While I'm stuck at home sick, I thought I might as well make myself and write an article.  I apologise in advance if I am not quite as literate as usual.  

For those of you who don't know me, I am a model, photographer, run workshops in model direction and posing and manage a small number of models.

Over the weekend I shot with two different photographers.  The difference in how they conducted themselves made me think that some of this behavior needs to be brought to light, some to praise and some to... not.

A few steps to being a photographer models want to work with:

1)   Pre-shoot communication
My Sunday shoot was with Ptollemy and this woman is a god of pre-shoot communication.  Clarity and simplicity is so important in your communication.  Ptollemy books models a long time in advance because of her busy schedule but she always sends out a confirmation email a few days before the shoot with dot points covering all of the following subjects: theme, location, payment, clothing, shoes, makeup, hair, escorts/chaperons and model release forms.  It is fantastic!  I can not say enough how much I appreciate this approach.

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No matter whether you are paying your models or not, it is fantastic to clarify what they will be getting out of working with you, even if it is just telling them how many photos they will get or if it will be a cd or prints.  It is important to state what the model will be providing in terms of clothing and what you will be providing.  Likewise, tell them in advance if you will be asking them to do their own makeup and hair or if there will be someone there to do this.  This is something which should be discussed in the very first email!  

State your stance on escorts and chaperons.  Also attach a copy of your model release form.  It amazes me how many photographers are surprised when I read the model release form!  If models are not interested in reading what they are signing, that is their own problem but you, the photographer, should do everything in your power to ensure that they will not be surprised!  The worst thing is to complete a shoot, then be passed a document just as you are about to walk out the door.   Certainly from my point of view, it makes me feel as if I have no option other than to sign it and, if I don't know the photographer, it instantly puts me in to a defensive frame of mind.

This leads me to my next point:


2)  Don't surprise anyone

  

This is pretty much my philosophy behind shoot organisation.  This covers model release forms but also it is a lot about what you will be asking the model to do.  My Saturday shoot this week (with a photographer whom I shall not name) never mentioned nudity our emails or phone conversations.  Suddenly I arrived and was made to feel obliged to get naked.  I know you will all say that if something like this happens you just say 'no' and leave but that is actually a really hard thing to do.  It scares me that I, a very experienced model, still doesn't feel able to speak out about how inappropriate that is.  If I feel like that, what must it be like for a girl who has just rocked up for her second ever shoot?   Models will not always tell you if they do not feel comfortable doing something and this means that it is your responsibility to not put them into this sort of situation.  

For that photographer, sure he got naked Halohid pictures but I doubt it was really worth it: my standard of modeling dropped straight away because I was uncomfortable and 24 hours later, I had already spread his name to many photographers and models.  He was on 'the black list'.  Models talk!  We really do.   I never wish to work with that man again and I will make sure that none of the models I manage end up in this position either.

   

So how do you go about organising a nude shoot?  From the very first communication you have with the model, STATE that your concept involves nudity!  I can not stress this enough.  Six emails in is too late!  You can also save yourself a lot of time like this: I will say instantly to a photographer if I am willing to do what they are asking and then they have saved themselves six emails.  If I were organising a nude shoot, I would also add another heading into Ptollemy's email: poses.  You don't need to have sketches (in fact, I find sketches quite limiting) but you will have a bit of an idea in your head of the feeling that you want to get from the model.  There are models out there who will pose playboy style -  legs spread, licking lolly pops in a provocative manner – but do not make the mistake of thinking that all models will do this.  Send example photos of the types of poses you want the model to aim for.   Say if they are artistic nudes or sexualised.  Once again, the worst thing you can do is to surprise your model.  

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If they will be working with another model, send them to that model's portfolio so that they can have a chat to them before hand if they want to and TELL them what you will be wanting them to do together.  Tell them if you will want them to snog a stranger five minutes after meeting them.  I'm all for stranger snogging if I know it is going to happen but if I arrive and there is suddenly another model there when I thought it was just me....

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Tell them everyone who will be present, everything you will want them to do and do not leave things to chance.  Do not presume that they will be familiar enough with your style to know what you will want: be obvious, unsubtle, clear and you will get the results you are after with the right model who is willing to work in this manner.


3)  Post-shoot communication
When I am running workshops for photographers on model direction, I always encourage communication post-shoot.  Give them an idea of how long you usually take for your editing.  If models are prepared, you are much less likely to get those hideous emails.  I hate that models expect photographers to be instantaneous these days but, at the same time, if you are paying them in images and they do not hear from you for five months, this means that you have not paid them.  You have let your side of the bargain down.   Just an email from time to time to alert them to how you are going is all it will take.

When you get home from a shoot, I suggest that you instantly write them a little email just to thank them for their work again and encourage them to keep in touch.  

Mature Content

   

In the end be a friendly person!  Be clear, professional and interested in the model as a human being.  When they are  having their makeup done, chat to them!  Find out who they are!  It will give you the clues you need to be able to direct them well.  Communication is the key to everything when shooting models.  Make yourself someone models want to communicate and work with.  As I said, we all talk to each other but, not only do we talk about the 'black list' photographers but we talk about the ones who ticked all the right boxes.  We talk about photographers who made the job easy and enjoyable and we recommend them.  We really do.  Make yourself worth recommending!