Over 16 and half years as a Tactical Air Control Party (TACP), which falls under Air Force Special Warfare Community. My favorite saying at that time was: ‘The difference between an Amateur and Professional is an Amateur practices until they get it right whereas professionals continue practicing until no longer making mistakes.”
As I set out to create this article, my aim was to identify communication gaps, assist in managing expectations, and gain some insight from both groups so as to enhance working relationships between photographers and models for creating more professional working relationships within this industry. For this, two sets of questionnaires were devised, one for Models and another for Photographers so as not to allow my personal experiences influencing this article in any way.
Let me pose two questions for your consideration regarding the relationship between Photographer and Model.
Question 1: Can You be a Model or Published Model Without Photographer?
Question 2: Is It Possible to be a Photographer without Models?
No and yes are both straightforward answers; here is why: All images featuring models require someone to set up the camera and take pictures (even if that person is also the model – known as Selfies). As photographers are generally legally entitled to copyright their images (even in instances of shared copyright ownership), no magazine, digital or print, will publish one without first consulting and receiving written agreement from both owners of copyrights relating to that image(s). Photographers can specialize in shooting landscape, photojournalism, sports photography, product shots and product placement for magazines both digital and print. I currently specialize in photography but have also posed and sat for artwork that has been displayed at galleries and art shows nationwide since age 5. So I understand both sides of this working relationship dynamic.
The first communication gap involves terminology. How can two people communicate effectively when they use identical words with two distinct meanings? I believe it is essential for us as professionals to provide clarity with regards to terminology and definitions; after all, words have different interpretations for everyone so as to eliminate communication barriers between ourselves. Although this list is by no means comprehensive, I feel it serves as a basis for us all improving together.
