how does it works?
Let me start by introduce myself: I’m amateur photographer (this is my passion), I’m leaving in Arlon where I have a small photo studio but I can move. If you’re reading this, you want to know more either because I sent you an invitation or someone mentioned my name
It’s my privilege that you like my work enough to consider the fact to entrust me with the responsibility of your image.
Feel free to read the different pages of this website and if needed please send me a message using the contact page. You will find as well different links to, for instance, the survey to know what we could do together or the doodle… You can also have a look to the contract before the shooting to avoid some surprises.
My proposal
To make it easy – in a few images:
What I propose
bodyguard
you can bring a friend. if you're underage, this is even mandatory.
outfit
you choose 3 or 4 outfits from your wardrobe (or someone else's).
duration
it takes a minimum of two hours (sometimes more).
publication
you make your selection of photos for publication. no photo is published without your green light.
where?
studio, park, forest, castle, indoor...
free of charge
neither you nor I pay for the photos.
sending
I'll send you the photos electronically.
What I ask you back
web/social network
I can, if I wish, publish the photos you've chosen on my website or social networks.
photo credit
Please put my name or the site's name on any photos you publish.
#smlcol
please use the hashtag #smlcol when posting a photo.
advertise myself
thank you for telling your friends about me
To secure our rights, I will invite you later if you’re OK to sign a contract[1].
Important notice – you’re underage?
How old do I have to be to attend a session?
Usually, in Europe, the justice considers that you’re mature enough to decide between 12 and 14 years old if you want (or not) to make a photo shooting but, as far you’re underage, your parents are the only ones who can take the final decision. It is so mandatory to have a chat with them before. By the way, no authorisation means no shooting. I usually don’t accept when models are less than 16 years old. However, I already made some exceptions to this rule.
Can I come accompanied?
Yes! The presence of an adult is warmly recommended as you’re underage. I have already refused by the past some shooting just because the model came alone.
Who signed the contract?
As you’re underage, you have not the legal capacity to do it, then your parents will have to sign it. But you will anyway sign it too! Because if your parents and you accept to entrust me with your image, I entrust you with my photographer’s image too. Therefore, I guess it’s important for you to know what are the engagement of anyone.
What I do NOT propose
Agency or career
I’m only amateur, so I have no particular, formal or even informal contacts with models’ agencies.
Some people used my pictures to prepare a book (I had even some good feedbacks) but I will not -and I don’t wish to- promise you anything.
I’m not printing any pictures for you.
Professional performance
I’m not doing wedding, baby shower, baby/kids shooting, birthday parties, prom…
Pictures of couple
I don’t like to make picture of couple… usually, I propose to make some pictures at the end or during a “traditional” shooting.
yes! I'm interested!
Kind reminder: if you’re underage, you need to discuss this with your parents, their authorisation is mandatory.
To better define what I can propose you in terms of photos or to see if you have already some ideas, I did a questionnaire. This one is of course generic, and we will discuss based on your answers.
I confirm that your answers will not be used for other reasons than the shootings we’ll do together (more details?)
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…
