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Safety at Home Studios?
I'm a photographer thinking of investing in some studio equipment (lighting, backdrops, etc.) to improve my portrait work. My plan would be to set up a dedicated home studio, do some TF work and gradually move into charging for some portrait work. My question to models: Is safety/security an issue for you when photographers have studios in their homes? Are you reluctant to work with photographers who work out of their homes? I'm in a nice-looking neighborhood, everything is clean and well-maintained, etc. Just curious about opinions on this matter. Thank you. Mar 11 12 05:48 am Link Good question. I'm about in the same place but I already have the gear. Hopefully in the fall I'll have a building but until then I'm curious to see the responses here. Mar 11 12 05:53 am Link I have no problems booking models partly BECAUSE I do my photography at home. Mar 11 12 06:01 am Link I've worked with togs in their home studios before but it's with people I've already worked with. I had a few offers for togs who seem more like GWC's just trying to get me to their house lol. Mar 11 12 06:02 am Link Martin Philippo wrote: This also, supose it works both ways Mar 11 12 06:02 am Link Brad Bravard wrote: If anything, it's the photographer who faces the greater risk, but not too many models will see it that way. Mar 11 12 06:08 am Link rp_photo wrote: the risk of what? Mar 11 12 06:22 am Link My models LOVE my living-working studio. It is in a gorgeous converted shoe factory. Very unique. They also like that my girlfriend is always somewhere at the other end of the loft/studio, so they feel safe. I don't know how years ago, I had models come over and pose in some of the dumpiest, half deserted buildings, I used to rent studios in. Mar 11 12 06:30 am Link I shoot out of my home. No real issues but yes the photographer is at more risk of a robbery or burglary. Mar 11 12 06:41 am Link I have a home studio as a part-timer. I don't think I worry much more about safety, items being stolen, etc. I did have one model who "vanished" the day before the shoot, later contact me, not realizing I was the same photographer she bailed on, when I told here she commented "good luck getting models to come to your home". So, obviously it can be an issue for some. It's hard to know whether or not that's been a factor in the other model cancelations I've had or not. Overall, my feeling is that I don't think I loose many shoots due to having a home studio, and for me as a part-timer, renting or owning an auxiliary studio probably would not be worth my while financially. Mar 11 12 06:56 am Link Most of my pictures in my port are from home studio. I'm sure the models may feel awkward at first but I welcome them and they will look around and they know they are not in danger. They felt like home. I agreed the comments above, I rather use home studio for income tax purpose. I feel that it is not worth renting or own a studio if you are a hobby or part-time photographer. Mar 11 12 07:11 am Link I would be more worried about theft myself, too many of the bad escort stories involve stealing from a home. I have used my garage studio many times (I have a studio as well) for TFP shoot with models I had never worked with before. If they flake I am already sitting at home anyhow. As for charging for portrait work, Jane or Joe customer is not likely to hire you out of a home studio and you could have some trouble running a business from it. I really don't want my home involved in any legal action. Mar 11 12 07:24 am Link The photographers indeed face a great risk. Think about it. When you bring a stranger into your home studio, you are telling them you own expensive camera gear, lighting etc. Plus you are letting a person or persons largely unknown to you into your home. Will they rob or kill you on the spot, or will they "case" your home to check for alarms, types of locks, location of valuables, times when the home is unattended etc. I've worked out of my home for 21 years and have only had a few things disappear, but I have also physically thrown people out of my home . I used to work for a police department, so I may look at things a little more critically than someone else, but remember there are bad people out there and that we put locks on our doors for a reason. Mike Mar 11 12 07:27 am Link Martin Philippo wrote: Stolen stuff, especially a risk when a model brings the E word. Mar 11 12 07:46 am Link 95% of my shoots are at my home. I've never had a model question working with me there, and never a problem with anything missing from a model or an escort. Check references. Mar 11 12 07:50 am Link One of the reasons I banned non-working observers from shoots was having equipment damaged by escorts knocking things over. Since most models and their clumsy, wandering, inobservant BFs are young and lower income, none of them have ever been willing or able to pay for the damage. While I am insured, with the deductible a smashed flash and the like is pretty much out of pocket anyway. So far nothing has been stolen but finding out after the fact that one model's escort was just out of prison for manslaughter and another's who she claimed was her brother was actually some random guy she met the night before, combined with equipment damage, resulted in my no escort policy. For the record though, the killer was very polite while the random guy got booted from the set for weirding out the other model and her MUA. Also, at my home studio the models change upstairs and often shoot downstairs. After one of them fell on top of me due to wearing high heels on carpeted stairs, I now ask them to come down barefooted and I often walk down ahead of them in case anyone else needs an "airbag". No one to my knowledge has ever refused to work with me because of the home studio set up, and everyone who has worked here has loved it. Mar 11 12 07:53 am Link The biggest safety concern I have is the risk of liability should a model ever somehow injure herself or falsely accuse me of harassment, etc. That's more a matter of risk avoidance, insurance and other risk management options than it is a matter of home studio, vs. remote studio location. Mar 11 12 07:55 am Link I've not found it an issue. In my case my wife and I both shoot which gives most models a little bit of safe feeling because a woman is also involved. I have had trouble a few times with things disappearing, especially when escorts are involved. Mar 11 12 07:55 am Link Different strokes for different folks. Opinions are just that ... (c; Mar 11 12 08:00 am Link The models that want a big studio don't want me anyway - it all works out. Mar 11 12 08:01 am Link I am amazed Mar 11 12 08:08 am Link It's more important that you have a portfolio showing what you can accomplish in your studio space than where that studio space is located. The only difference between the studio located in my home and a studio not in my home is the address. Provide for a private changing area, private (and clean) bathroom, and make it LOOK like a studio, and you should be fine. Hang a wrinkled sheet on the wall next to the bed, allow the house to reek of cat urine, and allow your roommate to continue to play XBox on the couch during your shoot, and models might steer clear of your setup. Mar 11 12 08:14 am Link Any model who expresses 'concern' at shooting in a home studio immediately revokes her access to hundreds of talented photographers. I shoot in London studios (sometimes) and I shoot from my home sometimes - for tests, it's generally cheaper and more convenient for me to shoot from home. I've lost count of the overall number of agency models I've shot at my home/studio, but it's been two this week alone. Real models (and their agencies/bookers) don't normally care where you shoot - it's the results that count. The so-called 'models' who worry about such things are normally internet newbies and/or Myspace divas with over controlling boyfriend/managers and are usually not worth shooting with anyway. Just my $0.02 Ciao Stefano www.stefanobrunesci.com Mar 11 12 08:17 am Link Brad Bravard wrote: I have seen this work out very well, Be ssure the model knows the situation. I would suggest that you do not try to jam the modell into a bathroom.. A bedroom with mirror and plenty of space to lay out clothing.. Most bedrooms have mirrors.. #1 requirement.. Mar 11 12 08:25 am Link Brad Bravard wrote: It's not any more of an issue for me than someone who shoots in a "professional" studio. I still do my research and all that jazz, because having the money to rent or own a "real" studio doesn't magically make someone immune from being a creep or an asshole. Mar 11 12 09:09 am Link Augustine York wrote: +1 Mar 11 12 09:13 am Link Professional or not, I've read more than one thread where things were stolen from a photographer's home by an "escort". It's up to you to figure out how secure your belongings are. Mar 11 12 09:15 am Link GCobb Photography wrote: Escorts don't have exclusivity when it comes to theft either. :cough: Mar 11 12 09:22 am Link The issue here was about safety and security for the models. I read that as: can they get raped? Yes, raped! Have you ever talked to a woman that has been raped? Have you ever heared about the traumas that gives? And then some of you come up with the argument that a photographer has a greater risk. What risk? That some of your things get stolen. Bull!! Some people are just so goddam selfish and ignorant! Mar 11 12 09:22 am Link Martin Philippo wrote: I think it's probably more likely for a photographer to have something stolen than for a model to be raped on set. Mar 11 12 09:24 am Link Brad Bravard wrote: I would think that, other than a case of a house or studio which is located in an unsafe area, WHO you are working with would be more important than where. Certainly, if I were to knowingly behave inappropriately toward a model, my own home would be the LAST place I'd want to do it. Kind of easy to track down that way. Mar 11 12 09:25 am Link Home Studios have been around since the old days of Bettie Page. The only issue is of course safety. Photographers tend to lose more but the fact is that most models worry about being raped or molested at home studios. Let me tell you I would not want that problem at my place. Mar 11 12 09:29 am Link Martin Philippo wrote: Augustine York wrote: Augustine...shh...careful...you are destroying the myth that models are in constant peril... Mar 11 12 09:30 am Link Martin Philippo wrote: Augustine York wrote: Wisdom from the northeast, yet again. Mar 11 12 09:33 am Link Art of the nude wrote: That's what I never get - why some people think its less safe in someone's house. I actually think its safer. Mar 11 12 09:34 am Link Greg Kolack wrote: Martin Philippo wrote: Augustine...shh...careful...you are destroying the myth that models are in constant peril... hahaha whoops Mar 11 12 09:34 am Link I was talking to a model that I worked with the other day. She was raped by some creepo photographer. It took her four years to get over it a bit and then she heared her younger sister got raped too which brought back the whole thing again. The girl was in a state again and needed (again) professional help. That pisses me off. And it pisses me off too that some photographers still claim that it is more important that their so called precious things don't get stolen. I don't say it doesn't happen that things get stolen from time to time, although it never happenend with me or any other photograper that I know. I do say that you should think a bit more and a bit longer before you say that your well insured and replacable belongings are more important than a girl being raped. Mar 11 12 09:42 am Link Martin Philippo wrote: I don't think anyone in this thread is trying to say that rape is less of a crime than thievery. What we (or at least I) am trying to say, is that statistically it's less likely for a model be raped than it is for a photographer to be burgled due to a variety of factors. Mar 11 12 09:45 am Link Greg Kolack wrote: I agree, and that's something that comes to mind almost every time model safety comes up. Mar 11 12 09:47 am Link lots of people shoot out of their garages or kitchens or spare rooms. for our part it was just too much work to clean up before each shoot and the cats always got in the way (although models didn't seem to mind). we had paying customers while we were in our garage. the wife had boudoir shots done many years ago and that was in someone's garage. we don't seem to be getting as many escorts now that we have a studio. and maybe we're a little more legit in the eyes of the customer. Mar 11 12 09:48 am Link |
