OMP Test

[RHWeiner]

I've been a member, albeit the lowest level, of OMP for quite a few years now and I must admit that I've had some miserable experiences from it (too many No Shows and one extremely Flaky Wierded Out model) but I've also had a goodly number of good (even excellent) experiences, too. I once sent an email to Brent asking him why I was having such lousy returns on my initial emails. He said that typically the return rate on inquiries was 10%...that is to say that 9 out of 10 would not even acknowledge my attempt to 'talk shop' with them. Model Mayhem may be a bit better but I've not really tried much there.

In any case this year I upgraded to the next level (Bronze to Silver) and for this extra cash I got a nice little 'Thank You' package...
-white T-shirt with the OMP logo blazed on front and back (Hell, according to them I'm a "VIP"...what do they know? LOL
-a Posing Guide on CD (okay so I paid for this)
-a blue and silver ballpoint pen
-a flourescent pink pencil (Yeah like I'm really going to use that at work with all those Mining Engineers around! Ha!)
-a dozen business cards with photos of women I don't know and who I did not photograph (on the back is space to enter my name, OMP ID#,and my email...the cards also say "View My Portfolio Online")
-a postcard size double sided card with "Live the Dream" on the back.
-a "Shut UP! & MODEL" bumper sticker (?)
-a 30 minute screener of "Shut UP! & MODEL" DVD
-a "Model's Bootcamp" CD
...
and...
-an example of a Comp card that OMP is printing/selling with images of some scruffy little grey haired dog (Cute, too cute...NOT).

So a membership is not without its rewards there. HAR!

In any case I'm happy to see that the Pissy Contest is over.

I'm no purist...I'll be a member of any community or group that may give me access to more accessible, more willing models. Remember the 10%? Well 10% of 10 is 1, of 100 is 10 and of 1000 is 100! You do the math.

[PhotoDave1]

With respect to Rolando, I must agree with John and others who have voiced similar sentiments. When I first joined OMP I had some limited success but over the past few years it has turned into a self-promoting site and not much else. In the last year I have only had a shoot come out of a contact I made through OMP and the rest of the "models" that have contacted me or whom I have been referred to have not been worth my time.

What I am seeing a lot of on OMP lately is little girls with cell phone photos that have been taken by their drunk, lust-crazed boyfriends who email me and tell me that they have no experience but that they are easy to work with and their rates are "extremely reasonable". Basically what this means is these are children who have absolutely no respect for themselves and they will strip for any guy (or guys) who can come up with $50.00 and a hotel room and we all wonder why our industry is in so much trouble?? There needs to be a completely separate category for this type of " " (I don't want to call it modeling but I don't know what else to call it).

I maintain a minimal presence on OMP on the off chance that I will meet a model who is actually worth working with and I generally meet one a year.

G1 on the other hand, in my opinion, is a quality site. I have learned a lot from reading the posts here and putting up my own. These guys have really made me push the envelop and I have greatly benefited from it. Like others, I do wish the Workshops weren't so expensive but maybe someday. Guys like Rolando, RFS, and others make it all worthwhile.

G1 has also taught me a lot about where I fit in the food chain. I photograph in my own style and in my own way and my primary goal is the satisfaction of the models I photograph and also of my peers. I am not as technically proficient in Photoshop and probably never will be. I have also never shot in RAW and maybe I never will. It is just more work than I want to put into it but it serves its purpose and that's OK. I have made a niche for myself and I am quite happy in my niche. There will always be slight "imperfections" in my photographs but that's my style and I'm OK with it and more importantly, the people I photograph are OK with it. I will never reach the technical perfection of photographers like RFS or Bobby G but I have learned that I don't have to. I can do what I do and still make people happy and that to me is what counts.

Guys, keep up the great work here and keep reaching out. I would like to see G1 grow back to the size, reach, and popularity that Garage Glamour had. Now that was a rocking site and something to truly aspire to so let's see what we can do to bring back the glory days.

Nuff said !

[trwphoto]

I know. Been that way fer years.
Oh yea. Checked your port. Dam good work.

[PhotosbyChuck]

Well said, Dave. I read an OMP profile recently with photos like you describe -- the "model" only wanted to be contacted for feature work in a major publication like Maxim (her words). Um...good luck with that one!

Like you I count myself lucky to have a place to learn from the pros and pass along the little I know when I have the chance.