T A Y L O R  wrote:
I was talking to someone on MM the other day and he said he tipped his models. I can't recall ever having been tipped before, although I was given gas money once at a TF shoot in San Antonio after I "did really well" so that was nice.

Just curious if it's a common occurrence or not.

Are you talking about "tipping" on a TF, or a paid shoot?  Or both?

I've had 2 photographers try to give me significantly more than the agreed upon amount for a shoot, is that what you mean? I've never had anyone offer to pay or "tip" when the shoot was TF.

To answer your main question, I don't think it's common....at least not for me.

T A Y L O R  wrote:
I was talking to someone on MM the other day and he said he tipped his models. I can't recall ever having been tipped before, although I was given gas money once at a TF shoot in San Antonio after I "did really well" so that was nice.

Just curious if it's a common occurrence or not.

I would NEVER do that!!  ...well...maybe...

Raven-Lily wrote:
After reading this i feel extremely lucky with what i get offered to do TF shoots.

Not only do i receive all images.

Usually they reimburse me for my travel (or send the tickets in advance)

9 times out of 10 i turn up and they have prepared food and drinks, or they pay for us to eat at a cafe while on location.

They cover all studio costs.

Sometimes i go away with some clothing (usually bought specifically for me as im much curvier than the models they usually shoot)

I feel sorry for you that you only get images. I think a lot of English Models get the same as i get.

I guess I didn't understand the definition of a "tip." I don't consider any of those benefits a tip - food, drink, services to improve the shoot, travel expenses, images, etc.

I consider a tip as providing the model with additional money, on top of any agreed upon compensation, at the end of the project. Like you would slip a $10 bill to a valet.

Raven-Lily wrote:
I feel sorry for you that you only get images. I think a lot of English Models get the same as i get.

Really? You feel sorry for someone who is ONLY getting images? The entire point of a shoot is to obtain the highest quality images possible. Shouldn't that be the most valuable service/benefit offered?

I think if those poor models who evoke such sympathy from you were getting great images, I'm confident they would prefer that over a couple bottles of Dasani and a veggie dip plate.

"Hey, my images suck but I ate well" lol

Har Marshal wrote:
I don't do it frequently but have done it for models who have gone "above and beyond" during a shoot.  Sometimes it's as simple as handing them a $20.  Sometimes it's letting them keep part of the wardrobe.  I used to be part of a collective studio in the basement of a women's clothing store, and the owner let the models borrow items for shoots.  One model who did a fantastic job really liked the boots she shot in so I bought them for her.

At the same time, I am also willing to stop shoots that aren't going well and have fired models mid-shoot.

Oh cool! I love when photographers let me keep pieces, even if they're small it always means a lot to me. I was most recently given a lovely red dress that I adore.

Your firing stories sound terrible! Lemme get my popcorn; dish, dish!

Gary Melton wrote:

I would NEVER do that!!  ...well...maybe...

You're the second one as of late! I wasn't sure if I could name drop you. Didn't want to get brigged

T A Y L O R  wrote:
I was talking to someone on MM the other day and he said he tipped his models. I can't recall ever having been tipped before, although I was given gas money once at a TF shoot in San Antonio after I "did really well" so that was nice.

Just curious if it's a common occurrence or not.

I can think of one time.

Michael Pandolfo wrote:

I guess I didn't understand the definition of a "tip." I don't consider any of those benefits a tip - food, drink, services to improve the shoot, travel expenses, images, etc.

I consider a tip as providing the model with additional money, on top of any agreed upon compensation, at the end of the project. Like you would slip a $10 bill to a valet.

Either, both. I do think little things go a long way (having little snacks, refreshments are always really nice, just an added bonus). I was thinking specifically about additional money (like you'd tip a valet), but it's definitely true reading through this thread that things like food, drinks, gas money, images, etc. are all pleasant surprises when they happen and you weren't expecting them.

Now I'm contemplating baking cookies and surprising my next few photographers with them... gotta start turning the tables.

Wynd Mulysa wrote:

I can think of one time.

Don't smoke cigarettes. There's a second tip for you

Raven-Lily wrote:
After reading this i feel extremely lucky with what i get offered to do TF shoots.

Not only do i receive all images.

Usually they reimburse me for my travel (or send the tickets in advance)

9 times out of 10 i turn up and they have prepared food and drinks, or they pay for us to eat at a cafe while on location.

They cover all studio costs.

Sometimes i go away with some clothing (usually bought specifically for me as im much curvier than the models they usually shoot)

I feel sorry for you that you only get images. I think a lot of English Models get the same as i get.

Studio costs! That's one I didn't think of. Almost all the photographers I shoot with have home studios though, so that's usually not an added cost (unless you want to get technical and count the larger apartment/house size).

I'd say most people offer something to drink and some have snacks. Like I said earlier, it's an added bonus. I've gotten to work with a whole lotta really wonderful people, I'm not complaining at all that a few didn't include a cheese platter as part of our shoot.

T A Y L O R  wrote:
I was talking to someone on MM the other day and he said he tipped his models. I can't recall ever having been tipped before, although I was given gas money once at a TF shoot in San Antonio after I "did really well" so that was nice.

Just curious if it's a common occurrence or not.

I've never been "tipped" and I've never given someone cash when it wasn't agreed. Maybe because I've been poor the whole time I've been shooting.

Plenty of models I've shot with have "tipped" themselves by demanding more photos than agreed, but usually, that's flattering.

Doug Jantz wrote:
As the photographer I have had several clients tip me

I was just thinking about this. I have never had a tip moneywise but i have had dinner provided etc and i would like to tip the photographers i work with. What counts as a good tip. Bearing in mind i'm pretty pennyless haha!

NYMPH wrote:
Not as often as I would like. =P

I'm really grateful whenever I receive something above and beyond, no matter what it is. It feels good to be acknowledged for a job well done. I actually am working with a photographer who puts out a tip hat at the end of his workshops, which is really nice. I wish it was more of an industry standard.

I do love getting tipped with food. That is always delightful. Especially when I'm traveling, it's a nice way to get to know a city.

Do you tip photographers for a "job well done?"

And, I don't think of food as a "tip."  Kind of interesting that a photographer can be praised for providing food, when the same offer could be taken as "trying to date her" and make him look bad.

NYMPH wrote:
Not as often as I would like. =P

I'm really grateful whenever I receive something above and beyond, no matter what it is. It feels good to be acknowledged for a job well done. I actually am working with a photographer who puts out a tip hat at the end of his workshops, which is really nice. I wish it was more of an industry standard.

I do love getting tipped with food. That is always delightful. Especially when I'm traveling, it's a nice way to get to know a city.

Do you tip photographers for a "job well done?"

And, I don't think of food as a "tip."  Kind of interesting that a photographer can be praised for providing food, when the same offer could be taken as "trying to date her" and make him look bad.

Har Marshal wrote:
I don't do it frequently but have done it for models who have gone "above and beyond" during a shoot.  Sometimes it's as simple as handing them a $20.  Sometimes it's letting them keep part of the wardrobe.

I have done the same - usually when they show more skin than what was agreed upon.  But also once because the hike to the location was more difficult than expected.

Emily Hayworth wrote:
I would say it happens to me at least fifty percent of the time.  Usually it's an extra $20 for gas money or lunch, but sometimes it's a cool piece of wardrobe.

Oh yes wardrobe or other items often get thrown in as well which is wonderful

Art of the nude wrote:

Do you tip photographers for a "job well done?"

And, I don't think of food as a "tip."  Kind of interesting that a photographer can be praised for providing food, when the same offer could be taken as "trying to date her" and make him look bad.

On a TF shoot, I've only ever been handed money not previously discussed for gas.

I'm thinking we're using the word "tip" loosely, but I've been given extra money after a paid shot went well.

As far as food goes, I have bought photographers food after shoots before.

The problem with tipping photographers for a job well done, of course, is that you don't know if they did a good job until you get the photos. =P

Money-wise, I probably can't see tipping on a tf shoot, but if I paid a photographer that went above and beyond, maybe I would throw in something a little extra.

Jhono Bashian wrote:
I know that this is a service industry but tipping a model? I'll feed and water the talent,  I'll tip the pizza guy and even when I go for Chinese take out I'll leave a few bucks. NEVER when shooting a collaborative or  TF or T-anything with talent.

I don't know why, and I'm sure people are always happy to be rewarded financially above and beyond, and maybe it's just semantics, but something about "tipping a model" sounds so prostitute-y and seedy to me.

Or maybe I'm just hanging around with too many prostitutes.