By Cindy Washburn
If Jesse Draper approaches a girl on campus and tells her she''s beautiful and he likes her long legs, his intentions are different than most guys.
Draper, an illustration major, is one of many visual arts students who depend on models if they want to progress in their art. The approach differs, but it''s not unusual for them to walk up to someone and ask if they would mind modeling for some pictures.
He explained that in artist''s lingo, they refer to pictures used for reference as scrap.
'The problem is, students in the visual arts department need models to be able to have scrap,' Draper said. 'For me as a visual artist, models are essential.'
Draper, who tries to put together a photo shoot about once a month, said there are a few things he looks for when finding models.
'I find people who have a unique look and someone who can look natural doing different things, not look too posed,' Draper said. 'I also need them to take good direction, but also have a flair of their own.'
While Draper cautioned there could be safety issues with modeling, he just advised people to be careful when approached. Models should have the artist show their credentials and their work so they can know they''re comfortable with the kind of art the artists does.
'But also be willing to do it,' Draper said. 'Don''t be weirded out. Most artists -- especially students -- need models all the time, of all different shapes and sizes.'
Michael Wiltbank, a photography major, aspires to be a commercial photographer and relies heavily on finding models to help him build his portfolio. He and a fellow student started a Facebook group, 'BYU Photo Models,' to help them find models to help build their fashion portfolios, even purchasing advertising space on Facebook to get the word out.
'Basically we need models to complete our assignments and hope to find interested people who are willing to let us photograph them,' the ad said.
'I have to find people somewhere,' Wiltbank said. 'You can only bother the people in your ward so much.'
Most of the modeling is done for free, although often the artists will do an exchange of prints or digital copies of the photo shoot. For aspiring models, the shoots can open up doors for more modeling opportunities.
'I work for a stock agency Rubberball Productions,' Wiltbank said. 'They''ve actually seen some of the models I''ve used and had them come in and model. They''ve used one guy three times now.'
While Michelle Christensen is an illustration student and has used models herself, she has also helped out a fellow student by modeling for a photo shoot.
'I''ve modeled for classes and things,' Christensen said. 'This was different because the artist had an actual vision of what they wanted and put it together. There''s a lot more imagination involved, a lot more freedom with the ideas.'