What should a model bring to a photography shoot?

One thing you need to realize is that the photographer is almost never your end client.  Don’t get me wrong, he may have great influence over who gets hired on the next shoot (so be really nice to him), but he’s rarely the one writing the original check.

Usually the hierarchy is something like this… 

1. The client (manufacturer, retailer, service agency) hires the advertising agency.

2. The Advertising agency hires everyone else. (Producer, photographer, wardrobe person, makeup artist, hair stylist and the model via the modeling agency)

The hierarchy above is for a really large shoot.  Most photo shoots are much less involved and much simpler.  They may go something like this…

1. The client hires the Ad Agency

2.The Ad Agency hires the photographer and model via the modeling agency.

In cases like this, which are much more common, the model is usually responsible for wardrobe and sometimes the hair issue.  Some make-up artists will tweak the hair, but usually their skills are limited in this area.

The problem that often develops with a photo shoot is when there is not proper communication between the Ad agency and the modeling agency.  Some smaller, less experienced ad agencies my make the mistake of assuming that the model or modeling agency will somehow know what model will need to bring for the shoot.  I have seen many photo shoots crash and burn because the model didn’t bring the necessary clothing or makeup supplies, assuming that someone else would bring them.  While this is rarely the models fault, they are usually the one in the position of explaining to everyone at the shoot that they weren’t to blame. 

As a professional model, unless you KNOW FOR SURE that hair, makeup, and wardrobe are taken care of, you should show up with enough clothing and supplies to get you buy.  You don’t have to bring all this “stuff” in from your car, but you should have it just in case.  I have seen models turn into heroes because they were over prepared for a shoot.  After explaining to the client that they weren’t instructed by the modeling agency to bring any wardrobe, they brought some “back-up” stuff. 

Sure, bringing that back-up stuff is a little more work, but the photographer and Ad Agency will often be impressed enough to hire you for more shoots, based on your preparedness.  I’ve seen it happen.

Many times, the Ad Agency consults with the photographer about which model he prefers to work with.  If the photographer has had a positive experience in the past and know that a model is not only easy to work with, but also comes well prepared, then it’s real easy to lean in the direction of comfort and safety.

So what should you bring?

Hair – Bring a brush and hair spray for sure, and anything else you can think of that you need to control you hair.  I’m sure as a model, you know your hair’s needs better than anyone else.  Sure, it’s nice to have a professional be able to work with it, but sometimes the budget just doesn’t allow for it.  Look at it this way.  If there was a hair person there, they budget for the model would be that much less.  Ok, maybe I’m an optimist…

Makeup – If the photo shoot is makeup, hair, or fashion related, then I’d be surprised if a make-up artist wasn’t present.  But if the product you’re attempting to sell is something like garbage bags or a computer, then the actual look of the model may not be all that important, at least in the Ad Agency’s eyes.  Especially in industrial or business-to-business photo shoots, makeup isn’t given all that much attention. The exception to this is when the model starts to perspire.  That shine on a model’s head is something a model needs to be prepared to take care of.  Bring as much makeup stuff as you can, but even it you’re a male model, be prepared to treat that shine and let the photographer know you have that capability.  If the photographer knows that you have that capability, he will be more likely to ask you to use it, which in the end, makes for a better picture and an impressed client and Ad people.

Wardrobe – You should know enough about the shoot to know what you’re getting into, so if the shoot if for an industrial gas monitor, you can safely leave your prom gown at home.  But you might want to bring your work clothes, jeans, work boots, work gloves, plaid shirt, and anything else you can think of.  Unless, you’ve been instructed to buy stuff for the shoot, I wouldn’t run out and buy anything special for the shoot, I’ve seen models do it.  And I was impressed and so was the agency and client.  For the stuff we didn’t use, I’m sure that the model returned it the next day.  For the stuff we did use, the client ended up paying for it and then after the shoot, the model got to keep it.  Sure, that was above and beyond the call of duty, but then again, I’ve worked with that model on more than one occasion.

So bring several changes of clothing.  Usually, photographers don’t like very light, very dark or heavily patterned clothing.  What they really like is options.  Personally, I like bright colors on most commercial shoots.  Bright reds and blues are great, unless of course the client hates reds or blues…  So to be safe, bring bright and bring pastel.