I am opening my studio in a few months and have decided to only shoot clients at my in-home studio. Not just for the photosets I built and having everything there and readily available, but for safety too.
I had a cousin that went to a friend of a friend of a friend's house to take some photos for a woman who wanted boudoir style photos for her husband. Well it started off okay but then the woman's husband came home. At the time, she was taking photos in the woman's bedroom and the husband came in and locked the door behind him. At which time he proceeded to flirt with my cousin (the photographer) and then the woman started to flirt with her too, after which they asked if she would join them in a threesome. When she refused, they asked if she would take photos of them engaging in sexual activity - in which the husband then said "it might put you in the mood". She left immediately, but only after having the husband block the door with his body asking if she was sure she didn't want to participate in a "once in a lifetime pleasuring experience.. although it can happen anytime you want it".
How creepy!! She didn't even know them (which is good, because how akward would that be to show up at work the next day knowing what went down).
I know it's nothing like robbery or murder, but still how violating to my cousin - who didn't even do photography as a profession, she just was helping out because she did photos for a friend (who then recommended her to a friend, and that friend recommend her to the creepy friend).
I always do a pre-photoshoot consultation (even with the women I'm using for my portfolio shoots - and I know most of them) so I can get a feel for the person, their intentions, etc. I do this on the phone, by email or in person - but I always like to talk to the person on the phone at least once before I meet them. My photostudio is built in my garage and I have a room attached to the garage I use as my reception area (and my pole fitness studio when I have classes for that). My husband is almost always home (but he doesn't enter into the studio area at all) and I feel safer knowing that. If something were to happen, he'd be right there. We also have an intercom in the reception area and studio, which I can set to "listen" and my husband could listen in at anytime to make sure I'm okay.
I also allow my clients to bring a guest - but no men. I'm always worried about a jealous boyfriend/husband that would think I'm posing his girlfriend/wife in a "degrading" way. My best friend's ex was like that. She couldn't even wear tops that were low cut or he'd walk around calling her degrading names. She was never able to get photos done by me, even though he knew he'd only see the photos. Just wrong. I don't get men (although some women feel the same way)
