We are committed to making consenting shoots that are physically and emotionally comfortable for models.
If problems are not addressed during the shoot, they may get worse – that’s bad for everyone. If you have a problem with how someone is behaving, let us know so we can address it. We acknowledge that sometimes, these conversations are difficult or scary to have… but they still need to be had.
When you raise an issue;
- Your concerns will always be taken seriously
- We’ll always be straight with you, and we expect the same from you: honesty and an open desire to fix problems (see what we expect from models, and what you can expect from us).
- If your performance is affected by an issue you did not give us an opportunity to resolve – regardless who is “at fault” – subsequent shoots may not be able to proceed
- Help us by clarifying if this matter is a “sense of unease”, or a more serious matter (or somewhere in between) – don’t make us guess!
In the lead-up to the shoot
If a Shoot Producer has behaved inappropriately before the shoot (for example, via emails, text messages, phone calls), let the Model Liaison know.
Make your concern clear, for example;
Model: I was texting with the Shoot Producer, and he seemed a little weird, but we set a date.
“A little weird” is a vague comment that is difficult to interpret – and is not practical for us to take action on.
A better approach could be;
Model: When I was texting with the Shoot Producer, I felt uncomfortable. He was asking me how often I wash my clothes, and that does not seem relevant to the shoot to me?
This is inappropriate, and we’d investigate this (more info on how we investigate reports of inappropriate things). We’d ask you for screenshots of the conversation, so the context was clear.
Questions from Shoot Producers before the shoot may need to be personal in nature (for example, asking about your underwear, masturbation routine or menstrual cycle) – these are relevant to planning a shoot!
Expect Shoot Producers to behave professionally at all times, even while discussing very personal matters – more info in our Models Charter.
On the shoot day
Shoot Producers are motivated by making shoots that meet the requirements of our customers, with models who are collaborative and engaged. They are experts in media production, and well trained in what we require technically and creatively.
For serious offences, first the model should be clear about the issue – consider if it could be a misunderstanding, from two different perspectives.
Let’s imagine a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is a minor inconvenience and 5 is a very serious issue.
Level 1: The model has a preference that’s different to the Shoot Producer
A minor issue, a passing comment like “I’d prefer to do things this way – could that work for you?” will be listened to and respected. Likely, some compromise can be made, and your Shoot Producer will always be open to this. Perhaps some negotiation will take place, for example;
✔️ You want to wear the blue socks, but the Shoot Producer would prefer the red socks. You guys discuss it, and decide to wear one red and one blue sock for fun. 😅
In most cases, we can come to an agreement. Occasionally, we may not be able to (for example, you only want to wear black clothes, but as we’ve made clear, we can’t make shoots of models wearing all black).
This sort of small compromise regularly happens on shoots every week, and is no problem.
Level 2: The model is uncomfortable
More serious issues should be clearly raised by the model. For example;
🤔 In an interview portion of the shoot, the Shoot Producer asks you about how you like your breasts to be touched. You had a recent bad experience with your breasts being groped without your permission, and would rather not talk about that today.
🛑 You say, “I don’t want to answer questions about my breasts today, please.”
✔️ The Shoot Producer agrees, and changes the subject – and does not ask you to talk about her breasts again (and does not ask the model why, either!).
Something like this happens once or twice a week, it’s never a problem.
Level 3: The model feels offended or significantly inconvenienced
Perhaps the Shoot Producer said something that offended the model – while our Shoot Producers are selected to be creative professionals, they are also humans who can make mistakes, make bad jokes, or misunderstand your mood. Or maybe the lunch the Shoot Producer provided does not meet the agreed requirements, or the shoot ran several hours over time without warning?
It can be awkward to speak calmly when things have gone wrong, but it will mean the shoot day does not need to be cancelled if the model and Shoot Producer can sort this out.
Models can expect a sincere apology from the Shoot Producer, and modified behaviour for the remainder of the shoot day.
It’s always fine to message the Model Liaison on WhatsApp if speaking with the Shoot Producer is not working – you can ask the matter to be escalated to the Shoot Producer Trainer, or even the Owner of the company (however, due to time zones, they may not be able to address the issue immediately).
This happens a few times a year. It’s very awkward for everyone. 😬
Level 4: The model is verbally abused
For example, the Shoot Producer calls the model inappropriate names, bullies the model, or raises their voice in anger.
While this probably comes from a place of frustration of the shoot not going right, this is unacceptable behaviour. We will investigate all cases thoroughly. Depending on the findings, the Shoot Producer may be reprimanded, placed on probation, or required to attend additional training. Repeat offences will result in termination of the Shoot Producer’s contract with us.
At any time during a shoot day, the model should feel free to leave the set – she will never be restricted from doing so. In such a situation, the company will reimburse the model for an Uber (or similar) ride to a safe place of their choosing within the Shoot City, and organise their trip home promptly.
Let the Model Liaison know what happened as soon as you are able to, so we can support you.
This happens occasionally – once every few years.
Level 5: The model has been physically assaulted
For example, the Shoot Producer slaps a model, or commits some other form of physical violence. The Shoot Producer does not let the model leave the shoot location (for example, locking the door).
This is completely unacceptable.
We encourage the model to contact the police promptly, and to let us know about it as well. We will always help the police in their investigation, and we’ll do our own investigation as well.
This is a “two way street” – if a model assaults a Shoot Producer, the Shoot Producer may choose to involve the police (and will definitely cancel the shoot!).
This has never happened in the 22+ year history of the company.
After the shoot
If you receive unwanted attention or inappropriate comments from anyone connected with abbywinters.com after a shoot, let us know.
But first, consider the “context”. For example;
We email you to offer some work for next week. You’re busy next week, so you don’t bother responding. We SMS you a few days later because we got no response, and try calling you the day after that.
You feel we are being overbearing, and you don’t like it! From our perspective, you have expressed interest in more shoots, we’d like to make more shoots of you, and the Shoot Producer wants the work…
If you had simply let us know you’re not available, we’ll stop trying to make contact! (And if you don’t want to work with us at all any more, that’s fine as well – how to handle that).
If it’s a more serious offence, for example, if someone is trying to set up a date (like, a romantic date, not a shoot date!), sexting with you, sending you inappropriate pictures of themselves, inviting you to social / personal occasions, or similar – that’s not appropriate. Let the abbywinters.com Owner know, on garion.hall@abbywinters.com. If the Owner is the one making inappropriate advances, message the Shoot Producer Trainer, Masie, on masie@abbywinters.com.
For the most serious issues, for example, someone from abbywinters.com shows up uninvited at your home, workplace or a social gathering, or some other kind of stalking behaviour, harassment or bullying (online or in-person), it’s appropriate to report it to the police. Please also let us know about the situation.
We’ve never had such an accusation in our company’s history, but we will take such an accusation very seriously.
