How To Avoid Model Flakes

How To Avoid Model Flakes

by Demarcus O’Dell - August 1 2021

Whether it is friends, colleagues, or professionals; a no-call no-show or last minute communication about not being able to follow through with plans is unfortunate. To a photographer who has equipment set up, an outline and a  clear concept for a photoshoot ready; a model flaking can be discouraging, and possibly cause loss of revenue. This article breaks down the process to mitigate these incidents and to improve your communication skills when making plans. 

1. Have a clear and concise concept, and explain it in a comprehensive manner.

Assuming you are a photographer who is trying to expand they’re portfolio; this photoshoot you are putting together is probably not for a company or brand but rather personal work, a personal project or a test shoot. An example of a clear and concise concept could be; 80’s fashion campaign, black and white portraits, etc. Depending on your budget you could ask for sizing information and buy outfits for the photoshoot. More realistically; the model will probably need to provide outfits and makeup application for photographers still learning and building their brand. 

That being said; moodboards are by far the best solution for giving a clear depiction of the overall concept you have for a photoshoot. After a brief note on the concept, sharing links to moodboards that show outfit style, color, make up and hair style and even specific poses can give a model a sense that things are well thought out by the photographer. When you reach out to a model, you should first have your concept and moodboard put together, ready to share. Pinterest is an excellent tool for creating pin folders to envelop a concept. Or if you have inspiration from Google searches or elsewhere simply pasting several images on a online document like Google Docs or Slides will suffice. 

2. Be transparent about all logistic details.

You’ve communicated a clear concept and you have a good feeling that they understand it and are honestly interested. Asking about availability within the following few weeks gives the model time to fit the photoshoot on a day and time that best suits them. Limiting time frames within days of asking for their inclusion or only providing one date and time as an option will more then likely end in a flake, even if they initially agree. 

Share the address, timeframe,  share how many people will be on set and share that they are welcome to bring a chaperon or friends, early in the communication process. Share what the deal is going to be; Trade For Print or Pay Per Hour. Again; creating photos for your portfolio to attract potential clients you want is going to require investments. If you are serious about creating a portfolio that will give you a fruitful and fulfilling career; you should consider hiring experienced, attractive and/or unique models. 

Even if TFP is the agreed upon deal; offer cash for transportation and food, even if you are on a budget considering $40 - $60 an hour for one to three hours of their time will likely result in the model agreeing and showing up with a good attitude ready to help you execute your concept. If you a renting time or equipment from a studio make sure to ask if they have negotiable payment policies as it concerns cancellation. 

3. Maintain a professional appearance. 

While moodboards and concepts are great tools to get your ideas across, having a clean and professional looking website as well as being active on social media is very important to develop trust. Continue updating and tweaking your website and social media accounts. Add your best work and display it in a fashion that conveys a style, and a clear overview of who you are. Quality over quantity! Even if you using a basic plan from a website host; utilize all the settings and customization options to best represent your photos and yourself. 

4. Reminding….

Remind the model 24-48 hours before the scheduled photoshoot. A practice to consider; ask about a makeup product they may own, or food allergies because you are providing refreshments, direction details for the location, etc. mentioning things related to the photoshoot is a passive way of reminding the model. If they have to or want to cancel this gives them a chance to do so before you begin the process of setting up and/or paying for studio rental time or equipment. Also a brief passive question the morning of the photoshoot and a simple “I’m on the way over,see you there,” an hour or so before the photoshoot doesn’t hurt. 

If models flaking is happening a lot to you; consider widening your search for models. Ask friends and colleagues if they know people willing to model for you. Ask around in your art community for possible subjects. Try websites like Model Mayhem and apps such as Pro Photo Shoot to find models in your area and to view their attributes and what they expect from clients or photographers. Search for models by relative hashtags in your local cities on Instagram. Join videography, photography, model, and MHUA Facebook groups!  Get out there, keep creating, invest in yourself!  We only improve when we try. Check back here for more!