Decided to step out of the norm and contacted Jennifer Lynn when she came to town and it was well worth it. Granted I am more about doing about fashion nowadays I still enjoy a good ole' sexy alternative model shoot. We shot in the hotel she was staying in while here and as always I made good use of the tiny space we had available to shoot with in. Special thanks to her manager Daniel for a helping hand.
I think all photographers have gone through the whole process of dealing with flaking models. Yea yea, I know photographers can flake too, but I'm talking from my own personal dealings. I have grown to learn when models are going to flake on me. It so easy to tell that I have gone ahead and I have other models available as backup. It sucks and I think it insulting that I have to do this. No one likes to be the second choice.
I can hear it in the conversation with the potential model, that hesitation. When I start hearing things like, "Um...I think I can...". When I have worked with agency models and booked directly through them I never hear, "um". It's all business, when, what time, pay, location, etc. They take it seriously, some of them live off it. I am no different. Wasting anyone time isn't a good thing and for you to think its an option is blatantly disrespectful.
So here is something interesting in my experiences that I have noticed.
"you might want to leave...it's about to get ugly."
People I have worked with in D.C., Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey have never flaked on me. I am truly grateful for that. Unfortunately, I live in Maryland, and one would think that I wouldn't have issues having models to work with here...but there a lot of "so-called Models" here. Apparently, there is unknown reason, sickness or psychological issue that makes it difficult for these so-called models to do a very simple thing...be honest and respectful.
"...I'm the g@ddamn batman, you will respect me..."
I have only canceled a shoot only a handful of times and every time I have made sure to reschedule in a proper time frame. I even gave a discount on the shoot because of it. I go out of my way because whether client, model or talent I run a business and my business kinda depends on you. So, yes, I go out of my way to make sure you want to keep coming back to me to give me business.
I know what your thinking, "Jason, why don't you require a deposit?!" Only in the great state of Maryland do I get this response about requiring a deposit, "I can't afford it." Really...so I require 25% for a shoot. So let just say we are doing a simple portrait shoot, I charge you $300 and the deposit is $75. You give me your "BS" answer on not being able to afford the deposit. Then I see on your social network page buying everyone drinks at the bar...
"Going up, on a Tuesday..."
yea....
yea...
So, I have some good news and I am for now going to keep it underwraps. However, I am re-instituting my rule on not working with potential or establish models in Maryland anymore. Which means until head out of the state of Maryland you won't see many photo updates. I will only work with agency represented models from Maryland and for all those I have worked with from Maryland before and have never let me down we will continue to work together.
"I've got a thick skin and an elastic heart"
#sorrynotsorry #fromtheheart
I was quite surprise with meeting with Intraventus. She contacted me a few months back during the winter solstice to shoot after she saw my work with Orla Rose. Naturally, a CoSplayer, I told her immediately that I no longer shoot coSplay. She let me know that she is now interested in shooting fashion related sets. So, it got me thinking and that thinking turned into building a concept that was easy to pull off and the images turned out great. We have actually decided to try and shoot again later this week.
In the meantime though...by the time you read this I will have gone to New Jersey to shoot with Genna Bee and meeting Chris M. Day for the first time. I said it many time before this is my make or break year. No time is being wasted. Stay tuned...
- Jason
Beautiful Zerotia rocking that Immortalx Apparel
One of the hardest things for me to do during the year sometimes is to make time to shoot with amazing people. One of those people is the very experienced and talented Zerotia. I shot with Zerotia for the first time about 3 years ago for my book, "Stripped Dreams". Since then it has always been a hit or miss to schedule an actual time and day to shoot with her.
Finally after a long wait I was able to make it out to New Jersey to meet up with her. Now most people know that I absolutely dislike shooting in a studio, matter of fact it had been over a year in a half since the last time I stepped into one. That changed on this shoot. The owner of the studio was a great guy and was very helpful in directing me to where everything was stored.
Zerotia and I are very liked minded workers, which is great. We finished the shoot in about 2 1/2 hours and I was anticipating being there a lot longer. So, after we shot we got some pizza and caught up on life. I love this woman, she is really down to Earth and speaks her mind. As much as she was thankful for me coming all the way out there to work with her, I was equally as thankful to work with some one of talent and experience. I told her that seeing images of her and Rachel Dashae before getting to that, "professional status" as a photographer played a major part in getting me to where I am now. To shoot with her was truly an honor.
After the pizza, I went up to New York and wandered around B&H Photos. I picked up a Polaroid Socialmatic and I am still learning how to truly make it work. Then I caught the bus back home to Maryland and I slept the whole ride home.
It was definitely an amazing day and it was well worth it. Granted these images you will truly only see them on Ziv...
Model: Ninni Cole
Ninni is one of the greatest people I have come to know. Such an amazing sweetheart. Love working with her.
Our concept for this shoot was simple. Sexy, raw and fun. I got Ninni to even participate in my secret project. A lot of the images turned out better in black and white. I think I just go through stages with color and then black / white images.
I have more epic shoots on the way. Probably way more this spring and summer. Oh and I will be in Brooklyn, NY on the 14th to work with my girl Lavish.
Enjoy the pictures and leave a comment!
