What Annoys Me

I've been having this issue for a long long time and I know it's never going to go away so I really need to get over it - but I just find it extremely annoying.

I known a model for quite awhile and she's always assumed that all my photo-shoots are "Trade" or "TF." One time, a few months ago, a photographer had messaged her to offer her a photo-shoot and told her his discounted rates for her. She wrote back to him stating that if he had shot me for free, she should be able to get to work with him for free too. Of course, the photographer gets back to me, and was not too happy about her attitude.

So here is my opinion f all of this. I would NEVER EVER tell another model how much a photographer (or hairstylist or makeup, etc) charged me, how much they paid me - nor would I tell them if it was TF or not. I find it to be non of their business. If they wanted to know a photographer's rate, they can contact the person themselves. Why would it matter if I got something for "free" or not? How would it benefit that person in any way? Ugh, don't even get me started on when she asks me on how much a photographer is paying me!

When a model contacted and asked for a reference, I would give them my opinion on the photog and how he works, his photos, etc. Often, the reference would ask for how much I pay them, and of course, I would ignore that part. The last thing I would want to do is eliminate the possibility of the photog losing a client because of me.

Another annoying thing is that most people assume that if I'm really good friends with a photographer, the shoot would be TF. Such as Michael Magers for instance. Yes, I do shoot with him a lot - but that's because he gives me images that benefit my portfolio. I am not a free-loader, so I do not take advantage of people, therefore, I pay him. Sometimes I pay him his full rates, sometimes we work out a payment plan or an exchange of some sort.

Gilbert Castillo is the same way. I work with him because we have the same interest in themes, gore, and craziness. Sometimes it's TF, sometimes I pay him, sometimes its TF but I give him a large and generous "tip."

Same thing when I'm getting paid. Sometimes I get paid my full rates (which is super cheap, trust me), or I get clothing as compensation, or I get a combination of both.

Just saying - there are many ways to compensate one another on a photoshoot. Not everything has to be Trade. And it's annoying when everyone wants something for Free and assume that others are getting it for free.