Freelance Modeling is a Fluid Business

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Modeling is a fluid business. With the rash of no shows and no calls that have been happening on both side of the camera, it is imperative that the role of communication is open to make sure that everyone is on the same page. Make sure you have actual contact information on the other party. Don’t rely on messenger or texts. Make that call and confirm the time and place. If you have to cancel, please give as much notice as possible as you want them to be able to fill that spot that you are not able to. It is the professional thing to do.

To learn more about how MBC can help guide you in your freelance career visit our Welcome to Model Boot Camp introduction

Overbooking

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It happens. We try to work with everyone and then the shoot either runs longer, traffic, and everything else happens. The next assignment is furious! I actually got burned on this two times and then decided that I was never going to book two assignments in a day. Not just because my look was not going to be as fresh as it was at 6 am but, that I would have someone waiting.
The courtesy of this is to only book one shoot or to leave enough time to have ample buffer for the next assignment. And also let the first assignment know when you need to leave.

Communication is everything. You need to be honest with yourself and with each team on whether you can actually pull off several shoots in a day. And still look amazing. Also to look rested. Be professional in this. If it is not feasible, then move around the schedule so that it is. They will thank you for it!!

Never Work With

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I hear this a lot. I see the screen shots and it is a little funny in some cases. I know that there is text that comes across the wrong way. It happens. But honestly, some people just want to argue, debate, and have the last word. If you are not going to work with someone, just say that, and move on. It really is that simple.

Unless this is a predator, scammer, or fraud, you don’t know that this person is really someone to spread the word not to work with. You can give someone insight but, unless you have firsthand accounts on things, you better just steer clear. Assemble the facts for presentation. Make sure you have all of them before making this sort of post or call out. You never know if they might try to go after you for slander or libel.

Investing In

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Time and time again you hear about photographers who have spent more and more money on equipment for shooting. There is investment on both sides of the camera. Whether it is equipment, clothes, props, location rental, studio rental, permits, concept creation, and anything else. There is investment. The thing is to invest it into something that works for you and your modeling business. There is that saying” It is not quantity, it is quality.” There is always a debate about this. There always will be as you only get out of an assignment what you put into it.

I say this as you are reading this on the My Modeling Boot Camp website. This is where you can invest in your modeling career. You can work with some people who can assist you in not only the modeling side but, the business side to make sure you are doing what you need to for formatting your modeling business. Remember that you are unique and that there is no cookie cutter format that works. Is it time you booked your consultation?

TFP and the stigma with that type of shoot

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There is a misconception about who works and who does not with a TFP shoot. I am amazed at how many people get offended when someone who has posted about a TFP shoot will not work with someone else. Again a TFP has to be beneficial to both parties. Not just one. If you are a model or a photographer, this can be to your benefit or not. You need to make sure that you are one wither getting the education that you need to perfect your craft. Or to get the images that you can use to help your portfolio attract more clients.

The issue I hear about most is that the number of images and hours into the shoot are not communicated very well.  If you are not going to have this in writing beforehand, there really is no reason for you to go into a shoot with false expectations. The also misconception is whether you would be getting raw or edited images.  Make sure this is also out in writing. Manipulation to images after they are edited is a huge rule that this not easily forgiven.

Taking it to the limit?

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It is one thing that in modeling you hear very often. You hear about limits being pushed. You hear about condescending, suggestive, and interesting comments being made during a shoot. This is one avenue that I find gets pushed as the shoot progresses.

A photographer might say “Let’s try this.” In some cases it is very innocent and it is something that maybe a new photographer might want to try. There has to be pre-planning to any photo shoot. How else will you know what to bring to wear? How will you know how to do your makeup or hair? Rolling with the punches at a shoot, I have found in some cases just wastes time. The more time that is wasted then the more time that the model has to get tired. Even if a model is shooting all day, if the model is not resting or getting the looks refreshed…Then the images show it in the long run. Then the complaints from the photographer about having to do so much editing come in.

The other issue that always needs to be addressed but sometimes is not talked about is where are the images going? If it is a paid shoot, there should be a models release and a contract. Even if it is TFP, there needs to be some parameters on the usage.

Limits are there to protect each other. You never want to hear about a model who has been pushed to her limit and then had to quit modeling from that experience. It happens too often. If a photographer wants to try something that is past your current comfort zone, talk with that photographer and ask about how you can schedule a shoot for that theme. Easing into it and not rushing into it possibly will assist in the outcome of the images. Again communication is key.