A Basic Safety Guide for Models

This guide is being written as a guide for models in all situations. They are encouraged to think about it and see if it makes sense to them, themselves. They are also encouraged to show it to trusted friends to see if it makes sense to them. The reason is it is being written for all situations is so that this guide will not seem like is is a special guide written only for work done with me.

This is not intended to be a guide on negotiations, contracts, business, or interpersonal relations, nor should it necessarily be considered to cover everything you need to know to keep yourself safe. This is designed to help you feel safe enough that you can enter into modeling projects with enough confidence in your basic safety that you can relax and have a good, enjoyable, and creative time.

1

Be in charge: Simply put, be able to say “no” whenever you want to and mean it. This can actually be a quite complex matter, but you need to be able to to default to the simple version when necessary which is “no means no means no.” 

Although saying “no” and being able to enforce it will always be enough, it is advised that you have this understanding with the others you are working with (photographers, designers, and so on) so they can be prepared for a firm “no” without being too surprised when they hear it.

2

 In addition to having a cell phone with you, set the cell phone so that you could make a one-click emergency call if necessary. Let others know where you are going and when you’ll return. Establish some code words which would indicate you are in trouble if that should be the case. If you change locations, you should be allowed to call someone, tell them where you are going, and call them again when you get there.

3

Consider carrying with you some common self-defense items such as pepper spray, etc. knowing that these could also be used against you. It may be good to learn some physical and mental self-defense which does not rely upon special objects.

4

The very reason this guide is being written is that many people working with models are untrustworthy. Some are very untrustworthy. Some are very smooth talkers. Some are strategic sociopaths and may try to, over time, “groom” a model into doing dangerous things or accepting a dangerous lifestyle. KNOW THIS and accept this as a fact.

On the other hand PLENTY of people who work with models are very reputable and trustworthy. Don’t be come cynical. Just make sure you are safe until you are quite sure you can tell the difference between a trustworthy amateur or professional artist and one who is not trust worthy.

“Degrees of nudity,” full nudity, pornography, personal relationship with artists: Take some time to be clear on what YOUR vision of modeling is and how firm you are on it when you are alone and NOT under any immediate pressure. Be able to call this to mind if and when you find yourself in a situation where an artist is asking you to do things outside of what you had envisioned. If you can bring this to mind AND you are confident in your ability to say “no,” you are in charge. This means you can be open to the artists’ suggestions, change your mind about your previous limits, say “yes,” andor negotiate a new agreement and a new set of limits.

5

The slippery slope vs. “easing in.” Some artists will work with models who’ve made it clear they will do no nudity, even though they’d prefer the model pose or perform nude, in porn, or have sexual relationships with them. “Easing in” should involve a genuine process in which you truly feel comfortable doing more and more. You should have a “feeling” of confidence that you are “ready.” “The slippery slope” is a bit different and many artists are quite masterful at applying both positive and negative pressure to get a model to do things BEFORE the model is confidently ready. A good sign that the artist you’re working with is one of these types is that they seem to find taking “no” for an answer difficult. They will either keep up a steady pressure or they will try to get the model to say “not YET” and then make a formal or informal “deal” with the model about when they will take the next step ready or not. They’ll try to hold the model to this “promise.”

The ONLY time to go into anew aspect of modeling is when YOU feel okay about it.

Good communication between the model and artist is priceless.

6

Be careful about contracts. It may only be a matter of publication rights or going from art to commercial work, but contracts can bind you in ways you don’t want if you’re not careful. If the work you are doing is a big project or a contract with a professional agency, you may wish to consult an attorney. Prepaid legal services such as LegalZoom might be good for these sorts of things. In fact, YOU might want to be the one who writes the contract, having the artist or agency sign it. Although you will always have rights to things such as your basic physical safety and to not have crimes committed against you, as I said, contracts can bind you in ways you don’t want if you are not careful.

7

Blackmail as a “contract.” Be very careful with artists you do not have full confidence in. Cameras are everywhere these days and photographers are especially likely to have them. Make sure you are not offering any photographs which would embarrass you if they got into the wrong hands – even if the artist promises that certain photos will “remain private.” Also make sure you do not engage in anything illegal unless you feel comfortable with it, comfortable with the risks, trust the others involved, and so on. Even if you are not directly involved, if the artist begins doing illegal things in your presence (or even tells you about such things), he or she can threaten to “turn you in” or “bring you down with them” if you don’t keep doing what they tell you to do.

8

Safety vs. Comfort. Safety and comfort are not always the same thing. For many models and artists as well, there is something titillating about being less than safe. In fact, many find that, as with many things in life, “too much safety” takes all the thrill out of life. There are some people who knowingly seek risky or dangerous situations. In my opinion, the difference between a “sick” person doing this and a okay person doing this is that the “okay” person KNOWS they are doing this and feels okay about it. They understand a fair amount about the psychologicical dynamics of it and how to tell negative consequences of chosen behavior from the consequences that should tell them to either stop something or not start it.

9

Firebility. Unless you have the upper hand in a formal contract, an artist or agency can fire you. They can fire you if you don’t do what they want even if what they are asking is wrong or violates the understanding you had with them. For some models, this is what makes it difficult to say “no” at times and it is what makes the model vulnerable to unscrupulous manipulation. For instance, if the artist want you to do some nudity and you refuse, the artist might fire you. You need to know this and be prepared. If the artist is paying you or has promised to lift your career, being fired might mean the loss of income, the loss of certain opportunity, disappointment, and so on. You need to have a plan B. On the other hand, there are honest and semi-honest firings. A semi-honest firing is one in which the artist insists on something that is not part of your understanding. If you don’t comply, the artist may say, “Well, I’m sorry we can’t agree on the new direction I want to go on. I wish you well, but I’m not going to be able to se you any more. A fully honest “firing” may be similar but involves a bit more respect and a bit less pressure. It would be as if a project had reached it’s natural end, and the artist says something like,” Well, I think that’s about it for now. I’m going to start doing some nude work. We had an understanding that you don’t do that and I want to respect your choices.” Good references vs. bad mouthing vs. neither. A disreputable artist may attempt to coerce you by not only threatening to fire you, but threatening to badmouth you to other artist. Be prepared with a plan for defending your reputation should this happen. Others, no matter how disagreeably you parted, will say good things about you to other artists. Some will say good things about you only if they actually thought you did good work. Still others, upon a job ending will go out of their way to hook you up with another gig.

10

Not mentioned yet are a few other things. Consider your comfort level with the modeling location, period. Communicate your comfort level and suggest an alternative if it would help you to feel more safe or comfortable. Consider being accompanied by a chaperone.