Sometimes you wish you never bothered...

Driving almost 90 miles on the motorway in the pouring rain, to arrive at a location where two models are staying with a professional photographer.

You're planning to shoot with each model individually for one hour each.  That's it.  It couldn't be simpler.  Well, you're bloody wrong.

Firstly, you arrive about ten minutes early with the intention of setting up.  Instead, you're invited to have a jafa cake & waste your set-up time doing nothing.

And, then when you've already been communicating with the second model about shooting in a bedroom & instead you find yourself shooting a model wearing bra & knickers on a figure nude shoot with bird shit sprayed over the window!  OK, this was done with natural light & because the only lens that I had that could get that low was my 85mm f1.8 I was shooting from the other side of the room.  It was an experience I would like to repeat (Not with the same model), and with better planning.

You turn up expecting to shoot two models & the only available lighting was an Elinchrom Solar Lite which couldn't get any higher that about f2.0.  This was not what I was expecting.  Two flash units would have been pretty nice to use.

It was advertised as tasteful erotic nude poses.  Now, I was not after any explicit erotic nudes but for Pete's sake, please put some effort into it!  In the end, I just ended up with the same ol' crossed-legged crap you get from the knee nazis who espouse 'I'm an art nude model'!

The second model was getting ready whilst I was shooting the first model & I still lost a quarter of my shooting time because she wasn't ready.  I asked the second model to tweak her nipples & I get told that if she'd have known earlier, she would have opened the window to let a breeze in so that her nipples would get cold!  Huh?  What on earth does that mean?  I told her I wasn't interested in shooting her tweaking her nipples, just that pert nipples look better than lazy nipples.  Ah, well, who gives a crap.  She obviously doesn't.

The first model who was living at the house hasn't improved since our last shoot & has the demeanor of the management trainees we regularly have at our company.  Failed 2-2 graduates (If they get that far!)  LOL.  I just hate people who walk over other people.  UOA (Up their Own Arse) is what another model told me.

So, six hours of my life, 3 1/2 of them on the motorway just to shoot some unimaginative models  going through the motions!  :(

I'm expecting one of them to appear on wearehairy.com some time in the near future.  That would be amusing...  It would make up for the way I was treated today.

It was very poorly organised by Sarah.  Who stated "I've lived here since September, but Iain has lived here for over a year..."  Isn't that just like saying you you pay rent to stay there & to have use of the facilities?  Just one thing to say to that.  UOA!

Neurotic, or what?

"Thank you for looking at my portfolio, however I am no longer modelling. 

I have removed all my photos from my portfolio as I find it unsettling that a certain individual keeps looking at it on a regular basis..... So if you read this, please stop
No images found"

I have just come upon a model's profile containing the above paragraphs.

WTF?

Why does she not remove her profile in full?

Sun. 28th December 2013

Well, I was supposed to have a shoot today.

I checked my lighting & put that in the car last night.  And, I'd cleaned & checked my cameras & lenses this morning.  I had also washed a few items of clothing essential to the shoot.

Sadly, the model called me 90 minutes before I was due to arrive & I've had no real option but to cancel.  Why?  Well the model was using another model's apartment for our shoot.  The other model was also booked elsewhere hence the reason we could use her place.  I was unaware that we'd be alone in the apartment...  Apparently, the other model's cat was run over & she has cancelled her shoot because she is clearly distraught.  Who wouldn't be?  But given the choice by my model to work there whilst the owner is moping about, or to cancel until next year...  Well, we might work with each other next year.

I just hope she hasn't cancelled because she has a better paying job, or she has been offered a not to be missed TF opportunity with a dude who doesn't pay cash.

I'm just a little bit annoyed.  OK.  I'm fed up.  Two late cancellations in three months.  But at least this hasn't cost me any money this time.  Just my precious time.

Fri. 15th November 2013 (3)

I just thought of something.  It happened about four years ago, but I want to write it down before I forget for another four years...  ;)

I had a confirmed booking with the model.  I was to travel 50 miles to her for a half-day booking in her studio flat.  Well, it was the late evening of the night before & I sent an e-mail asking if she was still OK for tomorrow?  Anyway, I get a response where she says that's she's eaten something dodgy at her brother's & can we rebook another time.  I said it wasn't a problem, wished her well.  But I never got a date from her.

I checked her profile a few days later before sending her a message & she had feedback from another model & a photographer stating that they all had a really good TF session on the day my shoot had been scheduled for.

I contacted the model & she said that by the afternoon, she had felt better.  Yeah right!

Anyway, about eight months later I did eventually with the same model at her home location.  The place was small but sufficient for my needs.  The shoot itself was a bit rubbish.  For a semi-pro she needed directing.

And, for someone who said she was a makeup counter manager at a local department store (My lips are sealed...), I was surprised that someone so pale skinned would have such an orange face?  Having a tanned look when you're clothed may suit a lot of people.  But not when you're posing nude!  Have I ever told you about that model called Brightonorange?  No?  I will one day.  Promise!  (Liar, liar...).

So, if a model messes you about the first time, whatever you do, don't book her again.

There again, on just reading the above, I remember driving 100 miles/two hours to find an empty house.  It was supposed to be our third shoot.  The model later told me she'd gone shopping with her mum!  Oh, I was bloody fuming.  Five hours of my life just used up like that.  But, we had another four shoots after that.  The best model I had worked with at that time.  Sadly, I don't think she models much these days.  Well, she certainly doesn't login to MM,  PS possibly.

Fri. 15th November 2013 (2)

I thought I'd join Amanda Swan's (http://www.amanda-swan.com/) members site on 27th October.  It was only £10 via PayPal.  Eight days later & I still didn't have a password etc.  Can you believe her site does not have a contact page?

So, I contacted Amanda via Model Mayhem on 4th  November.  She promised to look in to it for me.  I heard no more from her.

So, on 8th November I contacted 'lisa.payfile@ntlworld.com' which is the account where my monies were sent.  And, I've still had no reply from them.  :(  So, I've sent another message to 'Lisa...' today.

It may only be £10, but I was going to book a half-day shoot with her.  But not now.  You cannot treat clients, or future clients like this.

Fri. 15th November 2013

I contacted a model a few days ago about a possible shoot.  Her rates were on her profile, but so as to not appear presumptuous, I asked for her total fee in case her rates had increased of late.

£180 for a half-day (Four hours) booking.  :(  Her rates on her profile were stated as £120 for a half-day shoot for the same levels.

Ten years ago I would have bounced back with an arsey reply.  If I'm paying, I like to feel I'm getting my monies worth.  Whether that be £80 or £150.  So, I just deleted her reply.

Anyway, she contacted me a couple of days later enquiring as to whether I was still interested.  A minute of my time & my polite declination was sent.  Now, why didn't I do that in the first place?  I guess I was just being too lazy.  But I was annoyed...

She has just posted a cancellation, saying her rates & levels are on her profile.  I don't think so...

Just to let everyone know that I'm not vindictive.  I do hope she gets another booking.

Monday, 21st October 2013

Today, Ebay has decided that I had dropped the used phone that I had purchased on Ebay.

This is despite the fact that it took 9 days to get the unlocking code & so it had not left the house.  In fact, I had placed it immediately in the case that came with the item.

This phone had been sold as having the usual wear & tear.  Yet, when I received it, it had a large chunk taken out of it at the bottom of the phone casing.  One of my friends said that it was bothing to worry about.  It still looked liked it worked, right?

So, I've sent another message to Sukhbinder Singh (AKA Steve Singh) & I'm hoping he'll do the honest thing.

Oh, I left a negative feedback for him a minute ago & it was immediately removed.  They even sent me a message telling me so.  I think I know whose side they're on.  The side of someone not being honest & selling damaged phones.

BEWARE OF MR SUKHBINDER SINGH.  He's not very honest.