Burlesque Womens Institute

Stuart the photographer · Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 122 Location: Manchester

Not sure if this is worth a new thread or not but I would be interested to hear from any of you who perform about how you like to be treated by photographers. I have been told many good and bad stories by performers about photographers and would never like to be described as one of the bad ones. I generally do things along the lines of;

- I always try and say hello first so you know who I am.
- Ask if it is okay if I take photos.
- I don't take photos of people in pasties (although there are exceptions, for example if I have been asked to be the performer or if they are covered by a fan / prop / something else)
- If in doubt ask! On the odd occasion i have been unsure I send a mail before using the photo anywhere.

So is there anything else that should be on the list, I would be very curious to know?

_________________
www.manchesterphotographer.com

Miss Baby Bones · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 7:25 pm Post subject:

you sound like an absolute sweetheart to me!

i think with pictures of tassels/pasties, theres always a female issue of 'ew i dont like my boobs in that picture'
rather than the 'im topless' issue

id happy with topless shots of myself going on photographers websites, if i get copies AND they're decent!

its certainly nice when they ask first if they're all ok.

as its such a personal thing to some people. haha!!

xxx
_________________
www.ampwitch.com
www.theebigblack.com

Diva Hollywood · Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 1927 Location: UK

You are a baby honey and I love your work I think you go about it the right way. I don't think there is a problem with pasties I think when you are spinning them they can look a bit silly when caught in action.
Diva x
_________________
Diva Hollywood Wonky on the inside Wicked on the outside. x

Miss Baby Bones · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 7:28 pm Post subject:

haha definitely

xxx
_________________
www.ampwitch.com
www.theebigblack.com

Stuart the photographer · Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 122 Location: Manchester

lol, yeah I have noticed that on the odd occasion I have been asked to take pictures while people spin. But it may be a frame rate thing, so if you took 10 frames a second over 3 seconds I am sure you cold find a good one that would look gravity defying. Shame that kind of camera body costs >£2500!

And you are both very kind, I'm not fishing for complements, honest. I am genuinely interested as it my fiancée is a performer and someone once shot her performing and then asked for about £10 per picture, no prints just the digital image!
_________________
www.manchesterphotographer.com

Herr Geist · Joined: 10 May 2007 Posts: 4956 Location: Brighton, England

What kind of moron does that?
_________________
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.

http://www.standalonegraphics.com
http://www.myspace.com/herrgeist

Miss Baby Bones · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:46 pm Post subject:

lol theres always someone trying it on!!

i think if you've taken pics without a legal model release form, the only polite thing to do is offer pics via email for free.

deary me

don't worry stuart, im sure you're great cos you've got manners!!

erm, i dont usually like shots from 'down below' or 'up above'
as they make my legs look short(er)

so dont do that if you ever shoot me. haha

xxx
_________________
www.ampwitch.com
www.theebigblack.com

Diva Hollywood · Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 1927 Location: UK

I have had someone take images of me and then the promoter tell me if I sent them £25 I could have a copy of the images. The photographer and me had got on like a house on fire and already sent me a cd for nothing as long as I made sure I added his name when I used the image. Which as an artist myself I would never think of not doing lol
Diva x
_________________
Diva Hollywood Wonky on the inside Wicked on the outside. x

ameliesoleil · Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Posts: 560 Location: UK

hi Stuart,

This is a matter that a few of us have been talking about recently.

Sadly there are a few photographer who like to take photos then sell it on without permission and even worse pass your image onto clubs you wouldn't support and then you end up on that flyer!! It can be really damaging to a performer's image so I'd advise carrying model release forms so the performer can feel reassured your heart is in the right place.

I'll always credit a photographer and lam beginning to et them know if I spy an image being used without their permission. It's only right but its also only right that the performer is protected too.

There are several photographers who are just wonderful when photographing events, Paul Wright has always been nothing but a gentleman and we always recieve copies of the pictures on disc plus the assurance they would never be used without our permission.

So basically, be honest with the performer and keep in touch after the event. Most performers have enough pictures for their portfolio but just want to make sure the images will be used professionally and correctly.

I always think about bettie page and how she didn't have any control over her pictures, the photographers and image makers made millions from her yet she's currently struggling to pay her medical bills...sad huh?

Good luck and hope to see you at an event soon

amelie x

p.s. diva; bloody liverpool echo wanted £75 for my front page picture that they didn't even ask permission for! Kindly reminded them about model release forms and they suddenly didn't want the money anymore; strange that?!
_________________
one half of Frayed Knot www.myspace.com/frayedknotcircus
one whole lotta trouble...
www.myspace.com/ameliesoleil

Miss Baby Bones · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:32 pm Post subject:

great points there Amelie!

xxx
_________________
www.ampwitch.com
www.theebigblack.com

Stuart the photographer · Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 122 Location: Manchester

Thanks for all the information ameliesoleil, it was a really interesting read. I think I need to create a more standard release form and it is nice to hear that Paul Wright is a good guy. I have to say that I have admired his talent and spent a long time looking at his photos trying to work out 'how he did that'?

Still don't understand the attitude of 'you must pay me for photos of your own performance'. It just makes so little sense and I bet the same photographer wouldn't have paid to get in to see it to start with!

Thanks for all the feed back.
_________________
www.manchesterphotographer.com

Diva Hollywood · Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 1927 Location: UK

Paul is fab really lovely guy and great photographer. It was not the photographer it was the promoter that wanted the money off me which I thought was rude. If I had not performed and spent month making my costumes and routines you would have nothing to photography thank you very much. I totally don't mind sending a photographer some free blank disks and postage, if they are brook.
Diva x
_________________
Diva Hollywood Wonky on the inside Wicked on the outside. x

Stuart the photographer · Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 122 Location: Manchester

Actually I did think that was strange when you brought it up before. I haven't ever heard of a promoter / night asking for money for photographs. Seems even stranger that they didn't sort that out with the photographer first, did that mean they were trying to profit from the photographers pictures without them knowing?

Thanks for all the feedback!
_________________
www.manchesterphotographer.com

Diva Hollywood · Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 1927 Location: UK

Not sure hon
Diva x
_________________
Diva Hollywood Wonky on the inside Wicked on the outside. x

Selena Lix · Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 451

stuart i would say as long as you are courteous and put people at ease when they may be a little shy at having photos taken ( which you do ) then there should be no probs Very Happy

_________________
with the moon i run, far from the carnage of the fiery sun

www.myspace.com/selenalix