Hello there. My name is Sarah Ellis and I am an internet model. What is an internet model you ask? Well, I get asked that a lot. Yesterday I got 3 messages asking that same question, so here goes… An internet model is a model (a person whose job is to be the subject of photographs or other visual media) who finds his or her work on the internet.

Here’s how it works: I have collections of pictures posted in various websites. Photographers (and sometimes, but very rarely, artists of other types) who are looking for a model see my pictures and if they want to take pictures of me they contact me. We talk about what they want to do, agree on a plan, I show up, we shoot, they pay me, I go home. Of course it’s a lot more complicated than that, but that’s the general idea. The photographers I work with range from professional fashion photographers to amateurs with disposable cameras.

There is no such thing as a typical photo-shoot, but here are a few scenarios…

Most of my shoots go something like this: A photographer contacts me. He (the vast majority of the photographers I work with are male) says he likes “my look” (this is a universal phrase in the internet photography world) and would like to do a shoot with me. I look at his online profile – read what he has written and look at the pictures he has up. I decide if I want to work with him. This decision is based on several factors:
- Does he say anything really strange or offensive? “No fat chicks,” “I never pay models,” “don’t listen to the bad stuff that models are saying about me, I only touched that one girl because she was asking for it” for example.
- Do I like his pictures? I have found that I can tell a lot about a photographer from his pictures. I look for general quality (signs that the photographer actually knows how to work a camera) but also indications that his models are comfortable.

If everything looks okay, we proceed to the planning stage. The first part of this is scheduling. I work with people all over the country and I have to figure out when I am going to be in a particular photographer’s area. Next comes rates; I charge the same amount for almost all photo-shoots - $100 per hour with a 3 hour minimum booking. Different models charge different amounts – my rates are based on what I’ve decided I need to live on. When I travel I try to do one or two shoots per day, which means that I make between $300-$700 per day. Sounds like a lot? Actually it isn’t. I pay for my own travel expenses – car, airfare, hotel and I don’t get paid anything for travel time. I also provide hair styling, makeup and clothing for the majority of my shoots. And I don’t get health insurance through my work. It’s enough to live on and that’s what matters.

So we’ve set everything up. Next I get references, which means finding other models who have worked with the photographer. I can usually ask around and find all the references I need, it’s a small world and I know most of the full time internet models pretty well. If I get any bad references I follow them up and if I can’t resolve them I cancel the shoot. This happens very, very rarely (In the last year I’ve only had to cancel one shoot because of bad references).

Next – the fun part…. I show up to the shoot. I almost always have my hair and makeup done before I arrive (unfortunately, few of the photographers I work with hire makeup artists) and have a huge suitcase full of girly stuff with me. The majority of my shoots take place at the photographer’s house. I also shoot at hotels frequently. Sometimes a photographer I’m working with either owns or has access to a photographic studio.

The first few minutes of first time meetings can be rather tense. I have found that the best way to deal with this is to take off my clothes as quickly as possible. I know this sounds silly but it really works. I usually take up my clothes and put on a robe so that the lines on my body from the pressure of clothing can have a chance to smooth out. As soon as the clothes come off the photographer usually relaxes. My theory about this is that if a woman comes into your house and takes her clothes off, it probably means she trusts you. We usually talk for a little while (or a long while) and then start shooting.

Sometimes the photographer I’m working with knows exactly what he wants me to do, but much more frequently he has no idea. He sets up lights (or just messes with his camera settings if we’re shooting with natural light) while I put on some lingerie or clothing (we usually start with some clothing) and then we shoot. Some people direct, some don’t. Some talk and some don’t. I generally like to be directed or at least told when I’m doing something right. If necessary, I can dance around and do everything on my own – if the photographer wants to sit back and just hit the shutter that’s cool. When I’m shooting I got to a strange little place in my mind and I’m happy to be alone there if I have to be.

After the time that we’ve agreed on has passed, I collect my money and head out. Hopefully I’ll see the pictures, sometimes I do. It’s pretty rare for me to work with someone only once, and shoots almost always get more and more productive as the model and photographer get to know each other.

So that’s how it all works. It’s a pretty cool job. I love seeing the creative process in action. I love being my own boss. I love that I have gotten the chance to travel all over the country and meet hundreds of people and actually get to know them on a meaningful level. I love that I have so much down time so that I can read and listen to music more than most people I know. More than anything else I love doing a job that is all about freedom – of expression, from clothing, from standards of social acceptability.