We all want our shoots to go as well as possible. Finding the right model is key. Some models are excellent, while others have such hectic lives that they can’t make it anywhere on time, or worse never intend to show up in the first place. The modeling site or classified ad site is just the conduit for making initial contact, and it’s up to you to use your knowledge and effort to find good people to work with.

To take the issue more broadly, let’s say you want to hire a gardener. You open the yellow pages and see an advertisement. You immediately hire them, not bothering to look at other yards they’ve worked on, ask your neighbors if they’d heard about them, or even prepare any interview questions. You then discover that they do a lousy job — This is exactly the approach some take to using modeling sites or classified ad sites.

You need to:

• Ask for references
• Look at work samples
• Prepare interview questions
• Perform a phone interview
• If possible, meet the model in person

When asking for references, you can write to the model and say “Have you worked with any photographers who can give you a good reference.” When contacting these photographers you can ask “I’m thinking about working with so-and-so, and she says she’s worked with you. Can you tell me what she was like to work with?”

When looking at past work samples, you should

• See how recent the work is. If there is not at least one photo from the past six months, ask the model why.
• Notice if the work is retouched. If you can see what she really looks like, ask for un-retouched photos.
• Look for large clear images
• Look for head-to-toe shots. If some body area is missing, it may be a problem area. For example if all the photos hide the model’s thighs by cropping them out, or showing her seated, she may be trying to hide unattractive thighs.

When interviewing the model, here are some questions I use:

• How many shoots have you done?
• Have you looked at my web site?
• One of my current themes is [brief description of theme], is that something you’d interested in being part of?
• Ask for any missing stats: height, weight, dress size, measurements

A phone interview is helpful. A model who is too busy or lazy to spend five minutes calling you is a high risk of being a no-show.

If possible, meet the model in person. This will help you see what she really looks like, without Photoshop. It will also help you screen out insincere or disorganized models who are likely to be no-shows or late. If she’s late to the interview, that’s an indication that you may waste some time waiting for her to show up to the shoot. If she misses the interview, it’s up to you whether you want to give her a second chance. I’d base the decision entirely on how she handles the absence. If she doesn’t bother to contact you promptly to apologize, or gives you some far fetched excuse, I wouldn’t reschedule.

A good model is one who puts effort into her work. A good photographer will do their homework before hiring a model.