Model shoots, do's and don'ts

[Trever1t]

So I was contacted by a young lady from Model Mayhem who wants me to do a shoot with her on 'trade' and I, never having done this, have a few questions.

Since I have no studio I will shoot at some, yet to be determined out door location.

From all I've read here it's prudent if not required to obtain a release form, anyone have a link to a good generic form?

For those of you that have done this, can you offer me words of advice?

 

[Jasonstrat]

I found multiple on the web and used some info from all if those. That is where I would start.

 

[ghache]

Dont beat them and you should be fine! haha.

Ive shot with a few already and never had any bad experience (when they show up). They are generally really fun girl doing it for the experience and because they enjoy it!

 

[Trever1t]

yeah, no beatings. I did find a few real simple releases, guess that will do. I've never really done shoots with strangers, not to mention strange beautiful young women

 

[Hatch1921]

Model release
Generic contract for the services you are providing... "X" amount of digital files... prints... etc. Whatever you are going to offer so there is no confusion about what is to be expected from the shoot.

Hope this helps.
Hatch

 

[johnmarley]

Useful tips while photographing models News: Useful tips while photographing models

 

[Propsguy]

For the sake of specificity, what's the trade?.... you both use the images for your portfolios?....

Generally, you both have incentive to restrict the use of images from the other, to some degree... For you, you (hopefully) want to prevent her from taking the great images that you shoot, bastardizing them with photoshop and making them look like they've been shot all 'hipstamatic' (or whatever), and then posting them and giving you photo credit when it's no longer wanted. For her, she is most likely interested in preventing you from 'using her likeness' in a way that may compromise her reputation. So you should find a form that has those terms applied, or add them to a generic form and initial the added line, in addition to your signatures at the bottom of the contract....

You may also want to know why she has contacted you.... where did she get your info....?... Did you advertise on Model Mayhem as a portrait or fashion photographer?.... Is this a random invitation from a pretty girl to take her pictures?... Be safe when using sites like Model Mayhem.... you don't want to meet strangers at an isolated location with a vehicle full of camera gear without knowing what the agenda is.... Meet somewhere first, then go to the shoot location and do the session....

 

[ghache]

For the sake of specificity, what's the trade?.... you both use the images for your portfolios?....

Generally, you both have incentive to restrict the use of images from the other, to some degree... For you, you (hopefully) want to prevent her from taking the great images that you shoot, bastardizing them with photoshop and making them look like they've been shot all 'hipstamatic' (or whatever), and then posting them and giving you photo credit when it's no longer wanted. For her, she is most likely interested in preventing you from 'using her likeness' in a way that may compromise her reputation. So you should find a form that has those terms applied, or add them to a generic form and initial the added line, in addition to your signatures at the bottom of the contract....

You may also want to know why she has contacted you.... where did she get your info....?... Did you advertise on Model Mayhem as a portrait or fashion photographer?.... Is this a random invitation from a pretty girl to take her pictures?... Be safe when using sites like Model Mayhem.... you don't want to meet strangers at an isolated location with a vehicle full of camera gear without knowing what the agenda is.... Meet somewhere first, then go to the shoot location and do the session....

You are right, 100 pounds 5.4 ft woman in high heels, tight dress are really dangerous. Ive seen more fishy photographers on model mayhem then Models IMO, but your never too cautious. bring a gun

 

[Trever1t]

I whipped this up right quick, you think sufficient for a trade?

Model Release

I hereby give permission to Bill Grayson, A.K.A. “WSG PHOTOGRAPHY” to use my photos and likeness in all forms and media for promotional advertising, portfolio, demo, editorial, and altering of with some restriction, and all other lawful purposes.
I understand I am entitled to compensation if my likeness is used for commercial purpose other than representation of WSG PHOTOGRAPHY. I release the photographer all forms of claims and liability related to my photo usage.



I attest that I am over the age of 18.

Date: _________________________________________________________
Print Name: ____________________________________________________
Signature: _____________________________________________________
Copy of State ID attached.

 

[GeneralBenson]

Not really. Most model releases are about 5 times that long, and something tells me Getty and Corbis aren't throwing in a bunch of unnecessary stuff for haha's. Just google model release, and puli can find hundreds of examples of good ones. For mine, I just pulled the standard model release of some stock site, and cut in pasted it, changed it to be about me and put my info on it. They're almost all the same.

The really important thing that your's is missing, is that they need to be receive something of value for the model release to be valid. Your statement about the commercial usage is somewhat confused. Its not that they only need to be compensated for commercial uses. It's that they only need a model release for commercial uses, and for a model release to be valid, they need to be compensated. Editorial use doesn't require a model release, unless it's on the cover, which is legally an ad for the magazine, and therefore commercial. But commercial uses must be model released, and models must be compensated for the release to be binding. Luckily, images are of value, and many photographers get by with just giving the models prints or hi-res files of the final images from the shoot.

 

[Trever1t]

All of the releases I found are for full retention and unrestricted use of the photos. I can see that if I'm paying for the model's time.. I want it simple yet undestandable.

 

[Davor]

where's KmH when you need him He knows about all this stuff doesn't he?

 

[Trever1t]

Well now she's telling me she never signs a release....

lol @ model negotiation, is it always like that?

Maybe release is the wrong word, a 'contract' not to alter my work or sell it and I will agree to only promotional use?

 

[rub]

If she is not signing a release, dont shoot.

 

[Trever1t]

The model releases I've looked at give me, the photographer full use of the files to do as I please and the model gets nothing in return. I can see that if I'm paying for them but this shoot is a trade. I've never done anything like this so please pardon my naivety. I would think in a case like this I might give her a cd of the best jpg's with a signed agreement she is not to alter them in any form, while I retain the RAW files....or am I way off base here?