what do you pay actors/models
 

This goes hand in hand with my other post.
As I said, I'm going to be shooting two projects in one. The first is going to be a swimsuit calendar with my still camera, the second is going to be a video of "The Making of" said suimsuit calendar.

I have several girls lined up to pose for it, but I am not sure what to pay. The shoot itself will only take about 30mins to one hour. What do you think would be a fair price to pay them? These are not real models, just cute girls I know.

Thanks for the input!

A few hardcopy pictures at least 8 x 10, for their future book. It all depends on the budget as well.

That would work except they aren't models and aren't looking to become models in the future. Otherwise I would. :)
My budget is limited in that this is a project I didn't expect to be taking on. It's just an extra thing to try and squeeze into my life to eek out some more coin to finance my video production.
And taking pictures of girls in bikinis isn't the worst way one can spend an afternoon. ;)

This also doesn't apply, but on my movie project i do not pay
my actors. I cannot afford them. Why i do is feed them (good) and
whenever possible arrange for their transportation. This ofcourse
is on something a lot longer then 30 - 60 minutes... Are you sure
you can shoot these women both on photo and film within that
timeframe?

I think you should look at what you can afford, and see what you
are willing to pay out of that. Do discuss it before hand though.
No surprises.

Since they're "real models," just ask them what they think their time is worth. If you can afford it, great! If not, punt.

Also, thirty minutes to get 12 usuable shots shounds like you're cutting it pretty tight.

I'm a still photographer working in a semi-rural part of california, and I make my living shooting mostly non-professional models for a variety of clients. Back when I started, typically the models were almost never paid...and for the most part this wasn't a problem, as most people are flattered to be asked, and do it for the "fun" and experience of doing it. As long as you are up front about it, letting them know your profit margin will probably not allow you to pay them, I don't think this is a problem (see note at bottom).

As long as you are sure you will actually produce the calendar you may offer them a deal that a friend of mine (a San Diego Charger Girl) told me about. The Chargers produce a Calendar of their cheerleaders each year, and the girls don't recieve any money for it....but...they are allowed to purchase calendars for $3 which they then resell at a substantial profit at events (or impromptu nights at bars, clubs etc.) She said she can make $1200 a night taking them around to the local sports bars and autographing them. Not bad. And it gives you an effective, motivated sales force as well...the most difficult part of selling a calendar.

Today, we typically pay our non-pro models about $50 per hour when they are working for a client (actually the client pays), I've come to believe that it's the right thing to do, as the client is essentially making money off of their image and they should be compensated. Usually we do some sort of trade for prints when it's an in-house project.

Barry

NOTE: In some states it is a requirement that model release agreements be accompanied by some form of consideration (payment) to be valid, like any other kind of contract. This can be as little as $1 or an 8x10, but there must be some sort of payment, or the contract (and your protection) is unenforceable. You may want to check the rules in your state, or keep a few ones in your pocket for the signing ceremony.

Just to clarify for everyone.
I will be using 12 different women at an hour each for the calendar. One picutre per model. I'm not trying to shoot all 12 in one hour. It will be one girl one hour, another the next, spaced over a few days and depending on location. And I will only need about 3 minutes of video per girl as well. 3 mins x 12 girls + filler action video of said sports, and titles = done.

I may use a couple of the girls twice in the calendar if the shots are particularily good.

Barry, I had $50 in mind as well. Just wanted to see someone throw the number around first.

Darn, Dylan, for $50 an hour, I'll put on a biniki and you can photograph me!

I second that one, Dylan, maybe you'd be interested in doing "The Men of DVinfo.net" calendar?

Oh man! I just lost my appetite. ;)

oh come on im sure it would sell! Hell i'm a starving film student i'll do anything for some extra cash ;D

when you "book" somebody for 1hr they have to set that day aside. they cannot accept a days work from somebody else.
IMO the min pay is 8hrs pay at min wage.

(shiver)
Ugh, Men of DVinfo.... OK, I'm sure we are a bunch of hot looking studs, but I'm still not going to do it!

Oh, I'm only paying $50cdn. That's like $10US. ;)
I figure sort of the same way as donatello, it works out to $56cdn.

Don--Under different circumstances, I might agree with you. However, these "models" are not professionals. Hence, I couldn't justify such payment. Regardless of the person or the job, model, photographer, carpenter, plumber, etc., I would not pay a full day's wage for less than a full day's work.

Keep in mind, too, most professionals, regardless which side of the lens their on, have an hourly rate and a day rate. These individuals shouldn't be treated any differently.

usually the less clothes the more models get PAID.

who's providing the swimsuits ?

also you could consider the following or a combination of all suggestions that have posted.

FAIR could be they get a % of the sales ? they come out and pose for free and in return they get a % if it sells?
their TIME is worth $. everybody is risking something on the adventure? you make nothing they get nothing.

how much are you willing to SHARE the returns ?

lets face it your calendar is NOTHING without the "cute " girl/woman/model. really doesn't matter if they have never done it before. it all comes down to how do they look in a swimsuit. they are SELLING your product ( calendar) or should i say THEY are the selling point! ( even if they are non professionals)

or you could offer defferred payment ? IMO defferred payment should be min 3X higher then normal pay. so if FAIR is 50 for the session then they get 150 defferred? now this way it cost you nothing up front but a little more in the end only if it sells.

bottom line is you could offer them NOTHING. if your project SELLs you can share NOTHING with them ... everybody's "fair" will be different. you can't sell the calendar without em ...

I like that idea... "I can only offer you $6/hr but...the rate is guaranteed for an 8 hr minimum. Could take us 30 minutes or all day." Plenty of room to make sure you get what you need. Sure $50 for an hour sounds good, but why not assure yourself the time you might need?

I also like that idea... "would you like to make $6/hr. or $18? Now or later?"

I might offer $6/$12. Double is good too.

JoPhoto, your idea about paying them a guaranteed rate for the whole day at minimum wage is good. That should appeal to them.

As far as sharing the profits with them, I'd really rather not for two reasons. One, there could be legal problems if they think I am lying about how many I sell. It would get sticky. That and, financialy, I'm much better off just to pay them up front. I'd rather shell out $500 now than $1500 in a few months.

And they are brining their own swimsuits. I'm bringing cold beer and food.

Beer for women? I thought they'd prefer wine... but then again
it might not be such a good idea to have alcohol on set. I prefer
chilled water (women seem to like that) and soda's... And
ofcourse some tea and coffee.

just some thoughts....

<<<-- Originally posted by Rob Lohman : Beer for women? I thought they'd prefer wine...

just some thoughts.... -->>>

Rob, don't forget, these are Canadian women.

Heh heh heh, I should take that back before any harm is done (to me). :)

I'm just kidding, honest!!!

Hehe.... okay Dylan. Whatever works overthere :)

I feel that anytime anyone does something for my Production company, they should get paid, be covered by insurance, and pay taxes on the earnings. (so I don't have my version of Nannygate). I don't use unpaid interns.

I hire everyone through a local temp agency. The paperwork is taken care of, they are insured and I don't pay a big premium over the pay the workers and talent earn.

I'm fortunate in that I am associated with a local community college theatre (they pay me to tape some of the acting classes) that also has a rather good Actor Training Program. So I can get good talent that I have seen perform week-after-week (and sometimes the instructors) for very low wages. And they get another item on their resume.

When I need better than OK talent, I can ask the instructors and directors to work for me. I get SAG talent (and my clients get to pay the going rate) sort of on-demand.