Work is always more satisfying when you can see the difference you made, and a more-engaged model is going to make a better shoot for sure (and in being so satisfied, will be more likely to refer her friends!).
Models should be asked for contributions many times throughout the shoot – at least 10, but more is better, and more “significant” things are better (not just, “Would you prefer to wear the blue socks or the red socks today?”).
At the end of a shoot day, we want models to feel like they have meaningfully contributed to the product. It’s difficult for most models to “grok” the entire abbywinters.com paradigm (though, some models simply espouse it well and may not realise, eg, Ivana, Kelli), so asking for input is often best when done with some constraints.
For example;
On the morning of their Solo shoot, Shoot Producer Bill asks Jane the model, “Hey, we need to do some movement stuff in the shoot today, what do you think we could do?”
Jane’s got this! She suggests horse riding (done it before, I’m a natural), rowing a boat (always wanted to try that!), SWIMMING!!! and tree-climbing – that sounds fun!
While all of these are nice ideas to be included in an abbywinters.com shoot, none of them are practical to be shot today (for a start, it’s snowing outside – not to mention, props and locations!).
The model is sad that all her excellent ideas are discarded, and does not suggest any other ideas for the rest of the shoot. 😕
Bill’s question to the model lacked constraints. While we’re generally in favour of open-ended questions, it is possible to be too open-ended!
Frame requests for ideas
Instead, it’s best to frame requests for ideas in practical terms, with built-in limitations. While shooting the video component Bill says;
We need to do a movement sequence now. What are some activities we could do on the sofa, that shows your full body moving?
The constraints are nominated in Bill’s request: on the sofa, and showing her full body.
Jane says, well, I could row it like a boat on the high seas? Bill agrees and Jane acts out a scene of a rowboat in a storm, throwing in orders to other crew members and being battered around by the rough waves – it’s a great MMaiA sequence, especially when Bill suggests she “rescues” a man overboard (ie, on the floor). Jane improvises by throwing a cushion as a life ring, causing her to laugh uncontrollably at this “serious” juxtaposition.
It’s a great collaboration, because the ideas come from both sides, they’re on-paradigm (in this case, involve the model moving her full body), it’s funny, and the model’s visibly having fun (and so is the Shoot Producer!). No special location or props are required, either.
The model feels like she made a meaningful contribution to the shoot (her idea was used, and even expanded upon), which encourages her to make other suggestions in the future. And, we got some great content for the site.
By constraining the model to the sofa, we focus the model’s ideas so they are more likely to be practical.
Rejecting unsuitable ideas
Sometimes, models will suggest ideas that are impractical or off-paradigm, despite being allocated constraints. Some considerations when addressing these;
- Show respect by a willingness to listen, before discarding the idea
- Pause and consider the idea in the context of the abbywinters.com Paradigm – unusual is good if it’s on-paradigm!
- Discuss how we could make changes so the idea works (instead of a “hard no”)
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Consider how you can help the model can “save face”
- She’s “gone out on a limb” by offering her amateur idea to an expert, and is somewhat vulnerable anyway because of the nature of the work.
- Nominate the constraints that make the idea unworkable, thus encouraging the model to consider those constraints for the next idea they offer
- Consider trying the idea for a short amount of time anyway, if time allows
- Incorporate aspects of the model’s idea in one of the upcoming shoot sequences
Dealing with models who prefer not to be involved
We set the expectation with all models that their input on shoots is desired, explaining how it will make the shoot more interesting for them, and make a better shoot for us.
But, some models prefer not to be involved in this way – they see it as the Shoot Producer’s job to come up with ideas for the shoot.
Models should never be forced or “over encouraged” to contribute if they choose not to.