Your take on 'Escorts' on a shoot with models.

I'd just like to know how 'you' feel about a model bringing an escort. The good, the bad, plusses, minuses, etc. I've had some models bring one, and others not. Again, I'm not shooting nudes, or implied nudes, so it may be a bit different when shooting that type of scene.

1) I won't let another one in a studio type setting, especially when there's another photog. in house. I've seen too many of the shots where the model is looking away from the camera, even when I tell her to make contact with the camera, because her friend/other model is trying to change, or talking with the other photog. etc. So, no more!

2) On location...first time meeting me...yeah, I'll allow it. Second time, if I work with the same model...and I felt that the escort wasn't a bother, I 'might' let her bring the same person.

3) Boyfriends...no. That is just too big of a hassle...and can get out of hand 'way' too fast...and I assume moreso with nude/implied nude types of shoots. I had one guy walking around the area...and kept getting in the shot, despite my asking him to sit still in one farkin' place. But no...he just had to get up, walk around, stretch...bah. Done with that.

I don't mind an escort. I want the model to be at ease and comfortable in front of my camera. Note I said MY CAMERA. I will not refuse an escort but I let the model know the rules of the shoot prior to coming in and then let the escort know when they show up. Only MY camera in the studio, no other shots to be taken and if the escort becomes a bother the shoot is over immediately.

Sometimes i do put the escort to work, holding reflectors getting some prop or helping in general. If they don't want to do this, they can sit quietly or go someplace else while the shoot is on.

If it's a boyfriend, significant other, or I've even had husbands and fathers, I always let them know what we will be shooting and then ask if they have a problem with any of it. If there is a problem, we don't shoot. I don't want the drama or hassles that could ensue.

But, with that said, being professional with the model and civil with everyone else, I've never had a problem with an escort. But I always meet the model for a consult prior to scheduling a shoot.

Tony...

Escorts are fine with me as long as there are clear rule up-front about who they are and why they are there. I have a Model Information page that I send new models to read before a shoot, and I always meet with the model before the shoot to make clear my expectations about the shoot. Sometimes I put the escorts to work, and other times they are simply allowed to watch the session. If at any time they begin to interfere with the shoot, they're asked to step back and find somewhere else to be.

More aggravating for me than escorts, are models that refuse to turn off their cell phones and constantly feel the need to asnwer every call and to chat between sequences.

I have never had a problem with an escort. In fact the shoot I had on Monday( see my wonder failure thread) She actually got the model to relax faster than I could have. She also had some great ideas when we talked during breaks.

I let the models know I don't mind. And that alone I think had a few come without an escort. I guess they thought "If he is so welcoming about it, maybe I don't need one." If the shot involves any "exposure" I try to gently insist they bring a girl friend rather than a boyfriend/parent. I have found that when something gets shown, say a boob gets exposed, Girl friends tend to be on the "thats hot" side and make her feel good. But boyfriends start to get a bit protective. The escort from Monday is another good example. Maybe she wanted to see the models boobs, I don't know. But as we moved along and removed articles of clothing the more encouraging the escort became. It was great, I had to do nothing but direct the shoot.

As far as other cameras I dont care here either. They are not connected to the lights, and most end up with my equipment covering half their shots. They and up as "look what she did" shots. Not as competition.

I only allow girlfriends. never males and only if I feel it will help the shoot, like give here someone to interact with so I get more spontaneous/candid feel to the shots.
Typically my stand is if you feel unsafe shooting with me alone then don't shoot with me. Don't need the hassle. I tend to exchange a number of emails and send my pre-shoot checklist, and release ahead of time so the day of the shoot there are no surprises.

I used to request the model bring someone to help i.e carrying my equipment gear, hold reflectors, etc, etc... That is the only exception I will allow the model bringing someone.

Unless I specifically state I want them to bring someone to help out, I usually assume they are coming alone, and I'm 99% right. Models I shoot are mostly industry professionals who take modeling seriously. Like any other job, you don't take your friends/ BF/ Significant other to your job/ workplace do you? Course not; modeling is no different.

I think I only shot with 4 models in my entire time shooting fashion/ glamor where a Model actually brought a BF/ Husband, etc, etc. None of the time the shoot turned out well.

Right now I'm thankful that I can simply turn down a model because they feel they need to bring an escort; but for the new photographers its a little more difficult, so each case will be different and you have to play it by ear.

Half of my Mayhem shoots have brought escorts, and usually becuase they had a bad experience with another photog or shoot. If it's a location shoot, then I tell them to plan on the escort being used to hold reflector, lightstand, etc. If nothing else, they carry the models crap she dragged along.
so far, if the model is comfortable, the shoot is 1000 times better than her being aprehensive.

hawk911 wrote in post #7090629
Half of my Mayhem shoots have brought escorts, and usually becuase they had a bad experience with another photog or shoot. If it's a location shoot, then I tell them to plan on the escort being used to hold reflector, lightstand, etc. If nothing else, they carry the models crap she dragged along.
so far, if the model is comfortable, the shoot is 1000 times better than her being aprehensive.

#1 Rule. Model will say ANYTHING to justify bringing an escort.

I've heard everything from medical excuse, to "my bf is a make up artist." He helps me carry my stuff, he drives me, he spoon feeds me, wipes my ass, etc, etc... 100% BS. Don't fall for that.

Interesting. Ive wondered about that and especially MM since its pretty much a classifieds site. I will be shooting nudes such as rim lighting and body shots. But, I've always wondered, "I bet Ill get the BF who is over protective, ruin shots and then yell at me or tell her 'dont do that' - 'shes not doing that dude' - 'lets go baby'." lol
...ride off in their beat up bronze '79 Firebird.

is it different for women photogs VS male photogs?

do models sometimes feel more comfortable with females shooting them ( even if they have an escort) or not? or would it boil down to the escort getting moody if she starts stripping infrontf a female.

i have done a few shots with a couple of minors, and they were always looking at their mom/ dad.

that made it strange for me ( becaue im just starting out in this aspect of photography)

the one that was actually a great shot just had her make up artist there, and she was a loose person to work with for the couple of hours she was therem and very relaxed, and confident in what she wanted.

blah i ramble, but im glad to read about peoples expectations, and experiences with models, and their escorts.

sorry inthedeck for a thread jack.

I've never had a problem with an escort. Most of the models I work with have never brought one. When a model does bring one, I usually put them to work. I also talk to them the importance of the communication between photog and model, and how they should be sure not to disrupt it--the model will get the most for her money if you don't distract her.

I welcome escorts. They can come in, meet me, see the set, dressing room, etc. They can use the restroom, stash something in the fridge (we have a kitchen in the studio), etc. However, when the model and I go to work, they need to move to the reception area. Close by and they can still hear the model if there is any need (there never is) but they are out of the line of sight of the model. This way we can all focus on what we need to.

I have not had a problem with this scenario.

I hear about models who want their escort on the set but this is not professional. Can you think of any other business in which someone works and their boyfriend sits next to them and watches?

I see nothing wrong with a model bringing an escort.

If I had a daughter going to take some partially nude pictures, I'd want her to have an escort with her.

KyleB wrote in post #7115709
If I had a daughter going to take some partially nude pictures, I'd want her to have an escort with her.

Why?

cdifoto wrote in post #7115747
Why?

So she doesn't get raped by some nikon user.