Dilemma - to shoot or not?

Ian Leake · Jun 3, 2007

I had an interesting dilemma today - midway through a shoot my model fell asleep It seemed a bit brutish to wake her up and send her back to work so I let her sleep for a bit.

I often find that when peole are relaxing they have the most wonderfully natural forms. In this case while she was asleep her hands and face were quite beautiful.

My dilemma was whether to take a photo of her while she slept or not. I decided to take it and ask for permission afterwards. In fact she was really happy and we re-posed the photo and made a better version. But I'm still not sure I did the right thing.

What would you have done?

Roger Hicks · Jun 3, 2007

Ian Leake said:
I had an interesting dilemma today - midway through a shoot my model fell asleep It seemed a bit brutish to wake her up and send her back to work so I let her sleep for a bit.

I often find that when peole are relaxing they have the most wonderfully natural forms. In this case while she was asleep her hands and face were quite beautiful.

My dilemma was whether to take a photo of her while she slept or not. I decided to take it and ask for permission afterwards. In fact she was really happy and we re-posed the photo and made a better version. But I'm still not sure I did the right thing.

What would you have done?

Dear Ian,

Shoot first. Ask questions afterwards. (Seriously).

Cheers,

Roger

jstraw · Jun 3, 2007

I'd have shot. Having the negative is not the same as using the image.

gr82bart · Jun 3, 2007

Ian Leake said:
What would you have done?

I would have (and have previously) taken the shot. In fact I have several images of sleeping models and several of my ex's too (most of whom were models) - all with their permission. In fact I warn them ahead of time that if they fall asleep, and they look 'good' and my camera is around, they're fair game. No one's complained yet. Look, the fact is, models know they look good when they fall asleep.

Regards, Art.

Ian Leake · Jun 3, 2007

gr82bart said:
... and several of my ex's too (most of whom were models) ...

Now you're just bragging Art Seriously though, thanks everyone for your thoughts on this. Ian.

gr82bart · Jun 3, 2007

Ian Leake said:
Now you're just bragging Art

Seriously, they were! I ain't bragging. I swear. Strangely, they are often references for me whenever I shoot new models.

Regards, Art.

Renato Tonelli · Jun 3, 2007

Too much hand-wringing over a photograph of a model who was there to be photographed to begin with, in my opinion.

25asa · Jun 3, 2007

Sleeping on the job?
I wish I could do that.

Don't stop shooting because an employee falls asleep!

IloveTLRs · Jun 3, 2007

In art school we used to draw/paint/sculpt models even if they fell asleep

haris · Jun 8, 2007

One of mine favorite photographers, Jeanloup Sieff was saying he very often found himslef in situation where he needed to wake up his models after photographing them. He was reffering to his style, how slow he work...

Ian Leake · Jun 8, 2007

Well if it's OK for Jeanloup Sieff (and Art of course), then it's OK for me.

Dilemma - to shoot or not?

haris

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