Of course, I would never mention anyone, and there may be good reasons. Applicable to models and photographers alike, in 2023 I travelled more than ever to shoot at people's homes and locations and I was quite shocked at the general cleanliness and or tidiness of these places, when I shoot at my location I make sure my home and studio are as clean, hygienic and tidy as possible, why do I mention it? because it make me feel uncomfortable.
I haven't done this as much tis year but mostly, I have been happy with the levels of hygiene. Once though I did actually leave the house as the "large" living room where I was expected to shoot was in fact not large, had food containers half full and used as ashtrays on the flor, the kitchen sink was piled so high that it was a mountain shape and there was cat pee and poo on the carpet.
It was me doing an actor's headshots as a favour so I felt entitled to leave and I was glad that the weather was too bad to do the shots outdoors as I wanted to get home and shower.
One reason I can’t shoot from home is my house is untidy! I have 2.5 kids in the house (my step daughter is with us at weekends), a dog and a cat. And my house looks lived in. Not to say it’s a bomb site. But I use my bedroom as a crafting room too so there’s two printers, a computer, a cutting machine, a desk, which is all mismatched etc so it’s hardly idyllic for a shooting location. My kitchen is beautiful for shooting and I shoot there often but I don’t think I can just offer that for home shoots. And my living room has a little kids plastic desk and a box of toys and it’s small. However, if I was shooting from home, you’d better believe I’d be scrubbing the place top to bottom and eliminating any trace of me living there from it! Just as studios are cleaned (hopefully), my house would received the same treatment.
Edited by Mercia Storm
Edited by Mercia Storm
I haven't done many model home shoots but the one's I have done the houses have been a good standard of cleanliness and I would return to do another shoot at there houses.
Some places are like a scene from Shameless. When I had my studio it was clinically clean, likewise my home and my vehicles. No excuse for dirtiness, lack of space creating an issue of tidiness/clutter can be a temporary issue. That's a challenge I'm attempting to control with recent home moves.
Dirty studio floors is something I struggle to tolerate, no excuses for that at all.
Apart from tidiness etc, unless you are doing a specific type of photography (eg strobe, darkness outside the lightfall), I want to be in control of the location. I want to know that it definitely suits my theme, that I know how the natural light falls if there is any, which lights and other equipment to bring. With that in mind I think it is reasonable to ask, in advance, for phone photos of the location. And if it doesn't suit for any reason, I think it's reasonable to ask to change the location to somewhere more suitable.
Jennie Blythe said
Apart from tidiness etc, unless you are doing a specific type of photography (eg strobe, darkness outside the lightfall), I want to be in control of the location. I want to know that it definitely suits my theme, that I know how the natural light falls if there is any, which lights and other equipment to bring. With that in mind I think it is reasonable to ask, in advance, for phone photos of the location. And if it doesn't suit for any reason, I think it's reasonable to ask to change the location to somewhere more suitable.
Yep.
When I used to do a lot of shoots in models' homes, I had a couple of rude awakenings. So, from then on, I routinely asked for a few reference pics of the parts of the house that would be available for use.
Spartacusimages said
Of course, I would never mention anyone, and there may be good reasons. Applicable to models and photographers alike, in 2023 I travelled more than ever to shoot at people's homes and locations and I was quite shocked at the general cleanliness and or tidiness of these places, when I shoot at my location I make sure my home and studio are as clean, hygienic and tidy as possible, why do I mention it? because it make me feel uncomfortable.
*Frantically tidies up studio ahead of my shoot tomorrow* :-)
Never, ever move a model's settee, especially if she has kids. You have been warned!
Thankfully most models who've visited me have complimented me on how nice the house is...
FiL said
Never, ever move a model's settee, especially if she has kids. You have been warned!
Seconded! I don't even dare to think what's under mine. I think at the least enough bouncy balls to keep Smyths Toys in business for the next thirteen years. I don't know where those feckers come from either!
Wow, that's quite shocking to me! I take pride in hosting photographers at my home, and I ensure it's spotless before anyone arrives. It's embarrassing to think someone could be dissatisfied with the cleanliness, considering it's a service I provide. On the flip side, I've been in a few studios that left me shocked with sticky floors, dust, and no heating. Cleanliness and tidiness do make a difference, and I can totally relate to feeling uncomfortable in such situations!
Mercia Storm said
FiL said
Never, ever move a model's settee, especially if she has kids. You have been warned!
Seconded! I don't even dare to think what's under mine. I think at the least enough bouncy balls to keep Smyths Toys in business for the next thirteen years. I don't know where those feckers come from either!
Ha! I have a 6yr old - and a cat - so I know this feeling! I hardly ever shoot at my place these days but when I do half the time is largely me apologising for the mess.
Paranoid Android Photography said
Mercia Storm said
FiL said
Never, ever move a model's settee, especially if she has kids. You have been warned!
Seconded! I don't even dare to think what's under mine. I think at the least enough bouncy balls to keep Smyths Toys in business for the next thirteen years. I don't know where those feckers come from either!
Ha! I have a 6yr old - and a cat - so I know this feeling! I hardly ever shoot at my place these days but when I do half the time is largely me apologising for the mess.
I have a 7yo, a 3yo, a cat and a dog! And a 10yo at weekends and school holidays! My house is a mad house! I empathise completely! It's a shame because my living room would be lovely for some home shoots!
If there’s gorgeous window light I don’t care if it’s got the toilet from trainspotting. Annoyingly every house I’ve lived in has terrible light.
I follow a few photographers with really nice characterful rooms on instagram that keep uploading amazing portraits with - to die for - window lighting.
