Webbies Who Shoot Their Own Shit
 

Quick question:

How do you set up your photoshoots, and models to better filter out the flakes that always happen. We do shoots, and so forth, but have had an increasing number of flakes lately. Which is great especially on the day of the shoot.

What have you done in the past that has worked, or failed?

How did you better filter out the flakes?

We are considering some different things, but I thought I'd ask the GFY brothas and sistas first as what they've learned over the years in growing pains.

:pimp

Whats are flakes ?

every time a model flakes out, a puppy dies.
please take this issue seriously.

I've been shooting for yrs... don't ever put the shoot off. When they call, get your shit together and do the shoot :2 cents:

We normally try and book a good 3-4 models or more if possible, so the shoot goes on regardless. But we still have to deal with those we had flake out.

Especially when we are doing content, and custom. But back to the original question, what have you used past, present, that has worked, not worked, or gotten a better ratio of filtering out the flakes from the time they commit to doing it, and then are no shows, cell turned off, or cancel?

:helpme

In my opinion, make sure you get the models from a reliable agency or check her past work.

Independant models work but there is a huge gap from those that are professional and those that think they're doing you a favor.

Agencies generally won't settle for that shit because they know if the girl flakes out, it reflects bad on them and you won't be coming back to them.

So use agencies? Thanks for the feedback.

We are looking at a number of different scenerios because we've tried a few, and while the flaking is not like an all the time thing, it is annoying to the point of having to schedule additional shoots.

We've looked at some agencies here in Michigan, but a lot of the models do not do 'adult themed' type stuff. But we haven't checked into Metro Detroit area yet. We've had some offers from out of state, but we are not big enough to start flying in models from all over. We are trying to keep a local, or state presence.

We're in a college town, and have been looking to attract more of the college hunnies in need of cash, but as you said, professionals, versus flakes factor.

Thanks again for the feedback!

:thumbsup

I am shooting ... like more then submitting galleries :)

offer them good cash to shoot

and tell them if they flake or cancel, you won't give them a second chance

let them bring a friend

That's the best advice I have heard in a while. I have shot many many girls that have never shot with anyone else. Sometimes they just need quick money.

Offer to pay in cash ( but if you do make sure and get the transaction on video and don't have the cash with you, go to an ATM after the shoot is finished)

Offer to send a driver/cab to pick them up

Make them feel comfortable about showing up by sending a photo of the people who they will be working with. I have a photo of myself and my hair/makeup girl that I send to most models.

Communication the day before and the morning of the shoot is good but it does not always help. I have talked to girls who have said "I am just down the steet, be there in 5 minutes" and they have flaked. :1orglaugh

Exactly :thumbsup

what felix said

you cant help flakes shit like that just happens i shoot all my own content and always worry about the models flaking out but yu just goto get on with it.

girls flaking are part of the job

Yep. All good ideas. Most of them we already do. We pay them at time of shoot, let them bring a friend (preferribly anothr female ;)). We haven't tried the limo/cab to pick them up thing. We've had strippers bring their "body guards" (wtf?!?).

Guess no matter what, you will always have the flakes, and hope you have less as time goes on.

:Oh crap

Strippers usually know drivers so that shouldn't be a prob

We always over book becuase at least every other shoot we will get a noshow etc or a girl that cant cut the grade. Our smut takes a special kind of girl that can take a real spanking, so we found that full disclosure and lots of communication works best. We confirm at least 3 times and always give access for them look at the kind of content we shoot in both video and image. That weeds out the good from the bad. We have also spent alot of bling on flying models into the EU from the states for video shoots. It was high risk cause of the cost involved but we made sure as much as we could regarding everypoint of the contract / shoot / and the model. even after that we had 2 out of the last 6 models who were utterly shite. But just had to bite the bulletin and cover the loss. And yep we still did some takes with the bad ones and banked the content to at least try n cover their costs at some future date.
Finally for the shoot we have 4 cameras across 2 crews and 2 photographers whenever we can. We try and shoot every single minute we can when on location. Time is money and the girls do work their ass of ... but then the model fee is good. Im never happy unless we get 6 hours of video and at least 5000 pics per day shooting. My 10 cents --- now im of to play poker.
:pimp

Damn Solo.

Good business plan there, especially for the bling you are putting out.

:thumbsup

I was wondering what the hell "flakes" were! :winkwink:

Been involved in the production side for generations and never heard that one yet! :-)

Barefootsies - Know what ya mean!

We just remain "flexible" and have shit ready to shoot anytime. Don't let one girl screw the day up - if they turn up on time, fine! If not, be ready to shoot anyway.

"Good girls" turn up, but shit happens to anyone and even they fail sometimes, but at least try and give advance warning. Others... well, they have their own agenda and some are a lala land where they are incapable of doing any work :-) The latter don't last long.

Treat models with respect, but no more than anyone else - and don't pander to shit like "limos". Give em a mug of coffee and have a couple of females around with "new" models to kill any nerves - we have a female stylist and studio manager. Ya end up with em as friends on occasions - and this can be damned helpful.

Other bit is... over time ya build up a model list of the stable girls who are good all round. I prefer.... above all else, having a finished load of material where the "usability" is high. Like on stills - a high percentage of facial shots (the non-porn version!) where there is at least *some* expression.

Yep, I hear you there. I have brought in a female photographer to use for most of the shoots. Some women prefer me to shoot them over her, which is odd but I suppose a compliment I make them feel at ease.

I always make sure to follow the basic rules for being a business, keep everything professional, and even when others, and partner are around, make sure they keep their 2 cent remarks to themselves. Last thing I need is some model owning half my company(ies) because someone got frisky on set.

As for the 'flakes', I had saw it on another thread, and it seems to be a fitting description when you get the cell phone turned off, no call no show, and alike ;).

:winkwink: