Models’ safety and consent are the most important things in all shoots we make.
We work hard to help models understand what to expect on a Guest Direction shoot – this Guest Direction FAQ is the main part of this, and we encourage models to read it carefully, and ask us questions. This helps set the “playing field” – we call it “setting expectations”.
Before we start capturing video on the shoot day, the Guest Director will deliver a Pre-Shoot Briefing, an interactive discussion about what will happen today, how we’ll deal with problems, how we’ll make an excellent shoot. There’s ample time to ask questions and set boundaries before the shoot starts.
During each challenge (“gambit”) in a Guest Direction shoot – there’s around 30 – the model’s consent is asked for, and the model is free to decide how to respond. There’s no “penalty” for not giving consent. In fact, if a model is uncomfortable in a Guest Direction shoot at any time, they can call a stop, or use the “safe word” chosen before the shoot starts.
If that happens, we’ll stop the activity immediately, and stop recording video.
Then we discuss how to move forward. Maybe we need to;
- Change how this challenge works
- Add a cushion to kneel on, for more comfort
- Do this one sitting on the sofa instead of the floor
- Require less bending
- Try a different challenge instead
- “Downgrade” the Posing Level for this shoot
- Cancel the shoot entirely.
Whatever the model decides, it’s never a problem. The Guest Director and Shoot Producer make a plan with the Model, and we’ll follow through on that plan (if the decision is to cancel the shoot, we’ll probably destroy the media, and the model will not be paid – but that decision will be made a few days after the shoot, by the creative department. The model’s input will be requested before a decision is made).
Unlike most of our other shoots, the model will not know exactly what is going to happen in a Guest Direction shoot (the model’s first genuine reaction to the challenges are part of what makes Guest Direction shoots interesting to our customers).
That means the Main Model needs to trust the Guest Director to respect their boundaries. This is a key part of Guest Director training, and Guest Directors are also selected for their compassion and empathy.
The model’s selected Posing Level will never be exceeded, for example;
Model Jane chose to do a Guest Direction shoot, and set her Posing Level as Open Leg.
Guest Director Beth designs a shoot with that in mind, creating challenges and activities that do not involve touching each other’s pussies (the main differentiator between the Open Leg and Explicit Posing Levels).
During the shoot, Guest Director Beth is careful to never cross the line to Explicit Posing level Activities.
The Shoot Producer is also “on the lookout” for pushing the boundaries too much, and Jane is encouraged regularly to speak up if she is uncomfortable.
