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Monday, April 24, 2006

Don't Go Alone.

As we we grow up, we are taught the merits of the buddy system and how important being safe is. If you go hiking, bring a friend. You could get bit by a snake or fall of a cliff and break your leg. If you go swimming, keep a friend handy. You could get eaten by a shark, ran over by a boat, or you could simply forget how to swim and drown.
Modeling, like all of these activities, is not without its dangers. Sure, we can provide you with the activity patterns of how a model scam operates, teach you all the most common red flags to watch out for, and give you the best tools to use to fight model scams. That’s a great start, but is simply is not enough. We discover new kinds of scams and con-spins on existing ones all of the time, and have even observed some evil bastards out there who could con the smartest professionals in the world. Simply put, there are some gifted con artists out there who can con you no matter how prepared you are (ever hear that there is always someone better somewhere? It’s true, and we hope that we never go up against someone who can take us on- so far, in Florida, we haven’t found anyone who can touch us- yet). In those situations where you could be outmatched by an experienced criminal mind, it always pays to bring a trusted friend with you to watch your back.
Case in point: Shady, evil, scum-sucking model photographers.
I don’t care what anyone in the industry says. That model and talent agency may not have your best interests in mind and may be set up to simply mislead models and make money by selling overpriced model portfolio photography and low quality composite cards, but the number one complaint in the Tampa Bay market lately have been model portfolio photographers.
Technology today is cheap. Too cheap. Too many losers out there steal their mother’s social security money and trot down to their friendly neighborhood electronics and camera stores and plop down a few hundred on a digital camera. As soon as they slither out of the store, they spend $25.00 on some cheapo business cards and begin to call themselves “professional photographers”. Their investment into the profession? What some of them might spend on dating services or strip clubs in a few weeks. Their motivation? To meet and sleep with pretty girls. Some of these pathetic, lonely men are too twisted to get girls the normal ways, and have to resort to using model photography as a device to trick young, attractive women into their beds.
There is a flip side, too. We’ve seen people spend LOTS of money on high quality equipment in an attempt to become professional photographers. Most of the people who go from zero photography to the bad ass’est photography toys overnight are up to the same thing as their low-rent counterparts. They don’t spend more than a few hours or days learning how to shoot, and then employ their expensive gear as a means to boost their credibility. We’ve seen these pathetic bastards lie about their experience and steal from genuine professional photographers in an attempt to trick aspiring and professional models into working with them. They claim to have paying jobs for models (which never seem to happen) and get overly bitchy and defensive whenever anyone tries to debate with them, ask for references, or question their motives. Some have overblown egos that have no grounds in reality and threaten anyone who stands up to them. We've seen more than one photographer do it for the kick of trying to manipulate and corrupt young, naive girls. These guys have a huge ago about it and misrepresent their experience and quality of work to the point of having arrogant attitudes. Their self-important behavior only serves to compensate for gross insecurities and an overall lack of talent and skill. This is only the start of what is wrong.
We’ve even seen some tell models that they are not allowed to bring anyone with them to a shoot.
Whatever.
What ever could be their motivation? Hey baby, I want to get you naked in front of my camera. How about some wine and dancing after the shoot, eh? Eh? Let’s hang out- as you can see, I’m already hanging out as I work, if you get what I mean. Heh heh.
See how pathetic and low this is? As a model, wouldn’t YOU be OFFENDED by such blatant unprofessional behavior and DISRESPECT toward you as a professional?
You do not have to compromise your professional integrity and your safety. At all. So, you REALLY like their work and want- more than anything- to work with them, even if you are forced to do things that you are not comfortable doing? Listen to your gut instincts, baby. Maybe that awesome work of theirs belongs to someone else- It happens more than you might think. It is very easy for someone to steal the pictures of another photographer and present the work as their own. We’ve seen some photographers steal the work of others in an attempt to bait unsuspecting models with the work that they supposedly did. See any inconsistencies in the quality of their work or way too much of a range of style? Forget genius- it’s probably some sleazeball lying about their work and misrepresenting themselves.
The models don’t find out that the photographers cannot back up their claims until it is too late. Some models end up ripped off, hit on, molested, raped, killed, or even worse. Even if you survive, what do you think the chance are that you will have the desire to pursue a modeling career if some photographer tricks you and forces himself onto you? If you are alone, what’s to stop them from doing whatever they want to you? Got mace, a stun gun, or a pistol? Forget it. Even if you are properly trained in how to use it, what’s to stop the photographer from taking it from you and using it against you? The best thing that you can do is to be cautious and BRING ALONG A FRIEND (Of course, you may be going too far if you insist on bringing along a competing photographer- We do not suggest that you do that, as you would be out-of-line, it would hardly be a professional thing to do, and it is a conflict of interest). Don’t worry about offending or pissing off a photographer - if is a reasonable request, they have no right to get pissed off at you, and if they do, you really must pause, take a good look at them, check their references, and question their motivation. Those who react defensively are usually hiding something. Your safety is your responsibility, and despite what the photographer may say or think, they are not the only game in town. There are a lot of reputable, professional, skilled photographers out there, and it is not hard to find them. There really is no excuse to make any compromises.
If some “professional” photographer insists that you come alone to a shoot, feel free to say “no”. Simply find another photographer who will respect your rights as a professional model.
My hope as a professional model is that this opinion post saves at least one model out there from a career or life-ending mistake. Don’t trust anyone until they earn your trust and you know who the hell you are dealing with, and even then, don’t ever let your guard down and compromise your safety . Stay safe! By all means, work hard at your career and have fun. Work with lots of model portfolio photographers. Just never, ever go alone.

~ Danielle Cooper, Editor

Tampa Bay Modeling

Clearwater Beach, Florida

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