Nogawd Photography wrote:

Their escort is a HUGE reason why they get that "syndrome" to begin with, not the other way around.

+1

Shot By Adam wrote:

Barry Kidd Photography wrote:
I use to allow them.  Those days are done. 

If a model is worried that I might threaten her, make her feel  uncomfortable, rape her or what ever then it's best we don't shoot anyway.

Exactly!


Couldn't have said it better myself! It's been my experience that photographers who are OK with having an "escort" present on a shoot just haven't been doing it long enough to where they've run into enough problems with them. Sooner or later, they will realize it's a bad idea. While I can understand how a newb photographer can see an "escort" as someone who can hold a reflector or help on set or be the bodyguard for his little princess, once one of them breaks or steals an expensive piece of equipment from you that opinion is likely to change VERY quickly.

I can assure you also, it's just a matter of time until an "escort" ruins your shoot too. It's not "if", it's "when" it happens, and it will happen. I'm speaking from experience here too and for years I personally had a very open policy to "escorts" until I saw the light one day and realized just how stupid I was for years to allow them.

These are just some of the reasons I do not allow "escorts" on my shoots anymore:

- Escorts make shitty sandbags - Escorts need a lot less instruction on holding a reflector than a C-Stand does.
- Escorts distract the model in more ways than can be counted.
- Escorts need babysitting
- Escorts frequently cause shoots to end too soon because they are bored
- Escorts get jealous and have been known to cause fights on the shoot
- Escorts cause models to be late
- Escorts cause models to flake altogether
- Escorts interrupt the creative process of a shoot
- Escorts steal equipment
- Escorts frequently have no clue about anything that takes place on a shoot but always want input ideas or give uneducated "suggestions" as if they know what the fuck they are talking about. Oh yeah, and explain to your insurance company how you have to replace damaged or stolen piece of equipment because the model's jealous boyfriend was on set and stole it or broke it. Yeah, see how well that goes over.

Shot By Adam wrote:

Here is the thing I've learned about photographers who don't allow escorts on their shoots...at one time in their career, they all allowed escorts on their shoots, myself included. But the longer you work as a photographer shooting models, you start to see that escorts are way more of a liability than an asset. Sure, on paper, it sounds like a great idea to have an extra set of hands on-set to lug gear around...until they break something valuable. Sure it sounds great to have someone there to make the model feel more relaxed...until they distract the model so much that they ruin the shoot. It's like I wrote above...everything sounds great on paper until enough bad things happen...and they WILL happen, that you start to realize that having escorts on a shoot is a rookie move.

I'm not joking when I say that a sandbag on a C-stand does a better job at holding a light or reflector than a model's escort. I've never had a sandbag start messaging on facebook in the middle of a shoot only to have a light get caught by a breeze and fall to the ground and get smashed. Or better yet, wait until the escort steals something of value to you. That will certainly make you change your position REAL fast on the topic.

Patrick Walberg wrote:

I'm sorry that happened to you.  I'm sure you remember my true story of how two stranger, German women that kidnapped me right after I shot with one of them back in 1992.  The mistake we make is with letting people we don't know, or have not check out into positions where they can hurt or steal from us.  I do like as you say "gofers" for certain shoots.  I am "real"  friends with local photographers and models who will sometimes act as assistants on shoots for me.  I'm also very anal about checking backgrounds, because I don't wish to be kidnapped again.

It cannot be overstated the importance of checking references, talking on the phone and basically getting to know a person IF you can!  When I worked for "institutional" portrait studios ... meaning those that were in shopping malls like Olan Mills ... that was not possible. Use anumber of methods to communicate.  I wont shoot with anyone around that I have not spoken with on the phone.  Even a model from Las Vegas who is deaf found away to "talk" with me over the phone!  Use email, messengers like that on Facebook.  Then also text and speak on the phone.   

As for checking references, it's easier than ever! We have Google, so use it!  I don't have strangers, I have people at these shoots who I know and are aware of what they are to do.  I also give great directions, and I'm not afraid to send someone home if they are not doing their job ... "texting"  when they are supposed to be holding a light stand for example.  Always discuss who is going to be at the photo shoot in advance, and what they shall be doing.  Never bring a "surprise"  ... a stranger to the photographer.  Work with professional behaving "gophers" or none at all. 

As for this question of escorts I have photographed many "escorts!"  They sometimes need pictures to build clientele.  I know you know what I mean. 

AlexaMichelle wrote:

I try to personally screen my daughters photographs messages about jobs and agencies.   I wasted twenty minutes on a photographer that trains underwater modeling. He went on and on then told  me his photo was posted on the site. Lol and behold he has a photo in swim trunks with his penis out.  Smh
One so called photographer from here sent my daughter a text that she got him and tons of guys hard. 

There are tons of freaks on here that are trying to prey on young women who don't know what to look for.

One from here tried to get her to webcam alone so he could see if she looked like her pictures then told her to take her clothes off.

Smh  I was able to find out thru Skype who he was and he is 32 and married preying on 18 year olds pretending to be an agent.

Smh

AlexaMichelle wrote:

I try to personally screen my daughters photographs messages about jobs and agencies.   I wasted twenty minutes on a photographer that trains underwater modeling. He went on and on then told  me his photo was posted on the site. Lol and behold he has a photo in swim trunks with his penis out.  Smh
One so called photographer from here sent my daughter a text that she got him and tons of guys hard. 

There are tons of freaks on here that are trying to prey on young women who don't know what to look for.

One from here tried to get her to webcam alone so he could see if she looked like her pictures then told her to take her clothes off.

Smh  I was able to find out thru Skype who he was and he is 32 and married preying on 18 year olds pretending to be an agent.

Smh

There are people who join Model Mayhem to prey on models not to photograph them.  They usually target new models.  Fortunately they are in the minority.

Abbitt Photography wrote:
I think if you read those numerous threads you will see that there are indeed both models and photographers who advise models to bring an escort.   I think they are a minority view, but they do exist.  I think they sometimes make arguments supporting their view that have some merit, but in my opinion usually ignore the larger picture.  As you indicated, bringing friends/escorts/spectators to your work is overall not very accepted, but there are of course some who are willing to make exceptions to the norm.

if any person that i knew asked told me that a photographer had said no to an escort i would tell them not only to not work with the photographer but to also tell every model they knew, not to work with that photographer

fas  wrote:

if any person that i knew asked told me that a photographer had said no to an escort i would tell them not only to not work with the photographer but to also tell every model they knew, not to work with that photographer

I would guess that has nothing to do with escorts at all, but you just trying to sound better to the new models by putting others down.

Nogawd Photography wrote:

I would guess that has nothing to do with escorts at all, but you just trying to sound better to the new models by putting others down.

I agree!!

FFantastique wrote:
How long does one have to be inviting escorts before having a bad experience? Decade? Two?
The last one helped relax the model and kept her loose on what she claims is her first shoot!
Nervous Nelly.
There was no way I could do the emotional hand holding the way someone she knows can--and I was busy with maneuvering lights, furniture, location scouting, etc. etc. etc.

"I'd bring an escort if I were you ....no seriously"   lmmfao 🤣

Aside from the obvious hazards of having an inexperienced person on set, the presence of an escort nearby can change the dynamic entirely and most often not of benefit to the photographer. For example, if I were shooting a catalogue or lookbook etc, it would matter little having others on set, so long as they kept clear of equipment and props.
On the other hand, if the shoot revolved around developing a character or eliciting genuine emotions, an escort on set is more likely to hinder the process. Not only does the model have to lower their inhibitions to me, they now have to do so in front of a third party/s and being unaware of this is a little naive if you ask me.

fas  wrote:

if any person that i knew asked told me that a photographer had said no to an escort i would tell them not only to not work with the photographer but to also tell every model they knew, not to work with that photographer

I'm always amazed people don't realise how creepy they sound when insisting models should be scared  to work with someone based on no other information or facts.

General rule, if you're too scared to work alone with someone, don't do it.

Darren Brade wrote:
There's nothing worse when someone tries to force another to work the way they want or spread false rumours and speculate because they can't get their own way.

I see this crap a lot.  New model asks a photographer for a shoot, but denies her because she demanded an escort, but then the model puts up a Facebook post blasting him for being an alleged creeper rapist.  It's absolutely disgusting.

fas  wrote:
if any person that i knew asked told me that a photographer had said no to an escort i would tell them not only to not work with the photographer but to also tell every model they knew, not to work with that photographer

Nogawd Photography wrote:
I would guess that has nothing to do with escorts at all, but you just trying to sound better to the new models by putting others down.

Agree 100%

fas  wrote:
if any person that i knew asked told me that a photographer had said no to an escort i would tell them not only to not work with the photographer but to also tell every model they knew, not to work with that photographer

Nogawd Photography wrote:
I would guess that has nothing to do with escorts at all, but you just trying to sound better to the new models by putting others down.

barepixels wrote:
Agree 100%

I agree also.  It is a ridiculously hard line approach to take when you have only heard one side of the discussion and you are not privy to the experiences of the people involved.  When you shoot with a person who is going to challenge someone's character to everyone they know, it will be very probable that person will also find a reason to smear your name to everyone they know.  It will most likely be an invalid, asinine reason.

Nogawd Photography wrote:

I see this crap a lot.  New model asks a photographer for a shoot, but denies her because she demanded an escort, but then the model puts up a Facebook post blasting him for being an alleged creeper rapist.  It's absolutely disgusting.

Saw that just last week myself on Facebook. No actual proof that the photographer was dodgy, just someone trying to imply all photographers that don't allow escorts are perverts!

AlexaMichelle wrote:

fas  wrote:
if any person that i knew asked told me that a photographer had said no to an escort i would tell them not only to not work with the photographer but to also tell every model they knew, not to work with that photographer

Care to explain your reasoning behind that statement?

FFantastique wrote:
How long does one have to be inviting escorts before having a bad experience? Decade? Two?
The last one helped relax the model and kept her loose on what she claims is her first shoot!
Nervous Nelly.
There was no way I could do the emotional hand holding the way someone she knows can--and I was busy with maneuvering lights, furniture, location scouting, etc. etc. etc.

I walked out of my very first shoot booked through an online modeling site (OMP, way back in the day), with a stranger. He was pressuring me to do things I was incredibly uncomfortable with, including put on his ex-girlfriend's lingerie so I was wearing "something sexier".

I had an escort. A friend who'd modeled a few times and was there to help me relax, but also insisted that it was for my "protection" as that's how she always did things. She no only did nothing about the photographer pressuring me, but saw nothing wrong with it and was surprised when I said we were leaving.

My. First. Shoot.

TomFRohwer wrote:

I work with other people on a professional basis only. Mixing work and coffee shop dates sounds rather inappropriate to me.

I have stuff to do. I would rather not lose an hour or two meeting someone over coffee to show them that I am not going to rape/kill/make them apply clown makeup or whatever.

That said, I have in the past gone to pre-shoot meetings in the past so it would be hypocritical of me to say "never".

AndysSurfShop wrote:
No photographer in his right mind would ever encourage a model to bring an escort to a shoot.

Some will allow or permit escorts but to encourage? No.

WOW...really....I must know 10 image makers that must be completely out of their minds.......