Wow, what an EASY way to potentially get tossed in jail and add in general to the mayhem surrounding the already bad press photographers already have.
This sunday, I have a shoot with 5 models... you can bet your house that I *already* have signed model releases and copies of driver's licenses. I'm adding a 4X6 head shot that will be added to the folder of each model.
On top of this, this is not even a paid shoot, just a TFP (Trade For Photos), and we have makeup artists and hairdressers in on the whole deal just to have some fun... still I would never even consider not having them all sign a waiver and if underage... sorry, not interested... unless you bring your mom or dad to the session.
Personally, I am at the age now where I see that hooter size alone doesn't make someone a mature adult or a woman. I will shoot anyone at any age from baby to geriatrics... but when it comes to minors, I want model releases signed by the parents AND the models and I want a parent in attendance. If a parent or a close relative like an uncle or aunt cannot come along, I will not take the shoot.
It is embarrassing to say, but I turned down my first chance to do a very heavy boudoire session becuase the model was 17 and did not want to sign a waiver nor have her parent there. She felt that because she was old enough to get married that the law concerning minors no longer concerned her. Wrong! I refused the job... referred her to another photographer who is JUST as adamant on waiver signings and parent being in attendance. Hopefully she will get the idea that she has a little ways to go before she is LEGALLY able to have nude pictures taken of her without her parent's consent.
