chaperone /ʃ'æpəroʊn/; chaperon
verb: accompany
A chaperone is someone who accompanies another person somewhere in order to make sure that they do not come to any harm.
I feel I need to get something off my chest.... I hate chaperones! That feels better already, although I suppose I should clarify it a little more...
My reason for hating chaperones is simple... In order for me to do my job properly, I need whoever it is I'm shooting to trust me. They're putting their image in my hands. I need them to understand that I want them to look just as good, if not better than they want to! My problem with someone bringing a chaperone is that it instantly says "I don't trust you". I have a big problem with that!
I'm a professional. My reputation is extremely important to me, and I wouldn't ever want to put it in jeopardy. Maybe it's just the word I object to as I have no problem with if a model wants to bring a friend to watch, or doesn't drive and is getting a lift from someone. I was recently on a magazine shoot where someone brought a chaperone... There were 8 people there excluding the models, and it was for a national publication... hardly a need to bring someone "in order to make sure that they do not come to any harm".
A professional model (if he/she is serious about it) needs to be attending castings and go-sees regularly. If they need someone to hold their hand at every step of the way, then perhaps it might be the wrong industry for them, as most agents/designers/publications will be of the same opinion as me.
Now I'm not saying models shouldn't take precautions... especially when starting out. There are some dodgy people out there, but Google is your friend! Most photographers these days have a profile on at least one of the networking sites. Have a look at their references...
Jay is a fantastic photographer. Vey talented and a lovely, fun person. He's very welcoming and makes you feel extremely comfortable!
Had a fab shoot with Jay this week! A very relaxed shoot in which I got some of the best pictures in my portfolio :)
Had an awesome shoot with jay yesterday, it was seriously one of the most productive, relaxed and fun shoots i've ever been on, i loved that we worked so hard and did so much, but the time flew and i could've kept shooting all evening! Jay is highly professional, creative and talented. Hope to work with jay again and again... He is awesome!
You may have gathered that I've had a recent experience with a chaperone. Well yes and no... Most of the time I find that it's the female models that have chaperones, and nine times out of ten, it's their boyfriend. This can lead to yet more problems surrounding trust because it can often be that he doesn't like her modelling or doesn't trust her or the photographer. The last thing I need on a shoot is for a domestic to break out in my studio for some random reason. I recently blogged about a shoot where the model wanted to bring a chaperone. The chaperone was her boyfriend and was also giving her a lift because she didn't drive. Now as much as I dislike chaperones, I don't let them get in the way of my work, however, as I mentioned in the blog, the model cancelled a week before the shoot because they had broken up. Initially the model then asked if I could go and collect her. I found that odd having insisted on having a chaperone a week earlier, but she cancelled the next day due to crying too much! Nice and professional I thought!
Anyway, I've had my rant. Normal service will resume shortly. In the meantime I'd be interested to know your take on chaperones. Do you agree with them? Have you had any good/bad experiences with them? Leave a comment and let me know!
Please note: This blog is referring to photoshoots involving adults aged 18+. I rarely shoot children and when I do, there is usually a parent/guardian present.
7 comments:
This is all too common an issue with female models. In the past I have made the boyfriend sit outside whilst the shoot was done to ensure the model was able to relax a bit more without the worry of what he is thinking etc
Saying that, I have a done a couple of sessions where the boyfriend actually was a great asset and helped out and once, even joined in for a bit of a laugh.
Oh totally, I don't have a problem with boyfriends being there as such, but it's when they're there in an official capacity as "chaperone" that I get annoyed.
Totally agree with you. If they feel the need of a chaperone they just don't trust you so will be useless for the shoot as it shows in the eyes. Just book someone else instead. I always tell them I don't think it's a spectator sport!
This is an interesting post, Jay. Although I have never had anyone bring a chaperone to any of my shoots I feel your frustration. As a female photographer it automatically gives me more trust from models I've been told. My impression is also; the more professional the model is, the less chance of them bringing a chaperone.
I take the liberty to sit slightly on the fence on this one:
* I personally prefer models not to bring anyone to a shoot as it can take away concentration and interrupt a good working flow and the bond with the model I as a photographer am trying to build in order to get the best possible images. If they do bring someone (as they needed a lift or just for company), I serve the right to put them to work. If you're at my shoot, be useful.
* Although you are right that "google is your friend" (and i love that term), I do understand that as a girl you get nervous being alone with a guy (especially if you're modeling with little clothes on). Often I've heard female models say that if they don't know anyone that has worked with the male photographer they might bring a chaperone, although if anyone they know has and confirms it's all good, then they won't bring one and feel comfortable with that. Personally if I'm in a similar situation (working with male only alone) if I find they have an online presence I can check out first it's safe. If something happens, I can quickly ruin their reputation by saying what they have done if anything happened that was uncomfortable. And as you point out, a good photographer is always protective of his reputation, so there shouldn't be anything to worry about.
If there is a team of people however, I don't see the need for a chaperone, as that normally means it's a pretty professional setup (plus the make up artist is often another girl).
Sorry, this was a VERY long comment lol
Hi Jay. Good post. I model and do not bring chaperones to any shoot of mine, (although my other half did sit in a corner and quietly read a book out of eyeshot on a recent shoot that I attended, which I am assuming you would not class as being a "chaperone").
Whilst modelling may only be a hobby for me I still treat it like work. I have heard some horror stories about the conduct and behaviour of some chaperones and personally I think its a far more sensible idea for a model to check out references and use common sense when sounding out the people they want to work with.
Also to take your example, if there are to be other models available, or perhaps an MUA or stylist then I see even less need for any model to bring along a chaperone. At the end of the day I can find and take references for every person involved in a shoot - you can't take reference on someone I could bring with me.
I've always thought that if you feel you cannot trust somebody you are working with them you shouldn't be booking a shoot with them. If you have those concerns with every photographer you're working with, maybe you're not involved in the best business!
Rach (BlackLotus)
Large studios facilitate chaperones but often have a "no boyfriends" rule. A boyfriend is not a genuine chaperone.
Large studios also operate 24 hour CCTV recording and have very prominent signs saying so. Many other rules are also observed, such as no unauthorised photography on set, no changing on set, minimum crew numbers, universal proof-of-age procedures, and avoidance of all avoidable nudity (with elaborate use of bodystockings, pasties, merkins, pouches, paint, etc.).
'Chaperones' are sometimes there on behalf of a manager or agency, to enforce some of the terms of your or your client's contract with the model (who may not understand or be fully aware of them him/herself).
There is a history of bogus models systematically targeting studios for stings, and tabloids have done the same thing. Photographers themselves aren't a camp of angels either. Even photographers and models who have been good friends for years have fallen out and ended up in the courts. So it's only good business to protect the interests of both mods and togs.
Photographers and models are both in positions to damage each other's reputations and livelihoods unjustly or disproportionately if these measures are not in place, and that's not the safest or most sensible kind of sanction to be relying on.
Another thing to think about is one of the common feelings that even experienced models have is of being in a room full of strangers who are looking at them and asking things of them. Having someone they know in the studio with them can help with that feeling.
Yup, understand your feelings regarding trust. You can go with them while you operate on a personal scale, especially with crews of people who know each other, but it's difficult if your biz grows to a more impersonal scale, and it may not be wise even before that. In our humble opinion.
The whole chaperones thing is a bloody boring old debate that's almost as dry as the whole porn vs art debate that goes on and on and on... lol
If a model feels the urge to bring a chaperone to a shoot, she's obviously not a full time professional and obviously can't do research/use the internet to give a reasonable justification as to why she needs one.
If you get girls approaching you who want to bring chaperones then maybe you're somehow reaching the wrong market, as you've said you don't like them, you should steer clear of working with girls who 'want' to be models, and not full time professionals. That should stop almost all requests for chaperones for a start and leave you dealing with work requests that please you.
If you want to read endless dribble on chaperones/macaroons then read here: http://purestorm.com/forum/readThread.aspx?id=146778
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