What Motivates Male Models in 2008? Same Thing That Motivated Them 500 Years Ago.

A few days ago I got a simple question from a fellow photographer that I respect a lot .. “How do you get these hot college guys to photograph frolicking on the beach, wrestling with other guys and posing nude in front of your unforgiving camera lens.” My reply was fast and just as simple: “It’s all about the cash” I blurted out and we went back to our cocktails.

After thinking about it more, I want to take my answer back. I’ve come to a different conclusion and it has nothing to do with cash.

Thing is, a new standard of male modeling has emerged over the past 10 years. Photographers like Bruce Webber and Companies like A&F, Hugo Boss and others have single handedly revolutionalized the product marketing industry through the use of amateur male models and, in my opinion, have help defined pop culture today. I’m calling this reality based marketing. Sounds kinda dramatic, I know, but hear me out ..

That Was Then ...

So how did the every day college guy get to become the epicenter of the fashion industry? Well, I’m not a historian and I’m certainly not a social psychologist, but I am going to take a stab at this one too . . .

The appeal and success of the Abercrombie Male Model that we see (pretty much everywhere you look these days) is rooted in reality. These Abercrombie Models are real guys, you know them, you’ve hung with them on the weekends, you’ve got so damn drunk with them last week that you swore off alcohol for a year. They take the same train to work, work out at your gym and shop at the same grocery store.

If he looks good in those Jeans, I will too. Get the point?

This is now ..

So, why would an otherwise normal college guy run on a beach naked and wrestle with other guys in front of my relentless cameras? I can assure you it’s not the money. They are freezing time and to some extent being immortalized as the new American male icon – They guy next door. Ok Ok – the cash helps a bit too.

I’m hoping some folks will chime in here. Is there any academic truth to this. Do you agree / disagree. Please weigh in And thanks for reading our Male Modeling Blog.

Find out how you can put this powerful ‘reality based’ marketing trend to work for your business by visiting our website at http://www.acemalemodels.com.

Interested in Modeling with us? Please hit us up at http://www.acemalemodels.com