Books:
F.A.Q.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
(taken straight from your emails)
The questions are divided into several chapters (underlined), so scroll down for the topic of your interest if you don’t want to read all 4,217 words (sorry for the length, but it is in the Books section).
-- LOUISVILLE NIGHTCLUB SCENE AND PARTY PICS --
You took my picture at a party, can you email it to me?
No. When I am shooting snapshots in nightclubs, I am working directly for the club or the promoter. They take the images, add their logo and decide which ones are posted. Visit the club’s website and/or their MySpace profile and look for the album with the name and date of the party you attended. Not all of the hundreds of frames I shoot are selected for posting. I do NOT post those photos on my websites and I cannot possibly email every photo to the thousands of people who I shoot.
But I saw you post one of your pics on a MySpace comment.
Occasionally I will take an image that I like and put it in my portfolio and if I have the free time, I might share it with a friend who is in it (or who tipped me), but otherwise I do not choose which images are posted.
So you are like the paparazzi?
No, no, no. Let me clarify: Paparrazzi crash parties and sell their photos to publications. I work for the clubs and so their customer is my customer. I am a contracted staff person in the same way that the DJ is hired to work that night. Some of my clients have me on payroll and send me a tax form just like the other employees. I do not just show up and shoot for the sake of networking and promoting myself and I am NOT a paparazzi!
So how much do you charge to shoot a party or event?
Visit the Booking link on my website
How come your name and credit is not on all the photos?
Well, I shoot thousands of snapshots at parties and I’m just not that vain enough to take the time to put my name on every picture. Sometimes my clients choose to post a photo that I think looks horrible and frankly don’t want my name on it. Any and all photos with the Tengo sed Cantina, Angel’s Rockbar, Hotel and The D List logo were shot by me and many of the photos with the List and Sully’s logo are mine also. Sometimes I don’t even know where the party pics get posted. As long as my name is on the paycheck, I am less concerned with having the name on the photo. BUT, I still own the copyrights to every photo I take as do all photographers. Photos that appear in publications should have the photo credit just as articles should have the byline by the writer, but ads typically do not credit the creators because you don’t want to distract from the product being advertised.
What happens when another photographer shows up at an event you are working and takes pictures of people partying?
They wake up to a horse’s head in their bed.
Seriously?
No, it’s an allusion to the movie The Godfather. I was just kidding of course. I don’t mind at all as long as they are not trying to steal my clients. Most photographers in town all know each other and we get along well. I think Velocity’s Party Crasher reads my bulletins to see where I am working so they know the best parties to cover. They have a new photographer names James Calvert who is very talented.Actually, when I worked for magazines I hired photographers to cover our events and now Zymage hires other photographers to cover the workload.
-- MODELS --
Do you pay your models?
Wrong question. I don’t “have†models. When I need a model to pose for a project or job I am working on, then I compensate them for their time and work. When a model needs photos for their portfolio or for one of their clients, they pay me for my photography services.
Do you help models find work?
Yes, but I am not attempting to function full time as an agency. Click on the Talent Agent link on my website for more information. Basically, I book professional and experienced models for good paying jobs. I not fulfill requests to have pretty girls at a party or work for free drinks.
What advice do you have for an aspiring model?
Find a local agency that charges you hundreds of dollars to sign with them while claiming to offer classes and photography, do jobs that you are not paid for and get locked into a contract that won’t allow you to get your money back if you are unsatisfied.
Are you serious? I have to pay to be represented?
No, I was of course joking. Go to my website, click on the Articles link and read the piece: “A Note of Caution for Aspiring Models.†Also check out www.modelingscams.org and this posting from the Federal Trade Commission: www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/services/model.shtm and ask yourself if the characteristics of a scam describe an agency you know of. The bottom line is that any “agency†that requires that you pay fees whether for photography or classes is likely a scam. Legit agencies only earn revenue from commissions off paid jobs.
So the sign of a legit agency is that they don’t charge me for photos and classes?
No, the sign is that they don’t charge anyone, not just you. What some companies will do is have a select few “top models†who do not pay any fees to sign and do get some paying jobs. But for every one of those “top models†there are a hundred more who paid thousands of dollars in order to keep the company running. It’s like the plantation system in the South before the Emancipation Proclamation: On the surface you see a successful business man and his family living in a mansion on many acres of bountiful property. What you don’t see are the dozens of slaves living in the barn that work the land and support the wealthy family. There are not enough good paying jobs in Louisville for anyone to run a business off commissions from just a dozen models so the income to support the agency comes from the fees paid by hundreds of aspiring models who never get any work. And often those who are booked on jobs don’t actually get paid for the work they did.
Are you speaking of one company in particular in an effort to expose how that agency interacts with aspiring models? Be frank, cause most model and talent agencies in Louisville seem to have strong robbing powers.
No, all the characteristics of scam agencies that I list and their methods used to rip off victims are used by hundreds of so-called “agencies†across the country. Sometimes, they are true scams that come into a town, take the money and run. Others are local companies designed to rip people off and get away with it by changing their name every year or so. Some are simply bad businesses that do some booking work, but most of their revenue comes from the models paying fees. I used to work for the one of the top agencies in LA so I know the difference between a real agency and a rip off.
Since you worked for legit agencies in other states and know how to do it right, why don’t you open your own agency here?
Because there simply is not enough work in a market the size of Louisville to earn a living booking models. It would take a large investment of time for a very low return of money. I do know some folks running a legit agency, but it’s just not advantageous for me.
So what you are saying is that since you can’t do it, everyone else must be a scam? What is wrong with selling classes, selling photo shoots AND helping models find work?
The phenomenon of models paying the agency fees upfront means that they are the customer and the employee. Can you think of any other job where you pay to work there? That is simply a conflict of interest and a big no-no in business ethics. In fact, it is illegal in CA, NY, TX, FL and IL. Even worse is picking a few employees who don’t pay fees but do get all the work while the people who did pay don’t get any jobs. Check out this story about a man running a scam in Boston who is now in jail: http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/03/man_g
ets_jail_t.html
OK, so now I know what not to do, what are the correct steps to become a model?
Check out the networking sites www.onemodelplace.com and www.modelmayhem.com. They are kind of like MySpace for models and photographers and a great way to start networking. Find a photographer whose work you like and contact them about setting up a shoot. Then create your own portfolio. More detailed information can be found in the Articles link on my website. If you really intend to pursue modeling as a career and not just something on the side, plan to move to Chicago, Miami, Las Vegas, Los Angeles or New York.
What are your rates to shoot a model portfolio?
Visit the Booking link on my website.
WOW, what a great value!
Thanks.
But I’m just a student and can’t afford your rates but I still want to build a model portfolio. Can I just take pics of myself or have a friend shoot me in cute and sexy clothes?
Uh, NO. You do have to have professionally done photos in your portfolio in order for clients to take you seriously. No matter how pretty you are, aiming your phone camera at your face, taking your picture in the bathroom mirror and using snapshots in your home, at a club or from a vacation will only serve to make you look like a “wannabe†and not a truly aspiring model.
Can you recommend another photographer who is more affordable?
Yes, I have worked with many good photographers and stylists in Louisville. The best way to get a referral for a photographer is from one of their clients. When asking one model photographer about their competition, of course they are likely to pump themselves up and although it’s unprofessional, they might even trash talk other photographers. The truth is, a model’s portfolio will look best the more variety it contains and so working with as many different photographers as possible is the most ideal way to build a portfolio. If all your photos look the same because all your shoots are from the same photographer using the same lighting and the same stylist with the same backgrounds, then you will look like you just like to hang out with your friend who happens to shoot models rather than present yourself as seriously looking for work.
I’ve seen a lot of model photos on MySpace but their heads look big and their skin looks yellow, why is that?
Because they are using the wrong lights, have the camera on the wrong settings and are not positioned correctly for portrait and glamour photography. Professional photographers use an SLR camera, know how to use it on Manual mode, use strobes (flashing lights, not static lights that are always on) and other professional equipment. Different photographers have different artistic styles, but there is no substitute for technical proficiency.
What about hair and make up?
Using a professional, licensed MUA (make-up artist) and hair stylist who knows which products and colors are best for the camera will contribute greatly to quality photos. The states of KY and IN require that people who apply make-up and do hair are licensed by the state because there are various health related issues. I use several licensed MUAs and stylists who will change the models hair and make up for each outfit and lighting set up so that each photo session will appear to have been from an entirely different photo shoot.
So hair and make-up is an additional cost per session?
Yes, and it’s worth it. Of course, I don’t take a cut of the stylists’ pay so there is no mark up. A good portfolio will consist of distinctly different looks with different lighting, different hair and make-up and of course different outfits. A good model should have a variety of appearances just as a good actor can play different roles.
-- SPORTS, FAMILY PORTRAITS, NATURE, WEDDINGS, SENIORS, MUSIC --
Do you only shoot models and parties?
No, but it might seem like that because I am seen working at parties and my shots of models get more attention than less glamorous subjects. I do use this MySpace profile and network of local friends for modeling and nightclub related work more so than say family portraits or trade shows since families and business people are typically less active on a social networking site than a young single person.
What other subjects do you shoot?
Whatever and whoever I’m paid to shoot. Most of my work is used in print advertisements and other marketing literature. Some clients want images of themselves for personal use and some businesses hire me to shoot their products before they are released to the public. So much of my work is not in my portfolio and I never even see the final print.
Do you shoot sports and action?
Yes, my sports action shots have been published in several different magazines and newspapers. I used to work for Lightspeed Photos and most of our jobs were athletic events. I have also shot UofL football and basketball games. Shooting athletic events is very different than studio work. When shooting models for example, I often instruct them on how to pose and together we “create†an image where as with sports photography I “capture†a frame of the action. Shooting concerts, dance recitals and fashion shows is similar to sports photography in that sense because your subjects are in motion.
Do you do weddings, senior pictures and family portraits?
Yes, yes and yes. I have done weddings and I will shoot weddings, but there are many photographers who specialize in weddings and sell expensive specialty packages. I have also shot portraits of couples for engagement announcements. Likewise, there are many photographers who specialize in senior portraits and have a ton of props and settings designed specifically for teenagers. As my business grows, I will be doing more wedding and senior pictures, but in the meantime my services may be a good option for a family that cannot afford the $1000 packages that older portraits studios sell. Since opening my studio in 2007, I have shot many families, especially around Christmas time for both holiday cards and portraits framed as gifts.
What about concerts, bands, musicians and album art?
All of the above. Check my albums for concert footage and other musicians. I like to shoot staged events like concerts and dance shows because like sports, I can catch the performer in action.
Which type of work do you prefer? Action, Family Portraits, Models or Parties?
Actually, my favorite subject to shoot is nature. I used to travel for a living and loved shooting the landscapes and rock formations in the National Parks out west. But back then I had a crappy digital camera so while I am proud of the composition, the quality is poor. My favorite photographers are Michael Fatali and Mark Esposito, both of whom live and work in Utah. I do like shooting athletic and on-stage events because it’s fun to capture the action. Family portraits will be amusing to look at fifteen years from now and laugh at everyone’s clothes and hair style. Shooting models is nice because unlike families, athletes and musicians, models follow directions. Shooting parties is fun because I have some really cool clients and get to see my friends every weekend. I like to use photography to create art, but commercial work pays the bills.
What is the difference between “Artistic†and “Commercial†Photography.
I’m glad you asked! Most artistic photography is done by the photographer for the photographer’s own fulfillment whereas commercial photography is shooting images that their clients want. Of course there is a lot of overlap as commercial photographers are often chosen for their creative eye as well as technical expertise.
Is there anything you won’t shoot?
I won’t photograph someone else’s work that is protected by copyright laws without written permission from the creator (such as a painting). I don’t like to shoot items with company logos unless that company is paying me or my client is selling that product. For example, a model creating a portfolio shouldn’t wear a shirt with the name Hollister plastered a across it unless Hollister is paying us, but I will of course shoot a model wearing a Diesel shirt if we are creating an ad for a clothing store that sells Diesel. I don’t like to shoot violent images. I won’t shoot someone who doesn’t want their picture taken unless it’s a friend of mine and they are only pretending they don’t want their picture taken because they know that means I will actually shoot more of them (you know who you are!)
-- OTHER BUSINESS QUESTIONS --
What advice do you have for aspiring photographers?
Go to parties and take pictures of hot drunk girls and then invite them into your home or hotel to do a photo shoot. Serve them alcohol and ask them to pose topless. You can also use the internet to meet teenagers who want to be a model. Try to convince them that you are a big time photographer who can get them exposure to become a supermodel.
Was that last answer sarcasm?
YES! Of course I was totally joking. A professional photographer should have a commercial studio on non-residential property, a corporate bank account, a License to Operate a Business from the city of Metro Louisville, Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and a Federal Tax Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service just like any small business owner. There are plenty of freelancers who do fine work and have not started their own business yet, but that is the difference between a professional and an amateur. There are also photographers who work out of their home and/or are on staff with a publication and therefore are also a professional. But when it comes to models, I have never and will never invite a model into my house to shoot and I do not serve alcohol in my studio.
OK, then what are some real tips for an aspiring photographer wishing to getting started in the business?
Examine what your end goal is. If its to go to parties and hang out with models and you think carrying a camera around is the ticket in, then you are just a creepy guy with a camera. If you want to make money, then plan to get into weddings and senior portraits. If you want to create art, then study art and other photographs and images to inspire you. Try some of everything and decide if you prefer to shoot for a publication or have your own studio. Formal education is a good path to be a photojournalist as well as business owner. The best way to get started right away is to shadow a professional photographer and offer to be their assistant.
Did you study photography in school?
Yes, in high school I learned to develop film and prints in a dark room and in college I was on staff with the student paper and annual. So I learned how to use a manual SLR camera and darkroom equipment before the digital revolution. After college I chose a career in the technical production of live events and got back into photography in 2004 when I returned to journalism and worked for an entertainment magazine in Louisiana. I also worked for a modeling agency in New Orleans.
Where did the names ModelShooter and Zymage come from?
Years ago when I lived in New Orleans and started my own photography website, I was trying to think of a domain name that reflected shooting models and so I chose www.modelshooter.net. As I branched into shooting other subjects and opened my own studio, I needed a new name for my business. Zymage is a combination of my last name Zimmer and the word “image.†I spelled it with a “y†instead of an “i†because www.zimage.com was already taken and because it’s cool like Kynt and Vyxsin. The urls www.modelshooter.net and www.zymage.com both go to the same site.
-- PERSONAL QUESTIONS --
Most of the time I see you working, you are wearing that sexy black utility vest – its like a fashionable version of Batman’s belt. Where can I find one?
I bought that vest at a police supply store in Massachusetts. Some photography shops like Murphy’s and outdoor sporting goods stores sell beige ones, but I’m the only guy in town with a black one.
Exactly how many pockets does that thing have?
22.
Is it true that Daniel Cole, Kevin Mills and Chris Proctor started wearing vests because they were inspired by your vest?
Yes, of course. You would think that guys who work in the fashion and apparel industry would be more creative, but instead they want to dress like me.
If you are a “fashion†photographer, how come you don’t dress in expensive, designer clothes?
Uh, that vest was expensive! I shoot for a few salons too, but I don’t have highlights in my hair. Actually, I do have a few clothes from Belief, but my work has been mostly backstage and I’m more comfortable in “show blacks.†Besides, if I’m going to wear a shirt with Ed Hardy’s name plastered across the front, then Mr. Hardy should be paying me to advertise for him.
I know that you have shot events at gay clubs and have been published in a gay newspaper, does that mean that you’re gay?
I’m here, I’m queer, I’m… uh, how’s the rest of that phrase go?
I’ve also seen you shoot parties with a primarily African-American clientele, that you directed a fashion show with all African-American models, shot album art for hip hop artists and that you worked for BET, so are you Black?
Yeah, but my mom’s side of the family is Thai.
So you work with models and all these beautiful women in nightclubs. Do you get to date these girls?
Get to? No, I have to. All the women I work with are crazy and if I didn’t go out with them, no one would. At least when we go out they pay for dinner. I just hate it when they expect me to put out on a first date. I’m not easy, ya know.
Was that last answer also just a joke?
YES! I maintain a strict policy of not dating models I work with. Of course, shooting party pics in nightclubs is a very social atmosphere so it’s not unheard of to fraternize with models I have worked with when they attend a party that I am working, especially since I am a friendly guy and a fabulous dancer.
You are not that great of a dancer, you actually just look like a drunk fool.
Yeah, but I’m really sober and just like to have fun. Most of my friends know that about me. The models’ boyfriends don’t get jealous when the girls dance with me because they were in the studio when I taped her boobs together so they know me and they know I am not a threat to their relationship, even though I am a good looking single guy with a charming personality.
So you are single? My friend thinks you are cute. Can I set you up with a blind date?
How does she know I’m cute if she’s blind?
Are these real questions or did you just make them up to be funny?
So you think I am cute and funny? Ah, thanks! You’re sweet! I was inspired to add humor to my FAQ by James Beverly’s blog and the Ask a Mexican column in LEO.
But this is much longer. Young people on MySpace have short attention spans and no one is actually going to sit and read all this.
But you just did! Tell you what: I’ll offer a 50% discount off a photo shoot if you can find any spelling or grammatical errors. Maybe that will be an incentive to read the whole thing.
So in addition to being a photographer you are also a writer?
Yes, my written work has been published in books, magazines and newspapers. Most of my career has been in live event production. Now you can’t complain about how long this is and keep asking me off topic questions. This is an FAQ, not an interview.
OK, I’ll let you get back to work.
Thanks.
By the way, will you email me the pics you took at that party? I mean, I just read this whole damn thing, so doesn’t that make us friends now?
Call and make an appointment to come by the studio where you can view your pics. I'll burn you a CD of your images for a small fee.
