Chaperones

and there was me thinking it proved how little chaperones are liked... 

I have only ever had one chaperone turn up , well I think he did , lol. sat in his car outside ... in the freezing cold and had to be persuaded to come into the warm.  He didnt interfere , and hardly spoke so I guess I have been lucky !  Other than that never had any model ask if they could bring one , so no problems so far !

Never had any problems with female chaperones (AKA friends).  Male, without exception, have been a pain in the ass.  Model is constantly looking for approval.

Gaz, that's what happened to me. Worse still, he kept going on about how nervous she was. So she got more nervous.

Aaaargghhh!!!  Don't you know - a kitten dies every time someone starts a "chaperone" thread? ;-)

Slow, isn't it?  By now someone should have come on and said it is suspect when photographers won't allow chaperones. Preferably someone with shining integrity and impeccable credentials.

I don't think the models "with shining integrity and impeccable credentials" have logged out of PS, yet.

<grin>

@ more_m:  Actually, references are fairly consistently shown to be bollocks.  Whenever a photographer is hooked by the police there's always a pile of models claiming what a wrong un he was and yet, when you look at his references there's not a word to suggest he was ever anything other than a "lovely bloke" and an "amazin tog".

@TMG:  Someone did.  In a thread about a tog being lifted by the Police that was on this site but was then removed.  I understand he had great references on another site.

@ Russ:  Surely this is a rant thread.  Any particular reason why it hasn't been moved? 

Yep. I stopped believing in references a way back.

@Socialdisaster: it's the togs with the shining integrity who are most fun. Mods just want a bit of security and maybe keep the bf from smashing the living room up while she's out being leered at by God knows who.

Edited by TMG

@Burntlight this is clearly not a rant thread. The OP has asked a clear question and members have been keen to express their opinions in a calm, polite and sociable manner. There is no need to move this thread.

Back on topic, I personally don't like chaperones; normally because they consist of the jealous boyfriend, the crazy mum or the wannabe model mate. They get in the way and more often than not stop the model reaching the potential she could achieve on the shoot if she wasn't distracted.

I do appreciate however that some models don't feel comfortable working alone with a male photographer; enter Kate Gordon (MUA). I never fully appreciated before, but having a female MUA working on set with you takes away the majority of hassle surrounding this topic for all but a very select few of these situations.

Edited by ScottWatson

 Actually, references are fairly consistently shown to be bollocks.  Whenever a photographer is hooked by the police there's always a pile of models claiming what a wrong un he was and yet, when you look at his references there's not a word to suggest he was ever anything other than a "lovely bloke" and an "amazin tog".

Burntlight well said....

I occasionally ask if I can take one with me, if I've not shot with a model before and I'm unsure of her true reasons for asking me to shoot with her... :-)

Dave...so ..so..sensible...Whenever I have a new model in studio ...I always have one of the girls there as an assistant....To me it is only common sense....

Arrrrgh stop it I'm getting Déjà vu and Pureporn flashbacks, you don't know what it was like man... you weren't there man.....!!!!!!!!!

I ALWAYS take a chaperone to shoots with me. I don't feel this makes me less mature or less grown up, and I don't think this makes me precious. Call me cynical but there are a lot of bastards and bitches out there, and I've been damned glad of a chaperone on a couple of occasions (yes, glowing references were provided beforehand). 

It's not just about being alone with a random man either, I take a chaperone to shoots with female photographers too. Of course, if I've met up with the photographer beforehand and we've built a rapport, and more importantly if they're local, then I occasionally leave my chaperone at home, but no way am I travelling by public transport across country to meet a man or woman who I don't know by myself. It just doesn't make common sense to me.

My partner comes with me on shoots, and he's a veteran of being unobtrusive and quiet. He doesn't interfere, he's just there IN CASE. I don't think anyone should get shirty if someone wants to protect themselves. Of course, inappropriate chaperones or loud interfering chaperones are a different matter, but if you're professional you should bring someone along who's going to reinforce that professional reputation.

Just my tuppence worth.