Something doesn't add up here...thoughts?

[jra]

I'm a member over at Model Mayhem and today I received a message from a model interested in working with me.....but something just doesn't seem right about it. Here's the message (names removed):

First of all, great port! I'm from northwestern ohio area and I'm looking for a photographer thats interested in doing a couples themed shoot. I've been wanting to add more to my portfolio and interested in doing a guy/girl shoot. Would like it to be tasteful. I've been talking with a couple male models and it's definitely something that would be a great addition to my portfolio. I'm happy with TFCD/TFP compensation for the shoot and am open to all kinds of ideas. I also have a male model willing to do the shoot with me for the same compensation. If this is something you'd be interested in working with me/us on, please contact me on here, or my personal e-mail. Thank you for your time and I hope to hear back from you soon!

Again, thank-you,

What doesn't seem right is actually a number of small things that by themselves, I wouldn't think much of...First of all, this model lives a couple of hours away from me, why pick someone so far away? Second, the model has a nice portfolio but her style is completely different from the style in my portfolio (she's into more nude, lingerie type stuff). Third, I have absolutely no examples in my portfolio of shooting male/female "couples"....why on earth ask me to do a couples shoot? Lastly, it seems that she is somewhat assuming that I would shoot this session for free and provide her a disk of high resolution images....again for free.

I know, I could simply respond and ask her some questions but I wanted to run it by you guys/gals here to see if you think I should even touch this. Something just doesn't seem right about it but I'm not sure what.

Some of my thoughts are...I'm being lured into some type of scam with a fake profile on MM.....or maybe it's a couple just looking for some free photos?...Maybe I'm just being too paranoid ;)

Please, let me know what you think! :)

[rdompor]

I'm not familiar with MM, but I'm curious as to what kind of scam can they pull here? The message seems legitimate to me. Just try asking a few questions and clarify what TFCD/TFP compensation is - Time For CD? Time For Photos? If so, then walk away.

[jra]

I'm not familiar with MM, but I'm curious as to what kind of scam can they pull here? The message seems legitimate to me. Just try asking a few questions and clarify what TFCD/TFP compensation is - Time For CD? Time For Photos? If so, then walk away.

Yep...time for CD. As far as the scam...well, get a photog to drive out of town (or even in town for that matter) with several thousand dollars worth of equipment to a specified location where a group of thugs are waiting to rob him. (worst case scenario of course ;) )

[rdompor]

HA! I don't care if that is even remotely likely! Just having that suggested to me is enough to scare me away!

Isn't worth it...(IMHO)

[D Thompson]

I've always been told "When in doubt, don't".

As far as your thinking the worst, that is very possible. Just recently 2 guys from a town near me went to Florida to buy a bike they had seen on one of the 'lists'. They flew down and were picked up at the airport by a guy & girl to go get the bike. At the location there were 2 other guys and basically, they were robbed of $9,000 cash, tied up, and left in the middle of nowhere. 2 of the guys kept talking about just killing them and leaving them. They returned ok, minus the cash, and damn lucky.

[gravy graffix]

what i dont get is( and may be a side bar to topic ) if all the models and photogs do TFCD, whats the point? models dont want to pay, IM sure the hell not going to pay one... to me it seems like 99% of the model work is un paid, and you have a bajillion togs on MM trying to reach some sort of plateau to MAKE money shooting.

i see the point of it would be good for your port as a tog, BUT its show casing model work, which is fine, but again, whats the point when no one wants to pay.

[Karl Johnston]

Tell them to come to you to X restaurant to set up a meeting place (in public). What I do i always have (either phone call or otherwise) a meeting with a potential client about what their ideas for the shoot is, what their inspiration is and what they want to see from me, experiences they have had from other photographers.

If all is good and you get a good feeling from that, then set up a time to come on over to your studio or x-location.

I really wouldn`t touch this one, though, send back a `Thanks, not interested`reply. Time for CD ? Come on, they`re not models.. they`re likely looking for a free couples portrait. ;) or a disk full of them.

[jra]

what i dont get is( and may be a side bar to topic ) if all the models and photogs do TFCD, whats the point? models dont want to pay, IM sure the hell not going to pay one... to me it seems like 99% of the model work is un paid, and you have a bajillion togs on MM trying to reach some sort of plateau to MAKE money shooting.

i see the point of it would be good for your port as a tog, BUT its show casing model work, which is fine, but again, whats the point when no one wants to pay.


I actually struggled a bit with the same question and put off signing up with MM for a long time because I felt it was somewhat pointless. Looking back, it was actually a really good decision IMO. It's not a great place to make money directly (but people do)...what it's really good for is portfolio building to sell yourself to the buying public for both photogs and models. While there's plenty of garbage on it, there are also plenty of really good photogs and models of all experience ranges.

edit...oh yeah...I almost forgot...Stock. I always get a signed model release and sell the photos on stock sites. Another good use :)

[phichef]

I have been a member of MM for quite some time and FTP/FTCD is very common. Most people on this site are trying to break into modeling and simply looking for portfolio photos. My school used them regularly for us to practice shooting and them get the resulting Cds for their port.

If they are coming from a bit away from you, be sure to keep in touch with them so they don't result in a no show. It sounds as legit as many requests I have received on MM.

If you are not interested just tell them you are not currently doing TFP. They will be pleased that you at least responded and not leave them hanging.

[jra]

Thanks for the responses thus far....I'm pretty sure this is nothing more than an innocent request but it did seem a little odd. It would've been different if I had a portfolio that focused or even featured a few shots of couples....but I have nothing of the sort. Why would someone that lives hours away ask to be photographed in a manner by someone that doesn't even have that "style" featured in his portfolio? Why not find somebody in their area? I guess I'll shoot a message back to simply try to get more information....if nothing else, I'm just curious now :) I'll report back if I hear anything.

[chestercopperpot]

Go with your gut... if it doesn't feel right, don't do it. Your work would suffer having such trepidation, anyway.

[Alleh]

Model Mayhem is flooded with TFP. It's not actually a place to select paid models or get paid shoots. I have people ask me all the time if I will shoot them for TFP. As a photographer if you want to gain experience and build your portfolio then it's a good place to go if you aren’t at the level to test for modeling agencies yet.

[opus13]

if all the models and photogs do TFCD, whats the point? models dont want to pay, IM sure the hell not going to pay one...

Most models don't pay (except for acting headshots, etc, most notably) because they dont get any intellectual property from the deal. The photog gets a salable property, the agency gets marketing materials, and the model gets a photo that they don't have any rights to.

so the model gets paid. they don't pay.

[siddr20]

I think the best thing to do is ask her to call you. Speak in person. That way you will know exactly what she wants and you can respond to that on the spot.

[mjc_ma]

I would ask yourself what do you have to gain from this? Is this something you wan to do? What if they dont show?
Usually on MM they have who else they have worked with, MUA or other photographers and they can give you an idea of what it was like to work with the talent. Just my.02 Hope it helps

[mattograph]

Just skip it. Obey your instincts.