Heather L Shapiro wrote:
Just watched the news. Lavont Saunders has been convicted of raping women. He found models on this website and once he got them into the studio, he laced their drinks with Xanax; Big Heads up ladies and gents. There are sickos out there. Be careful get references first.

What channel?

Ruthness wrote:
...and they wonder why we want to bring escorts....

You're so right. Since he was a cop posing as a photographer, he could have had 2 victims. So you're saying that would have been better right?

Next time...try a Forum Search. It works and it's about 85 pages by now.

missing fingers product wrote:
the big warning to models should be don't accept drinks that have been prepared by someone else at a shoot.

Or anywhere

Tim Little Photography wrote:
Its human scum like this guy that makes it hard for those of us that are serious about our work to get together. I have never had a problem with a model bringing an escort. I have never had an escort cause a problem. Get references, take an escort, make sure people know where you are at and what time you should be finished. And NEVER accept a drink from someone you don't know.

exactly!

Senna Photography wrote:
that is why I always tell models not to take any drinks from the photographers unless it in an unopened bottom and u never let it out of your site.

An unopened bottom? Now that sounds like illicit behavior.

Heather L Shapiro wrote:
Just watched the news. Lavont Saunders has been convicted of raping women. He found models on this website and once he got them into the studio, he laced their drinks with Xanax; Big Heads up ladies and gents. There are sickos out there. Be careful get references first.

always be vigilant, but not paranoid..there's enough of that going on in this country...do we all want a "minority report" , "brave new world" or "1984?"

Tim Little Photography wrote:
Its human scum like this guy that makes it hard for those of us that are serious about our work to get together. I have never had a problem with a model bringing an escort. I have never had an escort cause a problem. Get references, take an escort, make sure people know where you are at and what time you should be finished. And NEVER accept a drink from someone you don't know.

I know what you mean. I really find a photographer who doesn't allow escorts suspicious.  The last one I went to would only allow me into the house, not my friend. His place was also small and dark, making me nervous to be alone with him, so I choose not to do the shoot.

Gabrielle Mai Nguyen wrote:
I know those kind of things go on. That's why I really hesitate to go to people's private homes for a shoot. I've already had two bad experiences with photographers who worked from their homes so now I only shoot in public places.

That's nonsense.  It's not about the place...private home or studio...it can happen anywhere.  Peter Gowland, one of the USA's top glamour photographers for 30 years almost always shot from his home, in his home studio and around his pool where his wife of many years aided with dressing and makeup.  If you were even invited to his home, you were one lucky model.  I often shoot around my home or in my professional studio where my female assistant (see left for my avi) can help, and my wife sometimes makes lunches for everyone.

Jose Luis wrote:
The story is also quite clear of the promises.  This guy was trapping models by dishonesty- promising them a Bicardi contract for a MM shoot.

I dont think this story should necessarily equate to always bring an escort- but rather- watch out for things that seem a bit too good to be true.

-Jose

What he said

Gabrielle Mai Nguyen wrote:

I know what you mean. I really find a photographer who doesn't allow escorts suspicious.  The last one I went to would only allow me into the house, not my friend. His place was also small and dark, making me nervous to be alone with him, so I choose not to do the shoot.

why do you find that to be suspicious? you should be a photographer dealing with a third, interfering party. think that Maxim allows models to bring their spectators to their shoots?

Gabrielle Mai Nguyen wrote:

I know what you mean. I really find a photographer who doesn't allow escorts suspicious.  The last one I went to would only allow me into the house, not my friend. His place was also small and dark, making me nervous to be alone with him, so I choose not to do the shoot.

Look, we have heard enough from you! Maybe you should have sent your thug brother over to check the guy out beforehand?

missing fingers product wrote:
the big warning to models should be don't accept drinks that have been prepared by someone else at a shoot.

def bring your own bottles of water. best liquid choice anyway.

it's really horrible what happened. did they go to the shoot by themselves? did they mention that on the news?

i wonder if they had met with the photog prior and/or got references.

Lumigraphics wrote:

Look, we have heard enough from you! Maybe you should have sent your thug brother over to check the guy out beforehand?

lmao

David Pankhurst Photo wrote:

That's nonsense.  It's not about the place...private home or studio...it can happen anywhere.  Peter Gowland, one of the USA's top glamour photographers for 30 years almost always shot from his home, in his home studio and around his pool where his wife of many years aided with dressing and makeup.  If you were even invited to his home, you were one lucky model.  I often shoot around my home or in my professional studio where my female assistant (see left for my avi) can help, and my wife sometimes makes lunches for everyone.

exactly...I can see where this thread is going to devolve into "why a model should bring an escort" shtuff.
there are creeps in all professions. I don't know why photographers should be singled out for special attention...there are priests, teachers, cops, doctors, politicians, etc, who are fuck ups and malcontents. so what are we all going to do, stay at home and watch CNN and be afraid?
I sure hope that in the future, MM threads dealing with this "escort" issue or anything pretending to give "advice" on model safety gets discarded immediately. It serves no logical purpose

TXPhotog wrote:
Does anyone know if he had an online portfolio, and if so what it looked like?

I looked briefly but didn't find anything. I suspect he must have if he was contacting MM models. But who knows what name he was using...

StokelyMarx Photography wrote:
its always a "model needs an escort" thing. i'm a 19 year old girl. i bring my boyfriend to all shoots with me if hes available. i dont care if you say your a 15 year old girl, for all i know your a 20 year old dude with a messed up mind.

Why? Don't you research and check out your models beforehand? Or is your boyfriend a buffed out martial arts expert who will kill anyone who looks sideways at you?

Senna Photography wrote:
that is why I always tell models not to take any drinks from the photographers unless it in an unopened bottom and u never let it out of your site.

Thanks for adding to the hysteria......