Jay Dezelic wrote:
However, assuming communications are productive, professional and respectful, what sorts of things make photographers uncomfortable with models prior to a shoot?

What sort of questions should be asked to assure that a photographer is comfortable with the shoot idea?

It may have absolutely nothing to do with you.

For all we know, something could have come up on their end. Or an idea that was pretty cool in the discussion phase, doesn't sound so cool come crunch time. Could have lost a market (client, publication submission) thus not the shoot worthwhile.

Losing out on a shoot sucks big time. But hopefully, you didn't get so far into it where you can't do other things. When such instances happen, just be thankful you can sleep in the next day - many people will deny you that luxury by a no-call/no-show.

Lallure Photographic wrote:
...While your fashions may work for you, they won't do much for a photog's portfolio.

That depends on the portfolio and the target audience for the portfolio.  There is no absolute standard in making a portfolio.  It depends on who the photographer wants to inspire.

These are details I tend to sort out ahead of time because I don't want to waste someone's time if they are not comfortable shooting outside the box.  I had photographer tell me once that they don't shoot guys with long hair because it wasn't in style. That's just a personal choice.  I had another photographer ask me if it was legal for me to wear the clothes I design in public locations--I don't know what set of laws they were thinking of, but clearly they weren't comfortable with the idea.

I agree, I don't have much of a value proposition for photographers who want to shoot contemporary fashion, but there is nothing in my port that indicates that I do contemporary work.  I try to make it pretty clear what I am about. It's defiantly not mainstream, so it's pretty useless for 95% of the market. But there's a lot of people on this planet and some of them like different ideas.

DAVISICON wrote:
It likely had less to do with you, working with multiple people on one or both ends always complicates things more, because there are more opinions and possibly more conflict. What the wife may have liked, the guy may have not and they couldn't agree.

This is true.  Multiple decision makers can be less decisive.  If a subject is controversial, it's probably best to confirm a concept buy-in by all parties.

KelliePics wrote:
HAHAHA
I have had models cancel because:
"I broke my arm last night"
"There was a bomb scare at the Port Authority"
"I got arrested and just got out of jail"
"the bus driver saw me standing there but just kept going"
"I am now stranded, took the wrong bus, could you send me some money?"
"I had to take my wife out last night, stopped at McDonald's on the way to you, fell asleep in the parking lot for 3 hours, sorry"
"There was a 3 hour delay on the bus because of traffic"

the list goes on & on.
They are just whack jobs, weirdos, - the entire world is full of them, models, photographers, people.........men, women.

Just this morning I heard from a winner.
Have used him for work - he moved to Florida, when I called him to work again he acted like I was insignificant, I was lucky he was talking to me.

This morning he calls me to see how I am.  I told him if he wants to work, he has to get here.  We chatted a half hour.  Then finally I find out why he called,

"Could you do me a favor?"
I say what?  He says,
"Could you send me a thousand dollars?"

Well, this too is true.  People in general are flakier then ever it seems.  It's an epidemic that has become more of a norm than exception.  I am usually pretty good at vetting out flakes with old fashioned phone conversations prior to a shoot.  But not always.

In six years, I have never flaked out on a single shoot.  If I say I will be there, I'm there. And, I work until the job is done.  To me, work ethic should include respect for others in the commitments we make.  But then again, I'm not very contemporary.

Jay Dezelic wrote:
. . . .

However, assuming communications are productive, professional and respectful, what sorts of things make photographers uncomfortable with models prior to a shoot?

What sort of questions should be asked to assure that a photographer is comfortable with the shoot idea?

Just an off-the-top of my head guess, but I'd suspect a measure of homophobia on the husband's part.  Actually, I think that would be a problem that many male models face, whatever their own orientation.  Since it occurs entirely within the head of the uncomfortable person, there's really nothing the model can do but shrug and go on to the next shoot.  Whether as a photographer or as a model (or just as a person), I go to great lengths to avoid people that are uncomfortable with me if, after a reasonable effort, I can't get them to relax.  It just seems better to nip problems in the bud.  Other than that, I'm turned off by,
Humorless people,
Argumentative people,
Demanding or uncompromising people,
Uncommitted people.

As to the questions one might ask:
"I like to . . . (fill in the blanks).  What do you think about that?
"Have you ever done anything like this?"
"Have you discussed this idea with your (partner, designer, client, MUA) or anybody else that might have an opinion on the project?
"Do you have any reservations about the project?"
come to mind.

All IMHO as always, of course.

Farenell Photography wrote:
It may have absolutely nothing to do with you.

+1

Lallure Photographic wrote:
What may have been of interest to the wife, may not have been of interest to the photog.

+1

Laura Bello wrote:
Photographers (and I'm sure other talent as well) can end up having second thoughts and backing away from a shoot for a number of reasons, even just that they got preoccupied with something else and will come back to you later.  There's really nothing you can do to avoid this it just happens sometimes unfortunately.

I agree with the "second thoughts" comment. What is a great idea today may become a bad idea tomorrow.

But just one worthless opinion.   

Darren Brade wrote:
Since it's a husband/wife team, then more likely only one of them wanted to shoot you, however the other one got to call the shots.

It's a shame when it happens.

or they simply did couldn't agree to proceed

Darren Brade wrote:
Since it's a husband/wife team, then more likely only one of them wanted to shoot you, however the other one got to call the shots.

It's a shame when it happens.

Seems to me like it's very possible that the husband disagreed with the wife in regards to the shoot.   I'm sorry that you got late canceled on.  It helps when you are dealing with just one person.  There is a reason that partnerships, including marriages may not always last.  It's hard to know if both are on board.

Jay Dezelic wrote:
I just had a fashion photoshoot get cancelled (the night before the shoot) because the photographer became uncomfortable with the idea.  It was actually a husband and wife team where I had been dealing with the wife whom had posted a fashion shoot casting on Craigslists for a model and designer (which I am both).  They initiated the shoot idea after reviewing my MM port.  She claimed to really like my unconventional approach to fashion and seemed to have a good understanding of my vision to change the way people think about fashion.

Nothing had been changed in my port nor did we seem to have any misunderstanding that should reasonably warrant a cancelation due to subject matter (at least that I could see).  My unique fashion ideas are pretty explanatory on my port.

The last minute cancelation was a disappointment because I had worked for several days to get new fall wardrobe designs ready for the shoot. 

I have done a fair number of shoots but have not ever had a cancellation because someone became uncomfortable with shooting my work after making a commitment.  Most photographers can decide up front whether or not my style fits their genre.

Oh well--when shit happens, we must move on.

I don't hold a grievance against the photographers because everyone is entitled to their own changing opinions--besides, the last thing I want to waste time with is someone who is uncomfortable behind the camera.

However, assuming communications are productive, professional and respectful, what sorts of things make photographers uncomfortable with models prior to a shoot?

What sort of questions should be asked to assure that a photographer is comfortable with the shoot idea?

You mentioned something very key and this may have been touched on already, but the fact that it was a husband-and-wife team tells me that there was some discussion behind closed doors they could not agree on. Having shot with my wife we have had a host of disagreements about content and direction for shoots... Chances are this is what happened with them. One of the parties was not in total agreement with the way it should've gone thus resulting in you being X'd out completely... It's really sad because tons of photographers complain about clients not being consistent and reliable or canceling last minute, yet you have those whom are inconsiderate of time themselves...