ei Total Productions wrote:
I have had a female model turn out to be a guy, but not turn out to be someone who wanted to rob me.  They just lied about their gender and thought I wouldn't notice ... I did.

This is what I thought the question would be about.

Zombie Eye Photography wrote:
Is actually a guy/guys that are going to come to your shoot, beat you and steal all of your gear?

I have nothing to base this on other than the fact that my stuff is expensive and I'm meeting a stranger off of the internet. Also, it's my first go at booking someone off of MM.

If I genuinely thought there was an issue I wouldn't proceed. I have insurance and in reality it's probably going to be fine but the thought has crossed my mind.

I'm sure I'm being paranoid, does anyone else have this type of insecurity?

I've done shoots with about 200 models, about half at my house, and about 15 spent anywhere from one day to a week.  I haven't been robbed, and as far as I know, nothing has been stolen.  They've left a variety of things behind by accident, however.  I suspect that if someone wanted to steal, there are better ways, although it's certainly possible.

PTPhotoUT wrote:
Don't you talk to them on the phone first? Or why don't you meet in a public place?

To the best of my knowledge, thieves are capable of talking on the phone, although I don't have any actual research to back it up.

Zombie Eye Photography wrote:
Is actually a guy/guys that are going to come to your shoot, beat you and steal all of your gear?

I have nothing to base this on other than the fact that my stuff is expensive and I'm meeting a stranger off of the internet. Also, it's my first go at booking someone off of MM.

If I genuinely thought there was an issue I wouldn't proceed. I have insurance and in reality it's probably going to be fine but the thought has crossed my mind.

I'm sure I'm being paranoid, does anyone else have this type of insecurity?

I don't think of it as an insecurity, I think of it as not being a naive idiot. Whenever I'm discussing shooting with someone who doesn't have a complete track record - lacking references, web history, etc - I'm always more cautious. I follow my gut and I'm usually correct on my judgments.

I think it is wise to show caution when dealing with strangers. I've used my apartment in the past for shoots but I don't anymore because it's just too stressful, and frankly risky, to give a complete stranger my address and have them come into my home to take photos of me. Sure, most will be legit, but all it takes is the one person that means harm.

And yes, I know it is possible for someone with references and history etc to turn out to be an asshole/rapist/thief, but I consider the risk lower than it is with an unknown.

ei Total Productions wrote:
I have had a female model turn out to be a guy, but not turn out to be someone who wanted to rob me.  They just lied about their gender and thought I wouldn't notice ... I did.

THat wold be an issue too. Never thought of that.

Zombie Eye Photography wrote:
Is actually a guy/guys that are going to come to your shoot, beat you and steal all of your gear?

I have nothing to base this on other than the fact that my stuff is expensive and I'm meeting a stranger off of the internet. Also, it's my first go at booking someone off of MM.

If I genuinely thought there was an issue I wouldn't proceed. I have insurance and in reality it's probably going to be fine but the thought has crossed my mind.

I'm sure I'm being paranoid, does anyone else have this type of insecurity?

You sound really paranoid! A simple solution is to request to speak to them on the phone before the shoot.  Before the Internet, I used to have my phone number in a paper book that contained phone numbers.  It was published by the phone company and would have things like "yellow pages" for businesses to advertise in ... which I did for my photo studio.  People had to call me on the phone to set up an appointment. By the way, phones had these things called cords attached to them.  Stop depending only on texting and email messages to plan shoots!  Talk with them on the phone!

So in 30 years, I've never had such a thing as a gangster call, set up an appointment and then rob me.  However in the early 1990's, I did pick up a couple German women at a club where my band was playing.  One was particularly gorgeous and I wanted to photograph her.  The two women came to my studio and right after I shot a couple rolls of black & white film, they kidnapped me.  I was forced to process the film and give her the negatives and proof sheets that night before being released.  I never saw them again, and did not press charges.  It was kinda exciting, besides I have no fear!

Augustine York wrote:

I don't think of it as an insecurity, I think of it as not being a naive idiot. Whenever I'm discussing shooting with someone who doesn't have a complete track record - lacking references, web history, etc - I'm always more cautious. I follow my gut and I'm usually correct on my judgments.

I think it is wise to show caution when dealing with strangers. I've used my apartment in the past for shoots but I don't anymore because it's just too stressful, and frankly risky, to give a complete stranger my address and have them come into my home to take photos of me. Sure, most will be legit, but all it takes is the one person that means harm.

And yes, I know it is possible for someone with references and history etc to turn out to be an asshole/rapist/thief, but I consider the risk lower than it is with an unknown.

Thanks! Yeah, even though I'm new to this I gained a healthy respect for the dangers of strangers after working in a high end jewelry store. I guess that's where the fear comes from. Also, my wife, who quite succinctly put it as "you're bringing an effing stranger from the internet to our effing house? Really REALLY???"

Patrick Walberg wrote:

You sound really paranoid! A simple solution is to request to speak to them on the phone before the shoot.  Before the Internet, I used to have my phone number in a paper book that contained phone numbers.  It was published by the phone company and would have things like "yellow pages" for businesses to advertise in ... which I did for my photo studio.  People had to call me on the phone to set up an appointment. By the way, phones had these things called cords attached to them.  Stop depending on texting and email messages to plan shoots!  Talk with them on the phone!

So in 30 years, I've never had such a thing as a gangster call, set up an appointment and then rob me.  However in the early 1990's, I did pick up a couple German women at a club where my band was playing.  One was particularly gorgeous and I wanted to photograph her.  The two women came to my studio and right after I shot a couple rolls of black & white film, they kidnapped me.  I was forced to process the film and give her the negatives and proof sheets that night before being released.  I never saw them again, and did not press charges.  It was kinda exciting, besides I have no fear!

Yeah, I've been known to over think things. The german women sounds awesome, in a scary, awesome kind of way.

Zombie Eye Photography wrote:
Thanks! Yeah, even though I'm new to this I gained a healthy respect for the dangers of strangers after working in a high end jewelry store. I guess that's where the fear comes from. Also, my wife, who quite succinctly put it as "you're bringing an effing stranger from the internet to our effing house? Really REALLY???"

See, back in the 90's, before I got involved in photography, I met a LOT of people "from the internet" in person.  Had some of them as guests in my home, stayed with others, including a case where I flew half way across the country and stayed with a mother and her teenage daughter.  Actually, TWO cases like that, one on each coast.  In neither case did one of them attack me.

Zombie Eye Photography wrote:
Yeah, I've been known to over think things. The german women sounds awesome, in a scary, awesome kind of way.

Wanna know how they did it?   I was a single long haired wanna be rock star dude with a panel van and a studio in a nearly deserted shopping center. The women I liked and did photograph looked like a shorter Claudia Schiffer whom I was infatuated with at the time.  So there I am with these two young women and all they have to do after the shoot is say this "If you don't cooperate with us!"  ... she'll scream that I attacked her and the other one would be the witness.  It wouldn't take long for her to tear up her dress and make herself look molested.  Do you think the cops would believe a long haired hippie guy or a beautiful woman in a torn dress?  They had me!

I still photograph German models, and I have not changed much in methods or my looks ... except that I don't go to night clubs looking for models.  Modelmayhem, OneModelPlace and even Craigslist have been much better for me!

Zombie Eye Photography wrote:
Is actually a guy/guys that are going to come to your shoot, beat you and steal all of your gear?


I'm sure I'm being paranoid, does anyone else have this type of insecurity?

No, you are not being paranoid...

Why do you think all those threads about escorts are on MM?

Photographers need to protect themselves, that's why it is imperative that they bring escorts to the shoot so that they can watch their gears and backs.

The fake-model scam is a very serious problem in our economic times!

Remember, just because you are paranoid, it doesn't mean that they are not out there to get YOU!

Seriously!

ei Total Productions wrote:
I have had a female model turn out to be a guy, but not turn out to be someone who wanted to rob me.  They just lied about their gender and thought I wouldn't notice ... I did.

Those darn' spread eagle nude shots... can't hide a taped down penis anymore... what has the world come to...

Zombie Eye Photography wrote:
I'm sure I'm being paranoid, does anyone else have this type of insecurity?

While I'm not qualified to judge whether you're clinically paranoid, you may want to hedge your bets against injury by working with referrals. Meeting in a public place is always a good idea. Another idea would not be to call attention (in a public forum) to the fact that your equipment is "expensive". That's kind of like walking through a strange alley at night with $100 bills sticking out of your pockets.

ei Total Productions wrote:
I have had a female model turn out to be a guy, but not turn out to be someone who wanted to rob me.  They just lied about their gender and thought I wouldn't notice ... I did.

Did you notice when she turned around?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVwJrAr7 … plpp_video

Light and Lens Studio wrote:
This could turn into a hilarious thread.  LOL.

Where are you finding your models, man?    If  you are  getting them off MM, they have a port.  And if they are experienced, they should have references.

Ohhhh.  Wait.  Have you been smoking some funny weed? 

What if you  booked a model that turned out to be a beautiful, but deadly spy?  And, you were held hostage until you complied with her demands.   You can fill in the blanks with what those could be.  Would you give in and risk having it be the end of the free world?

Be sure that you have a metal detector installed in your studio in case one of your models came 'armed'.  My models all come with arms.  I'm really not into shooting armless models. 

It never ends.

HAHAHA! What if you booked a model and she turned out to be a plane... THAT YOU HAD TO PUT TOGETHER AND PAINT?

Darryl Varner wrote:

While I'm not qualified to judge whether you're clinically paranoid, you may want to hedge your bets against injury by working with referrals. Meeting in a public place is always a good idea. Another idea would not be to call attention (in a public forum) to the fact that your equipment is "expensive". That's kind of like walking through a strange alley at night with $100 bills sticking out of your pockets.

You should have added "checkmate" to the end of your post because that's an awesome (and somewhat palm-forehead smacking) point.

ei Total Productions wrote:
I have had a female model turn out to be a guy, but not turn out to be someone who wanted to rob me.  They just lied about their gender and thought I wouldn't notice ... I did.

Ummm..

Light and Lens Studio wrote:
Where are you finding your models, man?    If  you are  getting them off MM, they have a port.  And if they are experienced, they should have references.

Ohhhh.  Wait.  Have you been smoking some funny weed? 

What if you  booked a model that turned out to be a beautiful, but deadly spy?  And, you were held hostage until you complied with her demands.   You can fill in the blanks with what those could be.  Would you give in and risk having it be the end of the free world?

Be sure that you have a metal detector installed in your studio in case one of your models came 'armed'.  My models all come with arms.  I'm really not into shooting armless models. 

It never ends.

I agree with the beginning of you post but, disagree with the funny weed thing.

I think he, and his wife, make a lot of sense. He IS planning to bring strangers from the internet into their home and life.

I don't think its paranoid either.

Jen

Darryl Varner wrote:

While I'm not qualified to judge whether you're clinically paranoid, you may want to hedge your bets against injury by working with referrals. Meeting in a public place is always a good idea. Another idea would not be to call attention (in a public forum) to the fact that your equipment is "expensive". That's kind of like walking through a strange alley at night with $100 bills sticking out of your pockets.

I would have to agree with this statement. However anyone with a brain knows photography equipment isn't cheap...

Go with your gut, and everything will work out...

Art of the nude wrote:

PTPhotoUT wrote:
Don't you talk to them on the phone first? Or why don't you meet in a public place?

To the best of my knowledge, thieves are capable of talking on the phone, although I don't have any actual research to back it up.

I think that PThotoUT is assuming that you could determine their gender by the sound of their voice.

Designit - Edward Olson wrote:

This is what I thought the question would be about.

Same here.

Zombie Eye Photography wrote:
Is actually a guy/guys that are going to come to your shoot, beat you and steal all of your gear?

I have nothing to base this on other than the fact that my stuff is expensive and I'm meeting a stranger off of the internet. Also, it's my first go at booking someone off of MM.

If I genuinely thought there was an issue I wouldn't proceed. I have insurance and in reality it's probably going to be fine but the thought has crossed my mind.

I'm sure I'm being paranoid, does anyone else have this type of insecurity?

The thought has never crossed my mind. The following is far more likely:

1. You will leave a piece of equipment at a shoot
2. You will injure yourself tripping over your own feet.

Patrick Walberg wrote:
Do you think the cops would believe a long haired hippie guy or a beautiful woman in a torn dress?

Ah, the choices. I presume being a long haired hippie guy makes you attractive to women but makes cops suspect you. Makes me think of the 1960s when military guys had to wear wigs to bars so chicks wouldn't categorize them as "baby killers."

PTPhotoUT wrote:
Don't you talk to them on the phone first? Or why don't you meet in a public place?

On a recent forum some guy posted about meeting in public and the other posters ripped him up, accused him of wasting time, etc.