Kachoozie Stock Images

About two months ago I put up a casting call for a tattoo shoot, and had a model respond, (yes she is on MM) we exchanged emails, and she actually had a tattoo artist in mind, and I said sure no problem, whatever you want to do after all it is a tattoo and those are not erasable. Anyway we confirm with the tattoo artist, and get the week before and I leave her voice mails, and emails because the tat artist wanted to meet prior to the tat so that he could redraw or do anything he had to do with the artwork. Well, this model stopped responding and never returned my calls, so I wrote her off, and sent her a polite email telling her how unprofessional that was , but I am sure it was not heeded. Really I have had so many flake it doesn’t even phase me anymore.

Ok so being the tenacious type I am, I reposted the casting call, I got a response from a great model here on MM. The tattoo artist still wanted to see us, and the artwork, so I purchased the artwork online, printed it out on nice photo paper so it would look nice, and met the model at the tattoo artist’s studio. The model and I go in,I show her the artwork and she loved it, I told her to make any changes , and to place it where ever she wanted. She is happy since I am paying for the tat. The artist takes the artwork, and says he will redraw it to make it better, and it would be 300.00 . Ok cool, so I say yes, we are on for Monday right? Right. I also gave him another set of artwork for my personal tat, and told him I would schedule that with him another time. By the way my wife is also going to get one, but did not have the artwork picked out yet. So the model and I leave, she is nervous but excited and I tell her see yah Monday. She says great I am looking forward to it.

When I got home I realized I forget to confirm a time, so I have my assistant call to confirm, she never could get him. My wife calls the tattoo shop to schedule her appointment, cause she has finally decided on a design. She sends me a text and says the artist has canceled!!!! I respond in disbelief maybe she made a mistake? Nope when she called the lady that answered said the artist was too busy and could not do the tats.

Bet you didn’t see that one coming? Well, maybe you did. Once I talked to my wife I am hoping mad, I mean think about it this is a paying gig and 300 bucks for a tat is expensive at least here in AZ it is. I call up the parlor and the same lady answers I ask for the artist, and she explains very nicely that he is out and that she tried to call my wife to let her know he canceled. WTF, I gave him my business card, why in the world did he not have the kahones to call me, but had his assistant call my wife.

The assistant was very nice, but I have a really deep voice and especially on the phone can be very intimidating especially when I am angry, well let’s put it this way I went a little apeshit! I still can’t believe someone blows off a paying gig, who does that???? She politely told me that it was not her fault , and was not involved, ( she had a great British accent, so it is hard to be mad when you hear a voice like that, something soothing about it) I apologized for shooting the messenger, and told her to have the artist call me. I have not heard from him at this point.

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Time for Prints or Trade for Prints What is it?

Here is an article from wikipedia on the topic – http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Time_for_print&oldid;=216255589

While each photographer and model have different perceptions of what exactly this is. It is essentially an agreement between the model and the photographer to exchange services for some equal trade. This reason I write about this is lately I have had some models debate this with me.

So in this blog I will discuss some of the items presented in the article and how I personally handle them.

Model’s responsibilities:

Model is responsible for clothing and makeup expenses, with all of these it is negotiable prior to the shoot. For most of my shoots I have a professional makeup artist for the makeup , and the models provides clothing and hastheir own hair done. On occasion I will have the hair done as well, if it is a very specific look I am going after.

The model will in exchange for time will receive 5 -20 of the best images. I typically go through the selection process and have around 15 shots I send. For a while I was doing around 100 per shoot, but as you can imagine that can become a very arduous task, so I had to limit the number. I have had several models want the entire shoot on CD with all the raw images. I basically refuse to do this for a few reasons. The most important is , the images I shoot are a direct reflection of my work,and the model’s. If the raw images are distributed and some are not to the standards I present, the images reflect poorly on both of us. Most of the rejected images I tend to delete since keeping them fills up the hard drive pretty quickly.

Release- In order to shoot TFP I require a release that allows the model to use the images in their portfolio and online. I retain all the rights to the images. If the model wants to resell the images, we can negotiate an agreement that is separate from theTFP agreement.

Model agrees not to alter the images in any way. When I state ANY, I really do mean any. All image changes or alterations are to be done by me, the photographer, and only me. This is very important to me, since I have had models take the images and copy them , crop them etc. I had a model crop another model out of the image, leaving the other model’s elbow, and it ended up looking terrible. I obviously had her remove that image.

Model will receive the images in a decent time frame. My general rule here is I tell them( and they sign a written agreement ) that I will send them the images in 60 days, although it is usually only about two weeks. Again I have had models ask for the images that day, or I get a call in a day or two. While I don’t want to be negative, this drives me crazy. I do understand there are photographers out there that shoot, and the models never get their images. This, in my opinion is a shame since it makes folks suspect of all photographers. This is where a call to one of the other models I have worked with in the past helps, since they typically will tell the person to expect the images in 2-3 weeks. For me it is easier to under promise and over deliver. I do reserve the right to take as long as I need to get the images just right.

If the model is under 18, I require a parent be at the shoot at all times. This should be obvious to some but is not. I would not want my daughter to shoot with someone I did not know if I were not there.

Collaboration- Is welcome and appreciated. The outcome of great images can only be enhanced by collaboration between model and photographer. Having said that, I have met a few models that look at this collaboration as I will upload all the raw images for them to choose the ones they like. I have tried this and there are a few issues with it, the most important is, for me to do this it takes allot of time, to upload them wait for the model to select, then I have to go through all the images to find the ones they have selected. This process also sort of tips the balance of trade time, I mean if I spend 4 hours on a shoot , then another 4 going back and forth on image selection, and another 10 hours on post processing, that is not an equitable trade, since the model has the initial 4 hours invested. Believe it or not I have had models get very angry with me on this point, and since I have been doing this awhile, now am very clear on this point, and tell them upfront I will not do this.

Photographer’s responsibilities:

Photographer is responsible for delivery of CD, and any shipping costs. For this I subscribe to a service that allows me to upload the images and send an email link to the model for download. I have coined this term TFDL. While some don’t like this method I feel it is a very efficient way to transfer files, this allows me to send the images quickly and I don’t have the issue of having to burn Cd’s , etc. I once did a shoot for a Rap group, burned the images to CD , then mailed it. The head rapper, called and said the disc came in the mail broken, so I sent him another one. A week later I get another call from him, his partner lost it, so I sent another. Finally he called again, and the files he wanted needed to be in a specific format for the printer. At this point I had to draw the line, and said no more! I don’t do the prints thing, since this is the digital age, and it is very inexpensive to get prints made if needed. I think Walmart prints images for like twenty-five cents a copy or something. To do this is simple, you get a USB thumb drive, copy the images to the thumb drive and cruise on over to your local Walmart, or wherever you decide to go.

Photographer will deliver the images in JPEG. This is related to the last point above, since there are a ton of file types I could literally spend my life converting files. SoJPEG is a nice standard that almost everyone uses, and even printers to get them printed.

Photographer will provide any photographic equipment or props for the shoot. This one is really pretty self explanatory since it is kind of absurd to expect the model to provide lighting.

Photographer limits the use of the image to use in the portfolio or online for the sole purpose of promotion of the model.

Release- I do require a release and it covers all the images shot, which means that if I would like to post them on a website I can do so. The reason I outline this, is I have shot some and had them come back and say don’t post this or that. If that is the case the model should be sure to modify the agreement PRIOR to the shoot, so both parties can be on the same page.

Images sent by the photographer will contain, a watermark and that should not be removed in any way. Really the whole point of the TF project is to get exposure for the work done on both sides, so if the watermark is not on the image the agreement becomes one sided.

So in closing I hope this blog has provided some useful information, I think the bottom line is to be clear on all points, and do that prior to the shoot, not during , or after. If this is done the experience will be great for both the photographer and the model. Just a final note, I have all this in my TFDL agreement , and model release, but lately I am taking the time to go through each point before the model signs it, since allot of folks typically don’t read the form they just sign it , then have issues later.

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The other day I got the message below from a model I shot with, and thought it would be interesting to share, since I am sure many other photographers run into this from time to time. I took the names out since I don’t want anyone to get a bad rap. This is a great thread since it demonstrates what some folks mindsets are. While I really do enjoy shooting TFCD and helping models get going, I think many of them don’t realize or forget I am at this to actually make a living, and have invested a tremendous amount of work, and funds into it. Funny thing about this email thread, or perhaps not so funny, is I never heard back from her, so I don’t know if she is mad or what.
Anyway, I hope all that read this find it useful, I would be interested to get some comments for experiences others have had.

Model X:
hey terri how r u? do u happen to have anymore of those pics from the shoot with me and XXX? and do uhappen to be needing models for any other shoots? ive been bored!haah

Terry:
Hey XXXX, I will look through them, but I think the ones I sent were it. We could shoot some more, just let me know when you want to do it, as you know I have Saturday’s at 430 set aside for this, and so far have not booked anything for August. I will also let you know if I have any cancels before August. -ter

Modelx:
hey another quick question. you know how Another Modelx does the xxxx model website girls modeling? well id like to submit pictures to them, but they cant say newlife images. would u be kewl with taking the banner off a few of the non-nude ones please! itd be way awesome of u!

Terry:
Honestly the reason I do this for free, spend hundreds of dollars, and work countless hours is to get my name out there, and I am willing to do it for free for that reason, I have probably 20k tied up in gear, and in the past year have just started seeing some return on the investment. While it may seem like I do this for free, because it is fun, and I love it, that is only partially correct, really this is something I am trying to get going, as a business.

While I can appreciate this sites need or desire to want no watermarks,( this makes me suspect since most companies that want models have no problem accepting watermarks) it is clear that at some point they are going to push this to a revenue based model ( on the myspace page they are asking for a web developer that codes in PHP, that means they are working on a real site), probably like suicide girls, then they would basically have the images and be able to sell them and chances are I would never get credit for them, and or any compensation. I am not as concerned about the compensation portion as I am about the name portion, as stated above ,I am really trying to get the name rec part.

Having said all that , I would be happy to put together a shoot package, complete with makeup artist, hair etc to come up with the look you want, for a fee. With that fee, you would get the best images from the shoot, with NO watermark, and would have rights to do with them whatever you like, which includes submitting to magazines, television etc for resale.

If this is something you would like to do , just let me know, and I will send you some prices. If you would be so kind to send the request to my regular email address, terry.runion@newlifimagess.xxx then I can send you the quote as an attachment.

Thanks a bunch, I am looking forward to shooting with you again!-ter

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The Importance of Model Releases, and Other Documents

What I am doing with my blogs are the following, I am alternating them. So in other words I write one that is fun,and goofy, then I will write the next one that is relevant to the Photographic Community, or I will share my experiences with Photography. So for this blog I want to outline the use of documents, and how doing this task will make your life so much easier, in particular if you are planning on selling or displaying any images. By the way if I do sell the images I usally work out some compensation share with the model, that would be a separate agreement.

When I started in Photography I was about 13 years old, yes quite a while ago. I would shoot any and everything. My foot, my cat, an ant! When I got to high school I started shooting more and more images of people, but never gave any thought to getting a model release , since at that time it was for fun, and I really had no intention of actually selling images. At some point I started reading many books on Photography, and not just the creative side, but the business side, and a book that I read explained why you might want to obtain a model release. So there it was , it seemed to make sense and at 17 years old I started having folks sign model releases. I still did not understand fully why but it seemed to make sense. So why would you want a release? Below I have a real life story that hopefully illustrates the point.

The image below you can see is my very first model release, yes the very first one! I was looking for something in one of my old camera bags and came across it. As you can see it is dated 1983! I was actually blown away to find this, since I could actually smell the mountain air when I saw it, as you will see later, it was actually signed in the Great Rocky Mountains right before the shoot.

Why is this a big deal? Well other than the novelty that it is 25 years old?

Well here’s why , the image below is the image I shot that day, just think had I not gotten that release way back then, I would not be able to effectively sell this print. I mean sure the first thing one might think is, the man in the image is dead and gone now, but he does still have heirs and I am sure they would not appreciate an image being published and sold if they were not sure he had agreed to it. Here is a link to an article of a young man who is sueing a photographer for using his image in a gay magazine. I am sure the photographer was new and probably thought nothing of it , but now is probably going to loose a ton of money being sued http://media.www.centralfloridafuture.com/media/storage/paper174/news/2008/10/10/News/Student.Model.Suing.Gay.Mag-3480607.shtml

Just a quick note off the topic of forms. This image was shot in the mountains of Colorado. The gentleman and I spent the day, driving up to the mountains searching for the perfect spot. It is funny to look back and think about what I know very well today. Then it was just a feeling. I mean I sort of knew what I wanted to shot, in my minds eye, but not quite. Today I can see exactly what I want the image to look like in my mind, so I guess you could say I have honed that skill. Anyway we find this old church right off of I-70 , and we pull off the road, I setup my tripod and had him do some poses. I knew I wanted some double exposures but I really did not think it to the end, since on the original image the man’s shadow is visible. A double exposure for those who may not know was two images shot on the same frame of film, which in those days required you to use a special button on the camera not to advance the film. Over the years folks who have seen the image have always commented why does the ghost have a shadow? In those days if you wanted to get rid of a shadow you had to get the image printed and airbrushed. Airbrushing was pretty expensive especially if you were 17. I mean my Mom sure could not afford it since she was a single parent!

Well welcome to the new world ! I had the original image scanned (the negative is long gone now) The image was actually in pretty bad shape since it has followed me throughout my multitudes of moves. The print had been mounted, was torn, old and was fading. Once it was scanned , the scanning company cleaned up the bulk of the flaws, bringing a 25 year old photo back to life, and into the digital age , it was a whole new image! I then took it into Photoshop and got rid of that pesky shadow, once and for all. That darn shadow had bothered me every time I would look at the image. I changed up the colors, added some effect and even added another ghost. The other ghost is very subliminal. It will drive you crazy if you look for it.

So back to the topic, had I not gotten that release 25 years ago, it would have been a nice image to hang on my wall and that is about it.

At the end of this blog there is a sample of a release ,please feel free to copy and use it as your own. Today the primary reason I get a model release is to obviously use them whenever I need to without someone having an issue with it.Think about how ardous that would be. I have images on over hundred websites, can you imagine if I had to track someone down each time I put one up? The other reason, really is to avoid any misunderstandings between the model and I. Last weekend I had a young man, who wants to be a model, setup a time with me to shoot. He and his girlfriend came to the studio, and as my wife gave them the release , they started reading it, and between the young man and his girlfriend they decided it was not for him. I am actually not sure why, but they had an issue with the stock photo use and wanted guarantees that the images would not be used in certain areas, for example an STD commercial. When I told him once I upload the image to any of the stock photo companies, (including mine that will be online soon at kachoozie.com), I really have very little control over the images , for some of them I don’t even know where they end up. So in the end both of them decided to pass, I think it was a little foolish since I was doing this for TFCD, which is trade for CD , and essentially was no cost to him, so it would have been a great way to help him get started. I mean who cares where it ends up. The message here is, had I not used that form, and went ahead and did the shot, then uploaded those images( most stock photo companies wont even accept an image of a person without the release anyway) and the young man saw his face on a crooked teeth commercial or something, he most likely would have sued me. The shoot would have been a waste of time for him and I.

The other form I use when I shoot TFCD is specifically for that. When I first got back into shooting, I would shoot the models, and on both sides the expectations of what I am going to deliver were sometimes off, and on a few occasions I had some heated email exchanges due to this. Many young models want all the RAW images, and I wont give them those, since some are obviously rejects and really are worthless. I don’t really want any bad images out there, since it is a poor refection on the model and me. So I decided to have the model read and sign the TFCD form. So when the model calls me a week later wanting all the Raw images, I just refer back to the form they signed and most times that is the end of it. On occasion I have a model that wants to do something different, but I still have them note that on the TFCD agreement then it avoids any he said , she said issues. We both sign the document and we give them a copy, or we will scan it and email it to them. For
some I just need to get them to actually read it! So what we literally do prior to the shoot, is sit them down, give them the forms, and have them read them thoroughly. For the most part this has been an effective method and both parties to the agreement leave the shoot happy. There are always the minority that you just can’t please, but at least you don’t go into a shoot with them and end it there.

Below is the form I use, it is allot prettier and has my studio name on it, but you get the point. By the way I do retain the rights in particular if the shoot is TFCD. If the model is paying for the shoot I have a modified form that gives the model and I shared rights. I think that is fair.We also require the model to present a valid id, since you never now how old they are. We did have a young lady that was 15, but really looked 20, if we did not require id the agreement would have been void since she was underage. In that situation, as you can see we have an area for the parent or guardian to sign.

Model Release
For good and valuable Consideration herein acknowledged as received, and by signing this release I hereby give the Photographer/ Filmmaker and Assigns my permission to license the Images and to use the Images In any Media for any purpose , which may include, among others, advertising, promotion, marketing and packaging for any product or service. I agree that the Images may be combined with other Images, text and graphics, and cropped, altered or modified. I acknowledge and agree that I have consented to publication of my ethnicity’s) as indicated below, but understand that other ethnicity’s may be associated with images of me by the Photographer/Filmmaker and/or Assigns for descriptive purposes. I agree that I have no rights to the Images, and all rights to the Images belong to the Photographer/Filmmaker and Assigns. I acknowledge and agree that I have no further right to additional Consideration or accounting, and that I will make no further claim for any reason to Photographer/Filmmaker and/or Assigns. I acknowledge and agree that this release is binding upon my heirs and assigns. I agree that this release is Irrevocable, worldwide and perpetual,I represent and warrant that I am at least 18 years of age and have the full legal capacity to execute this release. Definitions:
“Model” means me and includes my appearance, likeness and form. “MEDIA” means all media including digital. Electronic, print. television, film and other media now known or to be invented. “PHOTOGRAPHER/FILMMAKER” means photographer, illustrator, filmmaker or cinematographer, or any other person or entity photographing or recording me.
“ASSIGNS” means a person or any company to whom Photographer/ Filmmaker has assigned or licensed rights under this release as well as the licensees of any such person or company.
“IMAGES” means all photographs, film or recording taken of me as part of the Shoot.
“CONSIDERATION” means something of value I have received in exchange for the rights granted by me in this release.
“SHOOT” means the photographic or film session described in this form. “PARENT” means the parent and/or legal guardian of the Model. Parent and Model are referred to together as “we” and “us” In this release.

Photographer/Filmmaker Information

Name
Address
Shoot Date _
Shoot Description/Reference _
Signature _

Date _

Witness (NOTE: All persons signing and witnessing must be of legal age and capacity in the area in which this Release is signed. A person cannot witness their own release)

Name(print)

Signature

Date

Model Information:

Name (print) ___________________________

Address

City State/Province______

Country Zip/Postal Code_____

Phone

Email_________________________________

Date of Birth____________________________

Signature ______________________________

Date ______________________________

_
Parents (Guardians)
lf person is a minor or lacks capacity in the jurisdiction of residence.) Parent warrants and represents that Parent is the legal guardian of Model, and has the full legal capacity to consent to the Shoot and to execute this release OF ALL RIGHTS IN MODEL’S IMAGES.
Name (print) ___________________________

Address_______________________________

City State/Province______

Country Zip/Postal Code _____

Phone_________________________________

Email_________________________________

Signature _____________________________

Date _________________________________

Below is the form I use for TFCD, I actually call it TFD, which is download, since I offer a service that allows the model to download the images from home. That saves me a ton of work, since I don’t have to deal with burning a CD, then mailing it. One RAP star I shot, I sent him the CD, then he lost it, I sent him another, it got broken in the mail, finally he got the third one. What a pain, that is why I went to the download service, it is well worth it! Please feel free to copy these forms and use them in your own shoots.

TIME FOR (Download/Images) AGREEMENT

XXXXXX (hereinafter referred to as “Photographer”) agrees to provide the Model with image files containing certain photographs taken during the modeling session.

The Model is authorized to use the images for self promotion in the Model’s printed portfolio only. The Model is prohibited from using the full resolution images in any other media or print. On-Line usage, to be used for Model portfolio only. Under no circumstance may any images be used for any commercial purpose.

From each set photographed, 10 to 100 (The average being around 15) full resolution images,containing the Photographer’s watermark identifying the photographer or the Photographer’s company will be provided to the Model. The images may be re-touched. Any necessary alterations to the images will be performed solely at the Photographer’s discretion, And By the Photographer Only. Raw untouched images will not be provided. Unused/Rejected images will be deleted and not shared with the model.

The Photographer agrees to provide the Model with the above mentioned images via the Internet. A Link to a website will allow download all the images provided for approx 2-3 weeks after the shoot. A CD will not be provided by the Photographer. Images will be provided within 60 days of shoot.

The Model agrees not to alter or change the images in any way without express written consent of the photographer. All changes or alterations to be made by the photographer NOT the Model, or a third party

Both parties affirm that they are over the age of majority and have the right to contract in their own names. Both parties have read the above agreement, prior to its execution. Both parties fully understand the contents thereof.

Photographer:
Signature: ___________________________________________ Date: ____________

Model:
Signature: ___________________________________________ Date: ____________

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