3 Models and 1 annoyed photog!!!!

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

06/17/2009 01:56:47 PM · #1

My god...I now understand why photographers were always frustrated with some models. I've been talking to 3 models over the last couple of weeks getting prepared to shoot. All three models have never shot before so they are looking for portfolio development. I'm looking to experiment with a couple of shooting styles so I'm offering TFCD (Time for CD). Sounds like a great deal right? I've worked with several new models before and it's turned out pretty good because you can mold them for your project. But these three models...well how about I just give you each situation.

Model 1: Seems ready to shoot. Lets me know how nervous she is and I try my hardest via email or phone to make her feel comfortable. And it works for a while. And she's gung ho. So I'll say "how about we shoot next weekend".....Three days later she'll reply "I work next weekend...but I'm free the Weekend of June #1-#1 (random date)...so I'll say "okay lets show June #1 at this time....she replies two days later...I have to work that weekend. So I'll come back again...when are you free? She replies "I'm free June #2-#2". To which i say "Great Lets shoot June #2 at this time." She replies two days later "I have to work that weekend, but I'm free June #3-#3.....Keep in mind she reminds me in each of these emails how nervous she is to which I also try to put her at ease.

So as you can guess I'm realizing a pattern here. This is going to go on until the end of time.

Model 2: Sends me two emails in the same day letting me know that she wants to shoot. So I'm thinking this is good. I send her an email and say "When are you free". She tells me that she's going to be in NYC June #1-#1. Okay but I live in New Jersey. Now if the model lived out of state I could understand that, but she doesn't. So I'm assuming she means she's not free that weekend right? So I say "Okay well which weekend are you free" and I explain to her that I'm about half an hour from where she lives and that NYC is about an hour and a half from me. She replies that she is free the weekend of June #1-#1. So I reply back "okay, I thought you said you were going to be in NYC...we can shoot June #1". Her response comes back that she will be in NYC that weekend for her bday and thought that if I were in NYC we could shoot then. I explain to her that I don't travel to NYC to shoot unless its for a paying or commercial client, but we can choose another weekend if she likes. No...she says she can still shoot the weekend of June#1-#1 but she doesn't drive can she take a bus or have a friend drive her. I say yeah to both and also give her a bus schedule. I also say lets shoot June #1 at this time. She replies back, "Well I'm going to be in NYC June #1-#1................WTF!!!! Didn't we just clear this up? I am not that close to NYC. I'm not shooting her in NYC.....NYC has nothing to do with us shooting. If you are in NYC that weekend have fun in NYC and call me another weekend. ARRRGGGHHH!!!!!

Model 3: Really seemed on the ball. She wants to meet the photographer before shooting. To which I say is a good idea, then i could show her examples of the style of shooting we will be doing so she can practice. We go back and forth figuring out when we can meet. She can't meet the weekend of June#1-#1 because she is going out each night that week, but can meet that Thursday at a restaurant/bar at 7pm (yeah a little odd, but I'm young and not complaining). Thursday at 4pm I get an email saying she can't make it (and get this excuse) because it's raining outside....I don't know why the rain would stop someone meeting up at a place that close and indoors..but okay I'll let it slide. So i get an email later saying that she can meet Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday...So I say "how is sunday" no response...Monday comes around...no response...tuesday comes around and I get an email that says "How about Friday...night at 7pm of course. This I agree to....Same place, same time although now this is starting to seem like a date! Well that's this friday lets see how that one goes!

So I'm pretty freaking annoyed right now. All three of these models must be nuts! Or maybe I'm nuts but it's only because they drove me nuts! What do you have to do to give these women the opportunity they are asking for. You want to get a portfolio developed. You haven't shot before. You get offered a free one. You like the photographers work...You do what you can to get it done.

So what am I going to do now! F it...I'm charging all three of them. If I charge model 1, she'll make up her f'ing mind and pick a date. She'll make sure it's a day she has off and she'll freaking show up! If I charge model 2, maybe then she'll get the concept that I am closer to her than NYC, but the pay will get me to come to NYC to shoot her for her bday. And by charging model #3, the rain won't be a reason for her not to show up. And it'll cover the drinks and dinner I'm paying for our date!

Thanks for letting me rant

Anthony

Message edited by author 2009-06-17 14:19:19.

karmat

Apple iPhone 7

06/17/2009 02:00:28 PM · #2

daggone.

i think i'll go shoot some rocks or flowers or something!

Apple iPhone 5

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

06/17/2009 02:04:50 PM · #3

Well, good luck with the date.

CEJ

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

06/17/2009 02:07:23 PM · #4

Originally posted by karmat:

I think I'll go shoot some rocks or flowers or something!

Didn't you get the memo? Rocks are busy until July #1 and Flowers are tied up until July #2. On the other hand, something is always available. :)

Message edited by author 2009-06-17 22:18:39.

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

06/17/2009 02:17:40 PM · #5

Nope..leaving the flowers alone too...Still healing from all the poison Ivy I had for the last month. The rocks might be my safest bet.

What's sad is that I have a brand new house (hardly any furniture)...with 3 bedrooms, a full basement, with an extra room in the basement...And a sunroom that has a hot tub and 14 windows!!!!!! Oh yeah and it's just me....so i wanted to get an idea of 1) how good is shooting in the sunroom and 2) what other room would be idea for an indoor studio (aside from the sunroom).

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

06/17/2009 02:20:25 PM · #6

Originally posted by albc28:

.....And by charging model #3, the rain won't be a reason for her not to show up. And it'll cover the drinks and dinner I'm paying for our date!
...

LOL. Don't let her speak to the waiter, so you can order for her. A glass of water. :-D

Prof_Fate

06/17/2009 02:22:55 PM · #7

What are you asking them to do? Nudity or similar then I can see the inexperienced 'models' (if they've never done any modeling then they're not yet models IMO) being nervous.

I prefer working with my HS senior reps - they're a lot less weird!

eschelar

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

06/18/2009 09:37:34 AM · #8

Are you by yourself at your house?

Do you think it might be easier to require that they bring a friend or two?

I often try to shoot with people I know. Even still it's hit and miss. And more miss than hit...

I've arranged three big group shoots for my local uni photo club and all of them flopped. Oddly enough, the models all showed up, but I was the only one with a camera. Go figure.

All the models were in groups and had specific plans to what we were going to do. We had a choice of 3 themes, we were each to bring some props and the plan was to get 4 shots in 4 different scenarios.

I think the only reason they showed up is because they knew me.

Oh well.

You live near NYC, there's got to be boatloads of girls floating around there (or hanging on telephone wires by their noserings or something) worth shooting.

Remember, beautiful isn't always the goal. Interesting is far more... interesting!

Hrm. that last bit got a bit floaty. Oh yeah, just gookt a sleeping pill. BEdstime.

06/19/2009 07:19:04 AM · #9

haha...I've shot alot of models before. So I know how some flake. It's just these three that are annoying me. It's not a matter of being alone because I tell them all they can bring a friend if they want, as long as it is someone they are comfortable shooting in front of. Prof is right...it's pretty much because they have never done it before...he's also right in that they aren't technically models until they actually model!

I used to have trouble with models showing up when I first started but that was because i didn't have much work posted and even that work (when I look at it now) probably looked like a guy with a camera. Over the last year or more I haven't really had that problem though. Just these damn three hasseling me.