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Does it matter to a photographer?
Ha! I couldn't finish my title, I mean't to ask: does it matter to photographers if they actually have chemistry with a model and enjoy working with them? Or if a model is just there, does the job with minimal chit chat and that's fine?
Anyway, I thought since this board is slow that I would throw this out for a discussion as It's just something that I have been thinking about recently. I have been fortunate to have had long, wonderful working relationships with a few models who I would now consider among my closest friends. However, would I work with a model multiple times even if they were good models but I found them totally aloof/totally engaged with their phones during a shoot? I'd have to say no. It's just not fun to work with someone regularly that I feel that I have zero chemistry with. Photography is just a hobby for me and photoshoots should be fun and working with models that I feel that I have no chemistry with is not something that I would want to do regularly. It's great when you find people that you really look forward to working with. How does everyone else feel about this? Would you work with someone frequently even though personally you just don't click" with them. As long as you get images that you are happy with that's enough. I just thought that I would throw this out there, I am not sure that I would make this a hard and fast rule. Mar 22 26 08:03 pm Link Q: “Would you work with someone frequently even though personally you just don't “click" with them?”
A: “No!” While challenging models can sometimes be managed through clear direction, it is often best to avoid them if they are unprofessional, or unwilling to collaborate. Mar 23 26 03:22 am Link I have a very outgoing personality and I love intellectual discussions. However, there have been stiff, no personality, probably completely opposite views than myself, that I have worked with and it has been fine. I am a professional. I show up, smile, and do my job. Now will we work together over the years? Probably not and that's okay.
But there soooo many more photographers I have worked with over the years that I really enjoy working with them and talking with them. Lots of different people to have conversations with and working with me as a professional, is easy or it should be. So for me, it doesn't matter. I can work with both types of people but obviously, I would prefer someone with chemistry. I have zero control over that and that is fine. Mar 23 26 07:47 am Link I think it helps to have some chemistry. It'll definitely show up in the pictures. In the end, all that matters is the final product. On the flipside, if both photographer and model was working for the same employer (some big magazine or advertising firm), then chemistry doesn't really matter. You just have to get the assignment done. I almost think that would be ideal if you want a long term career as a photographer. Mar 23 26 08:35 am Link It really depends on the project,
There are some projects where the model really is just decorative and just having an experienced model is enough. But generally, it is much easier to get better results with good chemistry and an experienced model. Mar 23 26 09:13 am Link As someone who does this as a hobby both are important but my preference is to work with someone where there is a personal connection and we have fun working together.
Now if a model has outstanding looks and talent I will shoot with her and probably repeat but life is too short to deal with difficult people . Sometimes with foreign born non native English speakers there is a challenge to communicate but if both are working together it will work ou Mar 23 26 02:53 pm Link I have taken some of my most satisfying images of both models I didn't care for and models I looked forward to shooting again. It can make a difference, but it not an absolute by far. I have always subscribed to the notion that I don't have to be the audience to be the photographer. Mar 24 26 04:54 am Link A connection helps me. I want everyone to be comfortable during the shoot. If someone is tense or distracted, it shows in the photos. I don't like shoots to feel mechanical. I've done a few shoots with people who seemed like they were just going through the motions to check some boxes off. Those weren't as fun as others. I think great photos can be had with or without a connection, but for me it's a noticeable difference and I prefer a good connection. Mar 27 26 10:05 am Link Dan Howell wrote: If I end up disliking a Model because a shoot went poorly of the post shoot interaction soured me - I don’t usually post the images in my portfolio
Apr 08 26 11:33 pm Link 
Model Posts: 6749 MacMurdo - permanent station of the US, Sector claimed by New Zealand, Antarctica Personally, I cringe when photographers talk about "chemistry." It's a photoshoot, not a date. Many of you are unknowingly running off models when you use that word.
So many photographers send messages talking about chemistry, having fun, liking uninhibited models.... do you not understand these are the words used by people who act inappropriately? Instead, you should talk about rapport, acting professionally, ensuring a model's comfort, outline the genre and theme of the shoot, and explain upfront what your expectations are for the shoot and resulting images. That's it. You don't need to have chemistry - you need to have good rapport and work together to achieve a result. Yes, that can be fun too - it's more fun for a model when she is not uneasy about your intentions or behavior. Apr 09 26 06:35 am Link Model MoRina wrote: When I talk "chemistry" I am referring to personality, communications, and working methods.
Apr 09 26 07:14 am Link
Model Posts: 6749 MacMurdo - permanent station of the US, Sector claimed by New Zealand, Antarctica Chris Macan wrote: I am not accusing you or anyone else in this thread. My point was to let you know that it is one of those words that can possibly turn people off working with you. Sometimes it helps to see things from the female side. Apr 09 26 12:37 pm Link It's nice to meet a like-minded individual, but not imperative Apr 09 26 03:33 pm Link Rapport, is nice but as long as they can take direction, it's all that is needed. Chemistry is not the word I would use, sounds a bit creepy to me as well. Apr 09 26 07:28 pm Link Wanting to create chemistry with a model can be considered "creepy" if it crosses the line into unprofessionalism, unreciprocated flirting, or disregard for the model's comfort and boundaries.
However, fostering a collaborative, comfortable rapport—often referred to as chemistry—is a normal and often essential part of photography and modelling. “I know that sometimes the chemistry just isn’t there between the model, photographer, hair and make-up. It’s nobody’s fault and you just have to do better next time.” Quote — Linda Evangelista Apr 10 26 02:08 am Link G Reese wrote: Some of the models I work with are in their early 20s, young enough to be my kids. While I enjoy chatting with them and hearing about their lives, they are clearly from different generations than I am. Sometimes, I feel a familial type of care for people who are going through "growing up" type situations that we all go through when we are young. For the most part, I'm at a very, very different stage in life than the models I photograph, so that defines the rapport. There is often a shared interest in music, movies and arts -- so that has been a good way to have nice conversations with people from a much younger demographic.
Apr 10 26 05:53 am Link Audrey Rinehart wrote: Ditto.
Apr 10 26 08:16 am Link Ultimately, getting good photos is what matters, and that can be accomplished with or without any sort of rapport/chemistry. But photo shoots are (or at least should be) a professional setting, and being able to make small talk in a professional setting is a very valuable lifeskill, and I appreciate anyone who is able to do that. Apr 10 26 09:51 am Link Communication is a better word than chemistry.
In shooting in outdoor remote sites photographing models, communicating with them if they are 10 or meters away can be an issue in first sessions with models. For models I worked with on a regular basis, we established hand signals. Apr 10 26 05:51 pm Link Boy, I forgot how things can so easily be taken out of context and people can read their own stories into a post. It's just the limitation one communicating via a forum such as this. I found the comment about using the word "chemistry" as something from a 90s dating site and viewing my post as from someone acting inappropriately to be a harsh accusation. If you knew me you certainly wouldn't be saying this! LOL! Don't believe me? Look at my reccomendations on my page.
My post had to do with I would be most likely to work with a model frequently if I "clicked" with them in a friendly way NOT in a flirting way. Geez. I'll leave it at that. I am now reminded why I stopped posting on this forum and I'm sure many more have left for similar reasons. Apr 10 26 07:26 pm Link Frankly I always enjoy shooting with and get the best results from models I vibe with. Luckily, in 30ish years I've only had a few "all business" fuddy duddies and they were all one and done shoots. What we do isn't really all that important in the grand scheme of things. So if it's not enjoyable, why do it? Apr 10 26 08:04 pm Link Yes. If I find I don't have a rapport with a model when having a preliminary meeting or if she decides I'm not what she's looking for to shoot her, I just move onto someone else.
No biggie. Apr 11 26 09:16 am Link |
