For a Shoot Producer, a Solo shoot is complex with many specific requirements.
For Models, a Solo shoot can be a day of fun and self-exploration.
These two perspectives can conflict and cause stress for the Shoot Producer, who – worried about the remaining time – may be tempted to take shortcuts… such as touching the model to move her into position.
But, it’s not ok to touch models.
Consider this scenario;
The SP and model are into the second OL position for Stills (there are six more to cover… then the whole video shoot). The model’s top had been placed to tease her areola, but the model moved and spoiled the effect.
The SP is giving clear direction to fix the look, but the model cannot get the clothing back in the right place. The model is frustrated, she’s trying to help! It would be quicker if the SP just fixed the placement of the clothing themselves – they know what is needed.
It could take several more precious minutes before the model “lucks” upon what the SP is trying to describe. And the day is already behind schedule!
So the SP reaches over and tugs the fabric to the perfect placement, then continues the shoot.
While this quickly gets the immediate result needed, this is never appropriate on an abbywinters.com shoot. We commit to models they will not be touched during a shoot, so they must not be touched – even when it makes the shoot day easier. So, it’s not ok to touch models – or their clothing while being worn.
The model in this scenario may say it’s ok for the SP to make this adjustment (for fear of angering the Shoot Producer if she does not offer that). But it is not ok.
Or maybe the SP asks the model if they can adjust the fabric, and the model says it’s ok? It is not ok.
Or maybe the model – sensing the SP’s frustration – says it’s ok for the SP to adjust the fabric how they need? It is still not ok.
Asymmetric power balance
There is an asymmetric power balance on shoots – Shoot Producers are in a position of power over models. Many young women are “socially trained” from a young age to be polite, even when they are scared or uncomfortable: they worry that annoying a powerful person (especially, but not exclusively a man) may result in them becoming angry and physically hurting them.
This simple desire “not to offend” can cause a model to agree to something she’d really prefer not to, just to reduce the risk of being assaulted. Some men find this absurd, that of course a woman should simply say she’s not comfortable. It’s been demonstrated many times that rational thinking does not apply in these situations.
Rather than second-guess the model’s true feelings on the matter, we have a simple policy. Do not touch the model. It turns out, touching the model is actually not necessary to make a good abbywinters.com shoot! 🤯
While touching a model could save the SP perhaps five minutes on a shoot day (if that?), it’s not worth the reputation of the company, future model recruitment, and your ongoing work with us as a Shoot Producer with the company.