We received an anonymous email that caught our attention!
XEX MAGAZINE Presents:
THE RANTS OF AN ANGRY FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER
I’LL START OF BY SAYING I AM SICK OF MODEL MAYHEM “MODELS”
I AM SICK OF PEOPLE THINKING THEY ARE OWED A FREE SHOOT BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY ARE ATTRACTIVE! EVEN IF YOU ARE DECENT LOOKING YOU STILL NEED TO PAY! IF YOU LOVE WHAT I DO, WANT TO SEE YOURSELF UNDER MY LENS YOU NEED TO PAY!
LET’S BREAK THIS DOWN:
YOU CANNOT GO TO A STORE AND SAY YOU WANNA TEST THE SNEAKERS AND WALK OFF WITH THEM!
YOU CANNOT TEST YOUR MEAL AT THE RESTAURANT!
YOU CANNOT TEST THE CLUB YOU GOING TO ON A FRIDAY NIGHT!
YOU MUST PAY!! SAME GOES FOR A PHOTO SHOOT!
IF A PHOTOGRAPHER DOES DECIDE TO SHOOT YOU, IT SHOULD BE ON THE PHOTOGRAPHERS TERMS AND SCHEDULE. YOU SHOULD BE GRACIOUS THAT THE A WORKING PHOTOGRAPHER AGREED TO SHOOT WITH YOU, AND GIVES YOU THE PICTURES WHEN THEY ARE DONE, WITHOUT BEING HOUNDED FOR YOUR HOT MESS IMAGES.
ANOTHER POINT IS, SAY A PHOTOGRAPHER AGREES TO NOT TAKE A FEE FOR PERSONAL PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES THE QUESTION IS:
• ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR MAKEUP ARTIST, HAIR STYLIST, AND WARDROBE STYLIST (BECAUSE YOU DON’T HAVE COUTURE IN YOUR LOW BUDGET WARDROBE)?
• WILL YOU PAY FOR MY CAB FARE TO THE STUDIO?
• WILL YOU PAY FOR THE STUDIO SPACE?
• WILL YOU PAY FOR THE RETOUCHING TO FIX THE WHOLE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR FACE, REMOVING THE UGLY AND DEDUCTING 75LBS FROM YOUR STOMACH AND THIGHS?
GETTING PICTURES IS AN INVESTMENT IN YOUR CAREER AS A MODEL OR ACTOR. THE PHOTOGRAPHER MADE THEIR INVESTMENT BY PAYING FOR THEIR $800-$3000 CAMERA, LIGHTING EQUIPTMENT, SCHOOLING, ADOBE CS4!
• IF YOU ARE 5’2 BAD SKIN, SIZE 8 AND BAD WEAVE! GUESS WHAT YOU ARE NOT A MODEL! YOU ARE FAR FROM BEING THE NEXT KATE MOSS! THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ENCOURAGING YOU ARE SETTING YOU UP! FOCUS ON SOMETHING ELSE,MAYBE BEHIND THE SCENES!
• I AM FED UP WITH EVERYONE IN THE WORLD CLAIMING THEY ARE A MODEL! YOU ARE NOT A MODEL UNTIL YOU GET BOOKED FOR A PAID JOB, WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE MODELED FOR A CLIENT AND THEN RECEIVED PAYMENT THEN CLAIM IT ON YOUR TAXES! IF YOU HAVE SHOT WITH PHOTOGRAPHERS IT IS JUST THAT, A SHOOT WITH A PHOTOGRAPHER EQUIVALENT TO TAKING A SEARS FAMILY PHOTO!
• THEN IF YOU ARE A MODEL YOU SHOULD KNOW YOUR CRAFT! YOU SHOULD STUDY POSES, KNOW YOUR BODY AND KNOW YOUR LOOK! IT BOGGLES MY MIND WHEN I TEST WITH A GLORIFIED “AGENCY MODEL” AND THEY COME TO MY SET AND STAND UNDER THE LIGHT, IN FRONT OF MY LENSE AND DO NOTHING BUT STARE IN PUT HANDS ON THEIR HIPS.
WHAT THE HELL DO YOU PLAN TO DO WHEN YOU BOOK A JOB? YOU WILL BE SENT HOME! THERE ARE 5 MODELS WHO LOOK JUST LIKE YOU, AND CAN DO THE JOB NO PROBLEM!
LET’S GET IT TOGETHER MODELING INDUSTRY!
SINCERLY,
FED UP ANGRY FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER
Photographers/Models please share your thoughts! Agree? Disagree? Similar experiences?
Models! Makeup Artists! Agents! Wardrobe Stylists! Share your story! Send us XEX an email to submissions@xexmag.com