Maxfield

I am a professional photographer from Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. I have been shooting since I was about six years old for fun, and doing portfolio images for model clients for the past twelve years. Last year I quit my day job to set out on my own as a commercial photographer, though some of my business is still consumers (weddings, high school seniors, etc...) I shoot commercial work for local businesses, but ultimately I would like to do editorial fashion, and high end catalog work.

I am available for hire if you need something specific for your portfolio, but I am also open to testing with talented, hard working models and stylists who can prove their professional work ethic to me. Let's discuss.

Compensation - Ok, here's the skinny. There are times when I am hired by a client to shoot, and there are other times when I test. If I am being paid, naturally I will share the wealth with my cast and crew. If it's a test shoot (that's "TFP" in internet slang), my compensation to my colleagues (that's you) will be my 30 years of experience, my talent, my equipment, my style, and the best images I am capable of producing. I've been fortunate to have worked with some fantastic models on a test basis, so when paying work comes my way, they get the first call. It would be unethical of me to offer such gigs to just anyone when they have worked so hard for me in the past. I also know that they can be trusted to show up to the gig, ready to work. Want to be on my first call list? Then prove to me that you can deliver. Let's shoot!

Professionalism – I often hear “My dream is to be a fashion model some day", or some variation on that theme. Well, it's great to have a dream, but unless you are willing to do the hard work to make it a reality, that's all it will ever be – a fantasy. If it were easy, everyone would do it. It all starts with a commitment to professionalism.

Have the integrity to show up to the shoots that you schedule. Write them down on your calendar!! Don't double book. Learn the phrase, “Let me check my schedule and get back to you," and then do it! When someone contacts you, respond promptly.  When someone asks you a question, answer it. When someone asks you multiple questions, answer them all, not just one. Just because you use your smartphone to check your MM inbox, doesn't mean it's ok to reply to a message as if U wur sending a txt to ur BFF. Be articulate! Use proper grammar and spelling, it's ok to be a little colloquial though, you don't have to sound like a robot. Show up to your gig prepared and ready to work, early if possible. Don't party too hard the night before a shoot. If you're running late or get lost, call and let someone know. DO NOT cancel a gig at the last minute, and DO NOT just no-show. Your reputation is at stake. If you absolutely have no other alternative than to cancel, try to find a stand-in, preferably someone who matches your description. Remember, an entire creative team and a paying client may be relying on you to show up. Stand them up, and you'll never get a call back from them, worse yet, they'll likely tell their colleagues about you. Treat your reputation like it's your most valuable asset, in some ways, it's more important than looks.

If you can do all that, you will give yourself a HUGE advantage over the vast majority of models on this site who can't seem to grasp these simple concepts. You don't really have to be the best, you just have to be good enough, but you MUST be professional if you want to succeed. It's easy to earn a bad reputation, but hard to earn a good one, it is, however, easy to lose a good reputation if you don't practice professionalism.

Escorts - I am a trustworthy fellow, but if having an escort along will make you feel more comfortable, then I'm all for it. No, that's not a typo, I want you to be able to relax and be yourself in front of the lens, and it's hard to do that if you are nervous. That being said, it is also hard for me to work when someone is staring daggers at me or worse. Please make sure that if you bring an escort, they are supportive of your modeling, and up to speed with what you will and won't be doing. No one likes surprises. I have never had a bad experience with an escort, so please don't be the one to make me rethink this policy. I reserve the right to turn your escort into a human reflector stand. Haha!

-Michael

Fun facts about me:

• I don't own a an iPod, a Bluetooth, a Blackberry, a "device", a "surface", a GPS, a TiVo, a TV, a wristwatch, a twitter, a facebook, an instagram, or a myspace. Really. Oh, and by the way, what the hell is a hash tag? Some new way to label your marijuana? Now if you'll excuse me, I have to chase some damned kids off my lawn.
• I am the alternative to "alternative"; I am traditional.
• Superpowers - I can drink my own weight in coffee in a day.
• I like "classical" and jazz music.
• Models: I am not here looking for a date, so please stop asking!
• I have a great sense of humor. Don't know if you'll find it funny, but I think I'm hysterical
• I shoot 35mm, medium format and large format film, and digital. When I want that shot-on-film look, I shoot on film.
• I photograph lots of other subjects besides people.