Customer or model ?

Over the last few years, and particularly since the democratisation of the Internet and social networks, it seems that almost everyone is a photo model. It should also be said that almost everyone has become a photographer. Nevertheless, being a photo model is a very specific job, and not knowing this can lead to embarrassing misunderstandings.

To give you an overview of the subject, this article highlights the differences between posing as a client (someone who wants photos), posing as a model, and collaboration (a very common practice in non-professional circles).

The person posing is a customer.

This is the case of someone who wants to have photos taken, for example to keep the memory of an event (diploma, wedding, pregnancy, birth, etc.) or simply to have good quality photos to store in an album.

• The subject of the photo is the person.

  This is undoubtedly the most important point.
  Consequently, the photographer must do everything possible to bring out the person's physical qualities or personality.

• Photos are private.

  This is also important: only the person who posed can have the photos and use them as they wish. The photographer is not supposed to use the photos for himself. They are given to the client, who uses them as he or she sees fit. the photographer must be cited if the image is published (on a website or elsewhere).

  Of course, it is always possible to conclude a specific agreement with the photographer, who could, for example, ask permission to display a particularly successful photo in his shop.

• Customers are free to choose their outfit.

  The client chooses their clothes, hairstyle and make-up according to their mood at the time. The photographer may suggest a layout, but this remains advice that the client may or may not follow.

• Remuneration.

  Photographers are paid for their work.

The person posing is a model.

The real client is then the person commissioning the photo rather than the person posing. This can be the photographer himself, but more often it will be a clothing brand or a communications agency.

• The subject of the photo is a product.

  A model poses to present an article, a brand, a garment, a hairstyle, a concept, etc. Under no circumstances will the model be the main subject of the image.

  Another case in point is schools, which sometimes call on models to pose during workshops. This practice is common in painting, sculpture and photography courses.

• The photos will be published.

  The photos will be used by the photographer or the client and may be published on the Internet or in magazines. They may be exhibited or sold as works of art. They may be used for an advertising campaign, for example by being displayed in the streets.

  The model has authorised the use of his or her image in advance. It will no longer be possible to invoke their image rights to have a photo removed.

• Dress code, hairstyle and make-up are compulsory.

  Dress, hairstyle and make-up are imThe dress worn by the model is defined by the photographer (or the person commissioning the photo) according to the needs of the image.posed.

• Rémuneration.

  The model is paid by her agency, which invoices either the photographer or the client.

Collaboration, working together.

Collaboration is widely practised between amateurs, but also in the professional world when photographer and model have a common interest in doing a shoot : mutual portfolios, exchange of reputations, testing new premises or equipment, etc.

Collaboration is often used for training purposes. Photo clubs, for example, often call on models for their workshops or courses.

• The subject.

  The subject is often the person (portrait), but it is also common for fashion photos to be taken, or to be staged.

• Private photos ?

  As a general rule, photographer and model agree on reciprocal use of the photos: the model receives the photos and the photographer uses them for promotion, for his or her online portfolio, and possibly for an exhibition.

  In principle, unless otherwise agreed, photos may not be sold.

• Tenues et accessoires.

  The outfits often come from the model's own wardrobe. But the photographer can also provide clothes and accessories for a particular setting.

• Rémunération.

  Nobody pays anybody.

Summary

Customer

Model

Collaboration

The subject is the person.

The subject is a product.

Nothing well defined.

Photos are private.

Photos are often for advertising use.

Photographer and model use the photos for non-commercial purposes.

Outfit chosen by the person photographed.

Dress, hairstyle and make-up required.

Outfit and accessories chosen in agreement.

The photographer is paid.

The model is paid

No remuneration.

Model for fashion show.

In addition to this distinction between customer and model, we need to say a few words about the status of the fashion show model, which is something else again: the model presents a product (clothing, lingerie, hairstyle, make-up, etc) as part of a fashion show. If we only (!) ask the model to be photogenic, the fashion show model gait and presentation are just as important as her looks.

The measurements of the fashion show models are also very strict: at least 1.72 metres for women, and at least 1.80 metres for men. Why is this? Quite simply because the clothes presented at a fashion show are all created in this size. So the model must also be this size.

Conclusion.

Customer, model, collaboration ? It's important to be clear before the session to avoid misunderstandings afterwards. And even in the case of a collaboration, a little contract goes a long way to making sure everything is clearly defined.