My model friend might be getting screwed.
 

Alright, so this girl that I know shot a couple of sets for this up and coming "alterna girls" website back in May and she has yet to be paid in full.

The owner of the site has provided partial payment, but still has yet to come through with full payment. He may never end up paying as he is now claiming that a money order he sent out ended up being cashed.

I've only ever been a newsletter and galleries person when it comes to paysites and I've never dealt with talent before. But she's coming to me for advice, so I figured I could ask people that know. Is there anything she can do? I think he's refusing to remove the sets, but I'm sure she signed a release form.

Never leave the premises without getting paid.. he has no intention of paying her..he has the realease form and she is fucked unless she has a signed document stating how much she was to recieve and she has copies and proof that she did not recieve that much.

but please post the URL to the website so that others are aware of dirty dealings.

Yea...he's not gonna pay her. Move on and call it a lesson to be learned.

:mad:

Just tell him you're coming by to pick up the proof that the money order was cashed so you can give it to the police officer who is looking into fraud charges for you.

Never sing a release untill you are paid in full. She can show her ID to prove she is over 18. But NEVER sign a release untill she is paid in full.

Alright, I just talked to her and she's not sure if what she signed was a release form or not. I told her to contact the owner of the site and to tell him that she wants a copy of the release and a copy of proof that money order was cashed for her lawyer. Hopefully I can find out exactly what happened, even though theres very little I can actually do.

The website in question is located at http://www.razordolls.com - - - I'm not going to parse the URL because I'm not sure the admin knows about this site and the less they know, the better.

:thumbsup

Crazy sod,, he dont own the pic unless she consents and if she aint been payd the obviously she dont,, the mans into a lot of trouble,, tell your freind that she can take him for his house,,Not joking hes in big dodo

:helpme :upsidedow

He wouldnt have even started shooting before he had the proper release forms signed , thats a guarantee, just as she shouldnt have even started filming until she had her payment.

He doesn't need to show proof of anything. He has a signed form most ikely stating he has already paid her with her signature on it.

You could ask his lawyer for a copy , but its fairly obvious he never sent the money , never intended to send any money and isn't going to send you any proof. The police wont do shit , they will say "sue him".

And when she goes before a judge they will say " is this your signature here stating you have already been paid " and she will say "yes , but" and the judge will say " that will be all case closed" heh.

her best idea is to shoot for a better site with more money who will sue the first company :)

she signed a form, i doubt it was her autograph, the first thing any model signs is the RELEASE form giving consent. models cant just decide to change consent based on their opinion of the photographer at any given point.

Face the facts. Shes fucked.

Well if it was a release that she signed, then I guess this should be a learning experience. I was looking to help promote that site as well, but I guess that's out of the question.

its one of those double edged swords , that is why you have to have mutual trust.

A model could show up demand payment before filming , then walk right out the door. Nothing legally keeping her there , the cops cant make her film and they cant make her give the money back , who's to say the guy isnt lying and took pictures.. It would be a civil court matter..

Just as a photographer could say " i'll pay you at the end" and not pay.. The cops arent going to show up and make him pay , its for a civil court.

People are out there to make money , a photographer isn't going to go far stiffing the models just as models arent going to get far stiffing photographers.

Im going to take a wild guess that this girl doesn't know what she signed and was led on by "lip service" , lesson learned , she now knows to KNOW what she is signing before she signs it ..


Heres some free tips on how not to get ripped off for both sides..

#1 before the shoot the girl sign a consent form for the film, the consent form gives no rights to reproduce the film/photos in any way. This way the photographer is not liable nor will the model get stiffed for her fee.

#2 after the shoot a second form is produced with details on what the content will be used for and the terms of the payment etc. That form is signed when payment is made , there is no other options

The fact that she "doesn't know" what she signed says it all. READ before you sign..

What if the model has second thoughts by the end of the shoot and refuses to sign the second consent? She doesn't get paid, but the photographer also has to cop a loss (wasted time, makeup, studio hire etc)

Anyone that shoots photos of a girl without the release signed first is asking for trouble. Content is a tricky thing, and if you think the person may not pay, dont do the shoot.

I wouldnt demand payment up front.. but I sure as fuck would not leave without payment in hand..or I am kicking someones balls in :1orglaugh.

good luck, but I don't think she has a leg to stand on. Tell these silly girls to fucking read what they sign..geeesh.

The model release should have ( for ______ value received ) ..etc... No value received no consent allowed. Also, if real value is noted and accepted the photographer strengthens his ownership rights.

oh! that's sad! now she will learn her lesson...