Staying safe for models and photographers is very important. It is always good to use different tools and apps whether you are going to a studio or you are shooting outdoors. If you are a professional model or photographer, you might be able to identify if you are working with a genuine person or if it is just someone who is a predator behind a camera.
It doesn’t matter where you are going for a shoot and who is part of the team, you should be proactive to get details of your shoot before you sign your contract. Doing so is very easy by using social media pages of the models/the agency, or the photographer. Also, you can ask a friend or a family member to accompany you on the shoot if you are a model. Apart from that, there are different ways to stay safe for both photographers and models when you are going for a photoshoot. Here are a few of them.
Know Your Surroundings
This is one of the basic things to do when you are about to meet your client or the team you are working with. Know where they are calling you for the meeting. You can look for the address on Google Maps which will give you an idea if you are meeting in a safe place. If it is a cafeteria, make sure you are in a safe neighborhood.
If you are at their office, make sure that people around you are not acting weird or they are not into some kind of fishy business. You can get an idea about the way they interact with you and the kind of demands they put forward regarding work. If you think that you are comfortable working with them, only then proceed with your work.
Select the Safest Way to Contact Your Client/Team
It is very important to know about your clients and the people you are working with. Many professional people in the industry meet in person or get on a phone call to know about the gig they are offering. This can work both ways.
Models and photographers try to get to know about what they are opting for and discuss everything in a public place. If they are busy, then meeting in person might become a little problematic. Still, you can agree on getting information and discussing the details about the gig beforehand. It is very helpful in getting comfortable with the team one is working with and making the shoot a success.
Inform a Family Member or Friend About Your Location
Meeting your clients or models in a public place cannot be possible. If you are meeting someone for the first time, inform a friend or someone you trust about your location and the name of the person you are working with.
For many professional models, it is always a good idea to tell someone you trust where you are going. There is a high chance that your sessions are held at a different location every time. Make sure that you inform a trustworthy friend where you are going. Let them know about the details provided to you by the clients for the shoot or meeting. Include their phone number and address in the details.
So many apps can help you share your location with your friends and family. You can download these apps easily on your iOS and Android devices. If the meeting is at your home, you can safeguard yourself and your home using Xfinity Self Protection.
Do Your Research
It is a very professional and wise move to make sure that you are working with an authentic agency or individual. You can insist your clients or agency show you their previous work and you can share your profile with them as well. Have a look at their website and social media account just to be sure that you are working with people who have a good reputation. You can find a lot of agencies and renowned people on platforms like LinkedIn, Behance, Instagram, Facebook, and other social media platforms.
If you do not find their profile or work appealing or reliable enough, you can simply call off the meeting and decline their offer. There is nothing more valuable than your well-being and safety.
Conclusion
In the end, one can say that you should always stay safe when you are working with photographers or modeling agencies. If it is your first gig, then make sure that you do your research about the agency, photographer, the location. Use social media and other tools to make sure that you working with authentic people. You can ask other models in the industry about them and then sign your contract with them.
