Friday, April 10, 2009

An Easy Way to Get Put on a Flake List.

Hi All,

Here is an easy for for a model to make it on a flake list.

Around late February early March, I assisted a photo shoot. The model was a school mate who needed some head shots. The photographer was another friend of hers. He is new to the business and he gives great deals on pictures and he basically, thought he was doing her a favour. The model, whose name I won't mention, showed up for her shoot and all was going really well. The pictures turned out incredible and everyone was really happy. She was supposed to drop off the money for the shoot the next day but, she didn't show and never bothered to ever explain why. So the date was changed, she didn't show up. This happened many more times. Finally, an exchange was made. She still has to pay for the rest of the shoot. He sent her numerous messages about meets ups for the pictures and the money, but she never responded. I had to text her and tell her that the photographer has her pictures and he needs the money asap. She made up a story about how she'd been waiting to hear from him and what not. Finally, this was all to be over with. He had the CD with the pictures and she was supposed to have the cash. They were to meet early this morning. She sent me a text message an hour before the meet up saying she wouldn't be able to make it. So the saga continues.

Basically, I hope, if nothing else you realize that this is no way to act when it comes to paying a photographer. Especially one who gives you a deal and does you a favour. Pay the photographer as soon as you can and be responsible. Answer your messages!

How does one end up on a flake list as a photographer you may ask?

Well that's another easy one. You can take some tips from the photographer I had the 'pleasure' of working with. We booked the shoot 3 months in advance. We set up a theme and a location. The only thing left to do what pick a date and time but we decided to wait a little closer to the date to make that choice. Well about a month before the shoot we decided on that too, however the photographer decided he wanted to change the location. Okay a month in advance I guess is fair. Well I received a message from him a week before the shoot to remind me of it and to tell me he'd changed his mind on the location again. 4 days before the shoot and I get a phone call from him reminding me about the shoot. The night before another e-mail from him and yet again another location change. Then the morning of the shoot 2 hours before he calls to remind me...again! Also, he changed the location for the umpteenth time. The worst was when I was on the bus on my way to the last given location I called to tell him I was on my way and he changed the location for (thank God) the final time. The pictures turned out okay. A tad risque for my liking. But hey that's the life of a model right?

So message to the photographers, never treat your models like this especially if no one ifsgetting paid in this transaction. It's not very nice and not very respectful. You only make the model feel like an idiot. Keep in mind, models talk. If you screw something up with one model your chances of working with others only get slimmer.

Happy shooting,
Chelsea-Sarah
xoxo

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