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Safety Tips For Models As of the date of this writing, The 2020 photo studio has been in operation for five and a half years. During those years, literally hundreds and hundreds of models have graced my studio with their presence. Even though I've tried to make The 2020 as safe as possible, not everyone uses my studio, and, unfortunately, a lot of these models have told me horror stories when working elsewhere, which has prompted me to make this page. The following advice has come from a vast variety of sources, including experienced models, the Internet, friends, cops and my training/experience in the military. Feel free so share this page as needed.
1) Use your head. The mind is the most valuable tool you have for self-defense - bar none. So think things through beforehand, and do what your mind tells you is best. 2) To be as safe as humanly possible during photo sessions, a model should learn one thing . . . trust no one absolutely. Even those photographers you think you can trust, even those who are well-established in the industry, friends, hell . . . even relatives can secretly be holding back some inner desire to do you harm. 3)
Do research on the photographer before you agree to the shoot. Just keep in mind, however, that most photographers in this
industry cut each other down, so take what you hear with a grain of
salt… Another good idea
is to reverse search the photographer's images on
Google. Make sure you are
scheduling with an actual photographer, not some creep who steals
pictures and POSES as a photographer 4) Be it a handgun, mace, pepper spray or stun gun, bring some sort of protection with you to your photo sessions. And, know how to USE it. Keep in mind that having a CCW permit does you no good if your weapon is buried in your purse in some other room. And remember, pepper spray and mace can be just as dangerous to the model as the creep. For example, if you use pepper spray and mace indoors, you'll inhale it also. And before you use pepper spray and mace outside, make DAMN sure you take into account which way the wind is blowing, or you may wind up with a face-full as well. 5) Bring an escort. However, make sure to tell your escort NOT to get involved in the photo session. A few things about this… A photographer with no ulterior motives will have no reservations about a model bringing an escort to the session. However, if there is one thing a photographer absolutely HATES . . . it's an escort trying to direct the photographer what/how to do his work. Bring an escort, however, have him/her sit in some corner with his eyes and ears open, but mouth shut! And another bit of good advice is have a "safe word" arranged with your escort in case you're too intimidated to say anything. Then, the escort has a reason to suddenly get a fake "phone call" that won't tip off the photographer. In other words, a reason to leave a bad situation in a hurry. 6) Do not tell anyone your private information such as your real name and actual address. And keep your real name, date of birth and actual address off the Internet. In fact, it's always best for models to start a "modeling" page, one that doesn't list your private information, family members, childhood friends, etc. 7) Keep in mind that one of the most commonly used ploys that creepy photographers use to hook unsuspecting (newish) models is to use "techno-babble" terms when describing their pictures. Always claiming to be "professional" is also a warning sign. Calling their shots "art" too many times is also a ploy. These are all red flags, ladies. 8) Carbonated drinks in cans are okay to accept at photo sessions on account of you can tell by the "hissing" sound when first opened that it's not been tampered with. However, do not accept bottled water - even if it looks unopened. It's always best to bring your own drinks with you to the session. Also, never put your drink down. Doing so may get you raped without even knowing it. Take a break, drink your drink, then toss it. 9)
Share your GPS coordinates with a loved one while working. 10)
Meet in a public place before the shoot if you have reservations. 11) Get proof of their identification and take a photo of them. Send the photo to a friend before the session and still at a public place. 12) Don’t make it easy for someone to follow you home after a meeting. Check your rear-view mirror. 13) Always make sure you have your mobile phone with you. Take your car charger as well. 14) Always insure that you have enough money to get a taxi home if you are not driving. You never know when you will be stranded, and nothing invites trouble like begging for a ride. 15) Never leave your purse unattended. All your personal information is in there. Do you want a creep showing up at your house in the middle of the night acting like he's in trouble and begging for your help? 16)
Carry pain killers with you in case of
need. It is better to not take prescription or
over the counter drugs from people you do not know, no matter how
honest, knowledgeable or nice they may appear. 17)
Never be afraid to say, "No!"
Don't let a photographer pressure you into anything you know
isn't right. I swear, some
photographers are so adept at pressuring models, they should be used car
salesmen… (Shrug) 18)
Stay sober and alert at photo sessions.
(Ref #1) A
half-drunk/drugged up model will not notice any warning signs, nor will
she be able to reasonably determine a course of action.
19)
Don't let being broke be the determining factor if you should
shoot with a photographer. And,
don't be posting online that you're broke.
A lot of creeps see a penniless model as
"irresponsible" and being an easy target.
20) Discuss financial arrangements and terms of session beforehand. Don't be one of these models who just show up for a photo session with no idea how much they are going to get paid, and no idea of what the photographer has in mind. Not only will the photographer try to get away with paying you very little, this is another thing that tells creepy photographers that you are irresponsible, and may easily be maneuvered into doing something you may not want to do.
21) NEVER arrange a photo session whereas you're alone with a photographer in a secluded, unsafe location. Do I even have to elaborate on this? Do you REALLY think it's safe to be alone with a strange man in a cheap motel room - where there's no room to shoot, and it costs the photographer a bloody fortune just to GET the room? A hotel room is NOT a good place to shoot in, so why does he want to photograph you there? Being alone with a creep deep in the woods, or in some dirty old barn in the middle of nowhere? Same thing. Use your head! (Ref #1) 22) If you ARE attacked, or assaulted, whatever the hell you do . . . don't be afraid to fight back! That bastard is out to do you harm! Being submissive is playing right into the creep's hands! Fight. Fight for your very LIFE! Don't be afraid to pull the trigger, or stun him in the chest, neck or nuts! If all you have is pepper spray, get him in the eyes and/or nose! Claw him in his eyes, or jam your stiletto heals right through his throat! Do something . . . ANYTHING to protect yourself! Just put it in your mind that you will NOT be a victim! Fight! Don't wind up being missing for months, just to have someone eventually find your decomposed body in the middle of nowhere…
23)
Also, be advised . . . once you consent to pose nude, once your nude
pictures are taken, you've lost all control over who sees you posing
naked for the sake of a few bucks. Unless otherwise stated
in a release, those pictures belong to the photographer - he/she owns
the copyright. He/she can do whatever he/she wants with
them. If you don't want your family, friends, or whomever to
eventually see naked pictures of you, if you don't want your nude
pictures all over the Internet . . . don't pose nude. It's that
simple. 24) Lastly… If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. For example: all the ads promising exotic trips and locations and paying out the butt. These ads are "bait" for unsuspecting models almost one hundred percent of the time. Follow through with one of these bullshit ads, and you will most likely regret it for the rest of your life.
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| (Stolen from an Internet friend.) |
| Safety
Ideas to Take to Shoots When you have booked a shoot with anyone online the basic information to gather and leave at home, as well as the things to take with you for your own safety include the following: Leave information of your whereabouts with someone at home/whom you trust and can check in with. This should include the person’s name and cell number, as well as the shoot address, of whom you will be working with.
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