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Wow...you suck.
I'm sure everyone's had this happen...you shoot with someone...and they suck. Perhaps it's a model who's gained 50 pounds since the last photo she posted, or a photographer who doesn't even know what aperture is. We get over it and move on though...right? But what if it doesn't feel like that's enough? When I was just starting out I worked with a photographer who will remain nameless. He offered to give me a massage, and since my escort was in the room with us and his wife was right in the kitchen, I figured, ok...why not? My back's aching anyway. Well, he totally touched my butt. I said that was enough of that and we finished the shoot without any more problems. When I got my shots back from him I looked at them and did not find one single useable shot. They were all completely wretched. I could've dealt with that since I got paid for the shoot, so I didn't get nothing out of the deal. Then I saw one of the shots he took. It was a closeup of my crotch. Granted, I was wearing shorts so it wasn't too bad, but unless I was suffering from temporary amnesia he had not asked if he could take a picture of my crotch, nor did he appear to be taking a picture of my crotch at any point. He just zoomed in and snapped it before I could notice. Way uncool. That on top of the "back"rub and the horrible pictures, and I wouldn't work with him again no matter how much he paid. I know what you're thinking...just get over it...well I am over it happening to me...but what about other models? He has all these good comments on his page about how great working with him is and blah blah blah, and maybe he's not usually like that, but I can't help but feel like other girls should know how he treated me. If he'd be ashamed of other models hearing my story, then he shouldn't have acted that way, right? So there's the big question...do you tell and make yourself look like some bitter bitch who can't keep her mouth shut and possibly ruin your reputation, or do you keep quiet and risk other people having the same experience? Oh, and bonus points if you reply with your own awesome horror story. Apr 16 06 10:30 pm Link What's that aperture you speak of, young lady? Apr 16 06 10:31 pm Link you have been listening to my wifes comments on me this easter perhaps? lol [ beware post 666 ] Apr 16 06 10:33 pm Link As I see it you really have two choices. Obviosly the easiest thing to do is forget about it, let it slide and distance yourself from the whole event. The thing about mudslinging is that no one comes out clean. This is the path of least resistance. If you feel compelled to "make a difference" the absolute most evil thing you could do is be really really nice to him, send him an email about how great it was working with him and to feel free to use you as a reference. Then tell every model that contacts you as a reference about your experience. Not every model asks for references and not every model that askes for references will actually contact all of them or perhaps any of them. You'll just inch up the percentage of annoying, flakey, no shows he experiences. There probably wouldn't be enough of a pattern for him to discern that it's you causing it and it's highly unlikely that any model after hearing your reference will tell him what you told her. Thus there's only a slim chance of it coming back around to him. Actually the ABSOLUTE most evil thing you could do is schedule another shoot, then cancel 48hrs in advance, then reschedule and cancel 72 hours in advance, then reschedule and show up but have to leave early. Rinse repeat. Hey, time he plans on shooting but doesn't is time that it'd be real difficult to fill shooting other models. Plus you could do the reference thing on top of it. Apr 16 06 11:03 pm Link Kaitlin Lara wrote: I have had shoots that did not turn out well at all. Apr 16 06 11:12 pm Link he was wrong to ask to touch you and you were wrong to let him. This shoot was a train wreck from that start. Apr 16 06 11:16 pm Link rule #1 don't touch the model rule #2 don't touch the model rule #3 don't touch the model wtf? i got into it with a photographer for pressuring a model to allow him to give her a back rub once. it isn't cool. makes the model feel obligated to allow it and makes the photographer look like a sick perv. and if a photographer is asking you if he can rub your back he really has other things on his mind. it's much different if the model asks the photographer... hey, my shoulders hurt... do you mind giving me a quick rub? that's totally different. a) most likely her shoulders really do hurt and b) it isn't a sexual come on and c) most likely if a model asks you to rub her shoulders she's worked with you on several ocassions, not once, and she's comfortable with you as a buddy. you need to be tough. don't let anyone pressure you into anything. if you want a massage go pay for one, or ask your bf. a photographer crosses the line of professionalism when he starts touching your body. this story just icks me out. and if any photographer would have acted like this towards me... i would name name's and wouldn't have an issue with it at all, and would not give a shit what the fall out would be... professional photographers are not supposed to act like this. and amateur photographers shouldn't act like this either. it just shows that you aren't in it for the photography, and that you're in it because you want hot chicks around you. go to a nightclub. Apr 16 06 11:19 pm Link LagunaPhoto wrote: Well stated. Apr 16 06 11:24 pm Link I'd feel really weird about asking you if I could rub your back with an escort present. That's just asking for an ass kickin. Apr 16 06 11:26 pm Link Zoe Wiseman wrote: Backrubs no but I disagree that a model should never be touched. Apr 16 06 11:26 pm Link Marksora wrote: then you should ask to do it first. a model is vunerable when shooting. that should be respected. especially if it is a nude shoot. i shot commercially and as a figure model when i modeled, no one has ever touched me. if you know how to communicate properly the model should be able to move her face by herself. not that moving a models face is a bad thing... especially when clothed, but if it's for a nude shoot keep your hands off at all times. Apr 16 06 11:28 pm Link Zoe Wiseman wrote: Sorry I disagree. A backrub and moving a model who needs to be moved are different things. Apr 16 06 11:32 pm Link Zoe Wiseman wrote: I still disagree though to a lesser degree, I do not do many nudes shoot but they are often closed. If you are placed wrong and I need to move something under your leg or your face then it should be fine. I am not there to fondle you or touch your butt. Apr 16 06 11:38 pm Link Marksora wrote: Clumsy little devil, aren't you? Apr 17 06 07:17 am Link As soon as this guy asked to give you a backrub the light bulb should have have gone off. No legit photog offers a rubdown with an escort and his wife present! Not to mention that if you were paid for the shoot, you are not entitled to any images so what you got is what youre stuck with. Definately do not work with him again and NEVER let some random photog touch you without good reason i.e. adjust your head position. Apr 17 06 07:29 am Link awwwwwww He touched me, Im telling Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Apr 17 06 07:34 am Link I gave one of my models a footrub. But that's because we're friends and I was trying to watch my Angels (lose game 5 to the white sox) and she was sleeping on the couch and put her feet up on my lap. So note to models, if you don't want me to rub your feet, don't put them on my lap. And for what's worth, she said that was the best massage EVER! Hurry, I book fast! Apr 17 06 10:36 am Link DigitalCMH wrote: I want a foot rub!!!!! lol Apr 17 06 10:47 am Link Kiersten Weaver wrote: I see that you're married. That's more trouble than I'm willing to get into. Plus, he's in the military and can probably shoot me. Apr 17 06 10:49 am Link LagunaPhoto wrote: Didn't I say I told him to stop immediately after it turned inappropriate? I believe in giving people the benefit of the doubt. Apr 17 06 10:56 am Link DigitalCMH wrote: Reminds me of a TV sitcom that I saw regarding a similar issue. Apr 17 06 10:59 am Link Marksora wrote: Apparently everyone's forgetting that I was just starting out, I'm a very trusting individual, and I assumed he had good intentions. I wasn't laying down...when you sit you do not have your entire butt in contact with the surface you're on, do you? I didn't say he jammed a finger up my butt or anything...he touched my butt...you don't have to be laying down for that to happen. I was trusting and naive, I will admit that, but all the blame for this does not belong on me. People should have more dignity than to take advantage of a situation like that, I assumed this person did, and I was wrong for that, but he was wrong for not having the decency to behave in a professional manner. Apr 17 06 11:01 am Link I wish my car mechanic would ask me if I wanted a back rub after he worked on my car, I'm sure it would not be out of line. He has such nice hands. It never ceases to amaze me as to what passes for professional ethics in the entertainment field yet one would not stand for it in other professional fields. Apr 17 06 11:01 am Link Claire Elizabeth wrote: People are apparently ignoring bits and pieces of my post to make it look worse than it is. I said I was fine with the shots being horrible because I got paid. What I was NOT ok with was a photo of my crotch that should never have been taken. Apr 17 06 11:03 am Link Zoe Wiseman wrote: Model is only vulnerable if you make her feel that way. My shoots are a blast, models kick my a$$, I set my cat on them, we headbang to loud music, scream at people out of the window, then they (models) steal my camera off me, I pull their hair to stop them, they want me to get naked, I start to laugh my a$$ off (as they would start running amok after they saw me), and it just goes like that... Apr 17 06 11:06 am Link Make sure before you shoot that you like his type of photography and style, you should be able to tell by his porfolio if he's any good. You were right by bringing someone with you. I feel bad for models because there are alot of creeps out there who act as photographers, but there are also alot of professionals so how do you tell them apart... I don't know. All you can do is get as much information about the photographer and the shoot before you go. Being a female photographer I never run into these problems, I still think you should still bring someone with you either way to be safe. Never let the photographer touch you! Apr 17 06 11:08 am Link I've read a bunch of responses and here's my two cents... A photographer should always ask permission for any kind of touching but models, please, unless you actually want him/her to, don't allow them anything inappropriate. Back rubs, certain "adjustments" are a couple things I would consider potentially inapporpriate. At the end of the day, we all need to be professional and we should be mature. If the professional line ever gets blurred it should be ONLY by mutual agreement (not that I advocate that AT ALL but I understand it can, does and has happened). Bottom line: Photographers- be respectful; Models- stand up for yourselves. Apr 17 06 11:15 am Link DigitalCMH wrote: waaaaaaaait a second. why wasn't I informed? Apr 17 06 11:17 am Link SayCheeZ! wrote: I can always say I'm booked up Apr 17 06 11:18 am Link Moleirinho Images wrote: Ah...but one big problem with this guy is that his portfolio is actually pretty good. I guess when you shoot as much as he does you have to get a good shot once in a while. He even admitted to me at the shoot that my favorite photo of his was an accident. He apparently only posted a very small portion of his work online to make him appear better than he was, because he showed me a lot more of his work when I got there, and 98% of it was awful. I agree with you that there is a dillema because it's hard to tell who's a good guy and who's just looking to see hot chicks naked, and that's why I wish I could tell people about my experience. How can people know if no one tells them? Apr 17 06 11:19 am Link Hey Kaitlin, Is your problem that he touched your ass or that the shots sucked? See, if it's a problem that he touched your ass, you have to assume that he's either an unprofessional perv that gets off touching girls butts or he did it by accident. If heâs a perv, then thereâs a problem (for the whole profession) and you should do what you think is best for both you and other models. If on the other hand, youâre unhappy with the photos ⦠well thatâs sort of too bad. Bad shoots happen. (btw, in the future you should remember a photographer is there to photograph you, not touch you, thereâs never a good time to cross that line) Apr 17 06 11:21 am Link model7299 wrote: You're being informed now. Apr 17 06 11:25 am Link Zoe Wiseman wrote: I completely disagree, if a model is asking the photographer to touch her, itâs a wrong as the photographer asking to touch her, there is never a time when people should be rubbing each other in a photo shoot. Apr 17 06 11:26 am Link Okay, just reading that story made me feel icky. I would NEVER let a photographer touch me at a shoot. Well, there is one....but I've shot with him so many times and we've been great friends for years. So if I had a fly-away hair and was in an awkward pose, I'd probably ask him to fix it for me. But he would never touch me or adjust anything on/around me if I didn't ask. The guy you shot with is definitely NOT professional. Sorry it was such a bad experience when you were getting started, guess you know now. As far as telling other models about him, that's a tough one. You may just end up looking like a jerk if you put a comment up about him. Maybe it's best to say that you will provide references for all photographers you've shot with upon request. Then, if someone asks about him, you can tell them your story in private. Apr 17 06 11:41 am Link A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal. - Oscar Wilde Apr 17 06 11:43 am Link Marksora wrote: "Left a little more, stop! Chin down, hold that. Good." Works for me. Apr 17 06 11:52 am Link OK this was a TFP shoot so the only real lost here is time. The photographer sucked, you got some terrible pics but you didn't loose any real cash, with that said you should just move on. As far the touching that was really bad judgement but it happens. I am amazed at how many creeps are out here. Your port looks good so don't let one bad photoshoot keep you from modeling. Apr 17 06 11:58 am Link Lens N Light wrote: Chasing The Light wrote: You know what, you are both so correct. My bad. As you can see from my photos and my profile, I just started taking photos just this year when my mommy gave me a camera. Apr 17 06 12:08 pm Link Kaitlin Lara wrote: I donât know what you are searching for as far a closure but I donât think itâs worth the time and effort to pursue âjusticeâ? with this photographer. Apr 17 06 12:22 pm Link I'm just taking this opportunity to hijack this thread - Kaitlin, you're really pretty Apr 17 06 12:32 pm Link |