There is one occurrence that every photographer of models, especially amateur models recruited on the internet, deals with. Put a group of these model photographers together and there will soon be stories swapped about it.
- Flaking.
- Being stood up.
- No shows.
- Canceling.
This is when you set up a shoot with a model and then the model doesn't show up. I differentiate between a 'no show' and a 'cancellation'. If a model calls me and tells me she isn't coming before the shoot actually happens, that's a 'cancellation'. I still don't like it, but I can deal with it ( well, of course it depends on the reason of the cancellation ). The more lead time the better.
This happened to me today. A model had booked me for a portfolio shoot. I had the studio booked. Three hours before the shoot, the 21 year old model, Maria calls and tells me she's 'too tired' to shoot. It sucks, but at least I was saved the 30 minute drive down to the studio.
It is a running joke that you don't want to be related to a model because their grandmothers, aunts, and uncles die a lot. Or they end up in the hospital.
Is there something we can do about this? So is there a solution? Not really.
There is no indication you're going to get a flake. You do start to develop a 6th sense about it. They stop returning emails or calls before the shoot. But you normally can't be sure. You can lower your costs of a flake. I beforehand agree with the model that I will call them 1-2 hours before a shoot. It works to some extent, but you still have cancels.
The only solution really is to learn to deal with it. It's an occupational hazard and only happen rarely, well at least to me. Don't waste a lot of emotional energy on it when it does happen.
Well at least Ms. Maria who cancelled today gave me inspiration for a blog post. Thanks also to the studio (web page here) for his comprehension of the situation.
Erotic photography by Andre Marchandise
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