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What to do WITH bad references?
Ive been lucky to work with some great photogs. I haven't always checked refs, but i should and do now, etc etc. I assume someone wouldn't tag a person if they knew they were giving bad references. At the same time I like being able I message an mm model opposed to just shooting out an email. I know the person, especially if they have a full port, is legit. Oddly This is the first time this has happened (like I said, I've been lucky to have positive people to shoot with this far!) but the ref was really negative. I will deff not out the model. She was kind enough to give me her honest opinion! But it's the only one I've gotten thus far. It wasn't accusatory suggesting he was inappropriate, but not very flattering. I hate to make any decision with just a single reference because his port and idea were super fun. Have you given feedback to photog if you've canceled Bc refs were bad? Or just canceled with lots of notice for no reason? And have you worked with someone who got a bad ref that you loved? I mean let's face it. Some people just don't click! Jun 06 14 11:33 am Link Just go with your gut feeling. I had a horrible experience with one model but know it's not the end all to how she works; there have been others that loved working with her. Same can be true in your case, maybe the model and the photographer just clashed. Look at his overall presence and check other recent models that worked with him. Jun 06 14 11:40 am Link I would not cancel without a very good reason. I don't think vague accusations are enough. I want details. Jun 06 14 12:09 pm Link A bad reference is just a part of the picture. It's hard to go on one story. What's best is to develop a picture of the person through looking at their profile, their portfolio, and any references that you can get on them. FWIW I know many of Philadelphia's photographers and would be happy to give you my take on the person if I know them (privately of course). Jun 06 14 12:11 pm Link You bring up a very good point, sometimes people just don't click and you can never be sure if that will be your expiernce. I would look for another reference but if not go with your gut feeling. You don't want to miss a great opportunity but you don't want a miserable one. Do you speak to the reference or was it just electronic? I ask because sometimes I have spoken to a reference that I know I would not have worked well with myself, so I can weight the opinion. Obviously the reverse is also true if you feel you and the reference have the same attitude and work style. Neither side really wants a bad expierence Jun 06 14 12:18 pm Link Sounds like you don't have enough to go on to make an informed decision. I would look at the photographer's port, and try to search him on google and Facebook to see if you can get anymore information. Worse comes to worse, I guess you could always set up a meeting (get coffee) with the photographer to see if there is rapport. Jun 06 14 12:24 pm Link No I don't. It's only been a few days since I sent out messages so hopefully some will filter in shortly. It was just disappointing because I have a very good feeling. Too soon to form an though, I agree Jun 06 14 01:58 pm Link Maybe they just had a clash of personalities. Jun 06 14 02:17 pm Link 
Model Posts: 730 Amundsen-Scott - permanent station of the US, Unclaimed Sector, Antarctica Always consider the source, whether it is a good or bad reference. Many years ago I asked a local model for a reference on someone. She highly recommended this photographer, and I could see that she had worked with him multiple times. Good, right? This guy waits until the end of our shoot and then asks me if I could take a picture of him. I told him that I didn't understand why - I had no experience with a camera. Then he told me what he wanted to do while I was taking his picture... and I threw him out. I went back to the model who gave me the reference, told her what happened and she said "oh, yeah, I do that for him. I don't mind." What the hell? When you get a negative reference, consider the reputation of the person who gave it (if you can). Generally, when I have gotten bad references, it has confirmed feelings I already had. Your case seems different, so I would suggest that you have additional dialogue with the potential photographer. If you've only communicated through email, maybe arrange a phone call? Jun 06 14 03:09 pm Link Far as I know, I've only had one disgruntled model, and that was a long time ago. She started a rumor, and a photographer picked it up and ran with it. Another model heard what was going on and stepped in, verbally giving both of them a smack-down. I'm still appreciative. As others have said, get specifics. Vague stuff can just mean there was poor communications between model and photographer, or that the model didn't like the style, or any of a thousand things. The thing that made a shoot bad for one model might make it great for you. Jun 06 14 03:18 pm Link lynne g wrote: I have experienced this a few times. when the reference is bad enough, I look for multiple references- I will postpone the shoot until I receive at least one other reference. If every model I talk to says something bad about the photog, I will cancel the shoot and let the photographer know exactly why I canceled. I don't feel like it's my professional duty to protect their feelings from their own reputation. And personally, if someone gave me a bad reference, I would hope to hear about it. I've only had to cancel like that about two times in a four, almost five, year span. Jun 13 14 02:32 pm Link lynne g wrote: lynne if you have a bad feeling about it, dont do it. Jun 14 14 02:23 pm Link lynne g wrote: A bad reference that indicates personality mismatch is a very light coloured orange flag. I think you'd need more orange flags to cancel. (And one reference with safety issues are obviously dark orange and it wouldn't need much information to tip into red flag territory). Jun 14 14 05:38 pm Link Great port, great idea vs one single reference that you say "wasn't accusatory" Some personalities clash, people have bad days, etc. I think you're casting doubt a little prematurely. Jun 15 14 02:13 pm Link DiDi Edwards wrote: What did he want to do? My imagination is at full speed! Jun 15 14 06:44 pm Link Locutus wrote: I agree with this advice. Jun 15 14 06:45 pm Link |
have fun!
