Models for your photoshoot; how to make sure your model turns up

Thursday 27 August 2020, 16:32 by Frank Doorhof | 4,933 views | 0 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Oh dear, this is a sore point for many people. Do you know the joke about the photographer who was going to do a photoshoot? The model never turned up.

I hear this from many of my course participants too, and you also read about it on Facebook. Some photographers even keep a blacklist.

In England, we were even able to record an instructional video because we had models with us. It was great fun too, and we shared the 'burden' of cooking, washing up, tidying and so on.
The excuse that their grandmother has died is the one I hear most often, but I can also tell you a few other remarkable stories. Well, it's not much fun. But perhaps this tip will help you.

For workshops abroad, I absolutely don't want to risk being left without a model (yes, it has happened). We deal with this in a few ways:

1. One of the participants provides the model. These are often models he or she knows well, and if something goes wrong, there is probably another acquaintance available. The disadvantage is that this model is sometimes not very experienced, so she can be a bit disappointing. So always ask for two.


2. We have the model transfer 25 euros to our account. As soon as she turns up, we give it straight back to her.


3. We take our own model with us. Nadine has been to England and America with us several times. This also gives me the chance to take some great images outside the location.

It sounds a bit harsh, that second option, but I think you can explain this quite reasonably. For a session, we take time off work, there is often a make-up artist present, and we have rented or heated the space.

So this involves a whole team and costs, and it has happened regularly that a model did not turn up. That is why we introduced this system.

I can guarantee that if a model takes her modelling seriously, she will understand and co-operate. If she already doubts whether she is reliable, however, she will not do this. It is then up to you to decide whether to schedule the session anyway.

Also read the earlier parts:

» Models for your photoshoot; free or TFP?
» Models for your photoshoot; what is your own level?

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