By “other people”, we mean, people who are not models in this shoot, the Shoot Producer themselves, or a person operating a video camera as part of a multi-camera shoot.
The general rule is that it’s not ok to have other people on-set, primarily because it’s not necessary. But there are some considerations…
Other female models
Sometimes, models share accommodation, or a shoot of Mary is made at model Angela’s home. Other models may appear in Backstage images (or even in the shoot itself if they are appearing in another shoot on the same day at the same location), but only ever for small moments and only if both models agree.
Male models
Male models may never be on set with other female models, unless it is explicitly part of a Shoot Plan that HQ has approved.
A model’s boyfriend
We strongly recommend against this (here’s how we present this issue to models), but ultimately it’s up to the Shoot Producer to decide.
AW HQ staff
Sometimes, the Shoot Producer Trainer or Creative Director may visit a shoot as part of a training program. This will always be planned weeks in advance, and only when the model and Shoot Producer’s explicit permission has been granted.
Other Shoot Producers
Occasionally, by agreement and arrangement with HQ, we may organise for less-experienced SP’s to visit with more-experienced SP’s as part of a skill-sharing programme. Both Shoot Producers and affected models will be informed and the specific conditions discussed.
A location owner / someone who lives at the shoot location
Never appropriate. We make a strong commitment to models that location owners will never be present – even for checking in to accommodation.
A friend of the Shoot Producer
Never appropriate.
Onlookers / “Looky lou’s”
Almost always not appropriate.
Stop shooting, assist the model to cover up. For people up close, let them know, “Sorry, this is a closed set for a private photoshoot – please move on so we can work?”. For more-distant people, take photos of them and they will usually go away (especially those that are “hiding in the bushes”!).
Occasionally, we make “guerrilla” shoots, where the model is very much nude in public, and people’s reactions are part of the shoot (or more specifically, the model getting off on people’s reactions). These are only ever carefully designed and planned with HQ – never spur-of-the-moment shoots.
The Shoot Producer’s assistant
Our Solo shoots are designed to be produced by one person, and that’s been the norm since 2010 (before then, we used to have separate photographers and videographers!). While it’s certainly helpful to have someone else on-set, it’s not necessary to.
The economics of having a paid shoot assistant do not really work out. But, if the Shoot Producer decides it’s necessary for them, we have a few requirements;
- The Assistant must have submitted a Background Check / Police Check that meets our requirements
- The Assistant passes the training requirements around Working With Models and Model Care, including any refreshers
- The Shoot Producer Bio Page includes information about the person (to a similar level of detail as the SP themselves)
- Models understand from the start of the booking process that they will be working with two people, not one as is our standard
- The Assistant has a real and necessary job to do when on-set, and when their presence is not required, they are not on-set.