Public service announcment
When it comes to treating models with respect, most photographers do a good job. I think the key word in that sentence is most, because there are a lot of photographers that don’t treat models well. I’m not sure if it is a lack of understanding or a lack of respect for any person, model or not. I will not name photographers or models through the course of this article but I have had real conversations with models about this topic.
One model I spoke with was in a situation where she was asked to do a pose that she was unconformable with, she then agreed to try the pose to see how the photo would come out. She didn’t like the outcome at all. Now if I was the photographer, I would have deleted the photo for the model right there, no matter how good that photo was or could have been. Later the photographer taunted her with the photo (the one she didn’t like) by showing her he had the photo but never sending her the photo for petty reasons. This is extremely disrespectful. Photographers need to realize that when working with a model, especially when it is a mutual understanding that they are both there to create art, that the model does not owe the photographer anything. Vice-versa, the photographer does not owe the model anything... to a certain extent, which I will discuss later. If a model is showing his/her body for photos to create art, do not take advantage and ask them to do things that they would be uncomfortable with. If you ask and they say no, let it go.
A photographer’s time is no more valuable than a models. Another problem in this area is the number of photos delivered to the model. Which goes back to the photographer owing the model something. When a model takes time out of their day to model for a photographer, the model should get photos out of it. Not one or two photos, but a whole catalog; Depending on how long they shot for. I have heard many stories from models about how they drove a far distance, shot in the cold or rain and all they got, were two photos. That is definitely a waste of the models time. Models need photos for their portfolio just as much as the photographer needs photos for their portfolio. When I hear stories about how a photographer only delivered two photos from a collaboration shoot (where both parties took their own time to do the shoot) I am disappointed. A model should receive ALL the photos a photographer edited or plans to use in the future. Paid shoots are another story because a photographer will have set guidelines of how a shoot works with them or at least they should.
Another thing that is disappointing is when a model says that the photographer won’t listen to their ideas for a photo or a shoot concept. Some photographers think that they are the only ones that can be creative. This is 100% not true. I have had some of my favorite shoot come from or stem from an idea that a model had. An artist or photographer should never turn down or discredit and idea. Have you ever heard the saying, two minds are better than one? Well its true, if the photographer brainstorms with a model they could come up with a better idea than there was before.
All these problems are little by themselves but when a model deals with them on a daily basis it gets annoying and discouraging. I’ve had an amazing model tell me that she debates quitting because of how photographers have made her feel. This is horrible if you ask me. Models and photographers should help each other succeed, they should work together to create art, they should not put each other down or make one side feel so bad that they want to quit.
As you finish reading this please remember that I am by no means an expert on this subject. I want to spark a thought in you as a model, photographer or just a person reading this to think about how your actions are being perceived by the other party.
If you made it this far, I thank you,
Will Pohlman