Months ago I did a shoot for the tribal series that I was very happy with. The model was excited and happy with the shoot and left with all things looking positive. At the time I hadn’t had any release forms handy so I emailed him one. A couple of weeks later he emailed me demanding that I not use the shots and actually requesting that I delete them. I agreed to not use them despite never being given a clear reason why not but I refused to delete them. I needed to keep them for reference for a possible re-shoot.
We are still friends on facebook and I follow him on instagram. Last week he posted a selfie nude in bed on instagram that showed just as much as he had in the shoot with me but mine was in a studio setting rather than a camera phone. Now I get that he might have been looking for work or something at the time but he never explained why I couldn’t use the photos. Does he realise that while he may be happy to post those photos now he might be looking for work later and change his mind again but those images are out there online. He’s also one of those guys that puts #4 #million #hashtags on every photo guaranteeing that people see it.
As a photographer who can’t afford to pay models and relies on goodwill, there is a lot of room for flakey guys using the chance to model to stroke their ego and to change their mind but I don’t think a lot of them stop to think that my time is just as valuable as theirs. I guess, until I can afford to pay models that this is the risk I take.
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7 Comments on "Your double standard is showing."
I think I would contact him and ask if you could use the photos now since he has put his own nude selfie out there. Maybe ask why he denied it in the first place. It would seem there is little to loose since you probably aren’t going to photograph the flake again anyway.
I agree with Ojo I would contact him and see why he denied everything in the first place. I would also ask if I could use the photos with his permission if not, then delete them
Agree with Ojo. If he’s willing to get attention through a nude selfie he shouldn’t have a problem with a professionally done shot. If it’s still a “No” then I’d avoid business with him in the future.
There’s just no figuring out what goes through the minds of some people. I’ve had guys practically beg me to feature their nude photos on my now defunct blog, only to e-mail me the morning after their nudes were uploaded to ask that I delete their photos.
Seems possible he could have been freaked out by the language of the release form. He could have felt uncomfortable with the potentially broad (I assume) number of uses for his image.
Contacting him now could bring additional drama that you may not want to put yourself through.
What a putz
If he’s willing to put his own out there and restricts your professional pictures then there is only one reason that comes to mind. MONEY! Even if he changes his mind and allows them again, he’s going to change his mind over and over. You’ve got better pictures to take than the ones of him!