RHK-MAG.COM: Featured Kitten of the Week #98: Kristi Wright

RHK-MAG.COM: Featured Kitten of the Week #98: Kristi Wright: Name: Kristi Wright   City, State: Puyallup, WA   Measurements: 37-27-35   Most Attractive Feature: I have got a lot of compliments on my...

Being nude isn't what it use to be

I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t wake up and decide I wanted to do this. Nor did I sit quietly as a child and gaze dreamily into nothingness fantasizing about life as a glamour photographer. I’m still not a glamour photographer by trade. However, I’ve always said that you have to give the people what they want and right now that’s glamour. But what has me mystified as of late are varying definitions of what constitutes “nudity.” While it might be argued that society has reveled in a flagrant glorification of sexuality as of late, it still perplexes me how something so obvious can be so ambiguous. 

As more and more clients, models and just curiosity seekers began pursuing my photographic services, there has been increase in the amount of people wanting glamour and boudoir photography sessions. Don’t get me wrong, I find nothing more glorious than a well defined human body or any body for that matter. the human form is a work of art. Yet, I can’t help thinking that art is taking a back seat to an over glorification of sex and sexuality in general. Most of what we see isn’t even art. It’s just plain and simple flagrant sexualization for no reason at all. There is a vast difference in people that shoot glamour well vs those that just shoot naked and scantily clad people. It’s a matter of taste and style. I’ve found my style and place within the genre. I steer clear of those shoots that don’t reflect my level of taste and style.

But all of the aforementioned things belong in a posts all their own. What really has me baffled are the different definitions of nude I run in to. Of course everyone is familiar with “implied” nudity. These are cases where no unmentionables are visible; unmentionables like genitalia or breasts. Yet, there are other situations where full breasts are visible but a model or client says it’s implied because it covers genitalia. Then there are situations where a model is totally nude but her back is to the viewer. This is often considered implied because no breasts or genitalia are visible even though it is “implied” the subject is totally naked despite how obvious it may be. It's just a matter of visibility. Or is it? My mother or father wouldn’t say that was implied. They would be offended as would I had I not been learned in the nuances of art and what the industry has become.

How you define "nude" as a glamour or boudoir photographer or a client seeking these services will determine your publishing rights and your ability to comfortably interact with agencies, licensing stock companies, model releases and ultimately working with your subject or photographer. I recently had a model who sought out my services for her own reasons (who knows what they were). I agreed to shoot lingerie and other articles with an understanding that my pursuits were more fashion oriented. In other words... clothed with a magazine ad vibe and stye. Why? Because no matter how beautiful she is, I prefer images for myself that has a marketable commercial appeal for sake of attracting a broader client base. Being a pro glamour model, it wasn’t long before she resorted to old habits. I didn’t mind. I’m a professional after all. I’m shooting tasteful boudoir and glamour shots all session long. Besides we pre-agreed that a few shots of such a nature were fine as long as it didn’t go too far as determined by her own level of comfort and my creative style.

Aside from some obvious ego eccentricities she manifested, the results were okay and along the lines of what I expected from her. She was stunning but somewhere along the line a person’s personality colors how you view them. Whether that is good or bad has yet to be determined. I’m still confused over this shoot. I can’t even determine if it was productive or not.

When the time approached for us to both go over the model release, she wanted a special notation that she didn't want any nude images published. I immediately said, “why did you shoot nude if I can’t publish you?” What good do these images really do me? That is the point of this session. I mean, I didn’t even care to see you naked...ever.  Nothing trumps my necessity to publish and advertise short of monetary compensation for the session. Furthermore, I didn’t ask her for anything nude. She volunteered herself for it. She asked if I thought it was okay to pull certain articles off. I said, only if she felt comfortable. They were of her own choosing. She asked me after all. Maybe she was in the moment and didn’t care until the end. Then I knew how ambiguous the term “nude” had become so I asked, “what do you consider nude?” She replied, “I don’t want my breasts to show.” I asked, “why did you show them then?” I reminded her that other images of her that I’d seen taken by other photographers were nude. She said that she didn’t shoot nude with just any ole’ photographer and that there were only a few nude pictures of her in her portfolio. I’m thinking that ‘you just did a nude photo shoot; at least in part. I was here... remember.’ But in her model profile she wrote that she would shoot nude if it’s for a big magazine like Playboy or something. So, I think Oh... this is a vanity thing not a matter of personal decency or comfort level or anything like that. 

I got complimented and condescended to in one sentence. Wow! She is good with the word play. Either that or she’s super dumb. I don’t know. To paraphrase, “I’ll be naked and published for Playboy but you’re nothing and yet I choose to be naked with you. But you can’t show anybody cause I don’t want anyone to know I was this way for a mundane but equally qualified professional photographer.” What????!!!!! Is this a just 'keep this between us' moment cause if so, it was not as good for me as her ego told her it was. Let me re-iterate. She is probably considered by most to be beautiful. It just wasn’t enough to offset her unusual level of vanity and inflated ego. 

But this post isn’t really about beauty. It’s about what is nude and defining it clearly for yourself and your prospective subjects. It went back and forth to the point of my frustration and it came down to nipple coverage. So, I’m thinking what in the hell just happened? I mean, really? So she’s wearing nothing but her skin in front of a stranger and went thru every possible glamour pose of her own choosing and she’s worried about... nipples? Really? Are you using that pen you're signing the release with to sign over a fat check for what started out as a barter session?

Maybe I’m just too socially conservative to handle this kind of back and forth. Nude is nude. I know my grandmother would say that a panty/bra set is butt naked and burn her own eyeballs out if she saw a Victoria’s Secret ad on television. But times are changing and what we call “implied” will eventually become full nude and the current nude may become adult photography. Just like fashion photography is now borderline avant garde and regular portraits are more like fashion photography. Unless you’re the CEO of a financial institution, a basic portrait just won’t cut it. If you don’t agree then you’re not doing it right. 

I’m still perplexed and mystified over this particular photo shoot. I’m not quite sure what to make of it. This is all the more reason that I’ve limited my barter work. There are almost always issues. 

What do you call nude?

What is a Professional Photographer and Why are They Starving?

A few weeks ago I attended a workshop where someone brought up the question, what does it mean to be a “professional photographer?” Even amid a large diverse group of photographers opinions varied greatly from someone who has ever received payment from providing photographic services to someone who earns all of their income from providing photographic services. The exponential increase in the availability and affordability of DSLRs and other photographic equipment has everyone believing themselves to be a photographer. But the definition of what constitutes a “professional” and the relevancy of that definition may be more abstract than you think. 

The greatest oversight in this debate is that the opinions presented overlook the qualitative aspects of the art of photography and focuses more on the quantitative. Even respected photography associations at one time had defined it as income based, saying that more than half of your income must come from photography. It doesn’t mean you’re any good or not. Even now these associations cloud the debate even more by offering you a “Certified Professional Photography” status with a fee of course. While their attempt to un-cloud the issue might be arguably a measure toward clearing the ambiguity, all it does is make people now ask “Oh, you’re a professional photographer but are you certified?” What does that mean and who makes that decision when everyone is still ignoring the qualitative aspects of what we do? So now that you’ve paid a fee and cleared a couple of basic test and visual inspections by some unknown person or group you’re certified now?

Relative to industry norms, are you consistently taking high quality imagery and being recognized either monetarily or even visibly credited with  your work? Shouldn’t that be enough? Years ago, a prospective client learned that I was a photographer. They eventually approached me and inquired about types of photography I’d done. Then they asked, “but are you a professional photographer?” So even then and there, without ever seeing a single thing I’d done, without ever even looking at a single picture of mine they were blinded by phraseology and meaningless semantics. But they were uninformed, and like most people they were caught up in the glorification of status. Now I suppose they’re asking people if they’re certified professional photographers.

By some definitions, I’ve been a professional photographer for years; as a sole proprietor as well as during employ as a product photographer and graphic designer for an employer. But the onslaught of wannabes makes making informed decisions as a consumer looking for photographic services difficult; or that is what you’re telling yourself. Photographic services might be the easiest thing you will ever choose. Like most creative professions, the work is the resume. You can’t hide behind finances, numbers, or shady tax returns to hide how good you are or aren’t. The proof is in the pictures. Additionally, you should be treating it like any other service you seek; you look at the most current work, you determine if they are licensed, if applicable you determine if they are insured, you call a reference or two if you need to, you settle on a price and terms and you make a commitment. 

If having earned money on photography, having a license, paying for permits, hiring assistants whenever needed, designing sets, writing and modifying licensing use fees and contracts, maintaining equipment, editing and processing files, managing email marketing campaigns and some, all makes me a professional then of course I am and have been for as long as I remember. But I implore you not to get too caught up in the words. I have a fantastic product and/or service to offer. It’s readily available and you get to see past work at any and all times. I’m legally entitled to sell it. I’m damn good at it. I have a great list of references. I’m affordable and you need me. Shouldn’t that be enough? Most other professions can’t even make that claim so why are we getting so caught up in phraseology?

The reason for all the smoke and mirror games is because of the abundance of service providers. Unfortunately, most of them are new and shady and not likely to make it past tomorrow; and consumers are only marginally aware of the conundrum in the industry. The more seasoned professionals have been searching for more and more ways to separate themselves from the lesser experienced masses. Prices have dipped and most seasoned photographers have closed up shop because every Joe is an alleged photographer now because he has a camera. An over abundance of suppliers make prices drop and a once elitist field dominated by only a few is up for grabs by anyone with enough talent and staying power to last thru this over supply. 

Photographers with decades of experience have a tough time sustaining their businesses because every kid with a camera is undervaluing the service due to an ignorance of not understanding the work and expense involved; a mistake realized all too late to counter. Yet, they wonder why they have thousands of dollars of equipment and still can’t make it as a photographer. Even the so-called pros are now teaching photography and lighting workshops under the guise of helping others. Why? because photography alone doesn’t pay anymore; not without a hook or a niche. You have to be damn good and have a totally underserved market to make it. Those guys that are making six digits or more a year taking pictures aren’t doing it by taking pictures alone. NO! They’re selling DVDs and doing workshops in multiple cities. Heck, I'm organizing a workshop or two myself. But I’m not gonna say it’s only because I want to share my knowledge; that too. It’s because there are thousands of people out there who could use what I know and there is money to be had by my doing it. Like anything else, it’s a business opportunity that happens to involve something I love doing. 

Aside from the qualitative ignorance and degradation the industry has suffered in recent years, there is the persistent notion that anyone can do it. While improvements in technology has made taking a picture without thinking easier, it has done little to improve overall quality. There is still a matter of composition, color, symbology, line and form, light and shadow; only a true photographer can adapt to changing environments and produce great results consistently throughout different and often unexpected scenarios. I can teach you how to use a camera but that will never make you an artist if you don’t have it in you.

Anyone who has done this for awhile will also tell you being a photographer is about 20% photography and 80% business. You will spend more time marketing, selling, processing, editing, permitting, copyrighting, registering, insuring, scheduling, paying taxes, renewing business licenses and permits, casting and booking than you will actually photographing. If you disagree then you’re clearly not a photographer, professional, certified or otherwise. You’re just a Joe with a camera. You’re a poser (pun intended).

I encourage you to get informed about photography as a consumer and a potentially practicing photographer. You will at some point in your life have your picture taken or take someone else’s picture for fun or business. But more to the point, this is a free enterprise system we live in. Photography is more transparent than most industries. Keep putting out your best work, find someone who will pay you for it and stop being so caught up in the status and the symbolism of title. Let your work speak to your competence. 

Balloon Fetish

How to Look Good in Every Photo.

Over the past few years I’ve heard every kind of excuse as to why some people feel they can’t take a great picture, or why they don’t take pictures. After years of experience, and hearing every kind of excuse I thought I’d share my personal guide to improving the outcome of your pictures. 

I, for one truly believes that everyone has something to bring to the photographic table. I think every person has something beautiful to offer and it is my task to harness that beauty, that sensuality, masculinity, pride, strength, or that confidence into something visually striking. I’m not changing you. I’m making a perfect facsimile. As flaky as it sounds, that light and camera can reach far deeper than what is seen on the outside. 

Now are there people that are physical masterpieces of Godly perfection? I’d be the first to say YES. Let’s be real about it. Beauty might be in the eye of the beholder but there are certain types of beauty that are as certain as gravity. If you don’t believe that, you’re lying to yourself and probably lacking a bit of self esteem. The big surprise is, they’re not all walking in the Victoria’s Secret show. They’re your neighbors, friends, workmates and relatives. I see it every time I leave the house. She’s in the grocery store, she’s your barista or your bank teller. He might be your physics professor or your landscaper. It doesn’t matter the source. There are some gorgeous people on this planet. I don’t know if they are nice people but if it’s eye candy, it’s just plain eye candy.

“Yeah she’s hot.You may not be as tall as that (eye candy) barista, but you should stop comparing yourself to other people. She doesn’t have your smile, your hair, or your eyes. That is something unique to you. Despite what you believe, you have the most insanely gorgeous cheekbones I have ever seen. Your skin is like baby oil on glass; smooth and supple making light literally slide around you as you move; and you move so confidently without trying and project regality and a powerful confidence making you extremely sexy.”

Have I said that to anyone before? Of course I have and it was entirely true. I had a client which complained incessantly about her hips and kept comparing herself to someone else. Was she hippy? I don’t really know. Where she saw hips, I saw dunes and lines. I saw curves of highlight and shadows with a cascading terrain of canyons and hills. I saw a dance and play of light as she strode into a room and smiled; something my camera would absolutely love. 

When we did finally shoot, she saw it too after viewing her images. Thru tear soaked eyes she thanked me for allowing her to see how I saw her, how everyone saw her. The lesson here is that your excuses are just that...EXCUSES. After decades of staring at yourself in the mirror, your idea of what you think you look like is not likely shared by anyone else on Earth. In fact, I’d say your own opinion of your physical self is probably shared by less than half the people you know whether that be good or bad. But my experience suggest that most people probably think better of you physically than you realize so stop beating yourself up. For everyone not in the Godly perfection crowd, well... that’s just sad.

Leave the Excuses

I’m too hippy, I have a pot belly, what about my muffin top, I want to grow my hair out, I’m too old, I’m short, I’m a lumbering giant, I’ve put on weight, I have no coordination, blah blah blah. No one is asking you to walk a tightrope. So you think you’re heavy? Guess what? So do runway models, and singers, and actresses. Most of them think they are heavy too. Yet, they are on billboards, magazine covers and all over the Internet. Why? Because they get paid? Would being paid to take a photo make you feel any better about yourself? I think not. 

When someone tells me that they are too heavy or have put on weight I take it as saying “I don’t trust you to take a good photo of me right now because I’ve put on more weight than I’m comfortable with; thus, giving me a less than ideal view about myself. You’re great but not that great. No amount of light will rid me of my self loathing. No amount of makeup will make me feel beautiful right now. Next year when I’m at my goal weight you can take shot after shot of gorgeous images of me because I’ll be thinner. Your talent is solely dependent on my thinness. You’re only as good as how thin and fit I feel. I’m just not happy with myself because I’m fat and ugly and have no confidence.”  

When you word it like that it sounds horrible doesn’t it? But isn’t that what you just told me? Is that not what you said? It may have been paraphrased but that is exactly the meaning when someone says, “I’ve put on too much weight.” You told me that my talent and ability to take a mind blowing gorgeous photo of you is associated directly with how you feel about yourself. Until you feel great about your body I am damned to a career of utter mediocrity and talentless wandering. 

Attitude 

Given time, a little patience and leaving your self loathing at the door you are already 50% there. Confidence, is one of the key components. Shake off that self defeating air you’re projecting and come in fired up and ready to have fun. Whether they are CEO head-shots, maternity shots or senior pictures matters not; shedding the apprehension and remembering that it is not the end of the world will improve your visual disposition. 

You ever wonder how someone that is stereotypically average looking in person looks like a supermodel in pictures? Yet, someone breathtaking in person looks like a train wreck in pictures. More than likely it’s confidence. They may have had one or two bad photo experiences and every photo shoot after that they met went a sense of foreboding and depression. Guess what? It translates. Your sense of dread doesn’t do anything for the image. Furthermore, you project it around you. Everyone feels it. The one you do not need to project onto is your photographer. Most photographers are business people. Sure they want to insure they capture the best shots of you, but they’re creative and fluidic which means they want to have fun and keep an uplifting atmosphere. It keeps their creative synapses firing and allow them to see potential in you that you may not have seen before. 

I’ve had all types; even the 5’10” proverbial bombshell with the angel face. But when the lights started to flash it all faded away. I struggled to bring her to life. There was no spark, no life behind the eyes. There was only a pretty face and just having a pretty face and/or a great body does not necessarily equate to a great picture. Just keep it positive and drop the expectations that you only have for yourself. No one is judging you and there is no one to impress.

Dress the Part

I think you’re mind blowing-ly hot; but that doesn’t give you a license to try and fit into a size 8 if you’re a 12. Dress appropriately and be realistic. Sometimes, your biggest fan sees you thru rose tinted lenses. Therefore, it would be prudent to get another opinion and check up on different styles and buy clothing and accessories consistent with your intent. My most used self made phrase is “just because they made a mini skirt in your size, doesn’t mean it’s for you.” Get a little help. Your photographer or a stylists would be extremely helpful in this case. Unless your best friend has won styling awards, they may not always be the best source of style trends and appropriateness. Best friends often dress similarly as you and you two seek conformity with one another. You and your friend may be wearing clown suits and think it’s still the s**t. But it probably went out of style with "hammer pants."

To Pose or Not to Pose  

Posing is a skill. If you’re not sure about it don’t try it. There are some basic stances your photographer will take you thru to insure great results for your shoot. Please don’t try top model stunts unless they’re part of your skill set. Basic considerations are poses that shift weight to one leg or another, or to one foot or another. It aids in the illusion of slimness and a shapely figure. 

However, the best shots I’ve ever taken are candid shots; shots where the subject appears to be in their own space or some other natural state. No posing required. A genuine laugh, a smile, or glance or tilt without them even knowing what they are doing is perfect. One of the best shots of my photographic career was a client brushing out her hair. Another was a client adjusting her earring. They are spontaneous and natural and they don’t look staged. If the theme permits, candid is the way to go to not look dorky. If works for almost every genre, especially wedding, portraits, boudoir, and glamour. 

My largest advice to women is Triangles and Curves. Most positions that put the body’s limbs in triangles and the core of the body as an s-curve relative to the limbs is gonna be awesome. Create space between the arms and body (refer to triangle). Bringing your arms in close to your body adds a visual sense of bulk thus adding the illusion of weight. Turn and twist, shift the weight away from the camera and bend the arms creating space between you and camera, as well as between the arms and body. Not to worry, it’s not something to remember. A good photographer will subtly remind you. 

Just Give Me the Light

Remember where the light is. We want the light to strike the key area of interest. Most often that area will be your eyes. Always remain mindful of your eyes and body relative to the light source. While we may not say look into the light directly, we might remind you to look toward the light or past the light. 

Your Good Side  

Some studies suggest that the left side of the face is statistically the visually favored side as it pertains to attractiveness. I don’t know about that. I have captured photos of beautiful people from all sides with varying results; sometimes it’s the left and sometimes it’s the right depending on several factors not all of them being pre-disposed to one side or another. 

In conclusion, stop insulting yourself and get out there and just take pictures already. It's a photo not a prostate exam or a pregnancy scare. 

The TF (trade for) Photo Shoot Culture

There are several factors that have attributed to the abundance of trade for* (TF) photo shoots. One is technology; there are more advanced digital cameras in the market than there are people who truly know how to use them. In essence, everyone with a camera thinks they are a photographer. The other factor is the economy. As prices for cameras get cheaper so have we seen an increase in the amount of “Internet models.” Furthermore, with so many people still out of work, the derived conclusion seems to be, “hey, I can model. I don’t need any training, money, or transportation. Just show up and be pretty because everyone thinks I’m cute.” Everyone that wants to be a model has an online profile essentially demanding to be paid for their services. The same holds true for many alleged photographers. They’ve been taking pictures for months and sometimes years for free and now they want to be paid. In the end, what are we left with? We’re left with a culture of under qualified individuals on both sides and no one is getting paid. Consequently, the TF culture is born. 

If you're not aspiring to be a model then this need not apply to you. The TF phenomenal was one born out of desperation. The TF* acronym in short stands for “trade for time, trade for print, or trade for CD” or some other consideration. You will often see TFT, TFP or TFCD respectively. I’ve been offered some crazy things over the last couple of years from people who could not pay or refuse to pay for great photographic services. I guess they didn't see the value in it. Yet, it didn't stop them from offering TVs, rugs, pieces of art, or whatever they had. Why would they assume I want that stuff? I can't offer the electric company a TV or a rug as payment on my monthly bill. 

What is a TF? Succinctly put, if you're seeking a TF* photo shoot, you are bartering a product or service to a photographer without the exchange of money. The original goal of the TF* was that the new photographer and the new model would build their respective portfolios with marketable images without the need of money changing hands. But this may not be the only arrangement. Sometimes they simply come together for the purpose of an original work they each can use to promote their business and services. This is a "creative collaboration" for the purposes of business and not necessarily the exact same thing as a TF* though they have similar goals. It expands to include makeup artists, set designers, salons and spas, fashion designers, muralist, hair stylists, etc. Anyone who can play apart in the creative process can win if everyone chips in equitably. Everyone in the chain gets credit and the promotional benefits can be enormous. 

On the surface, it seems like a fantastic bargain. However, what can happen is a large amount of mediocre work can be  turned out because neither party is really aiding the objectives of the other. If they are all equally matched, can there be any  benefit? If the photographer is more advanced than the model is he or she giving them the quality he or she needs for a portfolio? If the model is far more talented than what that photographer can capture then what does the model gain? In retrospect, one should seek to work with someone more advanced than themselves to improve their skills, marketability and networking. Carefully executed everyone can gain some benefit from working together.  

Bartering is the oldest form of getting what you need. You give something to get something without using money. But everything has value. The challenge is establishing an agreeable value between what someone has to offer and what you have to give. But in the digital age there is another variable that has crept into the equation, and that is a misconception as one’s own perceived value. Websites were once only available to people who could afford a programmer to build them. Now everyone can download a free template. Ironically, they look free too. They're cheap, basic and you're bound to see the same layout somewhere else. Furthermore, building an online identity took thousands of dollars years ago; now Facebook and MySpace along with others can help you throw together an online "often too personal" profile in minutes. As a result, there is a deterioration of perceptive value and the misuse of digital assets which effects the value of products and services. If they are cheaper and more accessible, the perception is that they are of lesser value. Yet, this misconception goes the other direction as well. You believe that the very existence of your online profile or identity puts you ahead somehow; that you are on a level playing field with more established, more talented and seasoned online talent. It doesn't. You still have to deliver content that people want to see, are excited to see and more so, are willing to pay for. 

With the onslaught of camera bodies in everyone’s hands and the increasing popularity of modeling sites that have distorted what being a model really entails, you get an old fashion stand off. Photographers are trying to get paid for what they do and new models are wanting to get paid for what they do. Unfortunately, neither one understands their market and what exactly they are trying to achieve. Furthermore, they both have distorted perceptions of their own value. New models with no experience are dictating what they will and will not do contrary to industry norms while new photographers are giving away the store without so much as a clue on how to use their camera much less the cost of doing business. Most of these people are hobbyists and don’t know it yet. I can tell you from personal experience that the photography business is not a cheap one. But unlike many photographers, I have done this long enough to know my worth and what things cost me. When I consider insurance, licenses, image hosting fees, image processing, image optimization, advertising, promotions, rentals, permitting, website maintenance, travel and personal insurance; I know that before I even pick up my camera a very basic two hour shoot will cost me several hundred dollars or more whether I am paid or not. I base that on how many jobs I expect to get in a year, not to mention my equipment cost and wear, time to edit and process, utilities and the aforementioned factors. So you will forgive me if I am very very discriminating about who I am willing to barter with and why I often choose not to barter at all before considering what an individual is bringing to the table. 

Talent and creativity is a difficult thing to grade and price for some people. Unlike some creative professions, working photographers have real fixed cost that must be taken into consideration. If they say otherwise, they aren't photographers. They're hobbyists or wannabes. So when a startup model list on his or her profile -  I will not do this, I will not do that, I need all expenses paid, I need a makeup artist on set, I’m allergic to peanuts, I require an escort, etc. etc. I’m immediately thinking Wow, her portfolio must be absolutely incredible to make all these demands. Guess what happens? You guessed right, it is more often than not a major let down. Why? Their images tell the story. They are often mediocre at best. Every single portfolio whether it be old or new of a person requesting a TF photo shoot that makes demands such as those mentioned has a poor portfolio. It has never failed. Read the profile and description first before you even look at the portfolio. True models know that you don’t bring your boyfriend or kids to an interview or job (on set) paid or not. Real models know that you don’t get signed to an agency by telling them everything you will not do first. True aspiring models know that even after being signed that they are responsible for their expenses and that includes on occasion even paying for certain photo shoots. Yeah, that’s right. If you’re still new to an agency you will pay for your own expenses and that sometimes include tests and often times even travel expenses. When you become a demand, only then will someone else foot the bills for you. But don’t take my word for it. Call an agency and find out for yourself what you’re responsible for. Stop being an “Internet Model” and get yourself informed. We tend to read only what we want to believe. Call and talk to a real person. 

Getting signed does not exclude you from having to pay for certain photo shoots. It is deducted directly from your account. Just look at your agency statement if you don’t believe me. Sure there will be some “test shoots” that will not cost you. But even test photographers that have being doing this for awhile start charging the agencies. Guess who gets that bill? Often times it is you, the model. So don’t tell me when you’re new and still look the same in every single head shot what you will and will not do and that you refuse to pay anything because someone told you that you were cute and tall. It’s actually kinda of silly when you think about it. Don't forget what TFs are about. They are about trading services of equitable value. Making silly demands upfront without so much as a clue about the specifics of what is required will only diminish your worth and mark you as arrogant. Photographers are a tight community. We talk and share information.

TFs are a wonderful thing in moderation. But at some point whether you are a model, a photographer, a business owner or executive who needs professional profile head shots, a wife or girlfriend, a boyfriend or husband that wants to spruce up your relationship with photos, know that free isn’t necessarily what it’s cracked up to be. You get what you pay for. Furthermore, you get what you barter for. 

There are a single handful of people that I would never charge for a photo shoot. They know who they are. Over time, we have ascertained each other’s worth and determined our mutual benefit. They know what I bring them and I know what they bring me and we are gleeful over that arrangement. Even so, I take a moment to revisit their creative and professional value to me from time to time, and make a determination whether or not throwing away hundreds of dollars with no profit whatsoever is good enough even for them. It's never personal. It's business. I’m sure they do the same when they determine if taking a couple hours out of their day is worth it. I hope they do the same. Every professional relationship doesn’t sustain itself forever. Like personal ones, it takes constant evaluation and compromise. 

This is business. If it were easy everyone would be successful at it. But everyone is not. Even seasoned professionals that know everything and started before the digital age, struggle to keep the wrinkles smooth. But I, just like them, love to work with people that are creative and open. I like working with models and retail clients that inspire me and push me to be a better photographer, marketer and graphic designer. While I am far from an expert, my increasing understanding is making me a better creative professional. My work has improved, my clients are happier and everyone gets what they want and need in the end.

This TF* culture that has emerged leaves something to be desired. I can only hope that the delusions of grandeur and grandstanding will subside when the digital excitement abates. 

Confessions of a Wedding Photographer