Were does one look to hire a model for a photo and wbout how much would I be looking at paying him/her? I am a hobby beginner photographer and dont know where to look. Thanks.

www.net-model.com

and there are others out there as well - but i cant remember where i found the links... google "online model portoflio" or some variation thereof...

As for payment some models are ok with doing it as a collaboration of services - they are a model wanting to get a portfolio up and you are a photographer wanting to do the same - so if you find a "begginner" model then you have a perfect match-up, because obviously those with portfolios will want some payment.  Put up an ad at a local college or uni and present it professionally and you will get professionality in return hopefully. (by that i mean say exactly what you need and be honest about it from the start - ie are you going for nude, semi-nude, fashion, fetish, or whatever?)

I am in contact with a model where i am and we are doing a similar thing to what i said above.  A group of us is organising a studio session and we get to throw her around a studio in various poses and she gets the pics out of it :)

Thanks for the replay and help.

no problem - good luck with it - the net route might be a better way of getting a more professional approach.

and always offer to meet the model somewhere beforehand to actually chat about what you want to do and basically get to know her/him.  Not only does that make you know each other better - it gives her/him time to size you up and thus either back out, or what should happen is s/he will be more relaxed during the shoot because s/he wont be nervous about meeting you for the first time and your intentions and will be familiar with your ideas for the shoot so you wont have to explain things too much and waste time when you are doing it :)

Attached Link: Models Forums

I'll attach a link to a list of model forums where you can post for models.

You could also network with someone that shoots and simply do a joint shoot.
Look around for Model Shootouts or take a workshop that's dedicated to shooting with models.

You can easily find models around local art colleges that offer photography classes.

For now, you could simply just ask someone you know to pose for you.

All of the models that are in my gallery here I found from advertising on CraigsList.

Quote - Were does one look to hire a model for a photo and wbout how much would I be looking at paying him/her? I am a hobby beginner photographer and dont know where to look. Thanks.

Viper, if youre new to shooting portraits,  I think I may recommend not going straight for the agencies... They tend to be a little expensive, and a lot of the models insist on hourly rates. (few work on a daily rate system) Perhaps consider posting an ad on a local classifieds website/tabloid/newspaper, for TFP/CD (time for prints) work. That way you wont end up with an astronomical bill, for an hours shoot, when youre not overjoyed with results type of situation :)))

You can find out more details here:

http://www.onetalentsource.com/view_article/27/

If you are going to hire a studio ask the studio they will have a list of models who regularly work there.

If you are new to it all I really would suggest some tuition though. Join in a studio class where the intructor will provide a suitable model and some tuition on how to use the lighting. They will also give tuition in all the other factors you need to consider such as how to pose the model, release forms etc  etc.

If you are near a university, you could visit their art dept. and see if any of their life drawing models would be willing to work with you.

Thanks for all the great replys and helpful information. I plan on signing up for a photography course in January so I am going to forward from there. Right now I do have my wife who works with me and a friend of mine saw some of my photos and asked if I shot people I said its a dirrection I'm going so I may have another model with her. Will keep you all posted with my work. Thanks again.

Sean