Extreme Body Art wrote:
Not really, an escort is NEVER needed.. it's only wanted.

There are no truer words!  I'm good with people, and have a good understanding of what makes us "tick."   So I'll casually ask why someone wants to bring a certain person.  The answers I get are quite revealing! 

Like I've said before, I wish we could change the words from "escort" to "invited or uninvited" guests.  It might make a difference?  "Invited guests" as in people who are there for some other purpose other than to "protect" the model from some perceived threat are welcomed at my photo shoots.

SPFOTOLA wrote:
Im happy that someone finally is willing to talk about this issue.  I constantly see photographers and models alike skirting this very sensitive issue.  I say the HELL with it...lets get it out here in the open and finally deal with it.

Nice.

To answer the OP; I don't do escorts.  I encourage models to hire a MUA / stylist, and I welcome it if they bring a second suitable model.  People not contributing to the shoot aren't allowed, for a variety of reasons.

aquarelle wrote:
If people are so tired of escort threads, why do they always get so many responses?

And if they are so tired of a topic they can't offer anything helpful,  why do they then participate in it instead of ignoring it?

punkuate wrote:
Aww stop being mean to the newb. Basically, some people don't mind them, some people hate them. Both sides usually feel pretty strongly on the subject, but if you don't want escorts, don't accept them.

Morgan Barbour wrote:
Well said.
I'm a photographer as well; I don't deal with escorts.
I also don't bring an escort with me as a model. I do my homework and asses the situation to make sure it is safe. Having a friend there will not make a dangerous situation safe, it simply allows more than one person to be in danger.

But, what if the photographer was old, and male, and big, and from out of town, and you were going to be ALONE WITH HIM!!!!  Isn't that like, scary and all? 

Or, are you perhaps an intelligent, mature professional?

Just Photoz wrote:
Fellow photographers how do you feel about models bringing escorts to shoots?

I had no problem with it but after two bad experiences im against it now.  I think its hard when a photographer and a model gets into a zone for the other person to be included in that zone and they wind up messin it up.  Just my personal opinion.  Would you bring an escort to your day job?

Escorts, only if they are under 18.  Other than that, I may allow for an assistant.  If they claim it's for safetly, I pass completely.

aquarelle wrote:
If people are so tired of escort threads, why do they always get so many responses?

I agree.  Plus, if escorts were such a necesity, then why isn't there a section for them here, there's an area for models, photographers, mua's, wardrobe stylists, photoshop wizzards, etc, but no escorts, funny huh?

Isaiah Brink wrote:

I agree.  Plus, if escorts were such a necesity, then why isn't there a section for them here, there's an area for models, photographers, mua's, wardrobe stylists, photoshop wizzards, etc, but no escorts, funny huh?

Would you write a stranger on a modeling site for a TFE shoot? No one would ask a complete stranger to be an escort

Rich Davis wrote:
Is there nothing new under the sun?

Umm, technically no. See life is a circle, it just keeps going around. So there really is nothing new, just new iterations of what's already been done.

Hakuna Matata!

Mnemosyne Photography wrote:
Would you write a stranger on a modeling site for a TFE shoot? No one would ask a complete stranger to be an escort

Ah, I see.  Trade for Escort.  Interesting concept.

Rich Davis wrote:
Is there nothing new under the sun?

Trade for Escort is a new concept to me.  Probably though you are familiar with it and I'm just a little behind the trend.

Isaiah Brink wrote:
I agree.  Plus, if escorts were such a necesity, then why isn't there a section for them here, there's an area for models, photographers, mua's, wardrobe stylists, photoshop wizzards, etc, but no escorts, funny huh?

Mnemosyne Photography wrote:
Would you write a stranger on a modeling site for a TFE shoot? No one would ask a complete stranger to be an escort

Actually, there was a thread a while ago; the model was so scared of a photographer (not for any reason relating to him in particular) that she picked up some guy in a bar to be her escort.  A few days later she was convinced that it had been a bad idea.

Jessica-Dee wrote:
my forum search doesn't and has never worked,

Forum search for MM works extremely well if you follow the links from the search link and take them to Google and to Sendu.

JTSBlack wrote:
Honest question here. Why is this such a huge issue?

Eventually you'll get someone who claims that anyone who does not allow escorts is up to no good and that models should fear all photographers.  Claims will be made that photographers that do not allow escorts are raging rapists....  That will piss people off and the fireworks will begin.

I don't dig escorts.  My gf is a model and I only drop her off to shoots if she asks me to, and that's usually only because its a long ways away and we like to spend time together.  The only time I ever sat thru a shoot with her was because the photographer asked her to call me and ask if I would come back and help him with lighting and ideas (I was already at Hooters with my laptop and beer).  I made a good photographer friend that day.

Kayamii123 wrote:
well you have to think about the situation in the model's point of view. Meeting a photographer whom they have met on internet is pretty dangerous. If I was a model(lol) I'll be scared shitless. If you don't want a model, a great way to imply that excorts are not necessary is to have a "meeting" with them in public. Just meet together and have a discussion about the photoshoot. It's also a great opportuniy for you to study the model if you have never met them before. Also if clothing designers or make-up artists are involved, you shuld invite them to so that everybody can kinda know who they'll be working with, what they should prepare, study wach other(make-up artists can study the complexion of the model and so on). Plus if you guys have met at least once, the atmosphere of the photoshoot will be less tense.

Models have ways to verify the photographers' reputations, photographers usually do not have a way to verify escorts. There is also such a thing as instinct and gut feeling, judging from the person's manner, tone, work itself etc. That's what they need to use, or else modeling may not be for them. Pre shoot meetings are an added waste of time. The whole safety thing is a double standard, considering many who go on shoots walk to their cars alone, walk across parking lots, attend parties with drunk people, go to clubs around drunk people, talk on the phone or text while driving.....all of which is more dangerous than shooting with a photographer with a verifiable reputation.

Happy Guy Photos wrote:
I don't accept escorts. I used to require escorts a few years ago but soon there were models who couldn't find an escort for 4-6 hour shoots so I allowed them to come on their own. When that happened I quickly noticed a big difference between models who came with escorts and those who didn't.

Here are some of the differences:

1) Models who brought escorts were more likely to be late than models who came alone.
2) Models who brought escorts often were distracted by the escorts by looking at him/her for approval, or talking, l while I was actually shooting
3) Models who brought escorts would take 20-30 minutes to change into an outfit whereas the models who came alone would take about 5-7 minutes.
4) Models who brought escorts would take approx. twice as many restrooms breaks as the model who came alone.
5) Escorts would frequently start involving themselves in the shoot by making recommendations, or negative comments, about how I was shooting his girlfriend who was doing the modeling eventhough the model promised the escort wouldn't interfere.
6) Models who came by themselves demonstrated more maturity, self-esteem, and professionalism through their behavior.
7) I would find myself doing repeat shoots with models who came by themselves because the shoots were more productive.

Now that I shoot at my house, there's no way I'm going to allow another person (escort/mua/agent) to come along with the model and wander around the house while I'm shooting. I would only have myself to blame if I found my stuff missing.

These are the reasons why I don't shoot with models who want, or require, an escort.


Gabby

That and if the escort can't come, you doubled the risk of cancellation.

Abbitt Photography wrote:
I don't have a policy against escorts.  My experiences with them have been mixed.

Overall though, I don't like them for the following reasons:

1. More liability exposure for me.
2. More crowding in my small home studio
3. Greatly increased risk of theft.
4. They often feel they need to give their opinions to the detriment of the shoot
5. There are now 2 people instead of one that need to stick to their commitment for the shoot to happen, so the risk of the model bailing is increased.
6. If a model feels I'm a threat to her, I'd rather not work with her at all.
7.  With nude shoots, while a newer model might like the idea of not being alone with the photographer, when actually at the shoot, a bystander may make the model less comfortable.

I totally agree with all of your reasons. Here's what I say in my profile about escorts:

"Every model that I've worked with will tell you that you don't need one with me, and I really prefer that you not bring one, but if you feel that you must bring an escort to a shoot, be advised that I only tolerate the kind who sit SILENTLY in a corner (NOT within sight of the model) with their iPod and book or something else to occupy themselves."

More than 90% of the models that I've done nude shoots with have come to their sessions alone and I've never met any of them before they've arrived for the shoot. I think it's all about what they see in your work and the vibration that they get from your communication prior to the shoot.

Jay Farrell wrote:
Models have ways to verify the photographers' reputations, photographers usually do not have a way to verify escorts.

B I N G O !

Absolutely!

And there's no way I'm going to do a shoot (especially in my home studio) having to watch an escort out of one corner of my eye to see if they are stealing my stuff.