Hiring an Artist Model

As an artist, drawing from life can help you learn new skills and improve upon your current techniques. Drawing from life means making use of a live model or an ‘art model’ in sessions ranging in time from 10 minutes to an hour or more.

1. Locate a model. One of the easiest ways to find a model is to take an art class at your local college. Many models make extra money doing class sittings for academic institutions. The class allows you to meet with and speak to a number of male and female models after the class to ask them about booking schedules and prices.  Another way to locate a model is via the Internet by running a search for ‘Live Art Model’ followed by the name of your local area. You may also try sites like Model Mayhem.


2. Interview different models. If you have a specific artistic vision in mind, tell the model about it well in advance to see if they are interested in participating. If you seek a model to sit for you in the nude, find out what their requirements are in order to make that happen. Typically, a private nude sitting with a model for an hour or so can cost anywhere from $200 to $1,000 depending upon the models experience, their references and their willingness to be in a more private environment than a classroom.


3. Ask for and check all references.  Your security and property are valuable. Deal only with reputable models. 


4. Hire your model. Once a model has been selected and they agree to sit for you, it comes time to discuss price. If they are coming to your home then part of their price will be covering gas and traveling expenses if they are coming in from out of town from. 


5. Allow a chaperone. Most models, male and female feel much more comfortable when they are permitted to bring along a chaperone. This enables them to relax in the environment and do their job.


6. Make them comfortable. Provide nonalcoholic beverages and light snacks for the model as well as a place to change, a bathrobe to wear whilst coming out of the bathroom and between sittings.  


7. Get a signed model release form. You can have a lawyer draw one up for you and simply keep copies around or you can print one off from an online location. A model release form is paramount in importance. Without it, you could stand a chance of being out the money a model’s payment, yet without permissions needed to publish or produce what you created.