Ten Things Women Artists Have Never Asked of Me

I’ve been modeling for seven years now. Many of the male artists I’ve worked with have been lovely. Some of them have been awful. All of them could have benefitted from consulting their female and LGBTQIA colleagues. Here are ten things female artists have never, ever asked me to do:

1. To  model for free.
   Every single woman artist who has ever asked me to work with her on her project has paid in cash, traded a good or service, or, on one of my favorite occasions, cooked me and all other models a feast at her home. Also, I did not have to ask for this compensation or remind any of the women artists to provide it in a timely fashion. Probably because they were so tired of requests for free labor themselves.
   
   The honor of being in a project is not sufficient payment for hours of labor. Assuming otherwise is presumptuous and rude. It’s also traditional: women have been providing free labor for centuries. Male artists, break out of this tradition. Provide a headshot for models’ resumes, offer to photograph their own projects for them or suck it up and pay them $10+ an hour. If that sounds like a lot, imagine working an hour for someone and walking away with $0.
2. To stay the night, accept sexual comments or diminutive nicknames or go on a date while working together.
   Female artists never call me “baby,” “sweetheart,” or “honey.” They call me my name, as you would with a coworker in any other capacity. Even the ones with whom I was close or shared a mutual attraction understood that that kind of language is for outside of a work environment.
3. To collaborate with the ulterior motive of trying to date me.
   I mean are you fucking kidding me.
4. To deal with freezing cold or burning hot weather for the stated or implied “greater good of the project.”
   Good work is conscientious. If not being shitty isn’t good enough motivation to be considerate, know that discomfort will show through in your work. Check the temperature in advance of the shoot. Models might do this as well, but if you are selecting the location and setting the schedule it is your responsibility first. If you’re doing a shoot in the snow, bring blankets and sweaters and something dry for models to stand on. If it is hot, bring water. Do not bring too little water or too few blankets.
5. To accept that my physical comfort will be ignored for extended periods of time.
   Modeling is holding still, meaning the profession is intrinsically strenuous. That does not absolve anyone of courtesy. Light and temperature change. Ask about comfort frequently, as in on the hour. Adjust accordingly. Duh.
6. To go without water or food for longer than two hours.
   If a shoot spans six hours, that is the length of time between two meals. Do not pretend you do not know this. I know that you are familiar with the concept of the three-meal day.
7. To discover strangers or unexpected guests at the shoot.
   Women are accustomed to feeling “on display” in public spaces. In some ways, a photograph and a studio space are distillations of this experience, narrowing the focus on the subject even further. I think that’s why female artists generally understand that this intense atmosphere is sacred, and the presence of someone other than the photographer should be mentioned in advance.
   
8. To pose or move only in the way they direct.
   The women artists I have worked with have shared their vision and let me interpret it physically. They have asked for tweaks along the way, but generally fewer than men. And that’s why these women artists produce work that looks fresh, original and organic. Because our interaction was fresh, original and organic.I’ve been living in this body for 25 years. I’ve studied it in more settings and artistic works than you. I take a lot of selfies. I know how to make it look interesting.  Don’t stilt your work by refusing to trust your models.
9. To discover my name not included in credits, the work’s accompanying plaque or on online platforms.
   
   ……………………………
10. To not have a problem with the power dynamic. The women artists I have worked with recognize that even when credited, models are generally perceived as lesser contributors (never as artists in their own right) and attempted to combat this perception.
    Even though a photograph’s magic often centers on the spirit and expression of models, the person who captures the moment will receive accolades first and foremost. The female artists I’ve worked with have always talked about models’ contributions with gallery-goers or online consumers.
    
    I don’t need to tell you that models are perceived as workponies carrying out the vision and composition of the “real artist.” Models are considerd substanceless at best and stupid at worst. Combat this by sharing your resources with them: uplift their projects or talk about what they contributed to yours. This is the meaning of “extending your privilege to dismantle it.”