Recently was contact via the internet, a "model" had seen my profile and wanted to know if I would be interested in a tft shoot. I hadn't done anything except weddings in a long time and thought why not. Model sent over a few images of past work and we scheduled a shoot. The woman shows up and I realize that those past pics were not only taken from just the right angle, but must of been more than slightly photoshopped. Her body was totally different, heck I almost did not recognize her. This every happen to anyone else? Would it of been bad form to just leave?
I've shot models from the internet for about 10 yers now ( there were sites before mm ) and it has happened to me a couple of times, where I just flat out didn't recognize them...
Edit: I missed part of the point with my post. I shot them, and did my best, tho a couple of times it was a waste of time...
Bad form? Yes, indeed. You made a commitment -- fulfill your commitment, and be gracious while you are doing it. Don't be so easily defeated.
You imply that a photographer used his/her skill to improve the model's appearance with perspective selection & photo-editing. Consider that a challenge -- do your stuff; be better than the previous photographer.
Looknsee Photography wrote: Bad form? Yes, indeed. You made a commitment -- fulfill your commitment, and don't be so easily defeated.
You imply that a photographer used his/her skill to improve the model's appearance with perspective selection & photo-editing. Consider that a challenge -- do your stuff; be better than the previous photographer.
I don't know. If you made a commitment to shoot someone for free, and a visually different person shows up, I'd say it's ok to to say, You're not the person in those images, and turn them away.
Greg Hitchcock wrote: Recently was contact via the internet, a "model" had seen my profile and wanted to know if I would be interested in a tft shoot. I hadn't done anything except weddings in a long time and thought why not. Model sent over a few images of past work and we scheduled a shoot. The woman shows up and I realize that those past pics were not only taken from just the right angle, but must of been more than slightly photoshopped. Her body was totally different, heck I almost did not recognize her. This every happen to anyone else? Would it of been bad form to just leave?
It's strictly a judgement call on your part if you feel that the model misrepresented herself. As far as her images being Photoshopped, just about every image you see has been manipulated to some extent. The question is what extent is acceptable.
I had a model show up for a lingerie shoot and she was at least 25 pounds heavier than in her portfolio with a big roll of flab around her midsection. She seemed like the nicest person so I tried to pose her behind different objects that would cover her midsection. It was a trade shoot so I tried to be nice and not tell her how bad she looked. If I had agreed to pay her for the shoot I would have had no choice but to send her home.
Looknsee Photography wrote: Bad form? Yes, indeed. You made a commitment -- fulfill your commitment, and don't be so easily defeated.
You imply that a photographer used his/her skill to improve the model's appearance with perspective selection & photo-editing. Consider that a challenge -- do your stuff; be better than the previous photographer.
Well, we'll have to agree to disagree.
Some additional thoughts:
... Two wrongs don't make a right.
... Now the OP knows some additional questions to ask before agreeing to work
with someone.
... If you are doing a trade, you take what you get. If you have specific
requirements, perhaps you should hire an appropriate model.
... She showed up. According to what I see on these forums, the OP is ahead
of the game (i.e. she didn't flake).
... To a certain extent, it's the photographer's job to make a model look good,
regardless of how much work that is.
... We do trades in large part to hone our skills. Big deal if the photographer is
facing a slightly larger challenge.
... If it (photographing this model) was easy, what value would it be to the
photographer in making pictures of her.
... If the OP has aspirations of becoming a professional photographer, he's
going to be challenged to photograph people of less than optimal looks.
... What would a true professional do?
... I assume that every model you meet will later talk to every model in the world;
what would you want this model to tell her model friends?
... We know that a good photographer can make her look good; consider that a
challenge.
... What kind of attitude is conducive for success as a photographer?
Yeah, I'm pretty clear that the OP should be gracious and do his best.
I totally see what you're saying, and I don't disagree. But I know I've nearly shut the door in some people's faces.
The only one I'd slightly disagree with is shooting to "hone your skills" if the purpose of the shoot was actually to have a certain look in your book, and the person who shows up, doesn't or never had that look. Then there might not be a reason for that shoot at all. But overall, I do agree with your points.
It has happened to me a couple of times. I went through with the shoots cause I was committed. Some models have REALLY bad complexions when they show up for a shoot and that bothers me even more cause even editing can only do soooo much. i think many of us get fooled as photogs, but some do not want to admit it.
LOL. This reminds me when I hired a model through a small agency before the days of MM. I had clothing samples made to fit her claimed measurements. All measurements confirmed multiple times.
When she showed up, I didn't even recognize her. She had probably gained 30 to 40 pounds since here comp card was shot. She was at least three or four sizes too big for the samples.
Needless to say I was a total waste of time.
People can be delusional about their appearance sometimes.
Images by MR
Posts: 6,017
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
IrisSwope wrote:
I don't know. If you made a commitment to shoot someone for free, and a visually different person shows up, I'd say it's ok to to say, You're not the person in those images, and turn them away.
S W I N S K E Y wrote: "you're _______________________??????"
"oh, i didn't tell you i cut my long blonde hair and dyed it dark red/"
"umm no, you didnt"...
I was there with all my equipment, so i shot her....
i got some cool images..
but then i'm not of these high powered internet photographers that would just get back in his car and go home...
Just to check out my theory of how reliable pictures are, I just compared six pictures of myself in my casting networks portfolio, all shot within the past 6 months, with my appearance in the mirror right now. Three of the pictures, if I didn't know better, I would say were of someone else--nothing more than changes of light, posture, angle and clothing.
I'm rarely able to recognize models when I meet them to plan shoots. That's why I use preshoot meetings wherever possible.
Greg Hitchcock wrote: Recently was contact via the internet, a "model" had seen my profile and wanted to know if I would be interested in a tft shoot. I hadn't done anything except weddings in a long time and thought why not. Model sent over a few images of past work and we scheduled a shoot. The woman shows up and I realize that those past pics were not only taken from just the right angle, but must of been more than slightly photoshopped. Her body was totally different, heck I almost did not recognize her. This every happen to anyone else? Would it of been bad form to just leave?
yes, it would be poor form for a "photographer" such as yourself to just leave.
it's a bummer that this happened to you. but perhaps other photographers she's worked with have not given her unedited photos. if you want unedited photos, it's good to specify that. i have very rarely been asked for unedited photos [but my portfolio here is pretty broad--actually, it includes unedited photos--and i think one could gather what i look like through it] from a certain angle or of a certain type of pose, and it's kind of been a pain in the ass. like i have to take them myself, and they're not very high quality. so i'm guess these images are what she had. if you shot with her, maybe you can provide her with better images to use while soliciting photo shoots.
I've sent two packing......I took mercy on a few more and shot anyhow.
There was one I should've left standing at the airport terminal....but I didn't.
Only one instance has been recent....I learned early on. I make pretty sure I know what someone actually looks like before they knock on my door.
S W I N S K E Y wrote: "you're _______________________??????"
"oh, i didn't tell you i cut my long blonde hair and dyed it dark red/"
"umm no, you didnt"...
I was there with all my equipment, so i shot her....
i got some cool images..
but then i'm not of these high powered internet photographers that would just get back in his car and go home...
That's wonderful Doug. I'm going to nominate you for the Humanitarian of the Year Award.
Somehow I think the OP was talking about more than hair length/color.
Looknsee Photography wrote: Bad form? Yes, indeed. You made a commitment -- fulfill your commitment, and be gracious while you are doing it. Don't be so easily defeated.
You imply that a photographer used his/her skill to improve the model's appearance with perspective selection & photo-editing. Consider that a challenge -- do your stuff; be better than the previous photographer.
That's a very valid point, and I did do my best. I did n;t say anything or let it slip my content. Shot for an hour and a half and she liked the images,
It's just sometimes when I do a shoot, even TFT, there are a great deal of investments I make, to rent a specific location or piece of equipment, and then a person shows up who simply isn't capable of performing the role we planned.
Greg Hitchcock wrote: The woman shows up and I realize that those past pics were not only taken from just the right angle, but must of been more than slightly photoshopped. Her body was totally different
If a model shows up 40 lbs. heavier and 4" shorter than advertised and I'm specifically looking to shoot fashion that day, I'll have no problem sending her home. I'll feel like a dick for a minute, sure, but she shouldn't have lied to begin with.
But, I can also understand there are some models who look very different than their pictures in person, yet photograph flawlessly. (And vise versa; There are some ladies who are gorgeous in person and you think 'model' when you see them, but the camera hates them and they end up taking terrible pictures for whatever reason.)
Kelleth wrote: If somebody completely misrepresents themself (ie changes hair colour/cut, drastic weight change, etc) you have every right to send them home.
Most models look pretty different in person. That's normal. But if you're talking total misrepresentation then send her packing.
Lol, I have to believe it's happened to all of us at one time or another. I had a model show up to a bikini shoot with an open hernia and pink hair (her hair was blonde in the images she'd sent, and no mention was made of the hernia). I did the shoot, but the images were useless to me.
Darkroom Art
Posts: 549
Burlington, New Jersey, US
HEF Images wrote: Always before a shoot with a model have a meet and greet to discuss the shoot...
This method has worked for me too. Removes any questions by model and/or photographer about the looks & what the models can expect from the shoot.
Just good business
Well i think it happens to most of us one time or another, I opted for the polite option, had a short shoot and bashed my head against the wall when i got home
While I agree it's bad form and very cheesy to get hoodwinked like that, for me, if the reincarnated Elephant Man showed up with two heads and caution tape, I'd still give it a go for the absolute challenge
James Scolari
Posts: 75
San Buenaventura, California, US
I've had it happen, with a paid gig, when I was a lot less experienced. Chalked it up to learning; it won't happen again. Faced with the same situation (that is, the model shows up looking much worse for wear than her portfolio advertises), I would scratch the shoot. Politely, not unkindly, but unequivocally.
If I book a model, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect her/him to not be too far from expectation - after all, that's the whole point of a portfolio, yes? Times and people change, and that's no sin -- but if a model has changed significantly from her portfolio, simple professionalism dictates a "heads up" at the time of booking, IMHO.
Can you make the images you planned with the current look? If not, send them home. The white knights that train these models to get away with this stuff is one of the reasons they do it. In 2012 I sent 2 models home for showing up for a fitness shoots with muffin tops. They said I could just photoshop their midsections. Wrong.
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