While out in the wide wild world of photography we all notice some things that kind of rub us the wrong way. I have worked with many amazing models and stylists who are an absolute blast as well as professional and creative. This blog is about the warning signs that cause myself and other photographers to hesitate when it comes to booking a model or working with them again.
1. Tell a photographer you’re bringing an escort for “your safety”.
This is not a dig against bringing an escort (bringing someone you know to a photo shoot). People opt to bring escorts for various reasons whether it’s simple transportation or help with styling and makeup. Security does come in to play but you should never begin a professional situation by informing the person you’re working with that they make you fear for your safety. No photographer wants to deal with that. We know safety is important but we don’t like being treated as a threat.
2. Stating your universal right to all photos taken of you.
Negotiating rights to images should be done on paper with a signed release, not as a general verbal claim to all photographers who are looking for someone to book. By default, copyright belongs to the photographer while an image’s usage is determined by a release. Demanding that all images belong to you without consideration for the type of shoot you may be booked for will cause photographers to scratch you off their list and never look back.
3. Over direct a shoot or other models.
This isn’t about a power struggle; it’s about remembering where your focus as a model should be. Personally I appreciate a model’s input or suggestions because we’re all creative people getting together to bring something to life but it’s vital that models don’t forget to really be in the moment of the shoot. Distracting other models by “over-supporting” and giving them tips can interrupt and derail a shoot as well. Directing is done from the outside of a shoot so don’t remove yourself.
4. Edit images without permission/crop out watermarks.
This is a bit of a doozy and can get you blacklisted by photographers. (Ooh scary scary). Part of the responsibility here lies with the photographer and the release they put together for a model to sign. If you don’t want models to edit the photos you’ve taken of them you need to include that restriction in a contract. Regardless, cropping down a photo and removing a watermark (even for a facebook profile photo) can reflect poorly on you as a model. Most photographers aren’t going to pitch a fit about you changing a color photo to black and white, but drastically editing an image without permission can land you in hot water.
5. List warnings in your portfolio.
Unless you have a medical condition that people need to be made aware of first and foremost, avoid listing warnings on your website or modeling site profile. Let me put it this way; we don’t want to date you or get you naked. Any douchebag photographers out there who DO want you naked or as their significant other aren’t likely to pay attention to your warnings. The only people you are keeping at bay are photographers who know it’s important to work in a comfortable and professional environment. Yes you don’t mean it to be taken personally, but when you make general statements that put photographers in a bad light can work against you.
