ChrisHoldenPhotography

Today is January 31, 2011.  I don't own tens of thousands of dollars in fancy equipment.  Every photograph in my portfolio was taken with a Canon mini-digital PowerShot Camera.  That said, I take the world and rip art from the clutches of the mundane nonetheless.  Not on every shoot, but pretty often.   

I am available to book paid photo shoots this winter.  Shoots are 2/3 fashion/glamor and 1/3  lingerie.  The lingerie portion is not necessarily a requirement, but I do require that models have a few articles of lingerie present in order for a shoot to commence.  This is so we have that as an option if a model feels comfortable by the time we get to that part of the shoot.  Also, models must:

A.    Possess a cell phone from which you can regularly and consistently either take, or promptly return, my phone calls.  My ability to effectively communicate with models by phone is critical, so if you anticipate any obstacles or problems in this area, seriously, just waste some other photographer's time.   

B.    Be comfortable modeling fashion without wearing a bra.   

I enjoy helping those with little or no experience in front of a camera build their modeling portfolios.  Many of my subjects are building portfolios to help them get promotional gigs, acting gigs, and/or other modeling gigs.  Some are simply bored, and want to do something interesting, artistic, and exciting, and earn a little extra cash.
 
COMPENSATION:  I pay first time models $50 cash for about three hours of modeling.  I also try to send models a CD with edited images within two weeks after a shoot.  It helps if you email me to inquire about the status of the CD so I know that you're eager to receive the images.     

LOCATION:  Shoots may occur at a model’s residence (dorm rooms are acceptable), at a model’s friend’s residence, or at my studio, which is at the apartment I rent in Broad Ripple.

ESCORTS/CHAPERONES:  If it is your first time modeling for me, you are welcome to have a female friend (or roommate or dormmate) who is supportive of your modeling present if we’re shooting at your place, or at her place.  Boyfriends/family members are not acceptable escorts under any circumstances.  No escorts are permitted on shoots at my studio, but it is okay for someone to drop you off and pick you up after we’re done.

RELATIONSHIPS:  If you think you are in a committed relationship with someone, please keep that to yourself.  It really, really doesn't matter to me.  In fact, if you mention your boyfriend, or husband, or pimp, during emails or telephone conversations leading up to a photo shoot, we won't be shooting together.     

Models:  Provide your own wardrobe, hair styling, and makeup.  You must possess and present a valid photo ID, or there will be no shoot.   
     
Will there be music?  Of course, silly.

CELL PHONES:  if you are going to be texting or calling your boyfriend--or anyone else--during a paid photo shoot with me, I suggest that you do not let me see you doing it, because I will cancel the shoot without pay.

NUDITY: Please note, if I book a paid photo shoot with you, you could be pretty confident that I would be willing to photograph you in the nude. However, nudity is never a requirement on a paid photo shoot with me, and compensation is exactly the same regardless of the presence or absence of nudity. If you require that nudity be discussed before a shoot in order for you to be willing to pose nude: guess what? We're not shooting nudes. Surprise and delight me with your uninhibited spontaneity if you’d like, but do not expect or ask me to pay you for nudity. I pay models for modeling only. 

Also, I do not post nude photos on the internet. Period.  Not that there's anything wrong with that...lol. The 18+ photos, the ones "viewable by members only," are either self-portraits which I don't care to have the general public viewing so much, or they are mature-themed but fully clothed shots.  The folders for which I have a password set are of models who stole my photos from my portfolio, uploaded them online without referencing my copyrights, and then didn't remove the photos in a timely manner at my request.  If you'd like to marvel at the absurdity of this given the quality of images of them that I created, send me a message and I'll send you the password(s).         

MODELS WITH STICKY FINGERS:  After I finish editing photos from a shoot, if there are any I feel would benefit my portfolio, I will upload and present them as an example of my work.  DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT lift them out of my portfolio by copying and pasting them onto your desktop or iphone, and then upload them into your MM portfolio, or your facebook photos, or anywhere else online.  It is against the law, and it makes both of us look amateurish.  I no longer imbed copyright text or watermarks in my photos not because I’m stupid, but because I think it looks tacky.  I nonetheless still fully expect my copyrights to be referenced and respected by models, and anyone else for that matter. 

When I send your CD in the mail, I will send an email with instructions regarding how to reference my copyrights.  If you follow those instructions, you have my permission to use any of the photos on the CD for your own portfolio here, on facebook, or elsewhere online.  If you steal my photos and/or do not reference my copyrights according to my instructions, I will block you here and on FB, and you will not receive a CD.  If you have any trouble creating the copyright symbol © by holding down the Alt key while typing 0169 on the number key pad on your desktop, you can also just use (c).   

OTHER REASONS YOU MIGHT GET BLOCKED BY ME:  You will be blocked if you engage in any additional editing, cropping, or photoshopping of any photos on your CD.  You may present them as I have edited them, or not at all.  Also, if you don't take/return my calls often enough, please exercise your futility elsewhere. 

CANCELLING/RESCHEDULING SHOOTS:  If we schedule a paid photo shoot and it is your first time modeling for me, I may consider rescheduling if you contact me with at least 48 hours notice.  If it is your first time modeling for me, and you contact me with less than 48 hours notice to cancel, I may consider rescheduling the shoot on a TFCD basis.   

NOTE TO OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS:  if you are interested in hiring or collaborating with any of the models in my portfolio who do not currently have a MM account, message me.  I'd be glad to pass along your interest and contact info.  I do not list the actual full names of non-MM models unless they specifically ask me to in order to protect their anonymity.

Also just a few final notes:  I measure my enjoyment of my art, assess my talent, and derive my ego almost exclusively from the number of views, comments, lists, tags, and friends I succeed at attracting on this site.  It means everything to me.  So please people, view and comment my shiz...lol

Challenge to all of the other cool kids:  If you still have photographs from 2009 or further back in your port, you might be clinging to views, comments, and lists, and smothering art in the age of the internet.  LOSE the attention span! You can't be both OUT and IN at the same time.  It's one or the other.  So prick...ouch...lmao

COPYRIGHT LAW & WHY IT MATTERS:  People who consider themselves to be ACTUAL Artistic Photographers, and ACTUAL Fashion/Swimwear/Art Models, care about this little thing called Copyrights, and here’s why.  According to Copyright Law, all of the images anyone takes with a camera are owned by that person, the photographer. 

The model release agreement is just a formal, legally binding acknowledgement of our mutual understanding of this reality.  Any reproduction of an image by another person in a social networking internet context is a violation of the creator’s copyrights.  So if you’re going to do that immature shit, I suggest that you keep it on Facebook, and not try it on a dating website that pretends to be for professional photographers and models…lmfao.

Look, I'm a forgiving person, but seriously, people:  Copyright Law requires that you obtain my written permission in order to legally use or reproduce any image I present in my portfolio here.  Since I want to be taken seriously as a photographer, I also want you to be taken seriously as a model.  To that end, you want to diligently protect and reference my copyrights as though you comprehend the magnitude and importance of doing so.  You should endeavor to let any person who is a friend of yours here or on facebook or myspace or on any other social networking sites, and anyone to whom you send photos of mine for any other reason, know in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS that my photos are protected by copyright law, and that any unauthorized use or reproduction of them will be subject to criminal prosecution and fines, or, at a minimum that they will be unfriend-ed and blocked by you.

Please don't just lift my photos out of my portfolio, and load them into your facebook photos along side hundreds and hundreds of cell-phone pics.  It hurts me as an artist.  It's incredibly depressing and disappointing, especially if I enjoyed working with you and was hoping to do so again with great frequency...

And I don’t do photoshop or work with retouchers.  I'm sorry if you think my photos show your imperfections.  I don't see them as such.  You're welcome.  Hello.  Now can I just shut up, and take some pictures already?  lol