I wanted to make this post as I've heard a lot of stories about how the April 2006 Playboy Playmate Holley Ann Dorrough made it into Playboy as a Playmate in addition to too many people saying a potential Playmate must be submitted by a pro photographer--the latter is BS and let's look at that first. I also encourage anyone to submit a model for Playmate consideration if you feel she meets the Playboy qaulifications (see link below).
First, if you are a model considering a shot at Playmate and/or Special Editions, anyone, your boyfriend, girlfriend, etc., can submit your images--
it does not take a pro or even someone with credentials to submit you. You can find more information directly from Playboy at this link http://www.playboy.com/playmates/faq/
While in Los Angles, it's not hard for a beautiful girl to attend one of the many parties held each month at the Mansion, thousands of girls do each year. Attending Mansion parties doesn't make you a Playmate--they only need 12 Playmates per year. While in Holley's case, she did attend a Mansion party in August after not being able to accept two prior offers in June and July (due to her travel schedule) to get her in the Mansion party from well-known Playboy Producer Cynthia Kaye, and another source, attending Mansion parties doesn't get you Playmate status, a model's talent does. And in Holley's case, her images for Playmate consideration were already in the right hands for review in July.
Second, any photographer can submit a model/subject for consideration, you do not have to be a credentialed pro photographer. Here's information on Playboy's own site:
http://www.playboy.com/specialeditions/howto/
In the end, Playboy Enterprises pays the individual or entity $5,000 for a Playmate discovery, if the Playmate submitted herself, no one gets the fee. Only that person or entity is credited with the Playmate's discovery by Playboy--not rumors, not I photographed her first, not I got her a plane ticke to LA so she could attend a party, not I told her she should be a Playmate, etc.--in the end, it's the model's talent, let's not take that away from her.
Yes, I submitted Holley for Playmate consideration and Playboy gave me credit for the "Playmate discovery," I however did not discover Holley as a model, she's been modeling long before I knew her, but I will take credit for submitting her to Playboy to quell the rumors for others trying to take the credit. While I don't normally do this and am not a fan of it, to quell the rumors, here's the proof, or as Jerry McGuire says, "Show me the money." Hopefully the image below will encourage others to submit potential models for Playmate and/or Special Editions consideration. Anyone can submit, it's the model's talent in the end that makes the difference.
Finally, for those that may still have doubt, Holley and I will be at the WPPI (Wedding, Portrait, Photographers International) photo trade show/expo April 9-12 in Las Vegas, she'll be making signing appearances at various booths, including Samy's and we'll both be signing my book at the Amherst Media booth, as Holley is on the cover of my book, feel free to ask her any questions about making it to Playmate.
Holley is a friend of mine, my wife, and my kids, she deserves to make Playmate of the Year, so vote for her when the time comes, for now, go out and buy the April issue of Playboy, it's on sale for only about 12 more days before May comes out. If you come to WPPI, bring it, she'll sign it I'm sure.
Thanks, rg sends!

(Holley and I pose in front of the red carpet as we leave Sony's private party at the PMA show in Orlando, Feb. 2006. Photo credit, Michael Dean who was with us and my assistant Rick at the party too.)
