Occasionally, in the weeks or days leading up to a shoot, we need to cancel booked shoot(s), though more often we’d reschedule them. A shoot cancellation or reschedule is disappointing, annoying and frustrating for everyone involved, so we work to minimise them where possible.
A Shoot Cancellation means, the planned shoot will not occur as planned, and is very unlikely to occur in the future.
A Shoot Reschedule means, the planned shoot now needs to occur at a different date. We may not be able to specify a new date yet, but our intent is still to make this shoot if the model wants to.
Some reasons for a shoot cancellation or reschedule may include:
Grooming images not supplied
In the lead up to a shoot day, we need several sets of images that show the model’s “grooming” to be suitable for a shoot. If these images are not supplied when we need them (by all models appearing in the shoot), we may have to reschedule the shoot.
We make decisions to offer shoots to models based on how they look.
If that look changes (for example, major hairstyle difference, weight gain or loss, new body modifications (tattoos especially), we may need to cancel or reschedule the shoot.
If a booked shoot was with another model, and that model became unavailable, your shoot may be rescheduled.
We’ll try to find a replacement model for the same booked shoot date, but that’s not always possible.
Shoot Producer availability
Occasionally, Shoot Producers become unavailable – like all of us, they may need a personal or illness day, or due to some other scheduling conflict, equipment, or location issue.
In these cases, we’d reschedule the shoot.
STI test problem
Models engaging in sexual contact for a shoot with another model must be tested recently for STI’s. The STI test results must be official and clearly show the model as being negative for each STI we require.
Problems may include incomplete results, ambiguous results (could be interpreted either way), test out-of-date, or unofficial seeming results.
Model Re-assessment
We assess models on their suitability based on the info we gather when they first apply, but after every shoot, models are re-assessed for their ongoing suitability. Sometimes, that re-assessment may be that this model is not suitable for any more shoots (or, for more shoots of a specific type).
Contributing factors include their attitude on-set, how helpful they were, how enthusiastic they were, how well-prepared they were for the shoot day (grooming, props, clothes, ID). More info on how we make these decisions.
Our policy is to always make these assessments before the model is offered more work, but occasionally new information comes to light that affects our decision, and a shoot cancellation may be the result.
If the shoot is cancelled or rescheduled before the shoot day, we do not offer payment for the shoot. However, we generally will reimburse for STI tests made at our request.
Peeing on camera is one of those things that some models are fine with 🤷 – or even quite enjoy 😀 – but other models are like, “omg, that’s the weirdest thing I ever heard!”… or “ew” 🤢.
Anyway, it’s something our customers really enjoy and are curious about – an intimate thing they rarely get to see the details of, even in committed relationships. We reckon it’s pretty harmless, and a reasonable thing to want to know more about. 🧐
We do not pay an additional fee to models who pee in shoots (we do not want money to be the motivational factor behind this). If you’re open to peeing on camera, let your Shoot Producer know (similarly, they may also ask you about it).
Peeing on camera is certainly not a requirement. If you’re asked about peeing on camera on a shoot with us and would prefer not to, it’s fine to say no (just like it is for any part of any shoot, at any time – more info, What happens if I say “no” during the shoot?).
How does peeing actually work in shoots?
When you pee in a shoot, we’ll capture it twice – once for stills and again for video. For stills, your Shoot Producer will snap off lots of images from one position, then they will ask you to try and hold your pee (just for a few seconds!), while they re-position for a second angle. You can practice starting and stopping before the shoot – good pelvic floor control is very helpful as you go on through life, so this is not time wasted! 😉
It is a bit of a strange feeling, peeing while being photographed, and we know you might get a little “camera shy” (the pee doesn’t come) but our Shoot Producers are kind and understanding and you might surprise yourself! (but no worries if you cannot do it)
When models pee in Solo shoots it is not in a sexual context, but your Shoot Producer may ask you to get into a position that feels unnatural. Your input is (always) welcome.
For shoots with multiple models (girl-girl, girl-boy), if both models are happy to include pee-play in a shoot day, we’re glad to capture it – but it is not a requirement. Speak to our Model Liaisons and we can look for a partner who is also into this fetish.
Below, some examples of peeing from various shoots.
ABOVE: Ella C. Solo Open leg posing level.
ABOVE: From a girl-girl hardcore shoot.
ABOVE: From a girl-girl hardcore shoot.
ABOVE: From a girl-girl hardcore shoot.
ABOVE: Sofia M. Solo Nude-Only posing level.
ABOVE: Maika. Solo Nude-Only posing level.
ABOVE: Phoenix. Solo Explicit posing level, getting closeups.
ABOVE: Girl-girl make-out.
ABOVE: Giselle. Solo Explicit posing level, getting closeups.
On the morning of each shoot, one of the first things your Shoot Producer will do is the “Grooming Check”.
“The Grooming Check was easy-going. Giulia [Shoot Producer] said we could do it when I was ready. I read about this before so I was not surprised.” (Nina K, Jan 2023)
As you may recall, we do not use Photoshop to edit our images, and we do not allow makeup on shoots (because our customers want to see the “real you”). Trouble is, sometimes it’s a bit too real, ya know?
In the lead-up to the shoot, our Model Liaison team will ask you a few times to send images of yourself, so we can verify there’ll be no issues on the shoot day. Knowing about potential issues before the shoot day gives us time to address problems, meaning there’s less chance the shoot day will be canceled after you arrive on set – super annoying for everyone!
So, on the morning of the shoot, the Shoot Producer will ask you to get nude and then will inspect your body closely for possible grooming issues (if you prefer, you can do topless first, then put your top on and do “bottoms”).
“Brad [Shoot Producer] started with my face and worked his way down. At first, I kept my clothes on for him to check the things that could be checked while I was still wearing clothes. Then as the checking went on he asked me to remove my top and my clothing. He asked me if there were any grooming issues he should worry about and I was, like, “Yeah. This huge friend I developed on my chest!” So, we sent a picture where I used my finger for size reference. We waited to proceed until he heard back from Garion [Creative Director]. Then we were given the go-ahead.” (Oshun, May 2022)
If you’re booked to do a more-explicit shoot, your Shoot Producer will ask you to open your legs and labia. There’s never any touching, and it’s always professional. At most, it takes five minutes, but two minutes is more typical.
“Giulia [Shoot Producer] told me that she would not touch me and that she would just be looking. She was just looking to compare things to the photos that were approved before. Just comparing…At one of my shoots, she had to take and send photos [to her support team to check if she could proceed] and she deleted them when she was done” (Gizela, Sep 2021).
We make dozens of shoots each month, and around 97% of shoots go ahead as planned (because models shared images of themselves in the weeks leading up to the shoot day).
When you travel for shoots with us, we do not provide food – or a cash allowance for food. We work to book accommodation that’s nearby food shops and/or supermarkets, to make this easier for models.
“The team was so professional. They asked me what I’d like to eat [for lunch on the shoot days]! I mentioned that I don’t like tomatoes but Giulia [Shoot Producer] is very healthy so she kept offering me water and things. I’ve never had hummus but I liked the hummus! She gave me a lot of vegetables and it gave me a lot of energy. I usually need some sugar every few hours for energy. She encouraged me to be healthy. I am impressed with Giulia! ” (Madison A, Jul 2022)
Shoot Producers can always provide local advice on good places to eat, or give you a lift to a supermarket after the shoot, too.
We often fly models to Shoot Producers (that is, we pay for the flights, and accommodation when a shoot is organised for a model in a city other than her home city). We have a page on the mechanics of how we pay for travel, but we know some models have not flown before or often, so we have some tips based on experiences we have had. ✈️
“She [Shoot Producer Ursula] was very professional. She has done this job for more years and says this company is paying the biggest wages in the EU for Girl-Girl shoots” (Andreea, Jul 2021).
Before you fly
Check the dates and times on your electronic boarding pass, make sure they are correct. Consider possible timezone issues.
Double-check the name is correct – airlines may not allow you to board if the name does not match the ID exactly. We’re careful when we make bookings, of course, but we’re only human!
If you’ll get in at the accommodation at the Shoot City late at night (we try not to schedule it this way, but sometimes it’s unavoidable), consider packing a meal (or of course, you can buy something at the Shoot City airport).
“I was worried about traveling to a new place alone… It is obviously a worry! But, it was all planned for me and I had a schedule to stick to. I got to the airport on time and landed okay… Everything went fine!” (Bonnie T, Mar 2022)
Your phone charger
The country you’re flying to may have different power outlets (for example, anywhere in Europe is different from Australia, Canada, the US, and the UK!).
That means your phone charger won’t plugin!
However, with a power adapter, it’ll work fine (Europe works on 230v, whereas the US is 110v, but phone chargers can deal with that, no problem).
You can get power adapters at a local department store or supermarket ($) at the airport ($$$), or in the destination city (€€€).
“When I prepared I was a little bit nervous because this was my first time traveling alone. This was my first time flying and moving around a new city on my own. I was anxious and nervous! Once I was in Berlin, it was no problem and I enjoyed it so much!I don’t know! It is my personality to feel anxious. Leena [Model Liaison] and Hermann[Shoot Producer]did good work with me. My anxiety was about this being my first time. I wasn’t actually nervous. They did all they could for me 🤩🤩🤩!Nothing was really scary! It was a sensation for the first time traveling alone. I think that’s normal.” (Alessia T, Feb 2023)
We’ll provide your flight details (departure and arrival dates, times and places, booking reference number) around one week before you travel.
On all flights, you need to “check-in” – let the airline know you really do plan to travel on your booked flight. Often this can be done online, and the airline will email you about this. If you have checked baggage 🧳(that is bags that will go in the hold of the plane, not with you above your seat), you can also check-in when you drop your bags off.
Flights are booked by us with a set baggage allowance🧳🧳. Bringing more than that 🧳🧳🧳🧳will cost additional fees that need to be paid by you before you can board. The e-ticket we send you has info on this. Let us know early if there’s a problem.
It’s best to arrive early at the airport – three hours before for international travel, two hours for flights within your own country (or within the EU), at least. Checking bags can take time, as can security checks. Sometimes, planes are delayed and you have to wait more time, but sometimes planes are on-time as well, and you never know. Better not to risk it!
Most airlines can issue your boarding pass on your mobile phone (instead of a printed piece of paper). Increase your screen brightness so the scanner can read it, so it’s easy to get through security posts.
Keep your passport safe!
Keep your passport / other ID safe but accessible. Airports are usually busy and stressful, and losing your ID can totally ruin your trip (you may not be able to board the plane without ID, and you definitely will not be let into the destination country without a suitable ID (usually, a Passport), and anyway, we cannot make a shoot of you if you do not bring your ID to the shoot! 😓
Travelling onward
When you travel for work with us, we’re paying for your flights and accommodation for when you’re doing shoots with us… but you may choose to stay longer and see the sights or travel further. You’ll need to organise and pay for your own accommodation on non-shoot days, but as you’re already there, it seems a shame not to see the sights! ⛲
This is also helpful with visas – being able to say you’re there for a holiday (as opposed to work) makes travel significantly easier.
Having money on your trip
We’ll pay you for shoots you appear in, but it can take days or weeks for that money to arrive, depending on what country your bank account is in (more info on how payments work). That means you’ll need to have access to other money while you’re travelling. For example;
Jane lives in Florida, in the US. She arrives in Barcelona ready to do five shoots over seven days. She arrives with US$20 (that she changes at the airport, to €17) assuming she’ll be paid after her first shoot day so she can take some tours on her days off, and maybe eat out sometimes too.
Jane takes the rest of the first day to relax and get over jet-lag, then does her first shoot the next day.
We send payment to Jane after her first shoot (so, two days after she arrives), but it takes six days to get to her American bank account.
Jane has to live off €17 (US$20) for eight days! 😟
Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) and EFTPOS / ATM cards (eg, Maestro, Cirrus) work fine in every city we have Shoot Producers, so long as they are “unblocked” by your bank before you travel – you must ask by visiting your bank, or calling them to ask for this to be done.
Often, these cards will not work if they are not actively unblocked before departure, so beware!
Note that American Express and Diners (and other exotic credit card brands) are not accepted broadly outside of the US. We recommend against relying on such cards. Visa or Mastercard are accepted in many more places.
Managing your money from shoots
It can be tempting to spend money as soon as you get it – especially on a trip when you have many shoots booked because you know you’ll be earning more money next week. But things don’t always work out as planned. For example,
Mary was booked for five girl-girl shoots and several solo shoots over an eight-day visit. Mary chose to do the Solo shoots first.
Mary did her solos and chose to be paid for them after they were done. No problem. She went out for a night on the town, and bought a sweet new bag and cute socks with the money she earned.
When she started making the girl-girl shoots, she was having a good time, but the third, fourth and fifth shoot had to be rescheduled indefinitely, due to an unlikely string of events. One partner was ill and could not travel for the shoot. Another had tested positive for an STI, so needed to get that treated. The third changed her mind at the last minute!
This kind of stuff happens all the time (to us), but it’s rare one model is affected by so many issues in one trip… but “luck” is funny that way.
Because this all happened with little notice, we were not able to organise replacement shoot partners for Mary (we tried!), and she missed out on €2250 of shoot fees, as she had to return home for work as originally scheduled.
And, she’d already spent the money she had earned from the solo shoots!
So, we recommend to count your chickens after they have all hatched!
Using mobile data internationally
Mobile phone data when travelling overseas is a big problem – pre-paid phone plans often disallow international roaming completely (meaning, no calls, and no data overseas!), and post-paid (contract) phone plans often charge exorbitant rates for very little data or calls.
Ask your service provider for details (likely will be on their website as well). Sometimes, you can pre-pay for temporary international data allocations, or change your plan for the duration, to make it a little less costly.
It’s very likely your accommodation will have free wifi but ask to make sure.
You can buy a local pre-paid SIM card for your phone. It will cost similar to what you pay in your home country for data and local calls. That will mean most of your apps will work (eg, Twitter, Insta, Snap, Facebook, Skype, etc) but some apps will not (eg, SMS and WhatsApp are tied to your mobile phone number, which changes if you use a local SIM).
Some models have taken an old phone on their trip to put their main (home country) SIM in, and put a local data SIM in the main phone to deal with this problem.
Accommodation in Europe
Accommodation in Europe is different from that in the US, Canada, and Australia. Most accommodation in Amsterdam and Berlin do not have cooling – it rarely gets above 20°C / 68F in those cities, and certainly not for more than a few days a year.
Secondly, accommodation in old parts of cities (where we often book accommodation, as it’s conveniently close to transport hubs) may not have elevators (though, hotels and housing will seldom be more than four stories).
We are indeed sensitive about showing tattoos in shoots, based on feedback from our customers. Our customers would prefer we only ever work with models who have no tattoos (in fact, many of the model applicants we get are rejected for the number, size or placement of their tattoos).
But many models choose to get tattoos, really want to work with us – and we want to work with them! So, we need to work to cover their tattoos in shoots we make, without being too obvious about it (or rather, be bold, and embrace the cover – see examples below).
This can be difficult, but with your assistance and your Shoot Producers expertise, we can usually make a good solution. Note that we do not permit makeup to cover tattoos.
We have a few approaches for this:
Items of clothing that stay on but are adjusted (for example, remove arms from a singlet top, slide down to tummy, to cover a tummy tattoo)
Items of clothing that simply remain on for the shoot (for example, socks)
Item of clothing added as flair (for example, a bandana tied around a wrist), that remain on for the shoot
The Shoot Producer may ask you to turn a certain way for certain shots, to hide a tattoo
You Shoot Producer might ask you to hold your hand or a prop over a tattoo when it would be in shot
Usually, a combination of all of these approaches will be used, but that depends on the size, placement and number of tattoos the model has.
ABOVE: Carmen M has many small tattoos on several places of her body. In this shot, she worked with the Shoot Producer to pose in a way as to hide all her body tattoos – and her socks are hiding her ankle tattoos.
What we expect from you
Before the shoot day, our Model Liaison and / or Shoot Producer will discuss with you the placement of your tattoos, and some ideas for hiding them in the shoot.
This will always involve you bringing items of clothing to cover the tattoos, with an emphasis on bright colours and patterns. Some examples include:
Arm bands (lower arm tattoos)
Socks (lower-leg and foot tattoos)
Bolero jacket (shoulder tattoos)
Using tights / old socks (arm and leg tattoos)
Skirts (pulled up to waist to cover hip / tummy tattoos)
Shirts and sleeved dresses that unbutton all the way (good for full arm tattoos)
On the morning of the shoot day, your Shoot Producer will appreciate your help in finding different ways of hiding tattoos. During the shoot, your help to keep tattoos hidden will be appreciated – noticing when one is peeking through somehow, and fixing it, for example.
What we’ll do
On the morning of the shoot, during the Grooming Check, your Shoot Producer will note your tattoos, and start talking with you about covering them.
During the shoot, your Shoot Producer may need to remind you to pull a sock up to cover a tattoo on your ankle, or similar adjustment. They will also likely prompt you to face a certain way, so the tattoo-side is off-camera (that is, cannot be seen by our customers). For example;
If you have a tattoo of a hippo 🦛 on your outside right thigh, when that would be visible in the shot, the Shoot Producer will ask you to turn so your left thigh is facing the camera instead.
Together, we’ll make an awesome shoot! ✋High-five.
Examples of tattoos being hidden
ABOVE: In this shot of Dion D, we cut the toes out of some colourful socks to use as “arm warmers”, covering her arm tattoos.ABOVE: In this shot of Amber, the bralette has a camisole component. We left it on – but turned down like this – for the entire shoot, to cover her tattoo.ABOVE: In the shoot Emma B made with her boyf Carlos, we used a small bolero jacket to cover her shoulder tattoo.
(In fact, every shoot you do with us will follow this same pattern).
Before the Shoot day
You Shoot Producer will have confirmed with you a few days before, the date, time, and place of the shoot. If it’s not your own home, this will usually be a domestic house or apartment.
If you need to travel to a different city for the shoot, your Model Liaison will have been communicating with you about this – also see the Travelling for shoots section of our FAQ.
You will have been sent a link with more info about the Shoot Producer (so you can see what they look like 🤠, and what they do in their spare time to relax🤸. Similarly, the Shoot Producer has access to the information we have collected about you (you can check our Privacy Policy to see how we handle that info).
Arrive at the shoot location
When you arrive, the Shoot Producer will introduce themselves and show you around the shoot location. Perhaps offer a coffee and a brief chat.
About your Shoot Producer’s mindset
Shoot Producers are experts and put a lot of pressure on themselves to make good shoots (they are paid based on the quality of the shoot they make of you).
While all our Shoot Producers are friendly in general, shoot days are stressful, and there’s a lot riding on them – a small issue can have serious consequences (for example, if a neighbor starts mowing the lawn during video shooting, what happens? We cannot release a video with a lawnmower as a soundtrack!).
Shoot Producers also know that you feeling good is important, so they’ll be working hard to keep you happy and comfortable. Shoots days are a team effort, and the more you and the Shoot Producer put in, the better the result, and the happier our customers (meaning, more shoots are likely for you, and the Shoot Producer!).
“Ursula [Shoot Producer] was very comforting and right at the beginning, she explained what we were doing. First, we’re doing this, then that, then this…She said if I was uncomfortable with something that I didn’t have to do it. She said that if I was uncomfortable we could stop the shoot and that it’s no problem… That was really reassuring” (Mischa W, Jun 2021).
Do the Grooming Check
The first thing a Shoot Producer needs to do when you arrive for the shoot is to check your grooming. A serious grooming issue can mean a shoot needs to be rescheduled, or affect the shoot plan the Shoot Producer has made, so knowing that early on is essential. In the Grooming Check, your Shoot Producer will ask you to get naked and will inspect you closely for issues.
“I was a bit worried about the grooming check… I had to be quite careful and I’m not usually attentive to bruises or scratches… They just happen! In the end, it was easy and not a problem” (Dalilah, Nov 2021).
As you will have provided grooming images to the Model Liaison several times over the last few weeks (who is in touch with the Shoot Producer), there should not be any problems here. The Shoot Producer may use a checklist, to make sure they do not forget anything. They will never touch you. The Grooming Check takes perhaps five minutes, and you can get dressed again.
“He [Shoot Producer Brad] said it is easiest to just remove all clothing and just check that everything matches the grooming standards. I just got undressed and dressed again. He communicated with the Model Liaisons to make sure everything was okay. And that was it!” (Anika V, Dec 2021).
If there are grooming issues, your Shoot Producer may need to take pictures (often with their smartphone), and send them to a colleague who can help them decide how to proceed. Our policy is to always try to find a way to make the shoot happen, but sometimes, the compromises are so great that a good shoot cannot be made, and it needs to be rescheduled.
ABOVE: Shoot Producer Jacki works with model Harper in a park. See the full shoot.
Backstage images (throughout the day)
Throughout the shoot day, the Shoot Producer will capture “backstage images”, and behind-the-scenes happenings (the images on this page are all Backstage images). These are added to our site a few years after your shoot, as a popular extra feature for our customers (and some of the best ones are posted as a “Picture of the Day” in the few weeks after your shoot).
Usually, your Shoot Producer will look for backstage opportunities that are “incongruous” or unusual, for example, eating lunch topless because it’s a hot day. If the Shoot Producer goes to take a picture and you’d prefer they did not right now, just let them know, it’s no problem. More info on Backstage images.
Complete paperwork, capture IDs
Next up, paperwork and ID. abbywinters.com always operates legally, and that means the Shoot Producer needs to know you are over 18 (no matter how old you look) because there are severe consequences for them to work with an under-age model. We also need a copy of your IDs on file to meet our legal obligations. An unsuitable or missing ID will mean the shoot cannot go ahead (more info on IDs).
The Shoot Producer captures the front and back of your ID, often using their smartphone (they use a special application we made called Homonoia (the Greek goddess for the oneness of mind) that sends the images directly to our secure servers). Takes under five minutes. More info on Homonoia.
We need clear permission from you to be able to use the material the Shoot Producer captures of you, on our website, so you need to sign a “Release form” (you “release” the rights you have to the images, to our company, abbywinters.com BV). You had a chance to read this in the Basic Info Questionnaire when you first applied to work with us, and the Model Liaison can send a PDF if you want to read it again before the shoot. More info on our Release Form.
Sometimes, this form is completed on paper, other times it’s completed on your and the Shoot Producer’s smartphones in the Homonoia app (this is more efficient; again, the data is transmitted to our servers securely). You’ll be emailed a PDF of the completed Release document after the shoot, for your records.
We ask you to handwrite a short note on how you’re feeling about the shoot that’s about to happen. Some colorful drawings are also nice – these help customers get a sense of who you are. More info about Handwritten Bios.
Select clothes
Your Shoot Producer will ask you to lay out all the clothes and props you have brought with you, so they can select the most suitable items. Your input is most welcome at this stage – items that you know make your butt look good or things that go well together, for example. More info about the clothes to bring.
However, the Shoot Producer also has their own ideas, and are informed by the extensive training they have taken (if you’re interested, you can see some of the training we provide Shoot Producers), and will work to select a set of clothes that are right for our site.
Once selected (top, bottom, panties, bra, some accessories, socks), the Shoot Producer will ask you to get changed in private. They’ll keep working on setting up the shooting area, making sure the lighting is good, and testing their camera.
“I feel like the shoot was very collaborative. Like, which bra to wear with which dress…The Shoot Producer and I bounced ideas off each other.” (Elise V, Jan 2022)
ABOVE: Shoot Producer Jacki sorts through a model’s clothes to select the most suitable outfit.
Pre shoot briefing
The Pre Shoot Briefing recaps what will happen today in practical terms. The Shoot Producer will ask models to share their understanding of what’s required and expected before the shoot begins. Together, they will workshop some poses for the shoot, and other thematic ideas – this varies by the Shoot Type that has been booked. We have a Pre Shoot Briefing FAQ that has more details.
Asking questions is always ok, and your Shoot Producer will always take time to answer them fully, but this is a particularly good opportunity to ask any you have so far.
“Hermann [Shoot Producer] had ideas and I had ideas and we melted our ideas together and he was excited about my ideas and I was excited about his ideas. I can tell that he has done this a long time! He knew what he was doing. It was easy to trust his eye after a little while. He is also funny! He makes you feel relaxed.” (Flo, Mar 2021)
Do warm-ups together
The importance of warming up before a sporting activity is well-known (reducing the chance of injury, and muscle pain after the event), and warming up your voice is also important (helps you speak more clearly). Emotional warm-ups help bond with your co-workers (in this case, your Shoot Producer), help you relate to each other, and feel good about working together.
Your Shoot Producer will lead a short 10-minute session of physical, vocal, and emotional warm-ups to help you both get pumped, and get in the zone.
“I loved the warm-ups we did with the ‘purity test’ and asking questions – I loved that idea. I almost like that I was not told about that beforehand has really helped with my nerves. I liked how cool and open the questions were, it was not just ‘what’s your favorite colour?’ stuff it was deeper stuff, like ‘have you ever touched someone sexually on a train?’. I liked that he opened up as well, helped me relax and feel like we had some trust.” (Jada S, Jul 2018)
Shoot stills
The information here for shooting Stills (and below, shooting Video) is general. We have a separate page, What am I actually expected to DO in a Solo shoot? that provides info from a different perspective.
Usually, shooting still images happens before shooting video on the shoot day (but sometimes, shooting video will happen first). This allows the Shoot Producer to direct you through a bunch of things without worrying about their voice being recorded (on video, we only want to hear your voice, not theirs).
In all our shoots (for both Stills and Video components), you always start clothed, and over the course of the shoot you’ll gradually get naked, and then pose to the maximum posing level you selected.
ABOVE: Shoot Producer Toby and model discuss a particular pose.
The Shoot Producer will direct you into poses, for example, “Stand by the window, and look out it”, or “keep your head there, but look into the camera”. We say ‘poses’, but it’s pretty casual stuff, and we don’t expect you to have any professional experience.
The first section of the shoot is where customers get to know you, so there’ll be a bunch of stuff clothed, but sometimes with a sexy element, for example, the Shoot Producer might ask that you stand on the coffee table and change a light globe, while they shoot from down low, looking up your skirt, catching a glimpse of your panties 😉
In the early part of the shoot, the Shoot Producer will be checking each image they capture of you on their digital camera, and perhaps making adjustments to the camera, lights, set-pieces, or set-dressing elements to look right, so it’ll feel a little slow at first. But after 10 minutes or so, the pace will increase.
ABOVE: A model checks out an image the Shoot Producer made of them. It’s always fine to ask to see some images!
Over time (around one hour), you’ll get naked, removing each article of clothing one piece at a time. Sometimes, you might be asked to take something off, then put it back on again (for example, t-shirt off, bra off, t-shirt back on, squeeze your breasts over the t-shirt).
At any time, it’s fine to let the Shoot Producer know you’re not comfortable with a given pose – that’s never a problem – and they’ll move on to something else (but, they do need to make a complete shoot, so if you keep rejecting their ideas for images of your butt (for example), that’s a problem, because a complete shoot includes many butt pictures).
At any time, it’s also fine to suggest stuff – Shoot Producers love it when models do this – for example, “Shall I do a handstand?”, or “What if I sit like this, is that better for the light?” (this is especially helpful when you hear them muttering about light, and making many small changes to get it to be perfect). As we move through the shoot, it becomes more sexual in nature, so poses that emphasize your butt, vulva, legs, breasts will be more common.
Throughout the shoot, the Shoot Producer will be taking a mixture of images that are “wide shots” (showing your whole body), mid shots (showing you from the waist-up), closeups (for example, of your breasts), and extreme closeups (for example, of one nipple).
ABOVE: Shoot Producer Izzy checks the quality of a nipple extreme closeup.
Around half the stills shoot will be at the highest Posing Level you chose. For example, say you’re comfortable with the Open Leg Posing Level, and the stills component takes four hours. For the first two hours of the shoot, you’ll be clothed, in bra-and-panties, and nude, doing a bunch of poses. For the second two hours of the shoot, almost all the poses will be at the Open Leg level (the video component of the shoot follows a similar pattern).
At the end of the Stills session, there’s one more sequence to be shot, called Dressing Room. This is where you get dressed in a different set of clothes, while the Shoot Producer “hides” behind something (to create the feel of voyeuristic images). This is fast-paced, and the camera stays static (often on a tripod) while the Shoot Producer directs you – takes around five minutes.
ABOVE: Shoot Producer Misha shows model Amabella how she wants her to pose for a certain shot. A Backstage image from this Open Leg Solo shoot.
“I loved that with poses, she [Shoot Producer Guilia] would sometimes jump to the floor and show you what she meant rather than leaving you guessing and feeling silly.” (Zina B, Nov 2018)
“He [Shoot Producer Brad] brought a couple of salads, which is what I asked for. Something light and easy to digest. There is a lot of fast food and heavy foods around and food on the Strip in Vegas is really expensive. He brought salads and a sandwich… It was perfect!…He brought snacks too! Pretzels and watermelon and little things to snack on during the shoot. He listened to my request for healthy foods!” (Anika V, Dec 2021).
Do warm-ups again
After the cool-down of lunch, it’s time to do warm-ups again, similar to the pre-stills edition. The voice and the physical stuff are more important for video.
Shoot video
The Shoot Producer needs to use a different camera and lighting equipment for video, so there’s a change-over required.
ABOVE: Shoot Producer Misha sets up a video shot outside.
Wrap up
Now the shoot’s done, there’s just some admin wrapping up to do. A bit more paperwork (including another handwritten note describing how you feel now the shoot is done), pack up your clothes and other personal items, and finalise some paperwork in the Homonoia app.
You Shoot Producer has a few more hours of work to do tonight, getting the shoot uploaded to our servers, and a bunch of admin, and preparing for the next day’s shoot. So, if you finish packing up your stuff first, your Shoot Producer will appreciate your help to pack up their stuff – perhaps carrying gear to their car, general clean up, or washing dishes / moving furniture back – whatever it takes for you both to be able to head home sooner.
“I appreciated how efficient the shoot was. It didn’t feel like a drawn-out process where I was exhausted.” (Alonya, Oct 2021)
ABOVE: Model Lucie L (from this shoot) helps their Shoot Producer carry some gear back to the car after a long day shooting outside in a large Amsterdam park.
Get forms
At the conclusion of the shoot, our system will automatically email you a copy of your Release form for your records.
Get paid
We send your payment from headquarters the next Dutch business day after the shoot, to the bank details you provided, though if you’re scheduled to appear in several shoots over several days, we’ll pay you after the last shoot in a block.
If she’s interested, we often offer several shoots of each model we work with (of her alone, and with other models, if she chooses)… but that depends on a few things.
It’s efficient for us and you to do several shoots when you’re travelling to a distant Shoot Producer (more info on travelling to Shoot Producers) – it means we get more value from the cost of the flights, and of course, it’s more convenient for you as well.
The first shoot a model does with us, we typically do not book other shoots in the same visit. What if she decides it’s not for her? What if we find out, actually, she’s not so good for us? That’s going to be awkward and expensive for everyone, so your first shoot will normally be a single-shoot-trip.
Subsequent trips we work to maximise the amount of shoots you can do, into a block of shoot. Perhaps four shoots over five days, for example. Factors that affect this are:
Shoot Producer skillset. Not all Shoot Producers can make all kindsa of shoots. it takes time for them to master each type of shoot we need. Currently, most shoot blocks are organised with our Shoot Producers in Barcelona Spain, and Amsterdam, Netherlands. We’d pay for your flights and accom of course.
Shoot Producer availability. Shoot Producers do not only work with us, they have many clients. Some shoot feature films, TV commercials, teach photography, make training videos, teach yoga, and so on. But, they enjoy AW work, and where possible will make room in their schedule for multiple shoots over several days. Some Shoot Producers prefer to have a break between shoot days, so they can bring 100% to each shoot. Some Shoot Producers prefer not to work on weekends (others can only work on weekends).
Our need for shoots. Some shoots we always need more of (for example, girl-boy shoots), but for other shoots (for example, Solo) there’s only a certain number that are useful to us (ie, that we are able to sell to our customers). Our site is strongest when there are shoots of many different models, so we have “quotas” (the maximum number of shoots of a certain type a model may appear in). These can be a little flexible for excellent models.
Model availability. Of course, the model needs to be available when the Shoot Producer is available!
Other-model availability. While some shoots are done with one model, many shoots require two or more models, so we need to ensure there are other models available to shoot with you (and similarly, other models for them to shoot with!).
Rest days. We want you looking your best in each shoot, and we know that more than two consecutive shoot days can be rough for anyone – moreso if you have travelled internationally more than a few hours (jetlag). For longer flights, we allow a day or two to get over jet lag.
Model work ethic. Models who are difficult to work with, don’t take direction well, are consistently late, don’t respond to contact attempts, feel they “know better” than the Shoot Producer, or make other models feel bad will not be asked for more work – and in fact, a booked trip may be cut short in these circumstances. More info on how we expect models to work with us.
Grooming issues. We require a high standard of grooming for each shoot a model appears in. We know that grooming is often made worse on long flights, and we do what we can to minimise this (staying hydrated, and moisturising help). We work hard to make excellent shoots (not average shoots), and shoots may need to be re-scheduled or cancelled because of grooming issues.
STI test results. Models appearing in shoots that involve sexual interaction with other models must be tested clear for a range of STI tests, results no more than a few weeks old. Older test results, one disease / infection not tested for, ambiguous results, missing results, or incomplete results will cause a shoot to be cancelled or rescheduled.
Whew! As you can see, it’s complicated! 😕 Luckily, we have ninja-like Model Liaisons who are experts in this, supported by a team who help them, also supported by models who are responsive.
Perhaps the most useful thing a model can do to increase the likelihood of more shoots being offered on a trip, is to respond promptly when our Model Liaisons make contact!
“I felt fine! I didn’t expect it to be so relaxed and easy. I wasn’t tired but I felt inspired to do more shoots with you.” (Jessy, Nov 2022)
Our policy for offering a model more shoots applies in several situations;
For the next shoot in a block of shoots (ie, the model is already in the Shoot City);
When booking new shoot blocks; and
When booking new individual shoots.
(a “block” of shoots is when we fly a model to a city where one of our Shoot Producers works, and book several shoots over a few days).
Generally, more shoots will be offered if the model is;
Comfortable with that shoot type
“Good” to work with
Meets our grooming requirements
Under-quota for a given shoot type
We need shoots of that type
While that may seem like many difficult “hoops” to jump through, we typically offer every model we work with between three and ten shoots (that’s a generalisation, not a promise!).
The model is comfortable with that shoot type
We offer most models of our Shoot Types (more info on the Shoot Types we offer). If a model chooses not to participate in that shoot type, we will not offer that shoot type in the future, unless the model asks us about other work opportunities. If the model changes her mind after previously rejecting work for a given Shoot Type, we’ll likely (but not definitely) be open to offering work within that Shoot Type again.
For Solo shoots, after the first Solo shoot the model appears in, we may let the model choose her preferred Posing level, or we may offer a specific Posing Level, for example;
The model wants to earn the most amount of money for her next Solo shoot, so when another is offered, she requests the Insertions Posing Level (more info on how Posing Levels work).
But the website actually needs more Open-Leg Solo shoots (not Insertions), so the Open Leg Posing Level is offered to the model for this shoot.
Open Leg Solo shoots pay a little less than Insertions shoots, so the model can choose to accept or decline that shoot offer.
We never offer or encourage models to participate in a higher Solo shoot Posing Level than they say they are comfortable with.
If the model declines the Solo shoot Posing Level we offer now, our offer for Solo shoots is unlikely to change in the future (ie, the next Solo shoot we can offer that model will be at that specific Posing Level, whether the shoot happens next week or next year).
Declining an offered Solo shoot will not affect other work we may offer the model, but it may mean a block of shoots over the span of several days will be shorter because there are fewer shoots.
We have plenty of models we can work with, and we prefer to work with models who are a pleasure to work with. 😌
For example;
Model Angela responds to emails from the Model Liaison promptly when organising the shoot. She knows some of the tasks (like sending Grooming Images) are a bit annoying, but understands that how she looks really matters to our customers, so she sends the images that night – even though she’s tired from her day-job. A few days before the shoot, she checks the FAQs again to make sure she’s fully prepared.
When she arrives on set, she brought a cupcake for the Shoot Producer, and helps them carry some of the gear upstairs.
Having done a few abbywinters.com shoots before, without being asked, she lays some possible outfits out on the bed, giving the Shoot Producer some options to choose from, and suggests some accessories that might work well – the SP agrees with all and teamwork is the real winner today 🥇.
Angela encourages the Shoot Producer to do some extra stretches before the shoot and offers to share her skipping rope for some extra warmups. Exercising with another person always makes it less tedious!
During the shoot, when the Shoot Producer asks some questions Angela would prefer not to answer on video, Angela asks the SP to stop recording and shares her concern. She works with the SP to plan out some similar questions on a different topic, and says she’s ready to start recording again.
After the shoot, in their notes, the Shoot Producer recommends Angela for more shoots, because she was so engaged in the process (plus, the cupcake was delicious! 🧁).
When Angela gets home and reflects on the day, she realises there was an aspect that was surprising to her – while she was actually ok with it, she imagines other models might not be so comfortable. She checks the FAQ’s to see how that’s presented, and finds that it’s not really made clear. She emails the Model Liaison with a suggestion to improve that part. 😍
You don’t have to do everything Angela did, but her approach was excellent.
Consider another example;
Model Mary is booked for a series of shoots over five days. On day 3, she arrives late and decides she wants to wear makeup in the shoot… maybe because she thinks she’s not looking so good – getting home a 3am with a 9am shoot booked is a problem! Wearing makeup is not suitable for our shoots, but Mary insists.
The shoots on days 3, 4 and 5 are cancelled (and are unlikely to be rescheduled), because we find that Mary’s being difficult to work with.
We’re unlikely to offer any more shoots with Mary because people like Angela are better to work with.
Meet our grooming requirements
Because we do not use makeup or Photoshop, we have moderately strict grooming requirements (more info).
Model Jane is booked for a series of shoots with us, over four days (we call this a “shoot block”).
On day 2, she has a grooming issue that cannot be fixed. The shoots on days 3 and 4 are rescheduled to next month.
We’ll always make a best effort to reschedule shoots, but it’s complex and expensive to do so, and we may not be able to reschedule as promptly as the model would like. While it can be weeks, it may also be months.
Per-model quotas for shoot types
While every model adds her unique flair to our site, our whole site full of vibrant models is greater value to our customers than just the total number of shoots.
That means, we need to keep a variety of models appearing on the site each month.
Also, it’s likely your third Solo shoot will not be much different to your fourth solo shoot (for example). We don’t have unlimited money to spend on shoots, so we limit the number of shoots any one model can appear in – we call these Shoot Quotas.
In an effort to satisfy our customers and offer models more work, in 2021 we developed “Special Redux” shoots, which are a deep dive into a specific theme. These often require specific props and locations and are more complex to organise.
Models who meet the other requirements on this page are likely to be offered Special Redux shoots when they are available.
The shoots we need to update our site
We release new shoots on our site every day of the year, so we always need to make new shoots. Different types of shoots are released more and less often, but we aim to have many of each shoot type “in stock”, so we have time to edit them, and keep a variety of models appearing each month.
But, if we have a surplus of one type of shoot, we may make less shoots of that type for a time. This matter rarely affects the work we can offer models, but it is possible.
Once a shoot is made, it needs to be uploaded, verified, edited, and packaged. This typically takes a few weeks.
However, just because a shoot is ready to be released, does not mean it gets released right away. Our Content Admin crew carefully evaluate each shoot to determine when it fits in best with the broader schedule. They often do this scheduling directly after the shoot is made, but the date may change a few times before it’s released.
Lately, the average time for a new Solo shoot to be released on the site is 1 month (that’s an estimation, not a promise!).
In the Upcoming Shoots section on our members home page, you can scroll across to see the next four weeks of scheduled releases. If you’re curious, you can contact model.application@abbywinters.com, and they can let you know the current expectation. It may change from there, though.
“The Grooming Check was easy-going. Giulia [Shoot Producer] said we could do it when I was ready. I read about this before so I was not surprised.” (
“
“Giulia [Shoot Producer] told me that she would not touch me and that she would just be looking. She was just looking to compare things to the photos that were approved before. Just comparing…At one of my shoots, she had to take and send photos [to her support team to check if she could proceed] and she deleted them when she was done” (
“The team was so professional. They asked me what I’d like to eat [for lunch on the shoot days]! I mentioned that I don’t like tomatoes but Giulia [Shoot Producer] is very healthy so she kept offering me water and things. I’ve never had hummus but I liked the hummus! She gave me a lot of vegetables and it gave me a lot of energy. I usually need some sugar every few hours for energy. She encouraged me to be healthy. I am impressed with Giulia! ” (
“She [Shoot Producer Ursula] was very professional. She has done this job for more years and says this company is paying the biggest wages in the EU for Girl-Girl shoots” (
“I was worried about traveling to a new place alone… It is obviously a worry! But, it was all planned for me and I had a schedule to stick to. I got to the airport on time and landed okay… Everything went fine!” (
“Ursula [Shoot Producer] was very comforting and right at the beginning, she explained what we were doing. First, we’re doing this, then that, then this…She said if I was uncomfortable with something that I didn’t have to do it. She said that if I was uncomfortable we could stop the shoot and that it’s no problem… That was really reassuring” (
“I was a bit worried about the grooming check… I had to be quite careful and I’m not usually attentive to bruises or scratches… They just happen! In the end, it was easy and not a problem” (
“He [
“I feel like the shoot was very collaborative. Like, which bra to wear with which dress…The Shoot Producer and I bounced ideas off each other.” (
“
“I loved the warm-ups we did with the ‘purity test’ and asking questions – I loved that idea. I almost like that I was not told about that beforehand has really helped with my nerves. I liked how cool and open the questions were, it was not just ‘what’s your favorite colour?’ stuff it was deeper stuff, like ‘have you ever touched someone sexually on a train?’. I liked that he opened up as well, helped me relax and feel like we had some trust.” (
“I loved that with poses, she [Shoot Producer Guilia] would sometimes jump to the floor and show you what she meant rather than leaving you guessing and feeling silly.” (
“I appreciated how efficient the shoot was. It didn’t feel like a drawn-out process where I was exhausted.” (
be so relaxed and easy. I wasn’t tired but I felt inspired to do more shoots with you.” (