Here are some practical tips to help create the right atmosphere on shoots;
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Set positive first inter-personal impressions; appear professional
- Consider how you are dressed; the language you use
- Have a positive attitude: wake up expecting to have a good day and you are more likely to
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Create a positive atmosphere, lead and inspire the model
- Say that you’ve been looking forward to today’s shoot, and working with this model, that you have a shoot plan with some unique ideas that should suit her style
- Talk about positive subjects – what’s good in the world, not only what’s bad (don’t be a “Grumpy Gus” or “Debbie Downer”)
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Be inclusive when talking about others
- Use appropriate pronouns
- Only mention someone’s race when it’s necessary
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Deliver the Pre Shoot Briefing right before the shoot
- This sets the tone and expectations, and is a useful tool to refer back to if an issue arises.
- Be organised with time, administration and equipment
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Always accept that “no means no”
- If the model is not ok with a question topic, do not keep pushing for similar things.
- We have a separate FAQ on What to do when a model says “no”?
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Collaborate with the model
- Instead of telling the model what to do, ask for her input regularly (framing constraints as necessary), for meaningful parts of the shoot
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Be warm and considerate of the model’s needs
- Check in on the room temperature, thirst / hunger, comfort
- After the first highest level pose the, ask the model how she felt about that, as we have to do that across 7 more poses?
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Don’t over-share
- Share elements of your real life and events but do not deep dive into things, keep it light and professional
- For example, telling the model you are trying for a baby is ok; telling the model that you have had three miscarriages and are now seeing a therapist as you can’t bare other people getting pregnant when you cannot and you feel like a failure and your marriage is suffering as a result… this is oversharing (never appropriate)
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Consider the model’s perspective
- While the actions within a shoot day are unexceptional and obvious to the SP, remember that for models this could be the first time she has been seen naked by someone else, or been asked to do certain things
- Tell models why we are doing things, so she can better deliver what we need (and also, so there are no misunderstandings)
- For example, A model being asked to talk about her childhood might think we are trying to cater to paedophiles. That could make a model feel uncomfortable. In fact, we want learn the model’s “backstory”, the things that made her the adult woman she is today, so that she appears as more than just a “sex robot”.
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Be self aware of your own mood
- If an SP is working with a model or shoot plan they think they will find it “difficult” they find a positive aspect to focus on – and remember they get out of a day what they put in
- For example, a model is known to have a negative attitude – she always sees the sad side in each situation, complains about how hard her life is… but she has beautiful feet. The SP can spend the day focusing on how great it is to have neat clean feet and all the great and unique fetish content they can get today. That is “their thing” to be excited about and a genuine positive they can genuinely compliment the model on (we never lie to models and say things are good that are not).
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Leave when the shoot is done
- If the model is staying in the location where the shoot is happening, then it is her “safe space” in the Shoot City
- The Shoot Producer should act like they are a guest in the model’s own home (even if the SP paid for the shoot location!)
- Arrive on time – not later (unless the model is made aware), and definitely not earlier
- Have breakfast before you arrive
- Have a shower at your own accommodation
- Leave when the shoot and associated admin is complete (never “hang out”, order food, or similar).