READING IS FUNDAMENTAL
MODELS: DONT BURN ANY BRIDGES! You never know where that bridge will be able to take you in the future!
Notice that i didnt say that you should shoot with every photographer on MM either. Some of them suck! Choose wisely, but if one of the sucky ones ask you to shoot, be nice and tell them the truth about why you wont work with them right now. Maybe you will be the one to convince them to step their game up.
Michael Jordan was denied entry to his high school team, but it was that denial that made him practice and eventually go on to be the best that ever did it.... Your sucky photographer might just be the MJ of photography. So dont be mean! Be honest!
Yeah... I shot a cover.... So What!? Every photographer in this area worth their salt is published someplace!
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NEWS UPDATES
9/1/09
New Studio! Studio is open for business. It is also available to be rented. Contact me for details.
PHOTOGRAPHY & RETOUCHING
My work through VibrantPhotoGraphics has enabled me to offer excellent results in photography and retouching. Since my inception into the game of photography, I have been working tirelessly to figure out the best ways of delivering outstanding quality photographs in the shortest amount of time and within a professional work environment.
TO TF** OR NOT TO TF**
Recently, I have decided to end most TF work. I feel as though i have learned enough to be able to deliver amazing portraits to clients. Also anything that comes free to someone usually isn't respected as much as something that they paid their hard earned money for. I want people to respect what i do so i will ask that I be compensated for my time now. Plus I gotta pay back all the loans I took out for school and equipment. Lights & Lenses aint cheap you know! LOL..
I will not rule out a TF shoot altogether. There are still shots & models that I wish to get in my portfolio, but Those shots and models are limited. If i think you would make my portfolio shine then we can work something out. If i contacted you, most likely its because i would like to see you in my portfolio.
WHY SHOULD I PAY YOU?
What part of the game is that? I thought it was a photographers job to either aid you in getting paid work, or to shoot you for a company that actually pays the both of us.... Am I wrong on that?
It is also my understanding that models should be paying photographers because they are providing them with a service that could lead to them getting paid. This simple concept is called investing in yourself.
If you have a business, you have to spend money to make money. RIGHT!? Same thing goes in modeling. You have to pay for hair, make up, wardrobe and PHOTOGRAPHERS in order to market yourself to that special publication that you want to be in. How will they know what you look like without a good headshot? Is a photographer supposed to pay you in order to get you work in that magazine?
Let me get this straight... You get paid by the photographer, then that photographers work gets you enough recognition to get you a job in some fancy publication that wants to pay you. How did that benefit the photographer? Get my point?
I can see if I had my own website that brought in revenue due to you and your wonderful photographs... Or if I wanted to publish my own catalog or magazine that was going to get me paid... I'd pay you then Especially if youre a well known model! But im not doing any of the magazines or websites, so how does me paying you benefit my career? It doesnt. I can show off my talents shooting my grandmother if I need to get work. I dont need a self proclaimed "professional" model to prove my skills. Its the lighting, the composition, & the post work that prove my skills, not the models I shoot.
Models... If you dont have a name in the business already... I will not pay you. And even if you have a name I probably will not pay you.
BE RESPECTFUL OF YOUR PHOTOGRAPHERS TIME
I thought things like this would not need to be mentioned but I guess I have to go there....
I have had to deal with a few instances of extreme tardiness. This was when I was just getting started with shooting models so I just had to suck it up at the time because I needed to fill my port. That being said, I cannot tolerate it any longer.
I have a life that does not revolve around you. I have a child to take to school and meet at the bus stop every day, I have classes and homework, I have a life! In order for me to be on time to the places that my life does revolve around, I have to follow a strict schedule. If you come 15 minutes late then I have to make a decision to either reschedule you or to cut our shoot 15 minutes short. My other option is to just not even open the door for you when you arrive.
If you are late be certain you are ready to face whatever consequences that may come with that. the last model that did that to me didnt get her photos retouched for quite some time. When she asked what was up I was glad to tell her that she was extremely late for the shoot so she should not complain about me being extremely late with her photos... She could only say one thing... "Im sorry... You're right, I was late."
ESCORTS
Im not one who has a huge issue with escorts, however, im also not one who likes escorts to come to a shoot without knowing about them coming ahead of time. There is nothing worse than having a model arrive with 5 people that I had no idea were all coming... Then you expect me to seat all these people!? Please!
I am also very easy to google. If its your first time shooting with me and you feel that I might be crazy, just ask your better business bureau about me... LOL... No but really, just ask any model who has shot with me how my shoots go.
Lately, I feel like im the one who needs an escort! I have all this expensive equipment and you're bringing some big dude named Jethro along with you who looks like he just got out of prison for aggravated assault and armed robbery... I NEED THE ESCORT! NOT YOU! All you have is your pretty little self to bring and I have me and 50 million dollars in equipment & lenses (yeah im exaggerating a bit here)... Who really needs security, me or you!?
Think about it. You set up the shoot online... You have my address, my phone number and all my personal information. Before you get to the shoot, just tell the world you are coming to shoot with me & give them my information, that way if I decide to kidnap your 
ass, your people will know where to come and look for you. LOL!
Seriously. If you shoot with me and decide to bring anyone with you. First you need to let me know. Its not that difficult. Second. They will need to do some work or wait in the lobby area... The lobby is actually pretty comfortable. There is a TV and all that...
TO CONCLUDE
If you are captivated by my work and wish to set up a shoot feel free to email me for details. My rates are competitive, affordable in todays economy, and can be negotiated. So come on... Lets stimulate the economy together!
Chi
Chi@vibrantphotographics.com
THE SHOOTER
