|
Forums >
General Industry >
Professionalism - drinking with your models
I have a big project coming up soon, working with 5-10 models onsite (outdoors and in a stuffy abandoned warehouse), all day and well into the night. I'm planning on having the event catered with a chill tent setup for cooling off and relaxing, costume changes, etc. We're planning on making this a very fun environment - lots of skimpy outfits, loud music, smoke flares, fog machines, airsoft rifles and handguns (it's a cyberpunk shoot) - and some people have asked about having alcohol onsite. Personally, I don't mind - I typically offer models and their escorts a beer or wine or whatever when they show up for a shoot. But how "professional" is this? Just curious as to what other photographers/models think about drinking on location and if they would do it given the situation I've described above. Jun 15 06 02:22 pm Link Sounds like a fun project. I say go for it! Of course, you'll get those "highly professional" overzealous people you will yell how unprofessional that is yada yada yada... Make your own decision, make sure it's not getting out of hand (party maybe AFTER the shoot) and everybody should have a great time. Jun 15 06 02:27 pm Link Honestly, if it is going to be a hectic environement (5-10 models, airguns, flares, abandoned old building...etc) and long shoot, you might end up with drunk, useless models. If this happens, you might find yourself in a liability risk (i.e. drunk guy/gal grabs flare sets other model on fire....etc). If I am doing a TFP session with one or two models and a MUA in a controlled environment, then I might serve a drink or two. But this might be too big and intense a shoot to run the risk on....hell, the passed out models unable to do the last shot factor alone would suck. I say get the shots, then party your asses off afterwards. Jun 15 06 02:28 pm Link Hard to say... we never have drinked (EVER!) during the shoot. But naturally after the shoot. If the team have been fun to work and everyone get a long well, it is nice thing to end day sometimes. But yes... hmmmm... during the shoot? Don't know. Even so, that I am HUGE fan of beer myself. Drinking one even now.  Jun 15 06 02:29 pm Link Surreal Eye Studio wrote: I think it's ok as long as you don't start grabbing their behinds after you've had a few. Where I come from it would be considered rude not to drink with them. Jun 15 06 02:30 pm Link After I turn 21 (woohoo 5 weeks to go) I am going to expect every photographer that I shoot with and like to have a drink with me... lol. I don't get drunk too easy so if it were me I'd say, BRING ON THE ALCOHOL! Jun 15 06 02:31 pm Link My definition of professionalism is knowing when to act unprofessionally. Drinking with models--even on a shoot--is not forbidden. That said, I think starting a work day with a drink is probably a bad idea. And combining guns and alcohol? Are you kidding? Jun 15 06 02:33 pm Link OK, I'm a jerk, I admit it. Not only that, I think I'm an overzealous Ansel Adams. Now to the REAL jerk part. Understand your liability. If a model or escort leaves your place after drinking and collides with a mom taking her kids home from soccer, YOU ARE ON THE HOOK. You hired them, you (tacitly) suggested they drink as part of the shoot, and mom's lawyers will roll right over you. This level of liability is well-established case law. I'm not a lawyer, but management training programs I've been through all say EXACTLY THE SAME THING. Jun 15 06 02:33 pm Link Save it for after the shoot. Or at least after all waivers have been signed. Jun 15 06 02:33 pm Link I'll keep from the booze during the shoot, but after if people wanna get smashed. Woohoo! Jun 15 06 02:35 pm Link Sounds like fun, but hold off on the alcohol until you can see the day coming to end. All it takes is one drunk buffoon to knock over a $1,000 light and the mood of the day goes down hill quickly. If it's a long day and spread out (with people coming and going) just set the time and invite the people from earlier back at a later time. Just my two cents. But anyone hurts my Hensels and I'd kill them. Jun 15 06 02:35 pm Link I have never worked with anyone that didn't start to LOOK drunk in pictures long before they felt they have had too much to drink... But I gues it depends on what you are going for. -Dan. Jun 15 06 02:36 pm Link I think that if it will be that warm you should serve mohitas. Jun 15 06 02:38 pm Link UdoR wrote: Ditto. It kind of depends on how big in the commercial sense. Thereâs no reason not to have fun though. Have everybody sign a waiver, get the main shots done before the drinks, then crank up the music. Jun 15 06 02:39 pm Link I have a 1 drink limit policy during video or photo shoots- I do video work for bands on occasion, and that's sometimes a hard sell, but I've also experienced the dread of shooting video for something where the host and guest got way too drunk before the taping... yipes... Yeah, 1 drink limit, maybe 2 for a really long shoot. Jun 15 06 02:41 pm Link Hmmm, alcohol and fire arms. I'd love to be a fly on the wall on that one! Or maybe I wouldn't! Jun 15 06 02:41 pm Link Nate Boguszewski wrote: I would agree , and respect the legal fact that underage models should nto be consuming ( whether they want to or not ) Jun 15 06 02:42 pm Link have had wrap parties after a project but that was usually moved over to a local restaurant who did the serving, both for food & drink; the [public establishment] thus took over checking IDs & making sure all was in compliance with local laws. FML Jun 15 06 02:48 pm Link byReno wrote: Does the standard waiver cover anything that results from the photographer supplying the model with alcohol? I am sure it covers accident if the model supplies themselves without photog knowledge....but not sure it covers accidents that occur due alcohol provided to the model by the photog. Any one know this one? Jun 15 06 02:49 pm Link FML-Photography wrote: Bulls-eye.....let someone handle the liability part. This way you can be a drunken goof-ball along with the models. :-) Jun 15 06 02:50 pm Link UdoR wrote: Ditto. Jun 15 06 02:51 pm Link And don't forget the Oreo's (see previous thread about acceptable forms of payment for models). They will help absorb the alcohol. Jun 15 06 02:53 pm Link Apfel Photography wrote: Vastly less liability serving Oreo's. Jun 15 06 03:00 pm Link Not a problem to me. We have some drinks each night after the shoot is over when I do my Traveling Photo trip shoots. Works for me. bs Jun 15 06 03:01 pm Link bobby sargent wrote: I have driven some of those LONG STRAIGHT roads in Texas....I'd be drinking too. :-) Jun 15 06 03:04 pm Link Thanks for everyone's input  It is greatly appreciated. Now I just have to write up an Oreo Liability Release and have my attorney approve it. I'm not being held responsible for Oreo-induced hips. Jun 15 06 03:10 pm Link This does sound like fun. If you don't know the models from previous shoots then it might be safer to save the alcohol for the last couple of hours for the shoot instead of right from the start. Jun 15 06 03:12 pm Link Surreal Eye Studio wrote: Actually, if that happens, you can then book them for Glamour shots. :-) Jun 15 06 03:15 pm Link Apfel Photography wrote: that's not what i said. or implied. Jun 15 06 03:16 pm Link Sounds to me like a really fun and cool shoot that could be horribly marred if you have too much alcohol flowing... My $0.02 is to save it for a wrap party.... and then only for models who are of age. Last thing you need is to be charged for minor liquor offences etc... because word like that tends to spread and that WILL look unprofessional. Have fun!! Jun 15 06 03:21 pm Link Len Cook Photographer wrote: Well, I'm a lawyer, so I'll weigh in. Jun 15 06 03:22 pm Link umm... OP have you ever seen a picture of yourself trying to muster up a sober look the next morning after a bender??? i think it's a good idea if you want the models to look drunk. when drinking... your muscles relax... including your face muscles. meaning... droopy faces and flushed complections. i think afterwards seems like a great idea but during??? there isn't gonna be a usable face after they're twisted. trust me, many moons ago i tried this and never have ever since! Jun 15 06 03:23 pm Link Pshhhh... bring on the wine  Jun 15 06 03:25 pm Link dude, OP, it's gonna F@#% up your shoot if you let them drink during. nobody looks flattering when they're drunk. Jun 15 06 03:26 pm Link berrios wrote: True....but didn't he say it was a punk/rock shoot....might actually give it a sense of realism. :-) Jun 15 06 03:29 pm Link berrios wrote: Oh I VERY much disagree.... Jun 15 06 03:29 pm Link I wouldn't really think that he is intending for them to get drunk... it seems as though if someone was too gone or looked horrible, he would be able to call them a cab. Perhaps a two drink maximum.. that way no one is trashed (atleast I would hope not).... Jun 15 06 03:29 pm Link you ever work on a movie set.... it dosent get much bigger than that. if there is alcohol its invisible,cant smell it,and your not liable... point is they dont serve it use your own descretion but remember the law says your liable even after they leave Jun 15 06 03:30 pm Link FemmeArt wrote: Good stuff. Thanks. Jun 15 06 03:31 pm Link Model Sarah wrote: At first glance, she reminded me of Jamie Lee Curtis! Jun 15 06 03:43 pm Link |
