Website update suggestions list for Blade... lets discuss before sending via email

I love the rating system on photo.net

Personally, I think a ratings system on something like this is a useless excercise. If John Guiliano's creations were rated by the man in the street, he would never get any work.

I had images on here rated 2 and 3 out of 10... not that I care, I was paid well for the shoot and the images ran in two ad campaigns, but what is the purpose? It's not like this is a hobby site?

If there is no use for a rating system (which is written comments/crit in the form of numbers) then there is no use for crit... if there is no use for crit then there is no use for technical threads, then we can just as well have a a static website for pictures only with no comments.

A rating just like crit is an indication, and depending on who sent it to you can either be a teaching tool (when someone better than you give it) or a market research tool (when general public give it)

rating of 7 is the same as somone typing out "oooh nice image" just easier to read and to get stats on... the pc can count the number of 7's but not the number of "oooohs"

Only people who is ego driven will stress if they get bad ratings, everyone does not always like everything, and any artist who has not yet learnt that wont make it. I have found clients who loved images I hated and hated images I loved. The trick is to give the client what they want.

If there is no use for a rating system (which is written comments/crit in the form of numbers) then there is no use for crit...

Well... yes.. why have it? Here is my problem (and it's my opinion, and just discussing, like the post title suggests) It appears that members think that rating images badly, will somehow bring their images higher.

If you want your images rated, why not take it to a competition site, like worth1000 (which has one of the best rating systems I have ever experienced)

My opinion is that this should become more business orientated... there is lots of space for the ratings and crit in the forums, if you really want it. The forum is also more suited to it, as you can actually see and respond to your remarks, and people can learn from each other

I think the front-end of this site must function as an online updateable portfolio for models which generates business and income... but maybe that is not the vision of MB

It appears that members think that rating images badly, will somehow bring their images higher.

I agree, hence read ratings for what they are,... not wanting to start a debate again about this

so here is another suggestion

A Function to deactivate/activate the functionality you want. If you want crit/ratings you can select the function, if you dont want to receive them then you can turn it off,... see easy ;-) same goes for receiving messages, emails, seeing nudes or other types of images etc etc etc

... if you really want it. The forum is also more suited to it, as you can actually see and respond to your remarks, and people can learn from each other

Totally agree, thats why I like their critique thread as you must request to post an image there specifically to get crit...


I think the front-end of this site must function as an online updateable portfolio for models which generates business and income... but maybe that is not the vision of MB

That is what I thought MB was when I first joined... the thought changed lol

"It's not like this is a hobby site?"
I may be entirely wrong with my view on ModelBase, but I have certainly always seen it as a networking and meeting place for predominantly amateur models and photographers. Some income is generated by some of these amateurs, but yes, I do see it as a "Hobby Site".

Personally I think for the site to work you will require a wide range from hobbyist and amateurs to pros... if you just have the one there can be no growth

...but yes, I do see it as a "Hobby Site".

I am not sure why? I think it's a place where you can learn and grow, but definitely not a hobby site...

If I have a quick gander, I see approx 2,500 people listed here... al browsing and uploading and chatting... Who pays for this? This is not a hobby club with a membership fee,

There is definitely a place for the hobbyist, but I think for MB to survive, they will need to grab the attention of the pro's and agencies as a true viable solution for networking and building contacts.

How long do you think the models and photographers will stay here, if another site constantly generates work around a similiar principle? hobby is fine, but money talks. Social networking? how fast did people move from Myspace to Facebook?

I know that another Photographic forum site runs about R8,000pm bandwidth and hosting bill for their site (about 6,000 members)

On another theme, I am starting to get worried about the legal aspects concerning posting images on MB. Recently I have seen images posted in portfolios that does not belong to photographers.

Also, If MB wants to become an Industry leader there needs to be a certain amount of professional training concerning copyright, contracts, legal issues concerning minors, etc, etc

Personally, I'd rethink this whole business from the ground up. It's very easy to monetize many of the components here (and components that we want) that will drive development and sustainability.

There is no reason why a place like MB can't revolutionize the modeling industry like a place like PicoLib did for the stock imaging industry here in South Africa

I will probably be flamed for this, but in my view there is probably no more than 5% of members here who would qualify for the professional category, so would that make this a professional site?
I see cellphone pictures — others, probably using entry level cameras with what looks like the bottom of a Coke bottle used as a lens, if one looks at the pictures :-) Hardly more than hobbyists IMHO, but I am not saying that things can't or won't change.

No Flaming... but 5% is a wild guess in my opinion

I get requests daily from would be models who shoot themselves with their cellphones. No ways do I shoot them (can't afford the time), but send them here to start building a decent portfolio, with photographers who would also like to be in the business rather than be a plumber or accountant.

My point is just that unless you are scouted, the chances of becoming a serious model is slim in South Africa. This site is sitting with a goldmine opportunity of what I am guessing is about 2,000 amateur models that are booked pretty frequently, whose dream it is to actually be a model, and not a legal temp...

Why host the cellphone cam images? nobody will book you from there, so why waste the bandwidth?

This is my opinion only, and seeing as I have nothing to do with the actual running of the site, doesn't really count for anything, but in my experience with web based businesses, you have about a year to build a site into what it's about to become, thereafter the competition scoops up your members because they have learnt from your mistakes, and then it takes quite a bit to get ahead again...

If I duplicate MB today, but add a feature that pays you $100 per month and guarantees you 4 different models to shoot per month in a fully equipped studio in one of four centers accross the country with the models being paid R300 per shoot (with a minimum of 4 shoots per month)

Your $-rate goes up with quality that you produce, and producing in requested themes. And all the same features are there that is here + a few extra

No extra cost to you... would you spend your time there or here?

I totally agree, I currently run 3 websites and have learned that lesson twice now,... either keep up with the times and grow or loose your members to other sites... and once they are gone they harder to get back.

"... but 5% is a wild guess in my opinion"
Yes 5% is indeed a wild guess AND, I don't disagree with anything you say, but substantial changes would have to take place for MB to become what you would like it to be. If that happens, I would imagine a lot of people here would disappear — whether that is a good or bad thing, is another story.
I am strictly an amateur and have no great aspirations to make my photography a business, but I am stiving to become a better photographer and I think that being a mamber here, certainly helps me to learn.

Another thing that is seriously worrying is that Adult content is visible when logged in through a registered account, not age restricted. I know some of the models are under age, because every one we shoot needs to fill in a release and they need to ad their date of birth.

Actually we have now started to make a copy of the ID and passport as well

This is something that would need to be rectified/better implemented

...but substantial changes would have to take place for MB to become what you would like it to be. If that happens, I would imagine a lot of people here would disappear — whether that is a good or bad thing, is another story.

Why would they disappear? because they do not want to model? I cant think of any reason why they would go away if more professional features are added... maybe I am just not thinking like you are.

What do you foresee the reasons for them leaving?

Again at the risk of being flamed, if this site became a haven for "real" professionals and not just have more professional features, I think that some of the "hobbyists", who just don't have what it takes, will disappear as they will probably not get to do shoots.
I do see portfolios here where I think, that the model or photographer will probably, forevermore remain in the hobbyist category and that could well include me.

Why would anyone be scared of more pros on here? it would just help lift the quality of work... there needs to be continuous growth. The only difference between what is deemed "pro" and what is deemed "hobbyist" is that the one makes money from it and the other not... why would that difference make any difference on a site to have more "pros"...

What would make MB loose members, is if more "Pros" / "experts" leaves and the unskilled and semi-skilled are here trying to teach each other, which equals zero growth.

What we must also remember, and I have asked the question 20 times already, what is the purpose of modelbase? from the name it seems the primary objective is "the model"....