|
Forums >
General Industry >
do you like to talk before a shoot?
To all the photographers and models: do you like to talk on the phone with the other party before you do a shoot? or is working out all the details over e-mail the way to go, I personally like to talk on the phone and hate e-mail , I find it impersonal. Feb 22 06 05:24 pm Link Duncan wrote: I prefer to meet for coffee. The only time I tried to arrange a shoot via email alone, the model never showed up. However, email is the way to go when you have finally worked out the makor details and want to have a 'permanent' description of what you will be doing with the model. Feb 22 06 05:26 pm Link In person, over a cup of coffee. I use the same cute coffee shop nearly every time, so the owner is always excited to see the pretty ladies meeting with the monkey. Feb 22 06 05:27 pm Link Because I work 2 jobs and go to school (model every other free moment) I dont have much time for telephone conversation or meet ups before shoots ect ect.. I do have some photogs call and talk to my answering machine and awful lot due to the fact that I cannot have my cell phone on in class or at work, I will return calls inbetween one job to the next or on my way to class but it makes the conversations much less personal because I am so rushed and to the point. I find email so much easier and helps me get alot more done and discussed since my 1st job I sit her at the comp all day. Those are my thoughs and now off to my second job. Have a great night MM!! Feb 22 06 05:29 pm Link CrazyPreshus wrote: I'm with her. I think it may help weed out those "flaky" individuals, but the same can be accomplished via email or whatnot. But. . .you gotta do what you gotta to get 'er done. If the photog wants to talk to me on the phone first, meet for coffee. . .and can accept that I too work two jobs, but can coordinate that around that schedule. . .I don't see a problem. As long as he/she doesn't mind me bringing an escort. Feb 22 06 05:32 pm Link I like to have meetings beforehand, this gives me a feel for the model and i get to see their expressions. It also let me know if they might show up for a shoot or not. If they are late or no-show, they would probably do the same for the shoot. If the model were traveling to the area, I would like to talk to them on the phone. This way we can discuss what will be done at the shoot. Feb 22 06 07:12 pm Link Always a great idea to talk - or meet - beforehand. (And I had the same experience, as mentioned earler; for a while when I used to meet prospective models in little deli near where I work (since replaced by a bank and a parking lot - a la Joni Mitchell); waitress came up once and said that she was speaking for all the staff: where do you find all those incredible women?!) But yeah. It always smooths things out to communicate as much as possible beforehand. Email, phone, coffeeshop. Whatever works. With reference to another thread; maybe this is why I never have no-shows... Feb 22 06 07:21 pm Link Believe it or not, I don't even own a telephone. And a lot of people refuse to set up shoots with me unless they can call me. E-mails are perfect for me because i can check them and answer anytime. Either from school during the day, at home (very late at night or early in the morning) or anywhere that has internet access. And I like having everything in writing so i can check back later if i don't remember or i'm not sure about something. (don't have that with phone conversations.) I don't mind meeting in person, i think it's a pretty good idea, but I'm always so busy and don't really have time for it. Feb 22 06 07:28 pm Link I normally won't shoot a model if I haven't spoken with her beforehand. First, I find that when I am e-mailing I am sometimes not speaking to the model, but to a third person. I have had situations where a model has come to a shoot and not known what she was doing. Her intermediary never told her what she was booked for. The other reason is to make sure we are on track. Sometimes things get lost in the course of e-mail. Talking completes the connection. I try to keep no shows to a minimum so a phone call let's me sense the seriousness of the model. So for me, no phone call no booking. Am I a bit of a hard-ass on the issue? I suppose, but I pay models. If a booking isn't important enough for a model to call, I don't want to commit my time, studio and money. Feb 22 06 07:28 pm Link in person is the best. Feb 22 06 07:30 pm Link Email, definitely. Kind of reserved in person. Could be because I'm partially deaf. Feb 22 06 07:33 pm Link No, but sometimes I want a cigarette afterwards. -Don Feb 22 06 07:35 pm Link Depending on my location, I usually talk to the model before we shoot. If I'm traveling, we email AND talk. If it's local, I'll try to arrange a meeting, if possible. Sometimes it's not, because we are usually on separate ends of Chicago. At a minimum, we will usually talk, though. Feb 22 06 07:37 pm Link D. Brian Nelson wrote: You, too? I felt that way on my last shoots, and I don't even smoke. Feb 22 06 07:39 pm Link I have telephonophobia. I get really nervous when I have to call somebody. Especially at home.  Thank goodness for the internet.Feb 22 06 07:40 pm Link typically, I just just grunt and slobber a lot before a shoot.......... Seriously, I much prefer to meet with the model before any shoot. Get to know a little bit about each other, establish a level of comfort. Talk of ideas, concepts. I always encourage a new model to bring a friend along. I can always use someone to help move lighting, etc. Feb 22 06 07:41 pm Link VRG Photography wrote: Me neither. Feb 22 06 09:03 pm Link Duncan wrote: Hmmm...seems to be a pattern forming...photographers prefer meet for coffee/talk...models don't rather go the email route. I do ask for a contact number when I email them mine; never ask to meet, but a model has asked that I meet with her...I feel there's no need to meet before a shoot if you asked for her references and checked them and her work. I absolutely hate to call a model unless it's absolutely necessary...I prefer emails too: you have a hard copy of your ideas for the shoot, details/direction, and a record of what to expect. Feb 22 06 09:17 pm Link RayAndrews wrote: it is interesting, I do this for a living. With the number of models I shoot, I couldn't possibly have enough time to meet them all for coffee somewhere before booking them. But I do agree that it is a good practice for those who have the time. Feb 22 06 09:24 pm Link RayAndrews wrote: Agreed with all of that. Initiating contact by email, talking by phone and confirming by email. BTW, "meeting before a shoot" brings up unpleasant memories of waiting in a Starbucks or deli for a model who never showed. Happened a couple of times. Ugh! I prefer to skip the pre-shoot. Feb 22 06 09:25 pm Link Once, I called a model, and she tried to charge me for our conversation. I think she was working that night. I thought the heavy breathing and asking me what I was wearing was a bit over the top. Feb 22 06 09:28 pm Link Email first. Find what type shoot the model is interested in and her limitations? Phone call follows. General conversation about the shoot, props (if any) clothing, etc. Final Email explains in detail what the shooting schedule will be to make sure the Model is OK with the shoot. Feb 22 06 09:34 pm Link I personally like to either meet with the people i am woring with 1st or at least talk on the phone, i need to findout thing like "what are you allergic too if any" what products used? and tell them to come with a clean washed moisturized face , most models dont realize this. Feb 23 06 12:02 am Link I personally like to meet with the other party LIVE if POSSIBLE!!! â Feb 23 06 12:08 am Link hmm i prefer email, but i'll talk on the phone. i've never been a phone person... i dont know what it is, but i'm never been a verbal person... always a person who expresses things better when written. i'm cautious of who i meet now. i met with a photographer last year in october, and he lived not too far from me. me met to discuss ideas for the shoot and he would call me and continuously email me talking about how much he loved my lips. during our conversation, he asked me what i did for a living. and i told him. wow, he showed up at my job the next day. it was crazy weird cause i was talking to one of my vendors, and i turn around and he's literally IN MY FACE... creepy. needless to say, I cancelled that shoot. soooo yah, thats my scary story lol Feb 23 06 12:14 am Link i prefer to negotiate a meeting via email before a shoot. i only have a cell phone and the minutes add up lol. i like to meet the person i am working with and discuss ideas with them. i also like to see a wide variety of their work as most sites are limited to a few pictures, so bringing an extensive portfolio is a plus! i also bring mine along, although it's not as extensive as i'd like it to be... yet another thing to work on Feb 23 06 12:40 am Link I prefer a swanke hotel & a cheap bottle of Arbor Mist & a Cohiba cigar on our first meeting. My mentor met his subjects at Mc Donalds, I prefer Starbucks, because caffiene raises the heart rate and it brings out better responses (A tip I learned from a polygrapher prior to submitting lie detector test) Usually find out if you got a nut case on your hands. I ask about previous shooting experiences, theme idea's & what the model hopes to acomplish from our shoot. Feb 23 06 12:51 am Link I find that I'm more comfortable on a shoot if I've met the photographer first, but that's not always possible and it's okay (I do check references and occasionally bring an escort). I really hate the phone and I'm not particularly comfortable giving my phone number out to someone I haven't met yet. I tend to be a much better communicator in written form anyway, and having a record of everything (address, details, etc) is handy. Feb 23 06 01:33 am Link totally depends on the job: for example, if it's something that an agency (mainstream) has set up, the model will likely be furnished all his/her instructions prior to the shoot & thus little, if any actual conversation will be required ... ... whereas, say, if i'm working with someone i found, then yeah, it goes without saying that some intro's are needed, directions have to be given (location), etc. fml Feb 23 06 01:37 am Link I'm in the e-mail group. For me it's just easier, plus I'm better writing what I need than speaking it, LOL, not my strong point. Mainly, though, with school and other things it's just difficult to get in touch with me; much easier for me to call than vice versa. If anything I'll usually call the model the day of the shoot, if they want, to confirm and give directions. My shoots aren't very involved anyway, so there isn't much to discuss. Feb 23 06 01:58 am Link Its a must ... no talkie no shootie Duncan wrote: Feb 23 06 02:07 am Link Talk is cheap. Misunderstandings are not. Feb 23 06 02:12 am Link Always. For me personality is just important as looks. There have been a few times that I could tell from the first conversation that the model was going to be someone I couldn't work with. Feb 23 06 07:26 am Link I don´t really like to phone (it got even worse when I worked ina callcenter for some months). I prefer to set things via email. Some days before the shooting takes place I exchange mobile-phone numbers but more so I can send a SMS if the train is late or something like that. Feb 23 06 08:43 am Link I don't need to meet personally before a shoot unless the model requests it, but at least one phone conversation is required. Initial communication by email is fine, but it is too difficult to discuss the details of a shoot in emails. And it takes too long. No, at least phone, conversation...no shoot. Feb 23 06 08:54 am Link Since not every shoot (or even most, unfortunately) is a nude shoot, I find a great advantage in meeting beforehand to review wardrobe as well as samples and ideas. Ideally I do this at my home, which allows us to lay out wardrobe to review (or even have her try things on) as well as browse through stacks of magazines or go online easily. I always offer the model the opportunity to bring a friend for her peace of mind, although I do not encourage that for shoots. To date, even though I can get online with my laptop, I've never had a model bring wardrobe in to a Starbucks. Since I do most of my shoots right now on location, viewing wardrobe helps give me ideas of where I can shoot something. I have a big problem choosing shoot locations when I have no idea what type of clothing the model has to bring. Often a particular outfit will trigger a memory of a really cool industrial setting or architectural setting. Wm Feb 23 06 09:06 am Link E-mail is nice but it is also not real, as in you get a lot of fake people or model that arent very serious. If it's a local model (regardless of situation, I worked 3 jobs and was a full time student jr of college) and they cant find 30 mins to meet for coffee, how do i know they can get the 3-4 hours for the shoot. Traveling model, get a cell phone. E-mail might be convient but no shows arent. Nice I started doing pre-meets the day before a shoot, I've had zero no shows to shoots and only one late. Not to say I havent had plenty of no shows to the pre-meets, but i can just sit drink some coffee and do work on my labtop, none of my time lost. I think models dont reilize how annoying it is for a photographer when he does everything to set up a shoot and the model never shows. It can waste an entire day. P.S. has anyone every heard of a photogrpher not showing up? Martin IV www.martincoatesiv.com Feb 23 06 09:13 am Link Unless I have NOT seen any images of the model (i.e. portfolio) I have no need to meet at first, however a phone conversation is paramount before any shoot. We need to be on the same page, plus it helps put together a voice with a face. Feb 23 06 09:22 am Link David Fish wrote: I agree with Dave. Feb 23 06 09:23 am Link don't really care to talk to the models up front. not opposed to it, but it's usually unnecessary if i've seen her pictures. now muas and stylists, that's another story... Feb 23 06 09:24 am Link |
