The Cast of Characters
for Bad TFP
There has come to be, especially online, a cast of seedy and/or non-beneficial characters that exist and show their face when models are seeking TFP (test) photo work. To present a mildly amusing, but still informative article on "what to watch out for," I've created actual character names for each of these types. Please note that the names for these characters are made up and not based upon anybody in specific. Any similarities therein are purely coincidental!
Let's meet the cast of characters here and discuss their characteristics. Remember that while this is based upon true situations to avoid, this article is written primarily just for fun.
Stingy Steve
Stingy Steve is the guy that spends all day shooting and then gives you three prints (or digital images) a few weeks later. Stingy Steve is also the guy with the digital camera where the amount of exposures he takes doesn't cost anything more, yet takes 30 minutes to take each shot. If you spend a few hours, or a day, modeling… you should get more than a small handful of images.
Senor Artsy Fartsy
Senor Artsy Fartsy does fantastically artistic and creative work. It's great if you go into the shoot knowing that, and your objective is to have fun and obtain some great works of art creations. If you're trying to build a portfolio, though, the artsy stuff isn't going to cut it. Perhaps Senor Artsy Fartsy can shoot some of what he likes, and then a few you can use for self-promotion too.
Mr. Shadows
This is Senor Artsy Fartsy's unskilled little brother. Where Artsy Fartsy creates fantastic works of art that often involve painting light and shadows, Mr. Shadows just doesn't know how to light you and so the images come out rotten. Look at someone's work in advance and make sure they aren't a Mr. Shadows.
Reputation Man
This guy is the one that when you search him on google.com, all you find are mass number of complaints from real, viable sources (forget about anonymous coward reports, of course). Red flags and signs of caution should arise, and you should always seek to check out who you are going to shoot with in advance by doing a few web searches. Don't let your complaints later become part of this guy's growing bad reputation. Avoid these problems in advance and shoot with someone else.
Bed Sheets Billy
Billy wants a studio really badly, but he only has his living room or bedroom. That's okay… A house or a garage can work just fine and personally, I've shot in some great living rooms and garages. Where Bed Sheets Billy fails is in his backdrops. Not only has he pulled out his bed sheets to hang behind you… but he's forgotten to iron them as well. For goodness sake, man, buy some seamless paper! While a sheet can be used successfully for great photo images, it only works when it is used properly – far more than, but including, washing and ironing it first!!
Peek-A-Boo Boris
Peek-A-Boo Boris has figured out just the right poses and camera angles to get a free peep show show from you. Peek-A-Boo, he's looking up your skirt! This guy's father, before the digital age, was known as the Peeping Tom. Peek-A-Boo Boris is the same as his dad, but has discovered that by holding a camera in his hand while peeping, he can capture lasting memories for years to come.
Free Willie
Free Willie thinks that TFP is a way to get free models for images that he can sell. You 'ort to not do this, Willie!!! You come and shoot and Free Willie has you sign an unlimited and unrestricted model release… and then he's out selling the photos to websites and clients and making money off of you. TFP is not the proper way to hire models – the images should be for self-promotion use only until such time as a separate agreement for sale is put in place. Don't give yourself away. Let Willie return to the ocean where he can be free.
Recluse Ramerez
The recluse always wants to be alone. No chaperone, no MUA, no assistants. "I can't concentrate if someone's looking," he might say. Or, he complains that chaperone's get in the way. What is so private about a photo shoot? Why is Recluse Ramerez so afraid to have you bring anyone along?
Don Juan Camerato
He is Don Juan… need I say any more? This guy has discovered that the camera is a great way to meet "the babes"! He's not just shooting photos, he's asking you out on a date. He's calling you on the phone or via chat non-stop, trying hard to court you. Now while it is great that you can become friends with your photographer… just make sure he is not Don Juan Camerato… unless you need to find a date too, that is!
Bad Advice Andy
Andy knows it all… but none of it reflects reality. He has owned a camera all his life but has never been actually in the real "industry." He counters everything he hears and reads with his own version - he has no credits to his name and is generally just making these things up on the fly or via other bad advice he's picked up from other Andy's on the Internet. He'll tell you things you want to hear, or he'll give you advice on what models need… when, in fact, he has no idea himself. If the photographer has a vast amount of experience and has credits and tear sheets and clients that you know of… then by all means, he's probably going to give you some incredible advice that you should listen to. If he just purchased a digital camera last year and is doing TFP's to learn or work with models, then chances are that he's not your best guide as to what to include in your portfolio or how to promote your career.
Empty Promise Johnny
This guy has some huge projects upcoming. He's going to get you published in a magazine (despite the fact he has never had anything before published). If you shoot with him now, maybe he can include you in some of the publications that are banging down his door for images!
Derelict Don
The Derelict has no intentions of giving you anything after he shoots. In fact, he's going to disappear off the face of the Earth the minute his memory card is full. He won't answer his phone or his email, and the TFP images you were to receive never arrive. He is a Derelict who got what he wanted and now he's on his way. Later, he surfaces again, with a different name. Now he's become Hit-and-Run Randy! He shoots (hits) and then is never heard from again (runs).
Rental Randy
Rental Randy tells you he's a professional and that he does incredible photo work. "Just tell me when you want to shoot though, because I had to sell my camera to pay my bills and so now I rent or borrow one when I have a shoot." Consider this: If he's as good as he makes out, why could he not pay his bills to begin with? Now, "My camera is in the shop for repairs," is a more legitimate a story. Photographers should have backup camera bodies, though with the price of digital camera's today, it is understandable when they do not. As time goes by, however, and photographers upgrade their equipment… it shouldn't take too long to end up with a spare, even if outdated, camera body; a backup for when the main one's in the shop.
Newbie Nelson
Newbie Nelson is a good guy. He's just starting out. Everybody starts somewhere and he deserves an equal chance. Shoot with Newbie Nelson if you have the time and if you work out a situation you feel mutually benefits. Just know upfront that he is new and while some new photographers produce incredible material, others are still taking snapshots. I personally encourage models to give the Newbie Nelson a chance because everybody must start somewhere. As long as he does not adopt the other previously mentioned names, Nelson should progress and learn and become a contributing part of the photographic community.
Daddy Warbucks is more than a photographer. Sugar Daddy here can be your agent too! This is fine and dandy, if he gets his license... but most Daddy Warbucks don't. They start to represent you and are submitting you for work, monitoring your emails, and telling you what to do. Who's your daddy?!?
Come on now, Charlie, didn't you see that in the background of your shot? Background Charlie either doesn't pay attention to the surroundings of his shot, or he thinks it is "cool" to have background stands, half sheets of seamless, or other obstructions in the background of the model. These are not behind-the-scenes photos, they are actually Charlie's finest work! His seamless paper has large wrinkles in it. His lights are not balanced and the background lit uneven. Huge shadows of the model are on the paper or the sheet he's hung in his bedroom studio. Charlie doesn't get it and thinks his blunders are well planned out examples of his great ability.
Just so that it does not appear all the cast is male... Tammy has several personalities. Tammy may also be a he, as Larry Two-Timer too! Tammy's nice and sweet up to your face, but backstabs you behind the scenes. When you go to change you can hear her making nasty comments about you. She tells all her friends, but talks badly about them too when they're not around. You strike a pose and she says, "That's beautiful!" You leave the room and she turns to her assistant and makes a joke about your body, hair, expression, or your pose. She (or he) two-times their way through the business and burn bridges, but doesn't seem to equate this to anything that's bad. "Come shoot with me," she says, "You're ugly, pay me money," she thinks.
Barney's done it all. So much so, in fact, that he feels it is not necessary to provide a resume or credits. "I have a big commercial shoot tomorrow," Barney brags. Barney's resume never changes though; the big commercial client secret (Barney says he's not allowed to share their name). Barney's resume is a mile long inside his head... but you won't see it ever down in writing. You better shoot with Barney because he's done it all and you should not be left out from working with this pro.
| Article By: | Jeff Curley (Austin Models & Talent Agency) - jeffc@austinmodelsandtalent.com |
| Website: | http://www.austinmodelsandtalent.com |
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