answered by
• Yuri
• |
• July 14, 2011
• |
• No one likes this yet

Hi Melik

All my models are professional, so for them not to have ever heard of stock photography before is very rare.

There is currently no model who will work and agree to be paid based on royalties. The tradition is that models get paid up front, and whether the images will sell or not is the photographer's risk. If the model does not perform, or under-performs on a shoot, the model does not stand to lose from this - only the photographer. Even if it is entirely the model's fault. This is unfortunately how the business works for now.

Because of this, there are no stock agencies who will allow for separate book-keeping to pay models any royalties. Keep in mind that if such practices were initiated, it opens up the possibility that a lot of other areas should receive royalties as well. What about the retouchers, the assistants and everyone else who has in some way or another taken part in creating the images?

However, keep in mind that this also means that if the shoot turns out really well, it is the photographer who benefits from it and not the model.

I hope this answered your question.

Best Regards
Yuri Arcurs :)