fact 1: there are many flaky photographers
fact 2: this article is about flaky models
Intro
Everybody has the right to have their photos taken - and if someone wishes to call herself a model - she has that right to call herself a model.
This right doesn’t automatically make a model.
The Different Levels of Modeling
Modeling can be a hobby or a profession a lot like sports.
Some are born with more talent and some are less gifted. Hard work or luck can make up for what was not handed out at birth.
Luck can be having a great family which gives strong foundation or a dysfunctional family which builds character and a value system to overcome obstacles.
Another way to get lucky is to be at the gas station or in McDonald’s when the Ford Modeling Agency scout happens to walk by and gives out his or her business card spite a horrible hair day. In contrast genetics alone will not make a model.
In modeling there are few Michael Jordans, a fair amount of players (good and bad) and millions of weekend warriors.
There is nothing wrong with being a weekend warrior as long as they know they are weekend warriors. Those weekend warriors who know that they will never make it are safe and the world is safe too from them.
Those who think they will make it will not make it either but they can be the source of the flaky model syndrome.
Those who make it make it - meaning instead of thinking about it they are doing it.
Flaky Models Need Love Too
Flaky models are weekend warriors who think they will make it.
Photographers who expect flaky models not to be flaky are expecting weekend warriors to perform like star athletes.
Like asking the janitor to do the CEO’s job. Therefore being angry at flaky models is unreasonable, unnecessary and unproductive.
Without knowledge there is only emotion. Photographers who get emotional (i.e. angry) at flaky models are running solely on emotion without the knowledge of how to deal with flaky models.
Ways to Predict a Flaky Model and a Bad Photo Shoot
- long intro email sent to the model receives a one or two line response
- there is no reply to the first email, the second one does get a short reply usually referring to the model being busy without offering a date of renewed availability
- she doesn’t return phone calls or emails in a timely manner
- negative attitude towards all photographers in general (perhaps due to bad past experiences)
- model selected bad photos of herself in her portfolio.
possible reasons for this: she cannot tell a bad photo from a good one (bad taste), she doesn’t know her best angles, she doesn’t know how to choose a good photographer, she doesn’t know how to pose or be natural in front of the camera, there are no good or affordable photographers in her area
- weekend warriors (inexperienced or beginner models) who are expecting or demanding payment for photoshoots without a decent portfolio or without an undeniable modeling potential are strong candidates to qualify to be “greed motivated models”
- unpleasant attitude on the model’s portfolio photos - maybe the model is modeling for the wrong reasons?!
A cautionary advice: great photo shoots can result from models with bad portfolios but the photographer needs to use his or her 6th sense and evaluate the reasons for the bad portfolio!
If it was the shortcoming of the model, the photographer may not kid him or herself that the model will definitely do better job next time!
The often desperate need for models can make the photographer more accepting of the signs of flakiness therefore more prone to have a bad photo shoot or a no show.
Modeling for the Wrong Reasons
- the low self esteemed model (either conscious or unconscious about having a low self esteem) is thinking that modeling will improve the way she feels about herself.
Low self esteem is often visible in the eyes of the model on her portfolio pictures.
- greed motivated modeling; money doesn’t buy happiness but it is a healthy and understandable part of planning a career of any kind. In greed motivated modeling the only emotional “payoff” is the paycheck so the process of getting to that level of having an earning potential is not fun but a chore to the model. If the model is not having fun nobody is having fun!
- modeling because so many people told the model that she should be a model or because her girlfriend does it and the model feels that she is just as pretty as her friend. In either case type of thinking is disrespectful towards all other hard working models thinking that deciding on a whim to become and succeed as a model can substitute for talent, personality and hard work.
Something to consider: some models with star athlete skills can push these “wrong reasons” aside and become successful (happy or unhappy) models but weekend warriors cannot.
How to Deal with Flaky Models
No need to rule with an iron fist. When the 6th sense suggests so it is OK to give the benefit of the doubt and a great photoshoot can result.
When the photographer is aware that he or she is dealing with potentially flaky models, knowledge can be applied to minimize or eliminate the damage (i.e. wasted day or bad photo shoot).
In the case of a free shoot charging a refundable deposit beforehand can be a great flake-deterrent and a motivating factor for the model to show up.
If the model is paying, then a portion of the photographer’s fee needs to be pre-paid before the day of the shoot and forfeited in case of a no show.
Another solution is to book 2 potentially flaky models on the same day for the same shoot which will significantly reduce the chances of being stood up.
With a very high risk of flakiness 3-4 models can be booked on the same day. If none of them show up the photographer can sleep sound at night knowing he or she did his or her best. If one model shows up she will save the day. If more than one model show up the photographer will have a productive day with the possibility to have photos with multiple models.
Afterword
Knowledge is power, power is control, control is inner peace.
The photographer must know not to expect professionalism from a flaky model just as one should not expect star athlete performance from weekend warriors.
It is unreasonable. Just as unreasonable as expecting the sky to be green tomorrow.
Next time you find yourself becoming angry at a flaky model just think “green skies” and smile.
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