Photographer : Allan Forbes
I am often asked by new photographers about model and photographer etiquette on a shoot and what they should and shouldn’t do. I think most etiquette goes without saying and comes down to respect. . A comfortable model is a creative and happy person who will be more likely to get you the best images and it’s important to make sure that you make your model feel safe and at ease. Things like offering a separate changing area, making sure she isn’t cold for too long and respecting her limits may seem obvious to most, but many models have experienced shoots where this etiquette is not followed.
Comfort
As a photographer myself I know how hot you an get whilst shooting, all that moving about and concentration means you can forget that a naked model may be feeling really chilly. Women are notorious for feeling colder than men, and when stripped of our jumpers and slipper socks we can get very cold. If you are in a cold environment, outdoors in cold weather or an unheated building, it is important to have regular breaks and a warm coat or gown and shoes/socks to help keep your model warm.
Take a towel when shooting outdoors or in a potentially wet environment. It’s possible to make your model feel so cold that they can’t concentrate any more and feel like crying, when that happens, they stop caring about the shoot, and you start to get rubbish images. I heard an urban legend of a photographer wrapping sandwich bags around mains powered flash lights and intending to put them in a swimming pool with his model. Although I’m not sure if this is true, other ideas could cause injury, rashes or discomfort to your model. Thinking about how your model feels is important, is she cold? Are you asking her to pose on a pile of spiky wet branches? Is she allergic to grass? If you wouldn’t do it yourself then maybe consider whether its ok to ask your model to do it.
Communication
Communication is important to the shoot, before the shoot by email and during the shoot, s/he can’t mind read and you will get the best out of the shoot if s/he knows what you are looking to achieve. Unusual shoots can create great images but it is best to check if you want the model to pose with furs, guns or dead fish etc, as to not get any surprises on the day. The same applies with video, you should only record the shoot if previously agreed.
You’d be surprised how many photographers do not tell the model what they are trying to achieve, and don’t give feedback to the model. Show us the images, we don’t judge you but find it helpful to check whether our poses are working with the lighting and see what we’re creating. Besides we might just be able to offer suggestions. With no feedback (positive or negative), we struggle to guess whether you are happy with what we are wearing or our poses or expressions. Not to mention that lack of communication makes for a very dull and boring shoot. Humour is important, it breaks the ice and makes both parties feel relaxed and collaborative during the shoot. I was once told by a hobbyist photographer that he ‘didn’t like people’ which made me wonder why he was bothering doing model work at all.
Levels
Every model has their own style and levels, and photographers should always respect these, risking losing the models cooperation and efforts in the shoot should you make your models uncomfortable. Certain things are simply not acceptable, such as unwarranted touching and asking your model to do poses more explicit than they are happy to offer. Most photographers wouldn’t dream of this but others may make mistakes and do not realise they are making their models uncomfortable.
The terminology you use to describe a models breasts, bum, gentitals etc, is also important, there’s no need to use scientific words but also crudities are not necessary. Models don’t want to hear ‘if I was 20 years younger’ and you ‘haven’t had a woman in ten years’, just because a woman is naked in your presence doesn’t mean you would have a chance with her if she was single.
Only touch a model is you have asked whether that is ok, such as to adjust a piece of hair or to do up a dress zip etc. Give the model space, don’t get too close, unless s/he is ok with that, especially if s/he is naked. Most good photographers will be using an adequate focal length which ensure that both the photos are non-distorted and the model isn't crowded.
I have experienced numerous occasions when photographers have tried to hug me whilst I am naked or touch me with out my permission, on one occasion the photographer purposefully kept trying to touch my bare breast and thigh with the back of his hand and kept moving it closer when I moved away. That is when the line between accidental personal space intrusion and sexual harassment is crossed.
Do
Bring a mood board or plan of the shoot ideas. Clearly explain your ideas.
Offer them a drink and on longer shoots lunch or a snack.
Have breaks. Models need time to check their make-up, rest their feet and use the toilet.
Give them a private area to get changed in.
Make sure they are given the opportunity to warm up.
Bring towels to outdoor shoots.
Smile, have a laugh and talk to them.
Ask for their ideas, and suggestions.
Give feedback on the shoot. Be positive, if something isn’t working, explain why.
Show them the images, they will relax and be more involved in the shoot.
Finish on time after agreeing to finish at a certain time
Be polite, helpful and relaxed
Have fun
Don’t
Push levels (yes that applies to you too Terry Richardson)
Touch your model (unless you know that is ok)
Endanger their health
Be negative about your work, being miserable means they stop enjoying the shoot and don’t put as much effort in.
Be closed minded to new ideas, models know what suits them, what poses don’t work for their bodies and have lots of creative ideas.
Be unreliable
Drink alcohol during the shoot, and if a model is staying with you, don’t drink a lot in the evening.
Expect to run over if you have spent forty minutes talking.
Tell them about your sex life or come onto them
Haggle on the price or try and change the booked duration on the day
Name drop and be pretentious. You’re not impressing anyone. Your professional attitude and great work should speak for you, not who you know.
Expect your model to wear clothing you have brought with you if it isn't clean- no crusty gussets thank you!
