Working with Younger Models

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT


I used to work quite a bit with younger models, all the way from 5 and 6 year olds, to preteens and tweens, to junior/teen models. I frequently shot them for the photo magazine pieces I was doing. I don't work with them all that much any more, but still do at times, when there's a need for a commerical or personal project that I'm working on or I'm interested in adding certain types of shots to my stock library.

Working with younger models, by this I mean any model under the age of 18, presents it's own set of challenges and difficulties. To be successful, there not only has to be a creative connection to the model, but also a good working relationship with the parents. It's their interest and their schedule that will determine when and where shoots will be, or if there are any shoots at all.

Parental involvement is crucial. It takes a considerable amount of time, effort, and gas for models to get where they need to be to audition and shoot. It's an extremely completitve industry and success can be very elusive even for the most talented model. But if parents of younger models aren't 100 percent behind the effort, there's no chance of success at all.

At one point, younger models would see a photographer's work on line, like on MySpace (when that was going strong) or FaceBook, and get ahold of him directly. Any serious photographer would turn them down, but there was still the possibility that these young girls could meet up with a total stranger. That happened at times, particularly when the photographer represented himself as young and successful.

With all the publicity about online preditors, most teens, even younger teens, know that that can be dangerous, so that's not happening as much anymore. But every once in while, I still get messages from 15, 16 and 17 year olds who want to get into modeling and like my work. I always appreciate feedback, but, if they're interested in working together, I always refer them and their parents to my policy about working with younger models.



SHOOTING POLICY


And here's my policy for working with models under the age of 18.. (It's a good policy to follow for photographers and models.)

All younger models must have parental approval to shoot, and a parent or legal guardian (not just a boyfriend, girlfriend, older sibling, other relative or family friend) has to be present at the first shoot. (I've had numerous 15, 16 and 17 year olds come to a shoot with their boyfriends, an older brother, a friend of the family, a neighbor or a couple of girl friends to make a day of it at the beach of it.)

While parents are welcome, friends aren't. They are very distracting, particulary to models just starting out. No boyfriends, girlfriends or groups of friends can accompany models under 18 to shoots. And I have a policy of no texting during the shoot.

Once I've worked with a younger model and know the parents, I'll shoot additional sessions if an older sibling or other adult relative is along, but still no boyfriends or girlfriends, even if they are over 18.

I have no problem communicating directly with a teen model, as long as the parents are aware of the communications.  Here's what I tell younger models and their parents. Anything that I tell the model or ask her to do, regardless of what it is, she can tell them. I never want her to have the feeling that she has to keep some sort of secret. On the other hand, anything that she tells me, I won't tell the parents. I want the model to feel that we can talk about anything that she wants, without it getting back to her parents. At first, most parents aren't sure if they like the idea of their daughter telling me things that they don't know about, but once they think about it, they tend to like that appraoch.


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Types of Models I Work With

Beauty and Brains


I'm fortunate to be able to work with some very beautiful, very talented, very bright, models. It's their talent, beauty and positive attitude that make my model shots work.

Coming up with models to shoot isn't particularly an issue for me. However, coming up with the right model for specific projects and different situations can be a real challenge. It can be a time-consumer, sometimes frustrating, process, especially when shoots fall through at the last minute. But I'm always interested in working with models that have strong potential.


Model Types

The type of models I work with varies considerably, from agency represented fashion, runway and editorial models; to petite models; to models of different ethnic or cultural backgrounds; to models with interesting or unusual athletic, gymnastic or dance abilities. I'm open to a whole range of looks and styles, it just depends upon what I'm working on at any given time.

Dedication, dependability and attitude are more important than experience. I want to work with models who are really motivated to shoot, and are willing to put the time and effort into it that's required to come up with quality images. I have considerable experience coaching models. I can teach a model with the right look how to pose or walk a runway, but I can't teach dependebility or a good attitude. The only type of models I don't like working with are the ones that tend to flake.

 

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