Giving Credit Where It's Due - *Model Rant*

*Model Rant Begin*
Today I encountered a photo of myself in a photographer's port on ModelMayhem that does not have me credited as the model. His port does not have much traffic, but this particular photo has 19 comments, 146 views, and 4 lists. As the uncredited model, every single one of those views is now a missed opportunity. My goals in my business are based around building my fan base and booking new work ie GETTIN' PAID. I see this almost daily and it it makes Jin want to EXPLODE how common and how unprofessional this is. If you are in this business and mean it, then WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHY CREDITS ARE SO DAMN IMPORTANT.

This is particularly frustrating on MM where the credit option is built in, or on FB where tagging people is mind-blowingly easy. Hell, FB even recognizes my face now (not that I find that thought reassuring necessarily..) So pretty please, just tag me.

I'm getting to a point, click below...

MODELS: CREDIT YOUR DAMN PHOTOGRAPHERS. 
DON'T crop their images for your profile pic or add filters on IG without mentioning the changes. Everyone coming by your page is judging that person's photography skills based off the edits you gave it. It doesn't matter though if you don't even mention who took the image. I try almost daily to leave polite comments like, 'Oh, this looks like a such and such's. Is it?' which is a big friggen hint that HEY, this is NOT YOUR PHOTO. This is why watermarks even exist. Otherwise gorgeous photos are ruined with big cheesy logos pasted right in the midst of it all because models seem incapable of just listing who's work it is that they are posting.

"The point is, the more often we aren't credited for our hard work, then 1. The less inclined we are to do any free work, and 2. the longer it takes for others to see our work. and 3. we start decreasing the viewing of the photo by plastering our credit mark."
~Edwards Photography

PHOTOGRAPHERS: CREDIT YOUR DAMN MODELS. 
My whole career is based off the premise of becoming a public figure which means constantly attracting new fans AND new photographers (ie new work) from around the world. If you don't add my name to a photo that I'm in, that can't happen! You are ripping me off, ESPECIALLY if it is a photo from a TF shoot. Not only did I work with you for free, but I'm not even getting traffic to my fanpage/website/whatever from our photos.

EVERYONE: CREDIT YOUR DAMN MUA/MUAH/WARDROBE/BODYPAINTER/RETOUCHER/SPECIAL FX/DESIGNER
These amazing people who work behind the scenes are the least paid, the least credited, and as equally important to the photo as the model or photographer. Like the rest of us, they also make their money by teaming up on shoots to spread their work and their name. IE being SEEN.

THIS BUSINESS IS ABOUT COLLABORATION.
Go into a shoot knowing that and be prepared to gather all the info you need to credit later. Some people wish to remain anonymous, some people have personal profiles vs. fanpages, some people keep different types of work under different aliases. These things are important to know!! We are all new at one point, and I know I personally have committed this same error in the past. I try my best to make sure that nowadays I get all credits correctly. If I didn't, what motivation would a photographer/mua/muah/designer have to work with me in the future?? No one wants to work with a model who takes all the credit. If you refuse to collaborate and help promote your fellow artists you will only go so far. Take a look, this is what being professional is about. It's not about YOUR talent, but about the combined talents you can bring together to create something amazing that will set you apart. Giving credit where it is due is part of that.

*End Rant*

XoXo
JNT

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As a footnote, if you ever catch me committing this credit-less crime myself, please say so!! Just a 'Hey Jin, who's outfit is that' or what have ya. Like I said, I try my best but even at my most badass I am still human =)