• ModelMayhem

ModelMayhem

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Overview

ModelMayhem has a rating of 3.2 stars from 148 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally satisfied with their purchases. ModelMayhem ranks 15th among Modeling sites.

  • Service
    21
  • Value
    18
  • Shipping
    7
  • Returns
    7
  • Quality
    16
Positive reviews (last 12 months): 100%
Positive
1
Neutral
0
Negative
0
6
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How would you rate ModelMayhem?
Top Positive Review

“Great! But if under 18 or so a parent should supervise if possible”

Holly G.
5/5/24

Model Mayhem is great! I've worked with it for years and have made lots of side gig money. Be wary of photographers trying to get free nude work. And minors should be supervised I think. But it's fun and can be profitable.

Top Critical Review

“Nice website but completely lacking customer service...”

James A.
12/12/14

Nice website but completely lacking customer service and over sight. No phone numbers, direct emails, managers etc. If you want a refund or have a problem don't waste your time trying to resolve it. They just ignore everything while laughing in a bubble. I'm actually surprised the parent company doesn't get more involved.

Reviews (148)

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model mayhem (49) customer service (13)
Thumbnail of user hollyg461
North Carolina
1 review
0 helpful votes
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May 5th, 2024

Model Mayhem is great! I've worked with it for years and have made lots of side gig money. Be wary of photographers trying to get free nude work. And minors should be supervised I think. But it's fun and can be profitable.

Tip for consumers:
Good service

Products used:
Their website

Thumbnail of user jamesa93
California
1 review
10 helpful votes
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December 12th, 2014

Nice website but completely lacking customer service and over sight. No phone numbers, direct emails, managers etc. If you want a refund or have a problem don't waste your time trying to resolve it. They just ignore everything while laughing in a bubble. I'm actually surprised the parent company doesn't get more involved.

Tip for consumers:
Consider other options.

Service
Quality
Thumbnail of user jerryh467
California
1 review
3 helpful votes
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March 17th, 2021

So I never really had an issue with the staff until I did. I notice a lot of complaints about Model Mayhem Mods and I can attest that it is very real.
Once you get on their radar it's over. I was a long time customer and have made many good friends via MM.
I got banned for this.
When I tried to ask why they accused me of having a fake account. I never had a fake account.
They are dishonest and manipulators.

Tip for consumers:
Don't ever get on their radar. In my experience there is no mercy or honesty if they have their sites set on you. Don't sign up for the VIP like I did. The free basic is more than enough.

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Thumbnail of user beadye
Italy
1 review
2 helpful votes
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May 19th, 2022

Worst site ever... full of fake profiles, prostitution and homosexual paedophiles.
There was also an Islamic model who already did naked photos, so if you asked her to shoot nudes, she got angry because her religion didn't allow it... hilarious

Tip for consumers:
don't use it

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Thumbnail of user jaes2
Wisconsin
1 review
17 helpful votes
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May 6th, 2014

This site is hilarious! It's like a Craigslist For Self - proclaimed "models" Who Submit for free, their own unprofessional taken photos. One quick glance, and any person with even half an eye for talent can see these "models" are on there because they were laughed right out the door of any reputable agency!

Thumbnail of user lelandg7
New York
1 review
12 helpful votes
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July 21st, 2015

Others have written regarding the virtual police state that exists under the congenial surface of this photography website. It's even worse than the other reviewers imagine.

I created a profile on the site and began posting discussion threads concerning the site's internal practices. I took to task one of their so-called moderators who liked to brag of his powers to have people removed, and also liked to force models into positions where they would have to sleep with him.

As anticipated, that caused the focus to be on me, not the site's abusive practices. In the process, they revealed that they collect camera serial numbers for all images posted on the site and run the info against an "enemies list" database.If you post a picture taken with a camera used by someone they dislike, you're toast. And they seem to dislike a lot of people.

This is truly chilling. I agree with those who counsel staying away from ModelMayhem.com.

Thumbnail of user cindyl22
Montana
1 review
11 helpful votes
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February 25th, 2014

Join this site if you want to be grouped with a bunch of self-entitled D-Bags and the general anti-model kind of community. Photographers think they're better than everyone else. The shoots I've been in, always disrespectful. 'Models' with phone pictures get more attention than legitimate photos and 'photographers' berate you if you have any differing opinion. Also, if you've had a bad shoot and say something, it's YOUR fault because photographers do no wrong. I now have a horrible hatred for photographers and will NEVER waste my time on them again. Get a real job.

Thumbnail of user jackd52
California
1 review
14 helpful votes
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January 29th, 2014

It used to be good. Then people unqualified to run a business were promoted into management positions, and they can't manage. The website is now falling apart and lots of the best members have already left. What's left over is very mediocre. Until the current managers are fired and replaced by someone who knows what they are doing, I don't see any improvement on the horizon.

Thumbnail of user larag2
South Africa
1 review
16 helpful votes
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June 4th, 2013

I signed up for a profile and after about a week my account was closed. In that time I received 100+ messages from "photographers" wanting to do a TF nude shoot with me, when you look at their profiles though they only have crappy poor quality pics or unprofessional pics and in some cases porn. Yet my profile is banned. I asked why my profile was banned in the "ask a mod" section of their website. It took 6 days for them to reply to my message and their response was that I do not appear to be who I say I am. The mod bluntly told me that in order to prove who I am I must take a photo of myself holding a crumpled up piece of paper that says "Hi mods, this is me" These mods are far to arrogant and drunk on the power of banning models which apparently makes them men. I will not be doing as they ask as I feel the website is a joke, filled with perverted men just wanting to get you nude. Plus they spam your mailbox with total crap! Stay away!

Thumbnail of user vm116
New Jersey
2 reviews
2 helpful votes
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February 16th, 2021

The majority of the photographers listed have amateurish photos at best. I signed on as a model to do some unique projects with established, creative photographers, and so far i haven't found anyone even close to what i want. I had better luck cruising instagram. Nearly every job offered to me had no pay or some kind of weirdness to it, or both. I'm on the verge of deleting my profile; i've kept it because its a quick reference tool for when i want to show someone something i've worked on.

Thumbnail of user ericb116
Arizona
2 reviews
19 helpful votes
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March 29th, 2016

They have a few people that have been given some power over membership and they have not concept of customer service. They will cut you off for something they think 'might' be an infraction on their rules just because of the words you use, not the actual meaning. WTH is that? Then they will cut you off, delete your contacts and mail messages. No questions ask.
My advise, stay away! Don't invest the time trying to build a network here.

WOW! What a crappy way to run a business.

Thumbnail of user rs86
Oregon
1 review
21 helpful votes
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October 11th, 2015

Recently received this email from ModelMayhem:

"Your account has been removed from Model Mayhem for the following reasons:

It has been determined that it is in the best interests of the site and its membership that your account be removed."

After requesting any additional specific information received this reply:

"I'm sorry, but we've given you all the information we are prepared to share.

Have a good day."

Thumbnail of user roberts128
Canada
1 review
11 helpful votes
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July 7th, 2013

All I can say is wow! I have been a professional cinematographer for almost 20 years. I wanted to expand into photography, submitted several professional photos, a full bio explaining my background and what I am looking for.

I received an email saying that I was denied, but they said, "It was up to me to figure out what went wrong."

No thank you. Terrible service, unbelievable!

Thumbnail of user veronicab3
California
2 reviews
7 helpful votes
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November 10th, 2013

If you are a new model, it is a good place to start out. I personally went there because I wanted to see if I could even book work before traipsing into the agencies acting all high and mighty. Now if you are looking for legitimate paid work head over to craigslist where there is a lot more "Adult" work but there are also serious paying gigs. If you want to practice and build your portfolio, I would recommend modelmayhem as a good place to start for sure maybe do some networking, but if you depend on it you'll never go anywhere.

Thumbnail of user blahb19
Canada
1 review
12 helpful votes
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March 13th, 2016

So called self proclaimed photographers posting pictures without consent of models, no release form signed or authorization to use the image/likeness of that person. So basically any pissed of man or women can join as a photographer and post nude pictures of there ex and the admin will not remove the photos. Instead they tell you to hire an attorney!

Thumbnail of user johna450
New York
1 review
23 helpful votes
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January 10th, 2016

Model Mayhem (MM) is ostensibly a site for emerging photographers and aspiring models.

It is run by a self-serving clique collectively called Mods (Moderators) which submits its members to arbitrary and capricious actions without justification.

These actions range from removing individual photographs from contests and portfolios to suspending members from the site for vague and unspecified reasons.

Furthermore MM makes no effort to police the fraud which is endemic to the site such as models stealing advances and photographers not meeting their financial commitments to models.

The sole reason MM survives is because there isn't an alternative at present. If and when a viable alternative emerges MM will die a quick death,

Thumbnail of user joshuas55
Canada
1 review
16 helpful votes
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April 27th, 2015

At first i used MM a lot then i stop during using MM during the winter season. Due to cold conditions. Then i logged on to find out my accounted has been closed for an unknown reason as well no explanation?! No wonder this company has poor reviews. Some please tell me another site that is similar to MM.

Thumbnail of user jonasj23
Alabama
1 review
6 helpful votes
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August 23rd, 2019

I have tried countless times to start a profile. I included all details that were required and have still been denied. I successfully started an account after countless tries just to have it deleted by management after a week for no clear reason. It's frustrating but they will no longer be getting any business from me.

Thumbnail of user jamesa2210
Florida
1 review
1 helpful vote
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December 10th, 2021

I was a member from the very beginning of Model Mayhem. Since it then over the past 10+ years it has gotten worse and worse. It's run by individual photographers who moderate who gets to use the site and who does not. They eliminate almost all new photographers unless they are buddies. My account has been closed and trying to sign up again is impossible. They claim to be protecting models from those who shoot nude content (unless it's them who is doing the photography of course). It's not a good place for models or photographers anymore.

Service
Quality
Thumbnail of user jims97
New York
1 review
13 helpful votes
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December 3rd, 2013

Had the displeasure of speaking with the man. Let me say if you have young women in your life keep them away from him. He is a nasty. He kept trying to touch my sister is inappropriate places saying he was just trying to get her into the correct position! Borderline assault. Called the company they where less them helpful! STAY AWAY!

Mayhem #*******
Photographer

This is his info STAY AWAY!

Thumbnail of user erics2799
New Jersey
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 27th, 2022

Model Mayhem is a fraud. They claim to have over one million members. FALSE! They may have that many accounts, but many have not been active in over 8 to 10 years. When this is called to their attention, you are told that searches can be adjusted to any date of last activity. That does not change the fact that most of their membership accounts are dead links to models & photographers. Avoid this site unless you just want to waste your time.

Tip for consumers:
Don't use Model Mayhem

Products used:
Hiring models

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user ds244
Illinois
1 review
7 helpful votes
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December 15th, 2017

I attempted to contact Model Mayhem about a predator on the site. They will not remove this person due to the comments being made on a third party site. If anyone would like to share this information, the assailant pictured below has been linked to several model assaults in the Atlanta, Georgia area.

Thumbnail of user timothyl38
Pennsylvania
1 review
11 helpful votes
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August 21st, 2017

I have been a freelance model photographer in Western New York for over 20 years with a degree in the Arts! Yet the gatekeepers denied my account! Do you have to pay first to get a spot? Free trial period is a joke! Models beware they my just after your money!

Thumbnail of user erica397
Florida
1 review
6 helpful votes
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March 8th, 2016

I've seen many negative reviews on this site, and frankly I have no idea what most of them are talking about. I'm a realist painter who has been a member for some time. I hired my first model through them in 2014, and have since hired four female models and 2 male models through this website. They were all great. Of course, this isn't a modeling agency, so you have to practice due diligence. Not everyone here is an experienced professional. Others are well-known glamour models There are doubtless some photographers who are creeps, and some models who have done porn (So? If that offends you, don't hire them!). The people I hired were all terrific professionals who did their job.

Tip for consumers:
Use common sense.

Products used:
I hired a number of models through them.

Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user katinar
California
2 reviews
10 helpful votes
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October 13th, 2013

This is a great site for aspiring models to get work. You can create a free profile and get work almost immediately. The only reason to buy the VIP profile is when you have done so many paid shoots that you need more space to showcase your work. I like modelmayhem more than some of the other sites like onemodelplace because there are more local photographers using the site.

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