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Last minute model cancellations
I've had model cancellations every week for the past 3 weeks. One was less than 24 hours (friend of a friend), two were within ONE HOUR of our scheduled time (those were the same model - should have learned my lesson the first time!). Needless to say, I'm just a little frustrated. How do you deal with last minute cancellations, especially if they're so frequent? Do you have an agreement with cancellation fee? Backup models? I suppose I'm just a victim of circumstance, but planning my entire day around someone who then cancels with literally no time for me to find someone else...Yarg! Mar 07 14 06:02 pm Link Happened to me one year ago while I was already in the train to go to the location. Check the model's references, confirm with her 24 hours before. Make sure she understands that cancellation is not an option ^^ Valenten http://www.valentenphotography.com Mar 07 14 06:22 pm Link Valenten Photography wrote: I confirm the week before, week of and day before haha just because I can't stand cancellations. They say, "Yup, we're still good!" until the last minute -_- Mar 07 14 06:28 pm Link OP: It happens, if it is the same model like you mention, I would get a new model. That simply means that they do not take the shoot seriously and it is a waste of everyone's time involved to even schedule. Sure there is the legitimate circumstance where things do happen, and schedules have to be rescheduled, but three times says something is up. Keep shooting very often also. The more that you shoot, the less that you will care if one does not show up because you will always have work in the hopper to work on. good luck Mar 07 14 06:35 pm Link Hi Elyse. Long time since we talked. Models (and photographers) cancel regularly. Sometimes it is nobodies fault. My models and MUAs have had family emergencies, automobile breakdowns, illness and more. I've had day-job emergencies that kept me from shooting. My solution is to schedule shoots at our Allentown studio with more than one photographer and more than one model and sometimes more than one MUAH. That way, if any of us fails to show it's not a total disaster. -- John -- Mar 07 14 06:37 pm Link OP, unfortunately it will happen. You can do some things to help prevent it but, some things just can't be prevented no matter what steps you take. There are some who say they have never had a flake and that may be true for some but for the average person, it's not if but when it happens to try not to get upset and try to have a backup plan. Mar 07 14 06:42 pm Link About the only way you can minimize cancellations is to book through an Agency. Agencies don't take kindly to models not showing up without a really good reason. Mar 07 14 06:45 pm Link Elyse N Jankowski Photo wrote: Hey, I hear (understand) you! Mar 07 14 06:50 pm Link Sometimes I'll book one model at an earlier time and another model a little later, that way if one doesn't show the other will and the day's not a waste. I've also thought about finding a few models that live by my studio and seeing if they'd be able to come on short notice. My studio time is limited, so if I have a model pull a no-show I just cross her off and work with someone else. I've learned my lesson on that one already  Mar 07 14 06:53 pm Link happens all the time, it seems the more excited a model is the less likely she is to show...anyhow, in the winter i shoot at my house, so flakes aren't too devistating, there is always something to do here, it just kills me that i could be doing something else... so at least know that it happens all the time. Mar 07 14 06:55 pm Link Linkville Photo wrote: Not always true unfortunately. There are plenty of agency models that flake even for high profile paying commercial gigs none the less aside from just MM style work. Yes, agencies don't like it when the models don't show up either because they don't make their cut when that happens, and their time is wasted too, but again, just because someone is with an agency does not guarantee that they will show. People are people, and some are more on point than others. Mar 07 14 07:03 pm Link Last minute is almost always bullshit! I've heard every excuse in the book after being on here two years. It's all bullshit. I don't believe anything anyone tells me anymore. Agency model or not, people are full of shit. It doesn't matter who they work for. The only thing you can do is never work with them ever! That's all you can do. Don't get me wrong, some models show up rain or shine and some are quite the opposite. Mar 07 14 07:03 pm Link Any time a model begins to exhibit poor communication, I stop and withdraw my shoot offer or cancel it. That's the surest sign of a flake. Other than that, any last minute cancellation by the model, that is with less than 24 hours notice, I do not reschedule a shoot no matter the reason given. With these two things I seldom have a flake any more. I feel good because my rate of killing off grandmothers has really dropped to almost nothing. Mar 07 14 07:14 pm Link Consider yourself lucky at least they called. Not much you can do about it. Paying the model does help but it is not a guarantee. First time I shoot a model it is at my home studio. If I get a no show not that big a deal. I make no elaborate plans for a first time shoot. Mar 07 14 07:20 pm Link If it were a regular occurrence, I'd revisit my vetting process. Mar 07 14 07:49 pm Link Charlie-CNP wrote: Amen to your last point! Trying to shoot as often as possible Mar 08 14 07:12 am Link Canvassy wrote: That's actually what I did today, so at least one of two shoots is happening! Mar 08 14 07:12 am Link DVP Photography wrote: Great point - I can almost always tell when they start getting flaky! Even if they haven't actually cancelled, the communication falls off closer to the shoot. Mar 08 14 07:14 am Link Bare Essential Photos wrote: Great point - my schedule is such (work full time, only available to shoot weekends) that I try to book in advance, but that's when things tend to go flake Mar 08 14 07:16 am Link Elyse N Jankowski Photo wrote: At least they let you know they have cancelled. I often learn that a model has cancelled when she just doesn't show up Mar 08 14 07:16 am Link Last minute stuff doesn't bother me too much, I just try to shoot another time. The only real bother is if I invested money, like recently I spend 40 bucks (at lot for me) on something for a shoot that was trying to get published and the model, last minute, said she didn't have the time to spend on the theme and asked if we could do something more basic. That was fine but I'm going to do the original idea with someone else now so there's that. I'm pretty understanding. I have this stomach disorder thing so a lot of times I'll get sick last minute and have to cancel on people but 90% of the time we shoot a few days/a couple weeks later when I'm feeling better. Really if someone cancels last minute once or twice it's probably not gonna stop me from working with them, normally I don't take when I do super seriously. Three times in a row though that's where I draw the line, I'll never work with that person. Mar 08 14 07:21 am Link Ariadne Photography wrote: A lot can be told about their delivery as to how legitimate they are. Sure, life happens, there are second chances for some who try, but not others who clearly don't respect other peoples' time. Mar 08 14 07:29 am Link Check references If you have a lot invested in the shoot use an agency, they will send you your backup model and deal with the first one. Mar 08 14 07:35 am Link Late cancels happen..it isn't just you. I myself have had to cancel shoots on occasion, so I cut models slack. Back-up plan really depends on the shoot. If it's a casual location shoot nearby and there's a cancel I just carry on with my day. However, IF I've travelled and/or invested in a location and/or the day is wasted unless I shoot I usually have one or two models (who are nearby) on 'standby'. I explain that I've booked a shoot at such-and-such, expect the model by X o'clock, and ask if they might be available short notice if Model 1 gets abducted by aliens or something. This has happened once (I think the aliens still have her), and the last-minute model was sensational Mar 08 14 07:36 am Link Cancellation would be nice They just dont show up or answer calls I double book when I want to be sure I get a shoot in Mar 08 14 07:37 am Link M/M is about the worst place ever to find reliable models. Learn it. Know it. Live it. Elyse N Jankowski Photo wrote: Don't do that ever, even if it's a model you've worked with before. Step one is getting rid of the flakes before you even start planning to shoot with them (this is a skill that will come with time; learning to spot the red flags) but the reality is that stuff does come up. But at least if you have a rapport with the model, you'll have better idea if you're being fed a load of shit or not. Mar 08 14 07:44 am Link I've been very lucky that I haven't really had last minute cancellations. What I do get is models not responding in a timely manner or not at all. I guess they weed themselves out this way. What I do is to invest as little money as possible in a shoot. I shoot from my home studio when indoors. For outdoor stuff I shoot in not too far off places like Central Park, etc. It's close for me. I did have situations where there was a model and the MUA bailed. The model was depressed but I told her that if she wants that she can call me later and we'll do a shoot without the MUA. This model called me back hours later and we did have a great shoot together. She did her own makeup and we tried quite a few way different looks. We were both happy. Mar 08 14 07:47 am Link Sorry OP it definitely sucks. I had one cancellation and one reschedule this weekend. In the many years I have been utilizing Model mayhem for TFP shoots I have learned to do the following. -Speak with the model on the phone. Almost all shoots where I actually talk to them happen without a hitch. When it is texts or messages I think people don't take it as serious. -make friends with other photographers in your area. Talk about who you have shot with and build a little networking community -I contact the model one hour before the shoot. I honestly don't start preparing for the shoot until then. I always try to make back up plans beforehand. Try and stay positive I give some models a few chances if I really want to work with them. I am glad I did because I would have missed out on some amazing shoots if I only gave them one strike. Models that I am indifferent about I stay polite with but don't reschedule. No idea who they talk too or who they will be a few years from now when (if) they mature. Hope this helps Joseph Mar 08 14 07:52 am Link I usually check in the week before, confirm 24hr before (no confirm-no shoot) and ask for a text the day of- before they head over. The serious ones understand and have no issue with that. If the model's communication becomes more brief, or if there is a greater span of time between responses, leading up to the shoot, ...they will probably not show- they're initial enthusiasm is fading. Have to say- when I first joined MM I worked with a lot of models here. In the past 2 years....zero. There seems to be a shift in the seriousness of many models (of course there are always professional, reliable ones). Even the lure of paid gigs doesn't always increase reliability. Always, Always have a back up plan such as editing photos, test shooting, experimenting with lights/concepts. Never let a flake piss your day away Mar 08 14 08:08 am Link Elyse N Jankowski Photo wrote: Always have a plan b and for those who have decided to not show up for a sheduled shoot, don't bother with them again. Their names go in the not reliable list. Lesson learned. Deal with professionals or with enthusiastic beginners who are hungry to work and aren't here just to kill time. Mar 08 14 08:21 am Link Jay Farrell wrote: Well vetting, or maybe something being said is turning them off. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. It's not always the other persons problem. Mar 08 14 08:26 am Link Andrew Thomas Evans wrote: This is a valid point. Mar 08 14 08:27 am Link If I may chime in again. Have stuff in your portfolio that models want for their portfolios. This will make them eager to come to work with you. If they are not enthused about your work then they will be prone to cancel if they answer you at all. If you have headshots then models needing headshots will come to you eagerly. If you have agency style work then agency models will come to you. If you have commercial stuff then commercial models will generally want to work with you. Give them what they want and have it displayed in your portfolio. I know it doesn't showcase what you'd like to do but you can have a portfolio somewhere else and show off the works that you like to show off. Mar 08 14 08:32 am Link I don't do paid shoots yet, mostly TFP. I find models regularly cancel, maybe because it's not paid idk. I still think they shouldn't wait until the last minute though. Its mostly models from MM. I've also had several models contact me on here who like my port and want something similar, we talk and plan out the shoot then suddenly they disappear....these are usually new models though so I guess I shouldn't expect much. Paid or not, it gets annoying. Mar 08 14 08:35 am Link I've had so many cancellations, I can't count them. That doesn't bother me too much, because things happen. And no one is obligated to shoot with us, even if you've given me a deposit, it's still your choice to shoot or not shoot. I've even had to cancel shoots or reschedule them. And even when it's a valid reason it can come off as BS. For example, once my wife feel and broke her ankle so had to take her to the ER the morning of a shoot. And once our house was being inspected for termites and the inspector was two hours late. Mbith of those "excuses" sound like garbage, but life happens outside of what we do or control. What bothers me is flakes. When people just don't show up and then disappear. But it usually ends up being a person who will have the same four pictures in their portfolio for the next three years. Some people like the idea of being a model, photographer, make up artist, but don't actually want to do the work. Being courted is all some want. Mar 08 14 08:39 am Link Ask every model to shoot with you. In the end you will get enough models who do show and your portfolio will grow. In my experience flakes don't cancel because of you but more because of them. Either they are: Not serious about modeling - will be gone soon lack common courtesy - blame their parents no professional - people learn not good people - people change shit happens - let it go My MM rule #1, take nothing personal, turn the other cheek and forgive but don't forget. Mar 08 14 08:42 am Link analog light wrote: Paid or not, professionalism is an attitude, not something that just shows up because there is money involved. Just sayin'. Mar 08 14 08:42 am Link Marin Photography NYC wrote: Model Mayhem. The #1 cause for dead grandmothers since 2005 Mar 08 14 09:54 am Link Always blame the victim Maybe it was what you were wearing... too sexy "Asking for it" Mar 08 14 09:57 am Link I spent most of this winter at a Refuge 20 miles from my house working on my second book on Bald Eagles. I would arrive at the blind 45 minutes before dawn. For a week it was 25 below zero. I would sit and wait somedays 200 eagles would show up, other days none. It got me to thinking how similar it is to shooting models. The difference is I have never seen an eagle with an I phone so I knew they didn't have the ability to call me to say they couldn't make it. Mar 08 14 10:34 am Link |
