diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b858834..765f383 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -57,6 +57,16 @@ You can also define multiple different model definitions for your models. You ca
 
 We have provided a nifty way for you to do this in your tests. PHPUnit provides a `setupBeforeClass` function. Within that function you can call `$fm->loadFactories(__DIR__ . '/factories');`, and it will include all files in the factories folder. Within those php files, you can put your definitions (all your code that calls the define function). The `loadFactories` function will throw a `League\FactoryMuffin\Exceptions\DirectoryNotFoundException` exception if the directory you're loading is not found.
 
+### Model Hydration
+
+If your model classes use public setter methods or public properties, FactoryMuffin can automatically hydrate your models using its default hydration strategy `League\FactoryMuffin\HydrationStrategies\PublicSetterHydrationStrategy`.
+
+However, if your models use completely different ways to access their properties, you can implement your own hydration strategies and register them per model. 
+You simply need to implement the interface `League\FactoryMuffin\HydrationStrategies\HydrationStrategyInterface` and register an instance of your strategy with the class name of your model `$fm->setHydrationStrategy('Fully\Qualified\ModelName', $my_custom_strategy);`.
+
+For convenience, FactoryMuffin already ships with an alternative hydration strategy called `League\FactoryMuffin\HydrationStrategies\ReflectionHydrationStrategy`. 
+As the name suggests, this strategy uses reflection to set the attributes directly, which allows it to set `private/protected` properties. You simply need to register an instance of this strategy with every model that you want to be hydrated by this strategy.
+
 ### Creation/Instantiation Callbacks
 
 You may optionally specify a callback to be executed on model creation/instantiation as a third parameter when defining a definition. We will pass your model instance as the first parameter to the closure if you specify one. We additionally pass a boolean as the second parameter that will be `true` if the model is being persisted to the database (the create function was used), and `false` if it's not being persisted (the instance function was used). We're using the `isPendingOrSaved` function under the hood here. Note that if you specify a callback and use the create function, we will try to save your model to the database both before and after we execute the callback.
diff --git a/src/FactoryMuffin.php b/src/FactoryMuffin.php
index aeed6ad..29095cc 100644
--- a/src/FactoryMuffin.php
+++ b/src/FactoryMuffin.php
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 use League\FactoryMuffin\Exceptions\DirectoryNotFoundException;
 use League\FactoryMuffin\Exceptions\ModelNotFoundException;
 use League\FactoryMuffin\Generators\GeneratorFactory;
+use League\FactoryMuffin\HydrationStrategies\HydrationStrategyInterface;
+use League\FactoryMuffin\HydrationStrategies\PublicSetterHydrationStrategy;
 use League\FactoryMuffin\Stores\ModelStore;
 use League\FactoryMuffin\Stores\StoreInterface;
 use RecursiveDirectoryIterator;
@@ -55,17 +57,32 @@ class FactoryMuffin
     protected $factory;
 
     /**
-     * Create a new factory muffin instance.
+     * The array of registered hydration strategies.
      *
-     * @param \League\FactoryMuffin\Stores\StoreInterface|null       $store   The store instance.
-     * @param \League\FactoryMuffin\Generators\GeneratorFactory|null $factory The generator factory instance.
+     * @var \League\FactoryMuffin\HydrationStrategies\HydrationStrategyInterface[]
+     */
+    private $hydration_strategies = [];
+
+    /**
+     * The default hydration strategy instance that will be used if no specialized
+     * hydration strategy has been registered for a model class.
      *
-     * @return void
+     * @var \League\FactoryMuffin\HydrationStrategies\HydrationStrategyInterface
+     */
+    private $default_hydration_strategy;
+
+    /**
+     * Create a new factory muffin instance.
+     *
+     * @param \League\FactoryMuffin\Stores\StoreInterface|null                          $store                      The store instance.
+     * @param \League\FactoryMuffin\Generators\GeneratorFactory|null                    $factory                    The generator factory instance.
+     * @param \League\FactoryMuffin\HydrationStrategies\HydrationStrategyInterface|null $default_hydration_strategy The default hydration strategy instance.
      */
-    public function __construct(StoreInterface $store = null, GeneratorFactory $factory = null)
+    public function __construct(StoreInterface $store = null, GeneratorFactory $factory = null, HydrationStrategyInterface $default_hydration_strategy = null)
     {
         $this->store = $store ?: new ModelStore();
         $this->factory = $factory ?: new GeneratorFactory();
+        $this->default_hydration_strategy = $default_hydration_strategy ?: new PublicSetterHydrationStrategy();
     }
 
     /**
@@ -83,7 +100,7 @@ public function seed($times, $name, array $attr = [])
     {
         $seeds = [];
 
-        for ($i = 0; $i < $times; ++$i) {
+        for ($i = 0; $i < $times; $i++) {
             $seeds[] = $this->create($name, $attr);
         }
 
@@ -236,18 +253,45 @@ public function instance($name, array $attr = [])
      */
     protected function generate($model, array $attr = [])
     {
+        // Get the hydration strategy that has been
+        // registered for the given model class
+        $hydration_strategy = $this->getHydrationStrategy(get_class($model));
+
         foreach ($attr as $key => $kind) {
             $value = $this->factory->generate($kind, $model, $this);
 
-            $setter = 'set'.ucfirst(static::camelize($key));
+            $hydration_strategy->set($model, $key, $value);
+        }
+    }
 
-            // check if there is a setter and use it instead
-            if (method_exists($model, $setter) && is_callable([$model, $setter])) {
-                $model->$setter($value);
-            } else {
-                $model->$key = $value;
-            }
+    /**
+     * Register a hydration strategy instance that will be used
+     * to hydrate all models of the given class.
+     *
+     * @param string                     $name     The class name of the model.
+     * @param HydrationStrategyInterface $strategy
+     */
+    public function setHydrationStrategy($name, HydrationStrategyInterface $strategy)
+    {
+        $this->hydration_strategies[$name] = $strategy;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Get the hydration strategy for the given model class.
+     *
+     * If no specific hydration strategy has been registered, the default strategy will be returned.
+     *
+     * @param string $name
+     *
+     * @return HydrationStrategyInterface
+     */
+    public function getHydrationStrategy($name)
+    {
+        if (array_key_exists($name, $this->hydration_strategies)) {
+            return $this->hydration_strategies[$name];
         }
+
+        return $this->default_hydration_strategy;
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/HydrationStrategies/HydrationStrategyInterface.php b/src/HydrationStrategies/HydrationStrategyInterface.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cdd3818
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/HydrationStrategies/HydrationStrategyInterface.php
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace League\FactoryMuffin\HydrationStrategies;
+
+/**
+ * Interface for defining strategies to hydrate a model's attributes.
+ *
+ * @author Florian Dammeyer <factorymuffin@fdms.email>
+ */
+interface HydrationStrategyInterface
+{
+    /**
+     * Set the attribute with the given key on
+     * the given object to the given value.
+     *
+     * @param object $model The model instance to set the attribute on.
+     * @param string $key   The key of the attribute to be set.
+     * @param mixed  $value The new value for the given attribute.
+     */
+    public function set($model, $key, $value);
+}
diff --git a/src/HydrationStrategies/PublicSetterHydrationStrategy.php b/src/HydrationStrategies/PublicSetterHydrationStrategy.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1701b59
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/HydrationStrategies/PublicSetterHydrationStrategy.php
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace League\FactoryMuffin\HydrationStrategies;
+
+/**
+ * A hydration strategy that uses public setter methods
+ * or alternatively public property access.
+ *
+ * This has been the hardcoded way to hydrate models
+ * before hydration strategies were implemented.
+ *
+ * @author Florian Dammeyer <factorymuffin@fdms.email>
+ */
+class PublicSetterHydrationStrategy implements HydrationStrategyInterface
+{
+    /**
+     * Set the given attribute by using a public setter method
+     * or public property access if possible.
+     *
+     * @param object $model
+     * @param string $key
+     * @param mixed  $value
+     */
+    public function set($model, $key, $value)
+    {
+        $setter = 'set'.ucfirst(static::camelize($key));
+
+        // check if there is a setter and use it instead
+        if (method_exists($model, $setter) && is_callable([$model, $setter])) {
+            $model->$setter($value);
+        } else {
+            $model->$key = $value;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Camelize string.
+     *
+     * Transforms a string to camel case (e.g. first_name -> firstName).
+     *
+     * @param string $str String in underscore format.
+     *
+     * @return string
+     */
+    protected static function camelize($str)
+    {
+        return preg_replace_callback('/_([a-z0-9])/', function ($c) {
+            return strtoupper($c[1]);
+        }, $str);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/HydrationStrategies/ReflectionHydrationStrategy.php b/src/HydrationStrategies/ReflectionHydrationStrategy.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0d80360
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/HydrationStrategies/ReflectionHydrationStrategy.php
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace League\FactoryMuffin\HydrationStrategies;
+
+use ReflectionProperty;
+
+/**
+ * A hydration strategy that uses reflection to change properties directly.
+ *
+ * Reflection enables this strategy to set private and protected properties
+ * without the need of public setter methods.
+ *
+ * @author Florian Dammeyer <factorymuffin@fdms.email>
+ */
+class ReflectionHydrationStrategy implements HydrationStrategyInterface
+{
+    public function set($model, $key, $value)
+    {
+        $property = new ReflectionProperty(get_class($model), $key);
+        $property->setAccessible(true);
+        $property->setValue($model, $value);
+        $property->setAccessible(false);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/AbstractTestCase.php b/tests/AbstractTestCase.php
index 3089e86..8fd075e 100644
--- a/tests/AbstractTestCase.php
+++ b/tests/AbstractTestCase.php
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@
  */
 abstract class AbstractTestCase extends PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
 {
+    /**
+     * @var FactoryMuffin
+     */
     protected static $fm;
 
     public static function setupBeforeClass()
diff --git a/tests/DefinitionTest.php b/tests/DefinitionTest.php
index 8519371..8739607 100644
--- a/tests/DefinitionTest.php
+++ b/tests/DefinitionTest.php
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ public function testGetDefinitions()
     {
         $definitions = static::$fm->getDefinitions();
 
-        $this->assertCount(39, $definitions);
+        $this->assertCount(40, $definitions);
     }
 
     public function testBasicDefinitionFunctions()
diff --git a/tests/HydrationStrategyTest.php b/tests/HydrationStrategyTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c025d6f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/HydrationStrategyTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+<?php
+
+use League\FactoryMuffin\HydrationStrategies\PublicSetterHydrationStrategy;
+use League\FactoryMuffin\HydrationStrategies\ReflectionHydrationStrategy;
+use Prophecy\Argument;
+
+class HydrationStrategyTest extends AbstractTestCase
+{
+    public function testHydrationStrategyIsBeingUsed()
+    {
+        $strategy = $this->prophesize('League\FactoryMuffin\HydrationStrategies\HydrationStrategyInterface');
+
+        static::$fm->setHydrationStrategy('FakerHydrationModel', $strategy->reveal());
+        static::$fm->instance('FakerHydrationModel');
+
+        $strategy->set(Argument::type('FakerHydrationModel'), Argument::type('string'), Argument::any())
+            ->shouldBeCalledTimes(3);
+    }
+
+    public function testPublicSetterHydration()
+    {
+        $strategy = new PublicSetterHydrationStrategy();
+
+        $model = new ModelWithPublicSetters();
+
+        $strategy->set($model, 'value', 'Test value');
+        $strategy->set($model, 'separated_value', 'Another test value');
+
+        $this->assertEquals($model->getValue(), 'Test value');
+        $this->assertEquals($model->getSeparatedValue(), 'Another test value');
+    }
+
+    public function testPublicAttributesHydration()
+    {
+        $strategy = new PublicSetterHydrationStrategy();
+
+        $model = new ModelWithPublicAttributes();
+
+        $strategy->set($model, 'value', 'Test value');
+        $strategy->set($model, 'separated_value', 'Another test value');
+
+        $this->assertEquals($model->value, 'Test value');
+        $this->assertEquals($model->separated_value, 'Another test value');
+    }
+
+    public function testProtectedAttributesHydrationByReflection()
+    {
+        $strategy = new ReflectionHydrationStrategy();
+
+        $model = new ModelWithProtectedAttributes();
+
+        $strategy->set($model, 'value', 'Test value');
+        $strategy->set($model, 'separated_value', 'Another test value');
+
+        $this->assertEquals($model->getValue(), 'Test value');
+        $this->assertEquals($model->getSeparatedValue(), 'Another test value');
+    }
+}
+
+class ModelWithPublicAttributes
+{
+    public $value;
+    public $separated_value;
+}
+
+class ModelWithProtectedAttributes
+{
+    protected $value;
+    protected $separated_value;
+
+    public function getValue()
+    {
+        return $this->value;
+    }
+
+    public function getSeparatedValue()
+    {
+        return $this->separated_value;
+    }
+}
+
+class ModelWithPublicSetters extends ModelWithProtectedAttributes
+{
+    public function setValue($value)
+    {
+        $this->value = $value;
+    }
+
+    public function setSeparatedValue($separated_value)
+    {
+        $this->separated_value = $separated_value;
+    }
+}
+
+class FakerHydrationModel
+{
+    public $title;
+    public $email;
+    public $text;
+}
diff --git a/tests/factories/hydrationstrategy.php b/tests/factories/hydrationstrategy.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9193286
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/factories/hydrationstrategy.php
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+<?php
+
+use League\FactoryMuffin\Faker\Facade as Faker;
+
+/* @var \League\FactoryMuffin\FactoryMuffin $fm */
+$fm->define('FakerHydrationModel')->setDefinitions([
+    'title' => Faker::word(),
+    'email' => Faker::email(),
+    'text'  => Faker::text(),
+]);