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Underage models? Never again..
So, recently, I was traveling 300+ miles away from my hometown to shoot in the mountains, and decided to check out a few model ports in hopes of finding someone available to shoot with. After contacting several models, i was in turn contacted by a 17 year old (who was turning 18 within a month or so) who was interested in being part of the shoot which did NOT involve nudity of any kind. So, the arrangements were made, and I left a day early with the intent of meeting the model, having her look over my portfolio, letting her know what was involved in the project, etc. Halfway from my home the her hometown (the shoot location was another hours' drive past her hometown) my cell rings, and it's her. She's telling me she has to cancel, because of her mother who had apparently decided t was my intention to kidnap her daughter and do horrid things to her. So, I kind of get on the defensive, and calmly, I explain the fact that I'm married, have kids, my wife works for the catholic school board, gave her my credentials, work history, previous and current employers, etc - I even went so far as to have the models mother contact my parents who live in the same town as her. After half an hour on the phone, I hang up, and fume for a bit. A few minutes later, the phone rings again, and it's her, telling me her mother wants a sit down and a face to face meet. Not a problem, so we arrange a meet on the south end of town. So, in marches her and her mother, and her mother makes it absolutely clear from the word GO that she is NOT a friendly person. She is cold, hostile, and non-conversational and I spend the next hour defending myself from all her "red flag" accusations. IE: why my home phone number isn't listed in the phone book (My home phone is VIOP) etc. So, after all of that, they leave, and I sit there, pissed off, feeling like a jerk that just had to prove himself as someone who is NOT a GWC. What pisses me off the most is that I put out an ad for a model, the girl answered the ad AS a model, and then I had to sit there and defend my intentions as though I'd sought out HER. All arrangements were made long before the shoot was to take place, and of this stuff took place last minute on my way to meet the model.. Not to mention that there was other photographers at the shoot, other models, and it was a well chaperoned event. (I even had another photographer from the shoot come to the meeting to confirm everything I'd told them) Add to all, the girl looks to be at LEAST 24, works full time in a law firm, has her own car, has a port full of work from previous shoots, and is mature well beyond her years and seemed to be well in control of her own modeling career. As of now, I have yet to hear back from the model, who said (even at the meeting with her mother) that she was still interested in shooting, and would like me to keep her in mind for future projects and what not, has blown me off in all attempt to follow up and see what her intentions are.. (I just got a "I'm taking a hiatus" copout) So, moral of the story? At all costs, avoid working with underage models, no matter what her circumstances might be. It was a huge, monumental waste of my time, money and effort. I will never, ever, ever - under any circumstances, even feign interest in working with someone underage again, period. Jul 08 07 03:18 pm Link Bummer but nice rant! On a scale of 1-10 a 7. I have never had a problem with parents and underage, but they usually find me. I hardly ever go shopping. Jul 08 07 03:25 pm Link Sorry that happened to you - I find the situation smacks of irony as just yesterday I was ostracized being online here and dealing with prospective photographers, MUA's and wardrobe stylists instead of allowing my teenaged daughter to do it herself. Go figure. . . Don't let this experience sour you to young models.. just use it as a lesson and next time, if you book with someone under 18, tell them their parents have to contact you *before you will agree to the shoot. Tracy Jul 08 07 03:30 pm Link I'm shooting with a 17 year old model on Thursday.  Jul 08 07 03:31 pm Link photiesto wrote: I agree with you. Jul 08 07 03:35 pm Link Nick Zantop wrote: From what agency...? Jul 08 07 03:36 pm Link 215 Studios wrote: From the Agencie de la ModeleMayhame Jul 08 07 03:42 pm Link I find a phone call with parents reduces the potential for problems by a considerable margin, whoever approached whom, and whatever the basis for the shoot under consideration. As it happens, I've yet to be blown out when there's been a phone call beforehand to check that everyone's on the same page, but if it were to happen then at least I'd get blown out at minimal cost (time and money) at the planning stage and in plenty of time to make alternative arrangements. Jul 08 07 03:42 pm Link I don't blame ya man...too many legal girls out there to go through that much hastle. First sign of bullshit and I walk...no point in trying to defend yourself against someone that already has their mind set. She did you a favor...I'll bet she would have made the shoot a living hell.... Jul 08 07 03:43 pm Link Is there some reason to believe that in a month or so when she turns 18 the mother will suddenly have a change of heart? Jul 08 07 03:44 pm Link Nick Zantop wrote: Megan said you'd already shot. Anyways, we wants teh pix... Jul 08 07 03:45 pm Link Nick Zantop wrote: Ohhhhh! You and Megan together, huh? I can't wait to see these! Jul 08 07 03:45 pm Link Yes, the moral is - don't...=*^) Here is the opposite to what happened to you: I was contacted by a 15 year old girl who wanted to be my assistant - unpaid - she just loved my work and wanted to learn from me. I told her - this was thru the phone - that i couldn't do it as she was underage and this is America... Then her mother called, asked me to come to dinner with her, the dad and the girl. I figured, ok, a free meal, why not - and the girl had sounded very mature on the phone and the mother was very nice too. So, we had dinner at my favorite Thai restaurant, they told me they loved my work, would sign any kind of paper my attorney wanted them to sign and were just lovely people. The girl by the way had the loveliest hands I'd seen in a long time - I really wanted to shoot them...=*^) In the end I declined as my attorney was dead set against it. As he explained, if the girl ever got angry with me, all she had to say was that I had 'touched her in-appropriately' and I'd be up the creek without the paddle... Christer Jul 08 07 03:45 pm Link I have not yet worked with an underage model, but I'd have no problem with it as long as one of the parents signs a release. Jul 08 07 03:47 pm Link ChristerArt wrote: Your attorney steered you wrong. If the girl's parents were on board with it and she was going to be in a supervised setting (you like with the models around and the other assistants) there would have been no problem. Call her back, apologize and let her in on your next shoot. Jul 08 07 03:47 pm Link Madcrow Studios wrote: not that I recalls. Jul 08 07 03:47 pm Link Yeah, that blows. I've gotten to the point I will *never* travel to do a model shoot unless the model is either in the Jeep with me or in caravan around me. The ONLY exception is to meet with someone I've worked with before. I usually travel to photo nature and hunt fossils and if I need a quick model I can go to the nearest conveininance store or Micky D's and get one. Tell me they aren't "Professional" all you like and I'll drop a portfolio on the table that will buckle the legs of over 20 years of work that is outstanding and prize winning and *none* of the models were trained or even model-wannabees. They were willing to 'Just do it." and that's 90% of it there. A trained no-show is still a non-shoot no matter how many letters and pics she has in her port. With the amount of time and the effort I put into creating works of art I'm not about to piss away the extra $$ and time for a maybe anymore. BTDT. Now a prospective ,odel can come to me OR prepay the expenses I will knowingly incur if she is a flake. Yes-it has cut into the amount of models I work with HOWEVER-the quality of both the models and the creations we make outweight the hassles of 'wanna-bees' and 'players' by a thousandfold. Jul 08 07 03:47 pm Link Nick Zantop wrote: I misread her post... Jul 08 07 03:48 pm Link photiesto wrote: you're kidding, right? Jul 08 07 03:54 pm Link ChristerArt wrote: i'd be even more paranoid with a portfolio contaning nudes or extreme weird disturbing non sexual art. Should a parent see all of my art, it be easier for a minor to get the cops to think i'm a peverted gwc. Jul 08 07 03:54 pm Link Jul 08 07 03:58 pm Link Madcrow Studios wrote: where is this post I have never seen? Jul 08 07 03:58 pm Link Nick Zantop wrote: Off-topic, where mere mortals n'er tread. I misread an "it" Jul 08 07 03:58 pm Link photiesto wrote: I've never had that problem. Of course I didn't travel a long distance and I made it known from the very beginning contacts that I expected her mother to be there and even sent them home to read over the model release and ask any questions they had during our initial pre-shoot meeting. Jul 08 07 04:07 pm Link If you review my portfolio most of my clients are seniors in high school (I specialize in senior photography) - However I'm lucky childrens parents contact me first So I'm off the rope there, however I have paper work up the wazo for the parents and " models " to fill out to insure protection of both parties. - Never are implied nudes, nudes or anything of the nature involved with my photography for models unless they can provide a birth certificate, photo ID. - If those are not provided and I do not have a strong gut feeling that everything is truthful I will not shoot the individual period. To risky to go to jail over something so trivial. - Photographers are getting arrested left and right in my area for photographing models that are younger than 18. As I you said. - IT'S NOT worth it at all. - ONLY time I shoot a minor is if the parent contacts me first and they pay a deposit. Jul 08 07 04:07 pm Link ChristerArt wrote: Salem, 1700's: "She's a witch!" Jul 08 07 04:10 pm Link You fail to consult with her legal guardians before driving out there!!! It's your fault not the underage model. I would be piss too if you ask my child (I don't have any) without my permission 1st. Jul 08 07 04:16 pm Link d30john wrote: Actually she asked him... Jul 08 07 04:23 pm Link No one under 18. PERIOD. No time for headaches. Jul 08 07 04:25 pm Link Madcrow Studios wrote: In the eyes of the law, she can't ask. Jul 08 07 04:28 pm Link d30john wrote: Madcrow Studios wrote: It doesn't matter who ask who 1st. She is underage and should be consult with her legal guardians before driving out there. Wouldn't you want to know what your child is up to? Jul 08 07 04:29 pm Link I have a feeling mom does not know as much as she think she does about what her daughter is doing. I would never have repiled back after the second time. Or I would have just said "Bye, I do not need this" Want to bet the daughter will contact you when 18 and free of mom. Dave Jul 08 07 04:29 pm Link rp_photo wrote: Yes she can, in most places. Parents have "veto" authority over everything prior to a "child's" 18th birthday, but if kids have more rights than you might think. Glamour Shitz and similar places would go out of business in a week otherwise. Jul 08 07 04:31 pm Link i understand completely what you mean and i agree with you on some parts. Quiet frankly, i'd be furious if that happened and I wouldn't give that old hag (AKA the mother) the time of day. But I just want to say that I'm underage, I'm 16 and I really want to get started and get more experienced, I have talk to many photographers who don't want to work with underage models and its hard on me trying to get some work out there. All I have to say is that you shouldn't just desert underage aspiring models because we need the work. I just think that you should check everything out with there parents or legal guardian.... go through a lot of mumbo jumbo to make sure everything is A. OK and there..... you got some more great photos to add to your port. Jul 08 07 04:31 pm Link See this situation would have also happened with someone over 18 living with their parents, if they are overbearing, they are overbearing. As far as the assistant part, well, *anyone* can claim that, under or overage... and... I shot a 17 year old today, no swat team came and arrested me on the spot. I'm looking at the images right now... and well no internet police have come after me yet... we'll see if I get arrested, sued, and burned at the stake later Jul 08 07 04:33 pm Link Tony Mo wrote: Find some underage photographers. Out of a random sample 20 goths or 20 nerds (easily found in just about every high school in the first world) you should be able to find at least 1 decent photographer (although if they come from the goth side, they may not have the style you want) Jul 08 07 04:34 pm Link GAETANO CATELLI STUDIOS wrote: No, actually, because what I failed to mention in my rant was that she (the model) made all appearances of being pissed off/annoyed at the interference her mother was running. She told me she was fed up with her mother Micro-managing her modeling, that she was moving in with room-mates at the end of the week, etc. she made it sound like she had no choice to do as her mother dictated, but would be moving out soon.. Jul 08 07 04:36 pm Link Madcrow Studios wrote: Yah, i'v tried it and i have seen some good people out there but to be totally honest, in my school, there is like ZERO talent. Jul 08 07 04:36 pm Link Tony Mo wrote: Have you checked the Cinnabon? What about the Comic Book Store. Those are usual places to find persons of your target demographic... Jul 08 07 04:37 pm Link photiesto wrote: I hate people like that, I say... do what you gotta do to get the shot, your not only helping the photographer but yourself. Jul 08 07 04:37 pm Link |
