1. Standards have dropped
in the Tampa modeling industry
2. Agency TFP and
dumping the modeling portfolio market
3. The difference
between TFP and professional collaboration
4. Amateurs
pretending to be professionals
5. Studio training wheels
6. Stumbling in the light
7. The aftermath
By C.
A. Passinault, Director of Tampa Bay Modeling
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Studio
Training Wheels
It was great at
first. The organizing photographer introduced me to people, as well as
the three “models” who were there, and one of the photographers
had recognized me because one of my best friends is a model who he has
been wanting to photograph; the photographer said that my model friend
always replied to his requests with “Are you good enough, yet?”
(in retrospect, this should have been a huge red flag, especially in light
of what I have seen this jackass do in the two years since, in 2013).
A mother of one of the models also knew who I was from the pageant scene,
and not only knew of my model friends, but knew that I had been a judge
in one of the pageants which her daughter had competed in. So, I had a
photographer telling the organizer who I was, as well as the mother of
the model. The organizer mentioned that he’d like to be
introduced to models who I knew. I told him that we’d see.
I also met a real professional photographer who was a commercial photographer,
and we talked about the industry. I think that he was there to help out.
This was the only photographer there that impressed me (and I even told
the model’s mother that he would have been able to give me a run
for my money as a photographer, as he knew what he was doing). So, the
commercial photographer was the only one that I really got along with,
although it should be noted that I was not rude to any photographer, and
I was careful not to overstep my bounds.
The organizer had a rule that escorts could not be in the studio, which
I thought was odd, too, although I chalked it up to him being a new event
organizer. He then told me that, since I was not shooting, that I would
have to hang out outside of the studio when they started their shoot,
and that they would be shooting outside shortly. He asked me to do this
as a professional courtesy, which was fine by me.
However, I thought that this was odd, too, especially as I had been invited
to the shoot, but realized why when I saw that some of the models were
wearing very skimpy outfits and lingerie (I was not happy seeing new models
being convinced to do high-risk modeling shoots like this, but I did not
say anything, as it was not my place).
I discussed this with a professional photographer friend of mine who specialized
in high-risk work afterward. I told her that while I could see a photographer
having a closed set for high-risk work, there was really no point in closing
the set to myself or the mother who was escorting her daughter because
all of the photographers and all of the models were already working in
the same area, and by default, there was no reasonable expectation
of privacy. If I were a photographer at such an event, would
I tell people that escorts were not allowed in the shooting area, and
that certain photographers were not allowed, either? Of course not! As
long as the escorts or photographers did not interfere with the shoot,
they’d be allowed to be in the shoot area, and I might even put
some of them to work. I always allow escorts to my shoots. Boyfriends,
mothers, friends.... I get along with all of them quite well. I have nothing
to hide. The exception, though, is when I’m shooting with a model
in a contracted session with that client, that I do not allow other photographers
to attend. That would be a client shoot, and I wouldn’t allow it
because I don’t want to train photographers while I work with a
client. Sure, if I am doing an event to specifically train photographers,
or am at an event where other photographers are around, that’s fine,
but not when I am working with a client in my business.
I brought my camera gear to a portfolio networking site shoot out event
at Saint Pete Beach/ Fort Desoto in 2006. I not only got the best shots
of the event, but I drew a crowd of photographers, models, and others
who quit what they were doing to watch me work with two models. That was
rare for me to do that, but it was acceptable because of the format of
the event. One of the models even called me afterwards and told me “It
was so nice to work with a real professional photographer for a change”.
I guarantee it: If any photographer or model watches me work for a few
minutes, it will challenge their conception of what photographing models
is all about, and it will improve their career. That’s what happens
when you have a photographer who has over a decade of professional photography
work with models and talent, and who has earned that experience working
with minimal equipment and in challenging environments. I’m the
real deal, and I don’t need any training wheels or a lot of equipment
to get the job done! There have even been some instances where a “photographer”
who has sunk a lot of money into equipment reevaluated if they should
stay in the business after working around me, and I had to give them a
pep talk afterwards to convince them to forge on. As far as photographing
models and talent, I’m in the top 10% in the state (and I’m
in the top 3% in the Tampa Bay market), and I can take a $50.00 Nikon
L10 and shoot circles around someone using a Canon 5D Mark II (or, in
2013, a Canon 5D Mark III or a Nikon D4). I know this because it has already
happened, and I had to tell the photographer that I was only able to do
what I did because I’ve been doing it for a long time. He wasn’t
bad, either, but he certainly was discouraged until I talked to him. For
the record, too, I was not planning on shooting anything that day, and
that was the only camera that I had on me. I could have done the same
thing with my cell phone camera if I had to, although those files would
not have been high enough resolution to print, or use for much (I hate
cell phone cameras. They are only useful in a pinch).
Anyway, I discussed being excluded from a closed set which really wasn’t
a closed set, even after being invited to attend the event, with my photographer
friend. She agreed that I had been treated rudely. It wasn’t only
my opinion.
Note 07/28/13:
Now, in 2013, over two years later, I can say that the commercial
photographer, after reading this article, contacted me and confirmed EVERYTHING.
He said that the organizing photographer was afraid of me because he realized
that I knew what I was doing; he was intimidated by me and was literally
having a panic attack because I had shown up! He also said that, when
the organizing photographer had me run the errand, that he gathered everyone
around and told them not to talk to me, and that I had “invited
myself”, which was a lie (isn’t this what fake people do in
High School?!?!). It was obvious to everyone who witnessed our initial
interaction that I had been invited. How else would he have known who
I was, and why would he have been expecting me? The commercial photographer,
even though he did not know me, realized this, too, thought that this
was B.S., and told me so. Well, some people DID talk to me to find out
for themselves, and when they found out that I was legitimate, they realized
that they had been lied to. Why else did at least one of the models later
avoid shooting with these guys, which prompted one of them to have a profanity-filled
meltdown about me on their social media page (I have people forwarding
me things all of the time. People nark these idiots out to me!)? I’ve,
since, in 2013, cost the organizing photographer at least three models,
and they deserve it. The models deserve more, especially after one of
them told me that he was hitting on her like (IMO) the dirty old man that
he is!
Hey, I don’t have to do anything to these idiots. They sink themselves,
as they are what they do.
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06/09/11
- 08/01/11 - 07/28/13/0439 - 07/28/13/0458
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