Three pieces of advice for modelling assignment safety

I’m saddened to have seen a few recent stories concerning modelling agencies and photographers taking advantage of young, budding models by putting them through humiliating and dangerous experiences.

Take The Mirror’s recent article on an agency where the boss of a casting business allegedly offered to send a model ‘up the ladder’ for sexual favours, and Hackney Gazette’s coverage of Sean Colclough, a full time photographer who sexually assaulted models in his Hackney studio.
Stories like these make young women wary of getting into modelling, and also worry their families. Such news stories are also starting to trickle down into the pageant industry, with a beauty pageant judge (NOT a Miss England judge I would like to clarify) recently being handed a suspended prison sentence.

Firstly, these instances are rare. There are plenty of friends and pageant associates of mine that model and compete with no problems. The reason these stories make the press is because they are such a rarity.

However, there are ways to try and protect yourself, and we’ve all been there when you have felt a little uncomfortable. Besides always going with your gut feeling, there are a few tips I’d like to share that might help if you are worried about such instances.

1)  Ask around for background
If a photographer is brand new to you, find out about them. Check out their website, portfolios, see if there are any models you know or recognise. There’s also the chance (being a primarily pageant-based blog, and it’s a tight knit community) that somebody somewhere has worked with them before and has posted about it on social media, so check those avenues out. You can ask for advice in Facebook modelling or pageant groups as well.

By doing this background research, you’ll know simply from seeing their style of shoots whether it’s right for you or not. For example, if you’re not a fan of glamour shoots and that is primarily their photography forte, perhaps ask them what style they are aiming to achieve with yourself.

Search the location you’ll be heading to and local transport links as well, so you feel safe knowing where you are and leave details with someone you trust before you head to your shoot

2)  Take a chaperone
Better still, have someone with you the whole time. Some photographers aren’t fans of this, which is okay as well, but if possible and you’re new, this will help so much in calming your nerves and putting you at ease. The chaperone can also assist in the shoots, holding props and helping with lighting, which my family and friends have done a few times for myself.

Someone that knows you well will be able to speak up even if you feel you can’t, and will be able to tell if you’re feeling uncomfortable.

3)  Question the shoot
Who is exactly getting something out of this shoot? Are you paying or being paid? Is it time for print? Where are these photos going?

These are all questions you should ask and sort way before you waste your time getting to the shoot and finding out you don’t get a copy and the pictures are never seen in public. You really should understand what the shoot/who the shoot is for and what it entails.

Take options of clothing, and ask what ‘feel’ and styling is required. Then you have the option of using something you know well and feel good in if they provide something you’re not 100% happy with.

The Miss England organisation is affiliated with a number of great photography businesses, including Fresh Academy who this year sponsored the Fresh Modelesque award, which Carina Tyrell won, who then went on to win Miss England 2014. This award has been won by a notable amount of Miss England’s, including Kirsty Heslewood, Charlotte Holmes and Laura Coleman.

Once you have found a fab photographer, it’ll help so much with boosting your self-esteem and confidence. I’ve been to Fresh Academy’s studios in Watford a handful of times and they are a lovely team of photographers with great settings as well as lots of portfolio options.

There is also my local south-coast photographer David Freeman, who has a brilliant history of working with the beautiful Miss UK Kirsty Heslewood. His photography style is unique, classy and never looks overdone. I am a fan of the natural look and in the build up to Miss England this year I got a few shots done by him, and it was such a wonderful shoot I’ll definitely be heading back to get some more.

I hope my little bite size pieces of information are helpful. A general point to make is that if the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Be wise, look after yourselves and good luck with modelling!