Hair and makeup: If there
is a hair and makeup artist
(HMUA), who is he/she? How
much time is needed? If there
is no HMUA, what should
the model do to prepare?
Food and drinks: For longer
photo sessions, being able to
take a break and having a snack
or drink is important. Are there
any restrictions of food and drink
at the photo location? Will one
of the parties be providing any?
Chaperones: If there will be
any nudity (and sometimes
if not), a chaperone can be
useful. Isometimes have a
photo assistant who doubles
as someone who protects me
from false accusations by a
model. Some models feel more
comfortable
with
a
friend
around. Personally, I have
never had a problem with a
model’s chaperone, but I know
photographers who have. It all
comes down to communication
again. Whew, that is a lot of
information to communicate.
However,
when
everybody
involved knows what to expect,
the results tend to work out better.
There is one last logistical
issue that I wish I did not have
to communicate; it should be
obvious. However, I have had
several models fail to show up
and never call to tell me that
they are unable to meet. From
my point of view, this is an
unforgivable sin and I will not
set up a future photo shoot with
the model again. Not only is it
unprofessional for the model to
skip the photo session, I spend
a lot of time and possibly money
preparing for a photo shoot. I
have to scout the location (if it
is new to me), gather the photo
gear I will be using, set up the
photo gear, arrange for a photo
assistant (who I am probably
paying with my own money),
and travel to the location. While
I am friends with all my photo
assistants, sitting at the photo
location talking to him or her for
30 minutes while we wait for the
model to never show up and not
call is a waste of time and money.
During the photo session, we
need more communication. We
need to talk about poses, props,
etc. Even more important is that
if the model is uncomfortable
(physically or mentally), then
it shows in the photos. If I ask
for a pose that is hard to get
into or hold, I need to know.
Similarly, if the model is posed
on the edge of a cliff and afraid of
heights, this mental distress will
not make for good photos. If we
are working in a studio, let me
know if it is too hot or too cold.
Th ere’s a thermostat for that.
Photo: Kenneth Ingham
Model: DaKarra Dolley
Regarding the actual photos
and working together, I have
noticed that the photos get
noticeably better after 15–45
minutes of working together.
Most photographers I know
have noticed this effect. I
attribute it to both of us getting
relaxed and used to working
together. It does not matter
how often I have worked with
a model before. The time might
be shorter with someone I
know well, but it is still there.
At the end of the photo shoot,
there comes the model release.
The standard releases that you
can find on the Internet all tend
to be very one-sided for the
photographer, stating that the
photographer can do whatever
he/she pleases with the photos
and the model has no say in it
at all. If you are both OK with
this (communication again!),
then that’s great. Mitch Tillison
recently pointed out this onesided nature, and I developed
a model release for trades that
is more fair to both parties.
Among other things, I cannot
use the photos until I have
delivered them to the model.
Another point in it is that each
side must credit the other when
they use the photos, and neither
side can make money without
further negotiations with the
other. My release has not yet
been vetted by a lawyer, but I
hope to do this as soon as I can.
I am happy to share it with other
photographers and models with
the disclaimer that I am not a
lawyer, nor do I play one on TV.
Finally, there is the question of
the resulting photos. What will
the model (and HMUA) get? I
have heard of photographers
supplying a camera dump of the
images, edited images, printed
images, or some combination. In
today’s world, digital images are
most useful. Both parties should
have agreed on the deliverables
for the photo session before
it started. Beyond what will
be delivered, there is the big
question of WHEN. While I try to
do photo processing in a timely
manner, paying work takes
priority over trades. However, I
am always open to being asked
how the editing is going. I cannot
speak for other photographers,
but asking me helps raise that
photo shoot in terms of what
gets my photo processing time.
I
hope
that
this
one
photographer’s view is useful
to all parties in a collaborative
photo shoot. I would enjoy
reading something that talks
about all of this from the model’s
perspective.