JOEL McDONALD wrote:
How do most of the photogs on here handle confirming scheduled TF shoots, commercial shoots and meet ups with models (MUAHs and shoot staff)?

A little background to my question ....

I had an unfortunate situation today in which I missed a 1st meet up (I usually do 1st meet ups locally now) with a very nice model.

Our meet up was at Starbucks a few blocks from her home at 3:30.

I had called 2x this morning (9 and 10am) when I got into my office as I told her I would, but could only leave voice mails for her. Apparently she slept until noonish (sleep issues). She did send a txt at 12:30 and an email at 1pm confirming, which was courteous.

But by noon I was already back out of my office for another appointment. I did check my voice mail again at 2ish just in case, but nothing.

Turns out the poor gal had in fact gone to the meet up and waited for about 30 minutes!

The txt confirmation idea sort of flew by me as I only txt my teens. Never use txting for business. And my business phone does not even accept txts.

I check email when I'm in my office, unless I know there are critical deadlines and such then I haul around a small laptop.

I do have a personal cell that isn't generally given out so I use the business line for business and I check my messages pretty regularly.

So, how best to handle this in the future?

Should I place a preferred confirmation policy (?) on my MM profile, or will that look condescending?

Or, should I just chock this up to experience unless it happens again?

Are you talking about a meeting prior to a shooting?

Images by MR wrote:

Are you talking about a meeting prior to a shooting?

Yes sorry. Or just for a pre-shoot meet and greet coffee.

Images by MR wrote:
Are you talking about a meeting prior to a shooting?

yes.

NicoleNudes wrote:
What does a meet up accomplish that a simple phone call can't?

Seems to be the thing to do nowadays. Besides nice to know who I might be shooting prior to her/him walking in to the studio or location.

JOEL McDONALD wrote:

Yes sorry. Or just for a pre-shoot meet and greet coffee.

IMO.. I find that a complete waste of time.   Why would I sit there and talk about shooting when we could be shooting instead.

I set everything up via MM & confirm the shooting date/time by phone.

DAN CRUIKSHANK wrote:
I did a pre-shoot meeting at starbucks once, we met, it was fine... and then never shot lol.

For my location shoots I provide transportation, so I pick up the model wherever they want. We communicate via text. If they are running late they sometimes call me. I'm never late. If they are late it's no big deal, I sit in my car and listen to music

I'm fine with waiting once I know they're on the way.

NicoleNudes wrote:
What does a meet up accomplish that a simple phone call can't?

I ask the same thing too. Try Skyping. Are you paying for coffee and bagels during the "meetup".

I would like as much free time as you seem to have buddy.

Images by MR wrote:

IMO.. I find that a complete waste of time.   Why would I sit there and talk about shooting when we could be shooting instead.

I set everything up via MM & confirm the shooting date/time by phone.

Agree. I won't do pre-shoot meetups anymore. I have a self portrait in my port, references listed, and I give my cell # as soon as we have a confirmed date. If that isn't good enough the shoot doesn't happen.

Images by MR wrote:
IMO.. I find that a complete waste of time.   Why would I sit there and talk about shooting when we could be shooting instead.

I set everything up via MM & confirm the shooting date/time by phone.

Really. So basically you're totally fine with not knowing how the model actually looks in reality until she walks into your studio?

And how do you handle pre-shoot confirmations so you're not left sitting there waiting? day before? same day?

Ras Media wrote:

I ask the same thing too. Try Skyping. Are you paying for coffee and bagels during the "meetup".

I would like as much free time as you seem to have buddy.

Yes I do. And no I don't have a lot of free time, hence the meeting a model in person prior to getting everything set up.

JOEL McDONALD wrote:

Really. So basically you're totally fine with not knowing how the model actually looks in reality until she walks into your studio?

And how do you handle pre-shoot confirmations so you're not left sitting there waiting?

Text them the morning of shoot... or evening before if it's a morning start.

JOEL McDONALD wrote:
Really. So basically you're totally fine with not knowing how the model actually looks in reality until she walks into your studio?

And how do you handle pre-shoot confirmations so you're not left sitting there waiting? day before? same day?

I review there port & if I have any questions/concerns about how they look I simply request a unretouched photo be sent to me.

On the day of the shooting I give them a quick call to confirm... no answer to my call NO shooting.

Images by MR wrote:
I review there port & if I have any questions/concerns about how they look I simple request a unretouched photo be sent to me.

On the day of the shooting I give them a quick call to confirm... no answer to my call NO shooting.

Well now that makes more sense. I did call twice. Just didn't txt it. Never use txt for business purposes.

Evidently, all of you are working in regular commercial studios and not in home based studios.

Well, I'll ponder it for awhile. Not sure if I like the informal business approach. And for the time being I am working out of a home based studio until I find space that works for me.

Security and avoiding later break ins is a factor too.

JOEL McDONALD wrote:
Well now that makes more sense. I did call twice. Just didn't txt it. Never use txt for business purposes.

Evidently, all of you are working in regular commercial studios and not in home based studios.

What does it matter if I'm shooting in studio or on location.  It doesn't change how I set anything up.

JOEL McDONALD wrote:
Security and avoiding later break ins is a factor too.

What does this have to do with your question & setting up a shooting?

JOEL McDONALD wrote:
How do most of the photogs on here handle confirming scheduled TF shoots, commercial shoots and meet ups with models (MUAHs and shoot staff)?

A little background to my question ....

I had an unfortunate situation today in which I missed a 1st meet up (I usually do 1st meet ups locally now) with a very nice model.

Our meet up was at Starbucks a few blocks from her home at 3:30.

I had called 2x this morning (9 and 10am) when I got into my office as I told her I would, but could only leave voice mails for her. Apparently she slept until noonish (sleep issues). She did send a txt at 12:30 and an email at 1pm confirming, which was courteous.

But by noon I was already back out of my office for another appointment. I did check my voice mail again at 2ish just in case, but nothing.

Turns out the poor gal had in fact gone to the meet up and waited for about 30 minutes!

The txt confirmation idea sort of flew by me as I only txt my teens. Never use txting for business. And my business phone does not even accept txts.

I check email when I'm in my office, unless I know there are critical deadlines and such then I haul around a small laptop.

I do have a personal cell that isn't generally given out so I use the business line for business and I check my messages pretty regularly.

So, how best to handle this in the future?

Should I place a preferred confirmation policy (?) on my MM profile, or will that look condescending?

Or, should I just chock this up to experience unless it happens again?

Its a reasonable expectation today that your cell phone will use texting unless you make some sort of disclaimer.  You cannot ignore the #1 communication tool of people under 30 and expect to communicate fully with models.  You would not have had to write this post.

JOEL McDONALD wrote:

Really. So basically you're totally fine with not knowing how the model actually looks in reality until she walks into your studio?

And how do you handle pre-shoot confirmations so you're not left sitting there waiting? day before? same day?

That's why you ask for unretouched shots and that's why you confirm the shoot via message/text/phone call.

Just because you had a meeting with someone doesn't mean they won't flake on you.

JOEL McDONALD wrote:
And you're fine not knowing how they look except on MM until they walk into your studio? No need for make sure they're what you're looking for?

Are you talking commercial shoots, paid shoots or just the TF portfolio shoots? Or any?

Ask for polaroids.

JOEL McDONALD wrote:
Well now that makes more sense. I did call twice. Just didn't txt it. Never use txt for business purposes.

Evidently, all of you are working in regular commercial studios and not in home based studios.

Well, I'll ponder it for awhile. Not sure if I like the informal business approach. And for the time being I am working out of a home based studio until I find space that works for me.

Security and avoiding later break ins is a factor too.

Welcome to the Kobayashi Maru of model photography!!



You will have people who will prejudge you on the idea of pre-shoot meetings, but as you related that you are shooting in your home, I don't blame you for wanting to have a chance to meet and screen people at a location that is not your home.

While there is a downside that you'll encounter flakes, odds are some of those flakes would be flakes where ever you were going to meet up with them. 

It sounds like your situation goes a bit beyond simply confirming that a model looks like they say they look, and from your standpoint if that is a primary concern, then it is worth it.

On the other hand, some people will look at it as unnecessary, unprofessional, and potentially a red flag that you're looking for dates rather than a genuine face-to-face business meeting.

Basically, each person needs to make their own assessment of the positives and negatives of how they operate their business.

None of us are in your situation and you need to do what is right for you, not the rest of us.

JOEL McDONALD wrote:

Yes sorry. Or just for a pre-shoot meet and greet coffee.

Joel, you and I are old school in our use of texting.  Like you, I prefer talking on the phone.  I've even got a blue tooth so that I can drive and talk.  However, I've found that MANY models are avid users of texting to communicate.  I do check text messages as soon as I notice receiving them.  This is a lesson learned for you!

I'm not as hardcore about confirming a preshoot meeting, as I am about the actual photo shoots, but I often do meet at coffee shops ... I would have gone there anyway.   The worst that could happen to me is I buy some coffee, sit down to drink it, browse the net, or read the newspaper and then leave.  Come to think of it, that's something I'd do anyway! 

NicoleNudes wrote:
What does a meet up accomplish that a simple phone call can't?

A phone call is nice, but I can't tell what they really look like or get a feel for their personality as much as I can meeting them in person.   I do not like to trust the Internet.   I'm never sure of people until I've met them ... and even then I'm still cautious.  Also I've found that meeting in person often puts them at ease. 

It's a fact that I'm old school.   I've had my own studio where I could accept "walk ins" for portraits.  When it comes to my model castings, I've held those myself at schools, and other locations while selecting models for fashion shows.  I have never used a model agency ... EVER!  When it comes to weddings, every single wedding I've ever shot, I've met the couple in person first.  I don't tell people how good I really am at reading people, but that's the reason why I have so few flakes or issues with escorts.  Every little bit of information I can get about a subject before photographing them can help me!

You don't have to do preshoot meetings, and it's not mandatory for models to meet me for one.  It is mandatory that I speak on the phone (even a hearing impaired model was able to accomplish this with me) with a model before confirming the shoot date.  With the most recent shoot I did, the model and I spoke on the phone before I drove to her apartment and shot this picture.



We both wanted some shots of her with her cats, and my coming to their environment is the better method rather than having her transport them to me.  We shot some solo of her outside, and we will shoot again sometime, but as a first TFP shoot with her, it was more of a getting to know each other thing.  Shoots after the "ice breaker shoot" are always better! Preshoot meetings often can improve the first shoot!

DougBPhoto wrote:
Welcome to the Kobayashi Maru of model photography!!



You will have people who will prejudge you on the idea of pre-shoot meetings, but as you related that you are shooting in your home, I don't blame you for wanting to have a chance to meet and screen people at a location that is not your home.

While there is a downside that you'll encounter flakes, odds are some of those flakes would be flakes where ever you were going to meet up with them. 

It sounds like your situation goes a bit beyond simply confirming that a model looks like they say they look, and from your standpoint if that is a primary concern, then it is worth it.

On the other hand, some people will look at it as unnecessary, unprofessional, and potentially a red flag that you're looking for dates rather than a genuine face-to-face business meeting.

Basically, each person needs to make their own assessment of the positives and negatives of how they operate their business.

None of us are in your situation and you need to do what is right for you, not the rest of us.

At least Captain Kirk...knew how to change the no win situation into a winning situation. lol

I learned very early on MM..ask for a "today's photo" it has all type of info...like when the photo was taken....

Maxximages wrote:
Sounds like you need to get with the 21st century and up date your phone to accept e-mails and texts. Very few models I have worked with call on their phone it's all e-mail and text.

True that!  I am tuned into my Facebook and Modelmayhem profiles too ... just in case!

DOUGLASFOTOS wrote:
At least Captain Kirk...knew how to change the no win situation into a winning situation. lol

I learned very early on MM..ask for a "today's photo" it has all type of info...like when the photo was taken....

It sounded to me that the OP was not exclusively concerned about confirming what the model currently looks like.

DougBPhoto wrote:
It sounded to me that the OP was not exclusively concerned about confirming what the llama currently looks like.

Sorry..maybe too much Romulan Ale!!!

JOEL McDONALD wrote:
Should I place a preferred confirmation policy (?) on my MM profile, or will that look condescending?

Or, should I just chock this up to experience unless it happens again?

To elaborate on this specifically would quickly go into the area of a critique, which is not permitted outside of the critique forum.

JOEL McDONALD wrote:
Really. So basically you're totally fine with not knowing how the model actually looks in reality until she walks into your studio?

And how do you handle pre-shoot confirmations so you're not left sitting there waiting? day before? same day?

Joel-  I also think that planing meetings are essential to success. I need to confirm the look, reliability, concepts, and agreement to all terms before I commit my time, stylists, and other expenses.  It all needs to work to make sure that it will clearly benefit my portfolio/business.  The right clothing is so essential to good photos that I need to make sure its available or needs to be obtained for the shoot.

A bad or missed 15 minute planning meeting is much better than a wasted 4 hour shoot.  Commercial clients get the same treatment to make sure we hit a home run every time.

-Scott