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Dear Model....Kindest regards, Photographer xxx
What would you want to say to the models you have not met yet? Be nice.... Mar 22 13 10:42 pm Link - I promise not to act famous if you don't act famous. Mar 22 13 10:43 pm Link Hi Mar 22 13 10:45 pm Link Inspired by this well written blog.... http://jenbrookmodel.tumblr.com/post/45 … -model-xxx Flip it and reverse it.....what would you say? Mar 22 13 10:46 pm Link As a photographer that is not a newbie, I already do most, if not all the things Jen wrote as suggestions in her nicely written blog. There were some things I'd like models to consider and hopefully understand, starting with communication. I like for you to be direct and tell me if something is bothering you rather than have you say "Oh everything's fine" then find that you've asked some other models what they got paid, then go complaining that you didn't get paid enough to others. That's just an example of what can happen. I respect you, and do not talk badly behind your back. If anything, when I talk about someone, I usually am saying nice things about them. You don't find me bitching and complaining in public forums, and I'm pretty much that way in private too. But if something is upsetting to me, I'll tell the person who needs to know. I hope you'll do the same and tell me what I need to know. Some photographers complain about escorts, and models flaking, while I will crack jokes with you about that! Please understand that we are all on the same side here. I want to make you feel as comfortable as possible in shooting with me. If you are scared, uncomfortable or otherwise not into the mood to model for me, then there is no sense in forcing it, right? It will show in the images no matter how hard you try to hide it. I'm not a mind reader. So let's take the time to communicate and start building the trust necessary to have a good working relationship and create great images that will not only benefit us both but make us happy as well. Use more than one method to communicate. I want to talk with you for at least a few minutes because it puts me at ease and helps confirm a few things about you. Texting, messaging and emails are great for keeping a record, but there is some information that talking or better still ... seeing someone in person that new technology can't duplicate. Tell me what I need to know to work with you! If you are having any difficulty with being able to make it to the photo session with me, tell me in advance. Perhaps we can figure something out. Don't just wait till the day of the shoot, then call and say you can't make it. I've helped with transportation situations many times before. Same with apprehension or anxiety that you might have towards shooting with me. If we've never shot with each other before, and you want to invite someone to attend the photo session, then ask me. Don't surprise me by bringing a stranger to the shoot. I do not automatically object to invited guests, as I call them. We all start off as strangers until we get to know each other. If after checking my references, reading the many comments I've gotten, etc ... you are still not sure of yourself with me, then let's meet at a coffee place out in public, and sit and talk a bit? You'll find right away that I'm not a  guy. (at least to most folks!  ) I love people! So if you are going to invite someone, please don't bring a head knocker, a body guard, a jealous boyfriend, overly protective mom, or a brother whose going to be bored to death. If you wish to have a MUA, or a friend who is interested in checking out modeling, I'm definitely open for that! Talk with me about this in advance! If I wish to introduce you to someone, I'll ask you about inviting that person in advance also. I have no problem with your significant other who is supportive of you! In other words, I've enjoyed the company of many couples ... husbands and boyfriends are welcome as long as they know I'm going to get them busy doing something. I've shot hundreds of portraits of couples, weddings as well as family portraits. Just remember one thing ... that I'm in charge of the photo shoot. Unless of course you are paying for it, but even then you're going to want me to take charge of the session. With regards to the photo session, I will give direction as needed. If you are having any issue or problem at all, let's clear it up and move on with the session. If you are experienced, you'll be able to do that. If your invited guest OR my invited guest say or does anything to interfere with our work, I will deal with it accordingly. It's about mutual respect, but someone has to take the lead in this dance, and I will do that. One more thing. Just as no two models are alike, no two photographers are either. My background is as a child musician, and actor. I've worked around the stage in supporting roles, and finally given up on ever being the rock star. I'm not the greatest photographer. I feel blessed to have worked with so many awesome people that make me better than I really am at this photography thing. My greatest skills is in working with people. Negotiation, and putting together a team is where I excel! It's why models don't flake on me, or feel the need to bring security. It's why I have nearly a 100% success rate with any photo session I'm a part of. Work "with" me and we can both succeed! Mar 23 13 12:57 am Link Alright, I posted the above on my Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/pages/Internet … 7706616712 Mar 23 13 01:32 am Link Take it seriously and be invested, even if you are being paid I put a lot of effort into my shoots. If I have gone as far as arranging a shoot with you I will have thought hard about the idea, found lots of examples, visited the location, got clothes etc. If you show up and haven’t even looked at my website or any of the examples I have sent you to know what we will be shooting or the kind of thing I like it doesn’t start things off well for a successful shoot. Don’t give me poses 101 If you have been llamaling for a while you may have your favourite poses you like to use but understand I am not asking you to be you I am asking you to become a character. Have a look around at the location, look at the clothes I have given you to wear, listen to the words I have used to describe the feel I want, remember the examples I have shown you and talked around. Please don’t give me some same poses over and over again with the same blank expression no matter where we are shooting or what you are wearing,. 95% of the pictures will never see the light of day again, don’t be afraid to try, just looking pretty in front of the camera doesn't cut it. Be ready to shoot If you are a llama you need to spend time and effort to be ready to be photographed even if you have worked 10 days straight or want to do something fun with your hair or nails. Chipped nail varnish, roots in hair, greasy hair, eyelash extensions all these things drive photographers nuts and we can’t just ‘fix it in photoshop’ or if we can it takes a huge amount of work. Just showing up on time is not enough, you need to be ready. Staple wardrobe There are items of clothing and footwear that are mainstays for a genre of photography, it is a good idea to own many of these especially shoes which are difficult to pull. If you are a fashion llama and I ask you to bring plain black heels please don’t say you don’t have any or show up with platform heels with red dots on them. Be in this for the right reasons Please be in this because you love creating pictures in the genre you are working in. The best in the business all test and all need to keep their portfolios current, it shows if you think this many be a way to some quick easy money and you are not invested. Mar 23 13 05:15 am Link Eyesso wrote: I will add something to what I wrote earlier. Communication is the single most important skill you need to be a model. You can ask for pay, but don't take it personally if the photographer doesn't want to pay what you ask. If you are willing to negotiate, you will get more work. I'm not saying to sell yourself short, but to consider each offer on an individual basis. Mar 23 13 12:23 pm Link I appreciate your input and ideas, and I want you to bring your modeling skills and experience to the job. However please understand that I didn't hire you with the idea that I'll just shoot your top 40 fashion poses, or just hoping to be surprised by what ever you pull out of the bag. I hired you to help turn my concepts and ideas into images, and if that's not what you expect to do then you should advertise yourself as a client, not a model. Mar 23 13 12:30 pm Link liddellphoto wrote: Very well said! Mar 23 13 12:37 pm Link BTHPhoto wrote: Well if you put it this way it seems like you're attacking/insulting. This is something you would say AFTER they did a crappy job/didn't follow the instructions given. IF you started off talking this way to me I Would assume you have probably been burned by crappy modeling in the past and now you are taking it out on me, before we even shot. Mar 23 13 12:41 pm Link Don’t give me poses 101 This one is important to me. "Poses 101" can be a very boring thing and result in photos that just look like other photos you've seen before. Some of the best poses are unusual ones that fit the setting, so it's very much like acting. Mar 23 13 12:43 pm Link Aaliyah Love wrote: Not entirely. I once had a shoot planned, and the model knew what was going to be happening and what she was going to be wearing for the shoot.... I was supplying it... blue gown. She knew the entire concept start to finish. When she arrived, she opened her garment bag and said, "I like the concept but it will look better if I wear this." She held up a slinky little black dress. Nothing I could do could convince her otherwise so I didn't shoot the concept that day. Mar 23 13 12:51 pm Link Will Snizek wrote: Yes, that is exactly it, at it's worst I have got a run of frames where the pose is totally wrong for the setting/look. The top models in fashion mags can really become the character and are not dead in the eyes throwing out poses. It is tough to break an experienced model out of poses 101, you almost have to keep them off balance. Sometimes this is why new models can work out great. Mar 23 13 12:51 pm Link Aaliyah Love wrote: Point taken. However, in my experience, it's such a common problem that it seems every model needs to be reminded of it. The blog referred to even had a section that was something like "don't break my flow and mess up my list of poses so I have to start over." I don't hire models to show me their list of poses. I hire them to turn my ideas into images. I'd love to hear suggestions for how to express that without revealing that I'm concerned that it needs to be said. Mar 23 13 05:09 pm Link Eyesso wrote: Please be honest about everything, and show up as agreed. Also, communication is very important. Prompt, and clear. Mar 23 13 05:10 pm Link Eyesso wrote: Fair trade! LOL Mar 23 13 05:16 pm Link |
