Model Safety

Whether you are a professional model or a first timer, your safety is paramount.

As a model this is something I am passionate about. As a photographer, a safe shooting environment is is key to ensuring the model feels relaxed enough to give their best. 

This guide is there to help keep you safe, regardless of who you intend to carry out a photoshoot with.

Check References :   Make sure the person is who they purport to be. Have they got a good track record, If anything feels off - don't shoot with them. Your gut feeling is often right.

Leave details with someone:  Whether it is your partner, a member of your family or a friend, leave them details of the address you will be  shooting at, or the co-ordinates if an outdoor shoot. Given them the times of when your shoot is due to start and finish     along with the  photographers contact details. Occasionally shoots do over run, but if you haven't checked in with your  named person by a certain time, alarm bells should start ringing.

Chaperones:              A good photographer will have no issue with another adult attending, if you feel the need. Minors should ALWAYS be  accompanied by their legal guardian or representative. Chaperones should respect the photographer and be a 'silent' attendee and not interfere with the photoshoot.

Communication:      Clear communication is paramount for a successful and safe photoshoot in terms of outlining what it is exactly you want  to  photograph, sharing ideas and outlining the limitations of your capabilities.  If you receive unwanted, or lewd comments along with images you have not requested as part of your pre-communications, this is a good indication that the shoot probably should not proceed. Sadly, there are a number of people who purport to be photographers who are  not.

Level pushing:           This is where you agree to a certain level of undress which ranges from Fashion to Lingerie to Topless, then Implied Nude, Nude and Adult. If you agree to shoot to a certain level e.g. Lingerie, under no circumstance should the photographer be  asking you to higher than the agreed level, whether this be prior or on the shoot. Remember this is your body and you bear as much or as little skin as you feel comfortable doing so. If a photographer is level pushing you, this is another  indication that they may not be safe to  shoot with. If level pushing happens whilst on a shoot, you are  within your rights  to terminate the shoot there and then. Please not that a photographer may ask to reclarify the level you are happy to  shoot upto, but this is not deemed level pushing as they are simply establishing the boundaries of the shoot. Level pushing  is the persistence badgering of asking someone to shoot above their level of comfort.