Nude Art Modeling..how much should I charge?

Question

I'm interested in becoming a nude art model and I was wondering how much I should charge? I keep reading $15-25 an hour. Should I charge more if I'm doing nude photography rather than letting somebody sketch me? and does anybody have any idea about how many hours I might be standing there while someone sketches, paints..ect. me?

Answer 1

You could call a local art school for advice, by asking what they pay their models. Mostly to my knowledge figure drawing will be nude modeling work. Also you might consider charging by the group amount if you plan on doing it privately. Many public studios charge a certain fee, you could ask around and see what they pay and finally ask artists what they are used to paying.

Answer 2

The usual rate for schools that hire nude models for their drawing/painting/sculpture class is 15/hr, with some higher or lower depending on where they are in the U.S..  Classes are often 3 hours, although some schools have shorter class periods.  The model usually poses for 20 minutes and then has a 5-10 minute break, during which you should cover up with a robe.  Nude modeling for photography is a whole different matter, since you must determine if the photographs are to be published (requiring a signed release by the model) or not.  Even if the photographs are for "academic" or "private" use, they can end up on the internet or in print without your permission.  Most art models that pose for painting/drawing do not permit any photographs to be taken.  Hope this helps you out!

Answer 3

Most universities' art departments will pay around $15/hour.  Private art schools will generally pay a little more.  You will generally be required to pose for up to two hours at a time with little opportunity for movement.  Nude photography modeling does generally not pay by the hour, but by the photo session, or by prearranged contract agreement per photo published.  Make sure you have a contract for every photo that is taken, or you will end up getting published on the Internet for free.  Just as an aside, you must be 21 to pose nude.

Answer 4

In a art class environment you can charge $15-20 an hour.

I normally charge the models I shoot and not the other way around. I have never paid a model for figurenudes.  For commercial work I have though.

My day-rate for fine art figurenudes done for-hire is $5000.00 and this means you would own the copyrights.  I am at the extreme high end of the art market though.  This only took me twenty years.

See examples of my nudes here -

http://www.figurenude.com/Curtis.Neeley

I would work out a trade-out of several hundred in the LEAST to pose naked.  Once you have done it - you can't undo it!

Say maybe you would require a trade out of $4500 and cash of $500 for a day nude with a photographer like me.  I have people too often paying me to photograph them to need  to hire models.  There are scores out there who don't.

I would be VERY careful of any photographer who feels a need to hire a model.  One bad photography shoot's results haunt you for life.  Look at their portfolio.

Answer 5

I know less about modeling for the sketching and painting than I do for photography.   From what I've read, the $15-20/hour seems to be typical art class painting or sketcing.  Experience and having the right look seem less releveant than with photography.

Photography will probably be a bit different.   Prices can vary greatly depending on the type of shoot and experience of you and the photographer.    First of all, bewared of the GWC or guy with camera who will likely pay no matter what just to get your clothes off.   When dealing with a photographer always look at their portfolio to get an idea if the kind of work they have done is what you want to do.

With the more experienced art photographers, pay can vary quite a bit and is often negotiated on a case by case basis, though some models have flat fees.    Most photographers will want to see a portfolio of yours before deciding how much you are worth, so staring out it's not a bad idea to start with a time for image basis where you will get prints but no pay.    This is low pressure for everyone.  Once you've done a couple shoots and have had a chance to feel things out, begin to demand more pay if you wish.  

Although there is no magic standard, I often see, fairly new models who have begun to charge, charge  $25-30/hour, more experienced maybe $50-60 and fairly experienced $100.     Very professional models with the right look even more.  I've seen many newer models who will never do nude shoots for under $75, but they are happy to only get the ocassional offer, or they have look and portfolio that makes them marketable even with little experience.

Personally, I rarely pay inexperienced models anything, but provide them with quality images.  Sometimes I work with models who maybe have 5-25 shoots under their belt and pay $30/hour.

When it comes to photography, give some thought about what might happen to the images.   The photographer will likely want you to sign a model release that allows them to be used however he/she sees fit.    If you want some of the images, make sure you get a license agreement from the photographer.   You have no specific rights to any images unless they are granted to you by the photographer.  This not have to be in writing, but getting it in writing is a good idea.

Maybe more than you needed to know, but hope it helps.