Jim,
I have a question, I love when folks advertise "no release" fees, but don't advertise what type of releases will be provided--usually these type of "no release" fee workshops mean promotional release only, which in my opinion, robs a model out of money she deserves for her talent--talk about getting slapped in the face.
I seriously think "promotional releases" take advantage of models. As with most "promotional releases" models give rights to photographers to use the images in their printed portfolios--which to me is fine, but when the promotional releases allow use on the "public" internet, the photographer gets free (commercial use) of a model's image (likeness) which is ok if the event coordinator (you in this case) is paying the model.
What I find is most workshops advertising "no release" fees are not paying but hotel and food for the model, some even air fare but not always. They promise the model great images, and most models rarely get those images and wind up doing modeling for free, not fair to the models. Some of these "promotional release only" workshops also have in fine print that you can "negotiate" a commercial or other release with the model, which means $$$ or a "suprise." We don't play that game at my workshops.
At my workshops we give the promotional right to printed portfolios, beyond that it's a flat fee per model--usually $50, and NOT mandatory--voluntary only. ALL the money goes directly to the model, most models make nothing less than $500 for the event and often over $1,000 some even $1,200 for the event. The models get paid, the photographers get great images and great models--that's why in the Virgin Islands workshop I have at the end of the month we have a Playboy Playmate and Playboy Special Editions model as well as three other top models.
The beauty of it all, it's right there in the web site so no one get's "slapped" or suprised as often as some like to claim that.
I personally find it insulting that models in many workshops (not mine) do not get paid, they get promises, which are rarely delivered (not speaking of any workshop specifically here).
All models should get paid for workshops.
TFP or promotional work should only be reserved for one on one shooting in a non-workshop environment shoots that help both the photographer and model--when a workshop promoter, in this case you and Rick, are clearly making money--nothing wrong with making money--the models should get paid too and hopefully you share your profits with them in some form or fashion as they are in front of the camera working.
I've never been to one of yours and Rick's workshops, just curious since you make it sound like photographers get taken advantage of by releases at other workshops, and I personally find that insulting as that is not the case in my workshops--I'm upfront on everything, from the website to the follow-on emails to the actual event.
Models deserve to get paid at a workshop, afterall, a workshop is (your) a commercial gig--someone is making money. Do you compensate the models besides prints or do the models get slapped in the face with promised prints?
Thanks, rg sends!
Similar Threads
IP: 68.211.191.182
Linear Mode
