how does it works?
How Does It Work?
I'll start by introducing myself: I am an "amateur" photographer (it's my hobby), I am from Arlon (Belgium, near Luxembourg) where I have a studio, but I also travel frequently for shoots.
If you're reading these lines, it means you're at least interested in a photo session.
Before you continue your visit, I'd like to say that I am extremely honored that you appreciate my work enough to consider entrusting me with your image during a photo session. (Otherwise, I can't imagine why you'd be reading these pages)
Feel free to browse through the pages of this site (with your parents if you're a minor) and send me a quick message via the contact page if needed.
My Proposal
To keep it simple in a few images...
What I Offer:
- Bodyguard: You can come accompanied. It's even mandatory if you're a minor.
- Outfit: Choose 3 or 4 outfits from your wardrobe (or someone else's).
- Duration: Plan for at least two hours.
- Publication: You select the photos. No photo goes out without your approval.
- Where?: Studio, park, forest, city, indoors...
- Free: Neither you nor I pay for these photos.
- Delivery: I send you the photos electronically.
What I Ask in Return:
- Web/Social Media: I can, if I wish, publish the photos you've chosen on my website or social media.
- Photo Credit: Please mention my name or the site's name on the photos you publish.
- #smlcol: Please use the hashtag #smlcol when you post a photo.
- Spread the Word: Please talk about me to your friends.
Are You a Minor?
What Age Can You Do Photos?
In Europe, we consider you mature enough around 12 or 14 to express a desire to do (or not do) photos, but before you're of legal age, only your parents can make the final decision (especially regarding who takes the photos). You must talk to them first. Without their permission, I won't take photos with you.
Can I Come Accompanied?
Yes! As long as your "chaperone" isn't too intrusive, I see no problem. The presence of an adult is indeed highly recommended since you are a minor. I've already refused sessions because the model wasn't accompanied by an adult.
Who Signs the Contract?
Since you're a minor, only your parents can sign the contract and thus authorize the photography and publication. But you'll sign it too! Because if you and your parents decide to entrust me with your image, I'm also entrusting you with mine as a photographer, and it seems important to me that you respect the contract's clauses as well.
What I Don't Offer:
- Agency and/or Career: You probably guessed since I'm just an amateur photographer, but I'm not offering to launch your career, nor do I have any official, personal, or even informal contacts with agencies... Some people who have modeled for me have enhanced their portfolio with my photos (I've even had some good feedback), but I can't and won't promise anything about this.
- Photo Printing: I don't deal with printing the photos we take during your session on any medium.
- Professional Services: I don't do wedding photos, baby/child photos, birthday parties, proms... With a bit of searching, you should find a professional photographer for these photos.
Yes! I'm Interested!
First of all, I thank you warmly for considering my proposal favorably.
As a reminder, if you're a minor, it's important to review my proposal with your parents! Their presence is actually more than recommended if you accept.
To better define what kind of photos I can offer and to know if you already have ideas, I've made a questionnaire. You can guess it's pretty general, and we'll likely discuss some points together based on your answers.
Important:
Privacy and Online Security: Posting photos online can have implications for your privacy. Make sure you understand well how your images will be used and shared. If you're a minor, discuss these aspects with your parents.
I want to clarify/confirm that I will only use the information collected for organizing the sessions (more info?)
I need more information
Here are the more frequent questions you ask me :
This is not always easier but yes you can come with someone else.
You need then to find someone who is not too much present. If you're always taking care of or always talking to this person, pictures could be not so nice that what we can expect?
This is probably the most common first question when I propose to someone to make a shooting.
Our meeting can be a coincidence but if I want to connect with you (whatever the canal Facebook, Instagram, the real life), it's because I believe that we can make some nice pictures together.
A look, a smile, a picture can "titillate" my interest.
So, our meeting could be a coincidence but the fact that I never contact you.
The real question is not "why you?" but "why not you?"
Nearly everywhere? I said nearly.
Outdoor It could be a park, a castle, forest, lake, river. I often travel, so I can come close to you. Anywhere as the idea is to take some pictures of you somewhere not a landscape with you in front.
In a photo studio I have a small but nice studio in the city center of Arlon (south of Belgium). As you can imagine it's not simple to move, it's so quite easier if you're coming.
Additionally, to the 'old' fabric backgrounds, I propose paper backgrounds in this different color: black, white, beige, grey, pink, red, blue, yellow, brown, violet and green (chromakey).
Somewhere else? 'Cos there is some other choice: urbex, hotel, furnished apartment or wherever.
This is typically a 'time for prints' or 'time for pictures' arrangement. None of us is paying anything.
I come with my photo material, my experience and my time (usually between 3 or 4 time the time spent for the shooting). And you come with your smile, your time, your looks and your outfits.
So, there is no monetary exchange between us when there is still an investment anyway
On the other hand, if we must rent a hotel (I mean for instance a luxury hotel) to make some pictures or a costume, we will probably discuss this point to share cost.
Yes, I agree this is a bit strange but by not making this for money, I can decide when and with whom I make pictures.
There is also another financial reason, it costs me a lot but it could cost me more if I'm self-employed and don't play with black economy.
However, you will probably not pay the price I can ask for such shooting.
My real job can be quite time-consuming but not only during specific period. Then I can only shoot the weekend. It can so take a while before we can organise a shooting. I do it for the fun and only for the fun? I spent most of my weekends but I need also some time for post-treatment, my social life and I'm happy when I can see my parents from time to time
I so apologise if I'm not coming back to you? even if I contacted you.
Yes and no.
This is my passion but I can't make shooting with everybody every day. It happens that I say no to some proposal. It doesn't mean you?re not enough pretty, too much this or not enough that? It just means that your profile is not what I?m looking for.
But I'm sure that there is a photographer for each model in the world, you will find someone to do this shooting.
As a lot of other photographers, I’m also doing from time to time some «glamour», body painting (like for the project «super hero» with Magali Couset), hidden nude, boudoir. To avoid mixing those pictures with the "normal" ones, they are available on another page https://www.facebook.com/smlcol.plus . The access of this page is limited to people over 17 yo.
I want to reiterate that this is not mandatory at all. We can talk about a shooting without thinking to this kind of pictures and even we talk about this doesn't mean it will happen. Of course, this is reserved to adult persons.
To make easier the discussion, I made a survey. This one is only in French for the moment but it should not be far too complicated to understand. When you're done or if you want to contact, just drop me a quick message.
I'm also updating on a regular basis a doodle (only in French but it doesn't really matter for this one) https://doodle.com/poll/9s5imd8t8qfvishd - Don’t hesitate to select several dates as "models" usually always select the same date and then you must fill it anew.
Yes ! and if you?re underage, you?ll have to ask your parents to sign it.
by laurent 'cosmic' henneaux
smile collector
If you're underage, you MUST talk to your parents BEFORE making any decisions or contacting me about a possible photo shoot…
