How Do You Treat an Uncooperative Model?

You don't want a tense model, and if you seem tense, the model will pick up on that and also tense up. Joke around a bit, and take on light hearted small talk. Chances are, if you relax, you'll both have a much more positive experience too. Don't start with the heavy stuff, either: work your way up to controversial or serious shots, giving the model a time to work their way into it first.

This is really a very important thing. Want an arm moved? Tell them, don't move it for them. Many models will feel like this is an invasion of privacy, and even being meddlesome in their art. Lots of models will feel particularly uneasy about this. If you want to touch them for whatever reason, ask first, and don't do anything that might be out of their area of comfort.

This may seem obvious, but being a model really means exposing yourself in both a literal and emotional way. This applies to everyone. Models are sensitive about their body, think twice before saying something potentially critical of them. On the other hand, honesty is important—just try to put it in a nonjudgmental manner. If you think a color clashes with their hair, say it; if you don't like a particular pose of theirs, ask them not to repeat it, but to explain why in a kind and calm manner.

Make sure you have everything arranged before the shoot. What sort of clothes should they be wearing? Location? Time? You might want to meet with them beforehand to pick out clothes, props or other things for the shoot, just to reduce on-scene stress and not to waste time, as well as scouting out potential places to do the shoot. This will put the model at ease, having everything arranged ahead of time, and will prevent any potential problems from even happening.

If you have an uncooperative model you should figure out why their being uncooperative with you! Many things could make a person uncooperative, maybe it's the idea the photo portrays or even how the area is set up and used. Usually being gentle with the model will help the situation from turning worse. Allowing the a model a voice in the subject might create a better picture with the new ideas and the model will be happier!

Age can also play a factor in how your model acts/works. It may even affect what their ideas are. Models have many personalities, serious, fun and even sad. Any personality can make a model have different levels of uncooperative modeling. Understanding the models personalities can help you to make them feel relaxed and comfortable.

Modeling is used for a number of uses. To promote, art and fashion. Photography its self is artwork. Some photographers take shots from far away which make one object turn into multiple pictures. People have made groups of people look like a persons face or even made them look like an object. Working with your models appropriatly can make that happen.