Question for the models!

For a trade shoot with a photographer you WANT to work with, do you prefer:


a) Having a good amount of voice and control in a shoot's mood, styling, and sending the photographer images you like as ideas

b) Mostly leaving it up to the photographer and stylists, but getting a handful of inspiration images from them

c) Showing up ready for anything but without any really knowledge of the details



Half the time I have all of my ideas in my head and don't have much to show the model, so I end up having to just describe it and google/pinterest around to find something, which rarely is successful. 

How would you prefer a photographer tell his vision?

I'm between B and C, but closer to B.

I like surprises, but I like to know a bit of what's expected.

B.

A or B.

I have had control over most of my TFP shoots. I always throw out a lot of ideas before hand, set up a casting call and see who's interested.

I like doing photographers ideas too, of course. So far, for TFP, not many have approached me with anything other than wanting to shoot and figuring out ideas on the spot. I really don't like doing this though, I like a lot of planning and inspiration. C wouldn't be a good approach for me.

It depends on a lot of things, everyone has a different working style.

If I get the sense that the photographer/artist is someone that wants a lot of input and collaboration from the model, I offer my ideas and input.

If they seem to have a fuzzy idea but give me enough to work off of (what to bring, how to prepare, general mood to go for), I am comfortable with that.

If they are a 100% fly by the seat of their pants person but have the portfolio to back it up? Works for me.

What I can't deal with? Someone giving very little or no pre-shoot info and when i show up expecting me to have full make up, a specific garment, or to be shaved/have a bush (I go either way and need to plan far ahead).

A or B. I despise walking into anything blind. I love when I can convey an idea and execute it with the right people, but i also love being a part of someone's well thought-out and well planned idea.

I always want to know ahead of time what we will be doing, and to share examples. Sometimes I send the photographer a few ideas, or they look at my list of pictures for inspiration, other times they send me their ideas. Either way it's important to know at least the basics of where we are going.

C wouldn't interest me at all.

I prefer A or B, though enjoy having a few minutes of C in there for both of our sake's.  My ultimate steer-guide is asking if there is a particular image or two that they would like to recreate with our own flair. It helps give directions to us both in case they don't know what exactly they would like to do.

B
And Pinterest helps a lot.

I can and have done all three. For me, it depends a lot on, well, a lot of things.

Sometimes a photographer has a very specific idea in mind. For example, I recently shot a gothic rag doll concept with a photographer friend. He showed me a lot of examples and asked me to pick a couple I liked best (mainly in terms of the make-up style). Then he narrowed it down from my picks. I consulted with him on the wardrobe, brought some options, and he picked the final look. There was an MUA/hair stylist who worked off of his instruction for the most part as well. Once we got to shooting, he gave me a general direction, and I worked in the expressions and poses I thought would work, and he fine tuned them when needed. That was probably B.

Other times, I have completely styled the shoot, usually because I had a specific item or theme I wanted to shoot and the photographer liked it. Usually we would then finely develop the idea together. I'm big on collaboration when I work with others, even on my own ideas. I guess that would be A.

And then I have shown up to shoots where the photographer had images printed out or an assistant and they finely tuned every detail. Most times those were paid shoots, but I think a time or two they were TF. I don't do that as much now, usually I like to know at least a basic concept. Now, if you have a specific vision, but you can't really show me online/in messages, but you can tell me what I need to bring, and then you'll show me more when I get there, I'd be fine with that too, if you can give me a really basic idea of the general style/idea.

So generally, I guess A or B would be my choice for TF work for my portfolio. If I am shooting TF for an art exhibition or something else, it might be more like B or C, mainly because the photographer is then an artist (not that they aren't in portfolio work, of course) and I am more likely helping to execute their vision.

B.

I'm surprised there aren't more solid "A's" here.

But I guess the reason you would choose to work with a photographer in the first place would be for his "B"?

A,B or C works with me depending on who the photographer is.

A- If they are a photographer I've worked with once or twice and we are starting to be friends.

B- When the photographer is super talented.

C- when the photographer is my buddy and I'm looking to just shoot for fun.

A or B. C hasn't worked in my favor just yet, but I'm not terribly experienced so that doesn't say much.

A and B, usually leaning more towards A, but I can teeter towards B if I really trust the photographers and stylists (which can be gained if I've seen their portfolio and have a consistent vision and style that I really like, and/or if I have worked with them before).

I don't think I've ever been a C type of model...I like having at least some control over the shoots I'm in, especially since I frequently submit to publications.

B when a photographer approaches me to do a shoot or when I should get picked from a casting call-reply of his/hers. Because the photographer has a specific idea in his head to work out I think. If needed, I can think along, but the final decisions are with the photographer.

A should be fine with me too, did that once now. I styled myself and let the mua make her own creative piece of art to match my outfit. I have a lot of ideas actually and also quite a pinterestcollection now. All I have to do is turn it into moodboards and post a castingcall actually...

Love n welcome sharing ideas for shoots.

Five or six years ago, it was C - basically I just shot whatever the photographer wanted/needed. Pretty much never had an MUA or stylist, so input from a "team" was moot. There was never a team. Maybe 5 times in 5 years, I had access to professional make-up for a trade shoot. Might not have even been that often. I didn't have the range of experience then that I have now, or the portfolio, so almost any good picture that came back was beneficial to me.

These days, it needs to be more like A or B - preferably A. Otherwise, I honestly don't take away too much from a shoot. I have only very specific things I need now, only very specific things I can use, and if I manage to get one image that fulfills what I'm seeking, then I'm happy with the shoot.

To be completely honest, at this point, MY best scenario is just paying someone who will allow me to be full art director, who will allow me to bring in an MUA of my choice, who will let me take total control. Then, I get what I need, and they get some cash to keep them from feeling disgruntled if the shots I directed do not interest them. Often, that is the case, because models and photographers want/need different things for their portfolios.

It keeps everyone happy. I much prefer it over trade shoots now, at least for portfolio work.

A: Mainly that route these days, as I find I get more results that way, esp if I have put out a casting call. I have a ton of stuff I wanna try out, so ideas are aplenty for a shoot.

B: If I love the photographers work and can see that it is something I would love to try. But I would pick them also if I have ideas similar to theirs.

c: If it is a paid job for a client.

Used to turn up to TF in the early days, totally blind and the results were not successful most of the time.