This guide will help you build a due diligence process tailored to you that can be adapted over time to suit your needs.

Anyone in the industry who arranges photoshoots can follow this advice, whether you are a photographer, model, studio, make-up artist, stylist, or other creative. 

Applying even the most modest due diligence checks before booking a photoshoot will help you avoid potentially more significant problems later. 

Before we dive into due diligence, if you need help planning a photoshoot (or what to expect during or after a photoshoot), check out our guides for models and photographers, as well as these tips for planning trade shoots (that can be used by anyone and applied to most photoshoots). 

What is due diligence?

Simply put, due diligence means completing a background check on someone (who, in this instance, you want to book for a photoshoot). It can be used for many reasons, including any of the following:

  • Ensuring you and another creative will be a good fit (and likely to produce fantastic work together)
  • Checking that someone's work is as awesome as they've made out
  • Verifying someone is who they say they are (e.g. they are not pretending to be someone else, a fake, catfish, etc.)
  • Identifying red flags (that will most likely stop you from booking a photoshoot with someone)

A good due diligence process will help you connect with the right people and bypass potential issues before booking a photoshoot, so you can work with the best creatives to produce stunning images for your portfolio. 

Implementing a decent vetting process will help you identify problems early on, so you can avoid committing to a shoot that isn't right for you (or having to cancel last minute, risking a late-notice cancellation reference that may harm your reputation).

Finding someone to work with using due diligence

You can use the tips below to narrow down who to contact about a shoot when searching for creatives to work with or if someone has approached you about a shoot. 

Check references

An excellent way to gauge what someone may be like to work with is by checking their references (sometimes known as feedback or reviews).

Whether collaborating, being paid, or paying for a shoot, it's a good idea to check someone's references before you book them for a photoshoot. Online portfolio websites tend to have a dedicated space on a person's portfolio page where others can leave references reflecting their shoot experience with that person. 

It's not always a deal breaker if someone has a negative reference (e.g. a short-notice cancellation reference). Whilst you may still want to work with someone with a negative reference, it's best to know about it before you book them on a photoshoot (you may not appreciate finding this out later on). You could ask them why they have this kind of reference and find more information about the situation. 

We've spent over a decade on PurplePort fine-tuning our referencing system, which uses standard options to keep information clear and concise. Check out this short guide to learn more about the PurplePort referencing system, including the types of references used on our platform.

Speak to other creatives who have worked with them

References are a great way to see what others say publically about working with someone, but not all information can be included in a reference. A situation one person felt unimportant to mention in a reference could be a deal breaker for you (and certain things can only be said privately).

To find out what others say privately about working with someone, contact a selection of creatives who have worked with them and ask what their shoot experience was like. It only takes a few minutes to send a quick message asking, "What was it like to shoot with..." Many creatives do this, and practically every professional model does this.

Ideally, try to contact creatives working in your field. For example, if you are a model checking a photographer's references, contact other models the photographer has worked with.

If someone takes the time to share their shoot experience with you, treat it as confidential information between you and them. It's vital that you do not share this information with the person you are researching.  

Check model polaroids

A good way to help you determine if a model is right for your photoshoot is by viewing their model polaroids (sometimes known as 'digitals'). These are standard images that a model should include in their portfolio alongside other photos showing their best work and range of ability. 

Model polaroids usually include around 10 clear, bright and unedited images showing the model's current look most naturally (make-up-free or wearing minimal make-up). These images should be a mixture of headshots and full-length body shots from different angles (such as front, back and side) and should not include other people in the same shot. 

Check social media 

Most people nowadays use at least one social media platform, and you can find out more about someone's work by checking their social media presence (including what accounts they say they have and what accounts you find when you search for them). 

It's reassuring when someone claiming a certain level of experience shows you an established social media presence that matches this. For example, someone who says they have years of experience and their social media echos this with a long line of posts spanning many years (perhaps with hundreds of followers/likes, etc.).

An established social media presence is less likely when you begin your creative journey, so a social media account with a small following alone is not necessarily a reason to avoid working with someone.

However, if someone says they have a wealth of experience, yet their social media account was recently created (with little activity and outstanding images), this could raise your suspicions that the person you are talking with is not being truthful about who they are (or could be a fake or a catfish). Though even established creatives can lose their social media accounts and have to start over from scratch.

If you are concerned about how genuine someone is (e.g. you suspect they are pretending to be the person whose social media account they've given you), you can direct message the social media account they sent you to double-check they are the same person you're arranging a shoot with.

Use an online search engine to find more of their work

You can use search engines (e.g. Google, Bing, Yandex, DuckDuckGo, etc.) to find more information about who you want to work with (e.g. their website, online portfolios, social media accounts, etc.), so you can see more of their images and references, press releases, publications, and other things. 

Many search engines also allow you to reverse-search an image to see where else online it's appeared. 

Using due diligence at the shoot discussion stage

Let's say you find someone to work with and begin to discuss shoot ideas. Before you book a photoshoot with them, run some final checks using the due diligence tips below.  

Ask relevant questions to determine if they know what they are talking about

Shoot discussions are for finding out what a shoot will involve, ensuring everyone is on the same page and ironing out the creases. If you feel that the person you are discussing a shoot with doesn't seem genuine or as experienced as they say they are, you could ask specific shoot-related questions to see their response.

A photographer who wants to create an image for artistic reasons should be able to provide information about the type of lighting they'll use, what make-up they want the model to wear, or the kind of clothing required. They may send examples of their shoot idea using a mood board.

For example, let's say you are discussing a shoot with a photographer (who says they have a lot of experience), and you ask, "What style of clothing should I wear?". You may expect their response to include style recommendations or a link to a mood board they created for their shoot idea.

If the photographer replies vaguely with "I don't know, just bring whatever you like", you may decide they aren't as prepared for the shoot as they have suggested or that something isn't quite right. It may prompt you to end your shoot arrangements with them or at least allow you to re-evaluate their experience level (and enquire more about their work).  

Speak on the phone

We strongly recommend keeping a written record of shoot communications on PurplePort, but we understand that sometimes it may be necessary to take discussions elsewhere when arranging a photoshoot, including over the phone.

A brief conversation on the phone with the person you are arranging a shoot with (such as to confirm a shoot detail) may give you confidence that they are real and are who they say they are.  

If you discuss anything over the phone, we strongly recommend reiterating what you discussed or agreed to back in your written communications with that person to avoid confusion. This may feel tiresome, but you'll be grateful for this written evidence if a dispute arises later.  

Scout out the shoot location

It's a good idea to check out the location of a photoshoot before agreeing to work there or attending the shoot (especially if it's somewhere you're unfamiliar with or the location is new to you).

This will help you to plan ahead and investigate whether they are any:

  • Logistical issues (e.g. where you are going, parking spaces, how to get there, travelling time, etc.)
  • Practical issues (e.g. type of terrain, temperature or environment so you know what appropriate footwear/clothing to wear, etc.)
  • Safety concerns (e.g. in the middle of nowhere, phone signal problems, etc.). 

Ideally, scouting out the location means physically going there yourself. However, if that's not possible, you could check out the location online (e.g. using Google Maps or Street View, the website of the location/venue, etc.) or speak with someone you know who lives nearby (who could also scout out the location for you).

Things to consider about chaperones

A chaperone accompanies another person (typically a model) to a photoshoot and may be present during the entire shoot or to drop off the creative to ensure they arrive safely (and pick them up again afterwards).

Chaperones should not be confused with an assistant who attends a photoshoot to actively help or participate in some way (such as with equipment). 

Check someone's policy before you book a shoot with them

If you require a chaperone to attend a photoshoot with you or have a strict no-chaperone policy, always make this clear when discussing a shoot with another creative to ensure everyone is on the same page before anyone commits to a shoot.

Choose the right person

A bad choice of chaperone on a shoot (such as a glaring boyfriend or overpowering family member) can be a harrowing experience for everyone. Ideally, someone happy to sit on the sidelines during the shoot (perhaps reading a book) is a good choice as a chaperone. 

It's a personal choice

Some people feel that a chaperone helps them, especially models starting to work with photographers. But whilst some people prefer to use a chaperone for their shoots, others do not work with chaperones. 

The only exception to this is where a minor is involved (someone under 18 years), who may choose to bring a chaperone to a shoot due to their age (usually, this is a parent or guardian).

Always use due diligence when arranging photoshoots

Adding due diligence checks to your photoshoot process will help you get the most out of working with other fabulous creatives. The tips in this guide are by no means the only things you can do, and you can tweak them to suit your requirements. 

One person's due diligence process may differ from the next person's. Everyone will have their own set of checks that works best for them, which may change over time depending on experience and the situation.

Remember, if something doesn't feel right, listen to your gut, be assertive, and make the right choice for you. That could mean cancelling a shoot last minute and risking receiving a short-notice cancellation reference. If that's the case, then so be it.

Sometimes you have to chalk these things up to experience, learn from them and move on. It's never worth putting yourself into a potentially difficult (or dangerous) situation to avoid a cancellation reference. 

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