Portrait question
Eagle
anyway:
When I invest in new equipment, particularly used, I often ask friends or
intriguing strangers to sit for me. I do not charge them and in return for
their time, I make them some prints. If all goes well, I get to know the new
equip and I get more pix for my portfolio. If I bought a lemon, I lost the
money, but the model only loses some time. This has worked for me often in
the past and if people were uncomfortable, they just said no, thanks.
Now I'm in a new town, been here a year. People know I'm a photog, they see
my work in the local paper and I shoot lots of organizations. So I ask
several wait staff at a local restaurant, nice place, to sit for me since I
just bought a new MF camera and a 4x5 studio camera. The people I asked are
both male and female and I encouraged them to bring friends along, bring
their partner so I could shoot both of them, etc. I wanted them to feel safe
and to know I wasn't trying to scam them out of their clothes. Although a
bit leery at first, most of them agreed and even seemed pleased that I
asked.
Today, while I was at the newspaper, one of the bartenders from the
restaurant came to place an ad. When I said hi, she said I should stop
scaring the people at the restaurant. According to her, I'm apparently being
taken for some kind of freak! This has never happened to me before and I'm
really shaken up over it. I don't want to go back to the place, I want to go
back and set things straight, I don't want to see them...needless to say,
I'm confused, angry and hurt. Has something like this happened to any of you
on the group and if so, how did you handle it? I don't want to go through
this again if I don't have to! Feel free to email me directly or post to the
group if you feel this is something of interest to others. Thanks!
Jim Post
ea...@shopstop.net
Allen Greenky
they will all be excited to view the results. Being new in town, these folks seem
like new friends, but you are still a stranger to them, they see each other daily
and you are but one of hundreds of faces
Bruce Caines
electrons so they looked like this :
>I'm new to this group so this may be a worn out question, but here goes
>anyway:
>
>When I invest in new equipment, particularly used, I often ask friends or
>intriguing strangers to sit for me. I do not charge them and in return for
>their time, I make them some prints.
[snip]
>This has worked for me often in
>the past and if people were uncomfortable, they just said no, thanks.
>
>Now I'm in a new town, been here a year. People know I'm a photog, they see
>my work in the local paper and I shoot lots of organizations. So I ask
>several wait staff at a local restaurant, nice place, to sit for me since I
>just bought a new MF camera and a 4x5 studio camera. The people I asked are
>both male and female and I encouraged them to bring friends along, bring
>their partner so I could shoot both of them, etc. I wanted them to feel safe
[snip]
>Today, while I was at the newspaper, one of the bartenders from the
>restaurant came to place an ad. When I said hi, she said I should stop
>scaring the people at the restaurant. According to her, I'm apparently being
>taken for some kind of freak! This has never happened to me before and I'm
>really shaken up over it. I don't want to go back to the place, I want to go
>back and set things straight, I don't want to see them...needless to say,
>I'm confused, angry and hurt. Has something like this happened to any of you
>on the group and if so, how did you handle it?
Just out of curiosity, have you ever asked this bartender to sit for
you? If not, you would be amazed what a bit of jealousy can make
people say or do.
If people know you are a pro, and your approach is as you say it is,
particularly if you are mentioning you are testing out equipment,
ideas, lighting, etc., I can't imagine too many people having a hard
time with you. (Do you have a third eye? This can be off-putting.
<g>) You might want to speak to the manager or owner of the place and
ask if s/he has a problem with you approaching staff to sit for you.
You can just say "one of your staff said..." so that there is no
finger pointing. Otherwise she **will** make you uncomfortable if it
gets back to her. This sounds to me like a case of an individual who
may have a personal axe to grind.
I've approached complete strangers to do nudes. People either get it
or they don't. Often, the people around the ones being approached get
weird. If it were them, *they* might say no--but they would be
flattered. Go figure.
Bruce Caines
[posted and emailed]
===========================================
Print: Bruce Caines Photography, NYC
Print | Film
http://www.brucecaines.com
***To reply by email, remove the Z in my address.***
==========================================
Gary Drainville
wrote:
(snip)
>Today, while I was at the newspaper, one of the bartenders from the
>restaurant came to place an ad. When I said hi, she said I should stop
>scaring the people at the restaurant. According to her, I'm apparently being
>taken for some kind of freak! This has never happened to me before and I'm
>really shaken up over it. I don't want to go back to the place, I want to go
>back and set things straight, I don't want to see them...needless to say,
>I'm confused, angry and hurt. Has something like this happened to any of you
>this again if I don't have to! Feel free to email me directly or post to the
>group if you feel this is something of interest to others. Thanks!
>Jim Post
>ea...@shopstop.net
>
he/she would display some of your work in the restaurant. I would find
it very odd that people would react this way as I've always found
people to be very curious/intrigued by photographers. Although as a
previous poster suggested this bartender could very well be jealous.
Have a super day!!
Gary Drainville
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/gary
Louie Powell
there are wierd people out there and if folks don't know you, they are likely to
suspect the worst.
You might tray showing a portfolio of your past work to illustrate the kind of
work you do. Perhaps the restaurant would allow you to hang a show. Or, can
you find another venue, and then use the show as a mechanism to recruit models
in your new location
Eagle wrote:
> I'm new to this group so this may be a worn out question, but here goes
> anyway:
>
> When I invest in new equipment, particularly used, I often ask friends or
> intriguing strangers to sit for me. I do not charge them and in return for
> their time, I make them some prints. If all goes well, I get to know the new
> equip and I get more pix for my portfolio. If I bought a lemon, I lost the
> money, but the model only loses some time. This has worked for me often in
> the past and if people were uncomfortable, they just said no, thanks.
>
> Now I'm in a new town, been here a year. People know I'm a photog, they see
> my work in the local paper and I shoot lots of organizations. So I ask
> several wait staff at a local restaurant, nice place, to sit for me since I
> just bought a new MF camera and a 4x5 studio camera. The people I asked are
> both male and female and I encouraged them to bring friends along, bring
> their partner so I could shoot both of them, etc. I wanted them to feel safe
> and to know I wasn't trying to scam them out of their clothes. Although a
> bit leery at first, most of them agreed and even seemed pleased that I
> asked.
>
> Today, while I was at the newspaper, one of the bartenders from the
> restaurant came to place an ad. When I said hi, she said I should stop
> scaring the people at the restaurant. According to her, I'm apparently being
> taken for some kind of freak! This has never happened to me before and I'm
> really shaken up over it. I don't want to go back to the place, I want to go
> back and set things straight, I don't want to see them...needless to say,
> I'm confused, angry and hurt. Has something like this happened to any of you
> on the group and if so, how did you handle it? I don't want to go through
> this again if I don't have to! Feel free to email me directly or post to the
> group if you feel this is something of interest to others. Thanks!
> Jim Post
> ea...@shopstop.net
--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Louie J. Powell, APSA
Glenville, NY USA
"Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem"
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
K and J Darling
to model for tests of equipment to determine whether it works? He should
be testing basic operation on rocks or trees or family or something, not
wasting the time of someone he just met.
Louie Powell <ljp...@banet.net> wrote in article
<35B55529...@banet.net>...
Eagle
ahem, post. As you see from the snip below, one of the cameras is a *studio*
camera. It is electronic and must be plugged into an AC power source. Yes, I
use inanimate objects for most tests, but since I shoot more portraits than
anything else, I invite people to sit. As I said, they get a professional
sitting and receive enlargements at no cost, so this is hardly wasting their
time. Also, I have known these people for months, they are not people I just
met. As I said, this way, I can get shots for my portfolio, they get
enlargements for themselves, a good deal for all, I think. Your hostility is
a bit off-putting, but I thank you for responding! I'm very troubled by the
reaction I'm told came of my request for sitters and any feedback is
valuable. Thanks!
Jim Post
ea...@shopstop.net
K and J Darling wrote in message <01bdb561$b796a400$2ff81fcc@kdarling>...
>My first question to this person's question was why does he need strangers
>to model for tests of equipment to determine whether it works? He should
>be testing basic operation on rocks or trees or family or something, not
>wasting the time of someone he just met.
>
<snip>
K and J Darling
you've known for months.
Eagle <ea...@shopstop.net> wrote in article <6p56t8$oal$1...@news.inc.net>...
Eagle
get some idea of their personalities and they mine. Or so I thought. Bring
up a sitting and everything got weird. That is why I have put this question
to the group for feedback. I don't understand it, either and hope other's
experiences may help me to do so.
Thanks for responding!
K and J Darling wrote in message <01bdb5be$b8bc3e00$4cf81fcc@kdarling>...
Michael Quack
> You might want to speak to the manager or owner
> of the place and ask if s/he has a problem with
> you approaching staff to sit for you.
> You can just say "one of your staff said..." so
> that there is no finger pointing. Otherwise she
> **will** make you uncomfortable if it gets back
> to her. This sounds to me like a case of an individual who
> may have a personal axe to grind.
Exactly my impression, but I would rather go and
grab the "aggressor" than any third person or
manager. News will spread, no matter how you
circumscribe it.
> I've approached complete strangers to do nudes.
Me, too.
> People either get it or they don't.
Right.
> Often, the people around the ones being
> approached get weird.
I'd never aks with anybody around, except if
it were two (or more) girls and I could fit
them all in the production.
> If it were them, *they* might say no--but
> they would be flattered.
And not being asked, they will tell their
friends (the ones you asked)that they are
cheap sluts. Right. It is your job as a
photographer to protect your models against
any of these offenses and to back them up
with good advice or personal standing.
--
Michael Quack
<photo...@aol.com>
Website:
<http://members.aol.com/photoquack/foyer.htm>
Michael Quack
> When I invest in new equipment, particularly used,
> I often ask friends or intriguing strangers to
> sit for me. I do not charge them and in return for
> their time, I make them some prints. If all goes
> well, I get to know the new equip and I get more
> pix for my portfolio. If I bought a lemon, I lost
> the money, but the model only loses some time.
The model will also lose the hope for good pictures.
You should make sure that the models do get
some compensation in order to prevent hard
feelings. And you should always do some
standards with your regular equipment. I would
never risk to have to tell a new model that
the pictures went on the Fritz because I
bought a lemon.
> This has worked for me often in the past
> and if people were uncomfortable, they
> just said no, thanks.
My experience as well. Just never ask people
when there are others around. And show them
samples of your work on a day well before
the shooting date.
> Now I'm in a new town, been here a year.
That is not very new anymore.
> People know I'm a photog, they see
> my work in the local paper and I shoot lots
> of organizations. So I ask several wait
> staff at a local restaurant, nice place,
Just one restaurant, hwere you eat every
now and then yourself ? Or several restaurants
across town ?
> to sit for me since I just bought a new MF
> camera and a 4x5 studio camera. The people
> I asked are both male and female and I
> encouraged them to bring friends along, bring
> their partner so I could shoot both of them, etc.
> I wanted them to feel safe and to know I
> wasn't trying to scam them out of their clothes.
Did you shoot nudes, too ?
> Although a bit leery at first, most of them
> agreed and even seemed pleased that I
> asked.
Most will be pleased, even if they turn your
request down. Unless you act strange while
asking, have one hand moving in your pocket
and sweat heavily while making funny noises
when you ask. It also helps not to ask
"So when do we fuck?" more than once every
five minutes.
> Today, while I was at the newspaper, one
> of the bartenders from the restaurant came
> to place an ad. When I said hi, she said
> I should stop scaring the people at the
> restaurant. According to her, I'm apparently
> being taken for some kind of freak!
Okay. Have you ever asked her to sit ? No ? Aha.
Best way now ist to try and grab her while
she is not surrounded by colleagues and guests,
invite her out for coffee and talk to her.
Tell her that you would like to clear the
air, show her your work and explain what
you are up to. You can then offer her to
sit as well. Might do wonders. But first
tell her you want to talk. You will have to
really court this lady, she seems like
a jealous bitch. In case she is not ugly
she might afterwards turn to be the most
willingly model you've ever seen. Don't
ask anyone else of the staff or the manager
about the problem at all. News will spread,
even adding to the problem. Grab her alone
because she is the problem !!
Assure her that you want to clear any
misunderstandings and don't threaten her
in any way.
> This has never happened to me before and I'm
> really shaken up over it. I don't want to go
> back to the place,
You need to, but be calm (and stay calm) under
any circumstances.
> I want to go back and set things straight,
Righto.
> I don't want to see them...needless to say,
They sure didn't mean to hurt you. The bartender
is for sure hurting herself more than you.
> I'm confused, angry and hurt.
Yep.
> Has something like this happened to any of you
> on the group and if so, how did you handle it?
Grab the aggressor and produce the best shots
she has ever seen from herself. Will do wonders.
> I don't want to go through this again if I
> don't have to!
Yo, kid, that's the way the cookie crumbles....
The minefield of human interaction always has
surprises.
Bruce Caines
some electrons so they looked like this :
>Bruce Caines wrote:
>> I've approached complete strangers to do nudes.
>Me, too.
snip
>> Often, the people around the ones being
>> approached get weird.
>I'd never aks with anybody around, except if
>it were two (or more) girls and I could fit
>them all in the production.
Just to avoid any "weirdness" or possible discomfort of my intended
subject, I never say much more than I would like to speak to them
about being photographed. They get my card (and a promo if I've got
one on hand) and I leave it up to them to follow-up. I do this even
if they are alone. I've had a surprisingly high success ratio this
way.
Bruce Caines
===========================================
Bruce Caines Photography, NYC
Print 212-594-9443 | Film 212-206-9763
Bruce Caines
arranged some electrons so they looked like this :
>Then I don't understand why you're getting hostile reactions from people
>you've known for months.
From my reading of Jim's original post, the reaction was reported to
him second-hand. He's not even certain the people he approached
actually feel this way. Its validity is also suspect due to the
person who made the claim.
js...@my-dejanews.com
"Eagle" <ea...@shopstop.net> wrote:
> My point exactly! I have talked and joked with these people long enough to
> get some idea of their personalities and they mine. Or so I thought. Bring
> up a sitting and everything got weird. That is why I have put this question
> to the group for feedback. I don't understand it, either and hope other's
> experiences may help me to do so.
> Thanks for responding!
>
> Jim
> ea...@shopstop.net
Could be bad experience in the past with some other "photographer".
Recently, a female friend of ours asked me to take some pictures of her to
use on her realestate letterhead. She and her husband have been freinds of
ours (my wife and I) for years. But in front of the camera, she was very
nervous, a very different person than we're used to. (My wife was even
present at the sitting) It turns out, the last time she was photographed (10
years ago), the photographer repeatedly pestered her, trying to get her to
pose for "budoir" and nude photos, even though she had repeatedly said no.
That could sour anybody on photo sittings.
Possibly there's a similar skeleton in the town's closet.
Jim
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Carlos Alvarez
wrote:
>Then I don't understand why you're getting hostile reactions from people
>you've known for months.
Yeah, I would more likely lean toward thinking it was one person's reaction
and not everyone's. Possibly that jealousy bug...you did invite the one
person who told you this to sit for you, didn't you...?
--
Carlos Alvarez, Tucson, AZ, USA, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
http://www.neta.com/~carlos
When they took the 2nd amendment, I was silent because I didn't own guns.
When they took the 4th amendment, I was silent because I didn't deal drugs.
When they took the 5th amendment, I was silent because I was innocent.
Now they've taken the 1st amendment, and I can say nothing about it.
Ruben van den Oord
My guess is, that the people you asked to sit for you, are not the ones with
the problem. I think it's the bartender who has the problem. Maybe he does
not want you to use his restaurant as a recruit-office, and 'bother' his
guests. Did you already ask *him* to sit for you? Maybe you can offer him,
like said in an earlier post, a gallery of your work in his restaurant, with
shots of his clients. Now he's getting some out of it too! Or you can offer
him to use a portrait of himself in an advertising.
Good luck, en let me know how the story ends...
Best regards,
Ruben van den Oord
Studio Boyé Photography
Holland (21 degrees, dry and cloudy)
Bruce Caines heeft geschreven in bericht
<35b73bc7...@news.mindspring.com>...
>In a previous post, "K and J Darling" <theda...@ix.netcom.com>
>arranged some electrons so they looked like this :
>
>>Then I don't understand why you're getting hostile reactions from people
>>you've known for months.
>