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FAQ : How do I find a good photographer?

Have a question about acting and commercial modeling? See if it’s answered in our Frequently Asked Questions below:

Question not answered here? Visit the Aaron Marcus Acting/Modeling Forum and ask your question there. Or, Browse the ASK AARON Answer Archive and see if Aaron has answered a similar question about acting and commercial modeling.

Get the names of photographers working in your area. Ask agents or other models for the names of their favorite photographers. Just like with finding agents try going to your local theater and asking the actors after the performance about names of photographers. See which names are mentioned.

Look in the phone book and see if there is an advertising association in your area. If so, call a number of different advertising agencies and ask for either the creative director or art director. The creative director comes up with the concept for an ad, and the art director takes that idea and puts in on paper. Both of those people are in positions to hire models. Ask them which photographers they use for projects, and while you have them on the phone, ask them which agents they normally go through when hiring models.

Go to your local library to see if you can find a yearly business publication that lists the top 10 or 20 advertising agencies in your area. They will include phone numbers and contacts. This will help you get to the best advertising agencies. When you put your head shot and or comp card together, you can use that same resource to market yourself by sending your material to the art and creative directors.

If you do not have any contacts, call the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP). Some ASMP members only photograph landscapes, wildlife, or portraits, but many shoot ads with models. There are 42 ASMP chapters throughout the United States, with 5,000 members. To find members in your area, simply go to their web site, (www.asmp.org). For further questions, call the national office in Philadelphia, PA at (215) 451-2767. If you ever decide to try to work outside of the United States you can also get the names of members living abroad.