I had a shoot booked with a model last Saturday. Her original reply to my query about placing a booking with her included the line:
"...I work to fine art nude, which is acceptable at open leg as soon as it isn't seen in an adult way".
So, as she was also posting for erotic nude work, I thought that a shoot up to erotic nude but with nothing overtly adult was going to happen.
Anyway, on the morning of the shoot (Arrival at 12:30; shoot from 13:00-15:00) I texted her asking if she was still on for our booking? She responded to my text with a "Yeah though can you make it two starting sorry xx", to which I happily accepted.
I was already a mile down the road \(It was a 100 miles round trip) & told the model I was on my way. She mentioned only then that her bedroom was no longer available but that we could still shoot downstairs. She mentioned she was a student & the place was a bit untidy. I asked what the carpet was like & she said "Not good..." So, I told her I'd drive home, pick up some rolled carpet I have for emergencies like this & I'd be a little later than planned. She agreed.
Well, I arrived just after 14:10. No help forthcoming in bringing my gear in, but it's no hardship. But usually something is amiss if no assistance is offered. How right I was! LOL.
The porch & hallway were strewn with unopened post, lager bottles, crushed lager cans & cigarette butts etc. This was totally unideal. I was invited into a back room on the ground floor & told I could setup there. She was going to do her makeup. Well, in the end I was left unaccompanied for almost 30 minutes during which time I had to shift detritus such as fag ends, shoes, wellies, dirty clothes & a 15" rubber dildo that was 2" thick! I've never seen anything that big in my entire existence. I have obviously lead a very sheltered life, not that I had ever known that. Until now... The walls were covered in scuff marks. - I did ask her for a damp cloth on a couple of occasions, but that didn't happen either.
The model comes back into the room & mentions that she has a red wristband that she cannot remove as she's going to a club later. She blames a friend for putting it on to tight. We eventually manage to cover this with a wide silver bracelet
We started shooting at 15:00. Well, after the make-up test showed she wasn't wearing any lipstick!
Without prompting, she mentioned that she used to do adult levels, up to US Mag apparently, but hasn't done so for the past 18 months. It doesn't explain the dildo which she knew that I knew. But as a gentleman, it remained unmentioned during the shoot. Hell, I even picked it up with a tissue when I found it & I hid it under a black sheet that was on the floor.
Did I know Femjoy? Yes, I did. Well, she didn't do that. So, I stated loudly that clearly erotic nude work was out of the question today. She said it was. She had trouble with her back apparently, and so that ruled out the whole idea of the shoot - I like my models to pose with their feet apart & to use their hips for accentuation & form. I was going to get none of it. Also, she remained very demure during the shoot. She had stated that she hardly smiled when she was shooting. No problem. Accept she let slip that she had been out the night before. And, she looked so bloody miserable...
The model mentioned that on many occasions, a previous photographer had been able to get what he wanted in a couple of hours. She related to me that one time she was booked for five hours but managed to achieve what the photographer wanted in two. She works quickly, you see. ;) I knew she was hinting that she wanted full payment [Booked for four hours] but only wanting to work for two hours. Cheeky! I explained that if I book a model for four hours, then I shoot for four hours. I translated it that previous photographers had realised, like me, that working with her was a very bad idea, but I'd rather the model fake out on me first. Well, she does flake out! She kept stopping the shoot to check her phone & I had to wait on twice whilst she spent a couple of minutes texting back Hell, she has to be somewhere else earlier than planned. Well, that suits me fine. I offer £70 for the two hours we've shot & she accepts.
On this occasion I would have been happy if the model had cancelled the shoot with short notice. Once I hopefully get my shoot for next week sorted out, I'll be strictly applying that if a model cancels at short notice, that I will not be working with her again. However much I still want to. There are plenty of new models or indeed, previous models that I have worked with, who would be happy for some modelling income.
I had an Angry Whopper (No tomato, extra jalapenos) at the Winchester Services (M3) and that was me satisfied. Forty-five minutes home & then I could go down the bloody pub... :)
