Collin J. Rae wrote:

I guess I've touched a few

me included

DanK Photography wrote:

Why? Is there a photographer disease going around? Sometimes it is just easier for the photographer to move your hand to the correct spot or move some hair you can't see out of your face.

exactly!

hartcons wrote:
the wife and i shoot together and models don't seem to mind if she touches them. if i need to touch (like to brush hair away after they're settled into a pose) i ask permission first.

+1 though with the caveat that it would depend on where the hair is. If it's on a sensitive spot, not gonna even go near that. Better to have the model move it even if it changes the pose a little.

K E S L E R wrote:
lol @ these threads, another reason to work with professional models and not hobbyist.

You let mua/ stylist touch but the person who is ultimately responsible for carrying out a vision is not allowed to interact?  The irony.  Maybe you should let the MUA/ Stylist bring their camera too.

I'm for sure not a professional model...but I can't help but to agree with this!

InnaDaVida wrote:
I will let a MUA, stylist, wardrobe designer touch me during a shoot but never the photographer.

What is your policy on touching?

I don't touch the models.  It's their space and I have a simple policy for a photoshoot - never do anything that makes you uncomfortable. 

The model is just like a co-worker in the office.  Same for the MUA.

liindsay ann wrote:
Doesn't matter, as long as it's professional and necessary..

Yep!!!!!!!!!!! Communication & comfort go a long way!! (If the model is so timid that your going to touch her then your shoot is doomed already). If the Model thinks your a perv then she should leave because the shoot is already doomed lol

William Beem wrote:

I don't touch the models.  It's their space and I have a simple policy for a photoshoot - never do anything that makes you uncomfortable. 

The model is just like a co-worker in the office.  Same for the MUA.

You can't compare fashion or art photography to an office job. Totally different animal. It's your duty as a photographer to make the model, wardrobe, etc. look its best. And often that requires the photographer make the adjustments. If a model is uncomfortable with that, then they are in the wrong business. If you feel it's inappropriate, then you're in the wrong business.

Mnemosyne Photography wrote:

lol

Troy Tribble wrote:

lol

I have plenty more. Here is another fave.

Victoria Herrera wrote:

I'm for sure not a professional model...but I can't help but to agree with this!

As a professional photographer, I actually disagree with this. There is nothing in a photographers job description that requires them to touch a model. For a hair artist, make up artist, wardrobe stylist, it is part of the job. This is not the case with a photographer.

- Phen

InnaDaVida wrote:
I will let a MUA, stylist, wardrobe designer touch me during a shoot but never the photographer.

What is your policy on touching?

My "policy?"  I don't have a "policy" regarding touching because I don't believe it necessary to have a "policy" regarding touching.   I do not touch people I am working with unnecessarily.  There are times when I may touch a model, when it might be warranted.  If a model communicated to me that she or he absolutely must not be touched, I respect that and do not touch!   Howie Mandel of America's Got Talent has a germ phobia and he absolutely will avoid shaking hands and dislikes being touched.  I would not extend my hand or touch someone like that!  But why a "policy" about it?

Spider_Photos wrote:
Yep!!!!!!!!!!! Communication & comfort go a long way!! (If the model is so timid that your going to touch her then your shoot is doomed already). If the Model thinks your a perv then she should leave because the shoot is already doomed lol

This!  Unless I am hired to photograph well know germ phobic Howie Mandel for a shoot.  Heck!  If I am getting paid, I wont touch, and Howie can touch me if he wants for all I care!  I'm getting paid! / An aside; Going to watch AGT tonight! 

But it's all about communication!  Communicate with your client, MUA, model, photographer, or what have you.  This does not mean that "inappropriate touching" is acceptable.  Communicate and don't allow for anything you feel is inappropriate or that makes you uncomfortable.  Talk with each other.

Mnemosyne Photography wrote:

I'm offended....that it took eight pages to get that gif to pop up here!

Gabrielle Heather wrote:

me included

....Do you have the words hello kitty (or i think your tattoo says kitti) on your hands? That is awesome and I love you.

FashionPhotographer wrote:

As a professional photographer, I actually disagree with this. There is nothing in a photographers job description that requires them to touch a model. For a hair artist, make up artist, wardrobe stylist, it is part of the job. This is not the case with a photographer.

- Phen

Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about caressing me or something. I mean I don't mind if a photographer asked to move a hair, finger, even ask to poke my arm a different way (not that that's happened). The way the OP just came off in her post, I just have to agree with the person I quoted.

BTW I love your name! (sorry back to subject)

K E S L E R wrote:
lol @ these threads, another reason to work with professional models and not hobbyist.

You let mua/ stylist touch but the person who is ultimately responsible for carrying out a vision is not allowed to interact?  The irony.  Maybe you should let the MUA/ Stylist bring their camera too.

pamela mars wrote:
on professional sets, the crew is not allowed to touch the model/actor. mua or stylist only.
there are events where the photographer does come into contact with the talent, but it's usually by consent.

That's all well and good, when you have an MUA, stylist, and so forth. Many of us don't. When the girl brings a friend, I put the friend to work ("put a clothespin here ... brush her hair there ... put her hair back ... straighten the scrunchie") I also have the friend watching for stuff I miss, like stray hairs and wrinkled clothing.

BTW, I have basic supplies around, including cheap disposable hair brushes and some basic makeup.

I avoid touching the model, but tell her if I need to. I've never had a complaint; most models can easily tell the difference between necessary touching and uh...recreational touching.

It's more convenient to have someone else there to do the touching/adjusting. Who wants to have to be going back and forth from camera position to model?

I also agree with some of the other people who really want to get things right when they shoot, and not have to spend endless time in Photoshop later!

Joel England Photo wrote:
That's all well and good, when you have an MUA, stylist, and so forth. Many of us don't. When the girl brings a friend, I put the friend to work ("put a clothespin here ... brush her hair there ... put her hair back ... straighten the scrunchie") I also have the friend watching for stuff I miss, like stray hairs and wrinkled clothing.

BTW, I have basic supplies around, including cheap disposable hair brushes and some basic makeup.

I avoid touching the model, but tell her if I need to. I've never had a complaint; most models can easily tell the difference between necessary touching and uh...recreational touching.

It's more convenient to have someone else there to do the touching/adjusting. Who wants to have to be going back and forth from camera position to model?

I also agree with some of the other people who really want to get things right when they shoot, and not have to spend endless time in Photoshop later!

Thank you for posting.  You reminded me of the fact that there are times when it's just me and the model "one on one" shooting.  That will be different from those times when we have one or more people to assist us.  That is why I made the statement that I "do not have a policy regarding touching!"   I don't even think about it!  Some people just micro-manage their shoots too much.

veypurr wrote:
I am a designer so sometimes I have to touch the the model to make sure the fit is right. Otherwise I try to touch the model as little as possible.


A photog touching a model....why would they?

Uh...how about if it is only the photorapher and the model shooting????

As long as the photographer doesn't get grab happy I don't see what the issue is here to be honest with you.

Swank Photography wrote:
Uh...how about if it is only the photorapher and the model shooting????

As long as the photographer doesn't get grab happy I don't see what the issue is here to be honest with you.

Must be a case of the OP over thinking, and micro managing her shoots to be so concerned about touching to even consider that photographers should have a "policy" regarding it!  Like I said before, if someone like Howie Mandel is being photographed by me, I will NOT touch him!  Some people don't want to be touched.  If so, they should let those who work with them know this in advance.  Otherwise, it is over thinking and paranoid.  Doesn't matter if it's whom it is shooting.  Communication works wonders!

I am not advocating inappropriate, needless, or excessive touching of anyone!

Paindancer Productions wrote:
All  photography sessions must be done by webcam. 

Thats my new rule.

The OP has shown me the light.  I wont even consider being in the same state as a model I might shoot now.

Thank GOD she posted this. 

I was thinking maybe those booths that have the plexiglass to separate people and you have to feed the machine money to keep the curtain open.   Solves, the touch issue, need for escorts and payment all at the same time.

DanK Photography wrote:

Why? Is there a photographer disease going around? Sometimes it is just easier for the photographer to move your hand to the correct spot or move some hair you can't see out of your face.

That's the hair or MUAs job to move the hair.

Deadlynightshade wrote:
That's the hair or MUAs job to move the hair.

I've been a photographer of people for over 30 years now.  I have been trained by institutional photo studios like Olan Mills and also shot so many thousands of sessions that I don't have a clue as to exactly how many people I've photographed over the decades.  I say that "Photographers should not touch inappropriately, needlessly, or excessively!"

That said, I have not given "touching" much concern.  Most of the time, it is not necessary to touch another person while photographing them, however there are times when it is needed.  It's an unconscious thing with me, but I've been known to physically adjust people.  I've shown new moms or dads how to hold their baby so as for me to get a better image of them with their child.  And of course there are times when it's easier for me to just go in and pick lint off their shoulder, brush hair back, etc ...  and there are times when I have had an excellent assistant who will do these things for me, but not always. 

There is no need for a policy!  I keep hammering on how important communication is!  I must be doing something right!  I've never been accused of anything inappropriate, although I had a model do a very inappropriate thing in that she and her assistant kidnapped me, but that's before digital and it's another story!  People have been giving me positive feedback for the most part on their pictures, and treatment by me.  I must get my intuition of people from my grandfather who was a photographer of American Indians.  He did not have a policy, he just listened to his subjects.

Patrick Walberg wrote:
I am not advocating inappropriate, needless, or excessive touching of anyone!

Boy stop lying you little freak you

Orcatek Photography wrote:
If I didn't touch the models, how would I keep them off me.   You all know how models are, always groping this, squeezing that.  They can't keep their hands to themselves.  I need to touch to push them away.

Really, is this an issue for professionals.  Respect people.

Wait until you get kidnapped by one!  She forced me to process the film and give her the proofs and negatives before she'd let me go!

Swank Photography wrote:
Boy stop lying you little freak you

  Yea, I'm trying to give the models an idea " ... yea do ya wanna touch me there!"  Just tye me up and whip me!"  I'd like to have that gorgeous German model who kidnapped me do it again!  It was exciting!  I just don't know if my lil ole heart can take that kinda excitment anymore. 

Bring on Joan Jett!  I'd let her touch me anytime! 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DRCjQNFyQw