Now a member of MM

[Hellz Kittehn]

OK, I am now a member of Model Mayhem. I'm using the free version because I want to check around. I have a couple of photogs interested and am researching them. I told them I would always bring an escort. I don't know if this will be a good or bad thing. Looking for feedback from other MM's! Thanks =)

[Maggie Puller {★}]

This is a VERY informative discussion! I just created a MM profile and I am waiting on approval, but I hope to get a lot of responses when it is approved. I need to go back and add in the escort stuff...that is a really good idea. You can never be to careful! I would also like to borrow the Escort rules paragraph!!

[The Trousseau]

There are many reasons why a photographer won't work with a model who wants to bring an escort, and expecting them to get nude is only one of them.  Some of the reasons are very good ones; escorts often ruin shoots.  A lot of prep work goes into a shoot, and often a lot of money.   The wrong escort can easily make all the time and money a waste.   

 

Some of the reasons I have heard are goofy ones, "it sets up an atmosphere of distrust and a lack of confidence in my professionalism."  Well, duh.  If you don't have a killer port and credentials, then a young lady going to a  place to meet a strange man should NOT trust him.  Someone who says this is just on a bad ego trip -- if he can't understand why a young woman should not trust him until she knows him, his head is in the sand. 

 

There are two kinds of escorts I like: the first one will come in, look around, see that the model is safe (there are always at least three people at our shoots) and then leave with, "call me when you are finished."   The next level is the one who comes in with a book or a computer and finds an out of the way place to read or work by themselves.  Anything beyond that becomes a problem that someone who is busy (the photographer, the MUH, the stylist) has to deal with. 

 

I don't know how a model would know if their escort was a problem or not.  I know that we try to be gracious and professional and won't come out and tell a model that their escort was a problem, unless it got so bad that we had to end the shoot, which has never happened.  I imagine the model might be able to guess in some circumstances, and if she is invited back to shoot with the photographer again, she can know all was well.  It is a choice one has to make-- take an escort and risk it not working out, or don't take an escort and, well, risk your life. 

 

 

[Hellz Kittehn]

I will ALWAYS bring an escort, unless one of my friends is shooting me! If you have an escort that is a "stage parent" then I could see where you would have a major clash with the photog. My escort simply makes sure I'm safe and then keeps out of the way reading or working online. However, if he is asked to hold the occasional piece of equipment or run and get drinks, he is gracious enough to do so. It's simply not feasible for me to do a shoot 2 hours away and tell him to go home. If he's comfy with my safety, he feels free to run around the city. I'm grateful he comes with me and ensures my safety. I'm very strong minded and cannot be "talked into" doing a nude shoot. He knows I can handle myself and again he is just ensuring a safe environment! Heck, if I'm downtown in my city, I feel better if he is there. Crime rates are up because the economy is down. On a side note, mug me and you will be very disappointed LOL!