SAFE MODELING

Your personal safety should be paramount in your mind at all times.The key point to remember is that if you are being booked by a genuine commercial photographer you should never experience any problem.

However, we would always suggest the following steps:

Always make sure that you know exactly what the photographer expects from you.Don't be embarrassed to ask for clarification on any point you are unsure on. It removes the risk that you and the photographer genuinely have different perceptions of what you have been booked for.

Always speak to the booking photographer by telephone prior to agreeing to a shoot.

Never shoot in a hotel room or private house unless you know or have worked with the photographerbefore.

Ask if a chaperon is acceptable even if you don't intend to take one. A genuine photographer should never have a problem with you arriving with a chaperon, although they may want them to wait off set during the shoot.

Always let a contact know where you are going, the duration of the shoot and what time you expect to finish.

Carry a mobile phone and arrange with a contact that you will call them when the shoot has been completed but don't forget to ring them if a 2 hour shoot turns into a 4 hour one!

Have a prearranged code phrase with your contact that you can use if you feel unsafe in any way so that they can come to the shoot location immediately.

Have a second code phrase to let your contact know that they should telephone the Police immediately.

Don't be paranoid about your personal safety; just take sensible precautions that mean you don't need to worry!

Learn more about this author, Nigel Ryan.
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