Working as a photo session model

I recently tried out a side job as a photo session model and will give you my impressions.  Photo sessions ( 撮影会 in Japanese) are a concept I have first seen in Japan. It usually works in a way that a larger photo studio is rented by the organizer for a day and several models are booked for the photo session. Then photographers that want to shoot the models can register and pay a certain entry fee depending on how long they want to take part. Then they can shoot whichever model they prefer for a certain time frame. 

If you want to apply as a model, you usually just fill out an online form on the homepage of the organizer and submit a few photos, then you might be called in for an interview, but some places just judge based on the photos.

Most places I have seen in Japan say they also take applicants with little or no experience.

If they accept you, you can choose on which days you would like to participate. Depending on the organizer they may have several sessions per month or only one or two.

On the day of the photo session you have to arrive at the venue at a certain time and bring several outfits. As the one I participated in was at a studio quite far from where I live I had to get up at 5:30 in the morning. Also, having to carry several outfits and matching shoes to the venue was quite exhausting!

The sessions I took part had 4 shooting slots of 50 minutes with 20 minutes break in between during which you had to change outfits. At the beginning of each slot the models would line up and the photographers choose who they wanted to shoot. If several photographers wanted to shoot the same model, they would take turns.

The session I took part in bases the payment of the models on how many photographers shoot you, so the more popular you are the higher your salary. As I was not very popular I didn’t get paid much but it was an interesting experience anyway. Most of the photographers that took photos of me also uploaded them to social media and tagged me so I could easily find them. Despite me not having too much modeling experience some of the pictures turned out quite nice. Also, the organizer provided free lunch and a drink for the models.

I can recommend these kinds of side jobs in Japan for everyone who likes being photographed, is OK with their pictures being uploaded to social media and who can speak enough Japanese to communicate with the photographers.