Unique Dominique & Being Flexible

Dominique is a woman I met in art school. We didn't have many classes together (in fact I think we shared only one) but there was definitely a good chemistry between us. I always thought her perspective on things was very interesting and for some reason she tolerated me.

Anyhow many years had passed since we had seen each other. I asked her if she was available to model for a shoot. She agreed and the following weekend we met up for some pictures, drink & Thai food.

Most of my shoots are highly structured but this go around I decided to do something more casual. Some of the first scenarios we tried building seemed to cast Dominique as some sort of high-society Bond villain. The process felt like pushing a round peg into a square hole. It was definitely time to try something else. We went back to wardrobe and picked out a few things that seemed more like her and walked down the hall towards the freight elevator where everyone throws their garbage away.

In this environment Dominique's personality really started to show. With a bottle of Cuervo and box of fake cigarettes to use as props she gave me everything I was asking for and more.

The relevant lesson: Be flexible. Build flexibility into your shoots. If the model is being paid sure, that's one thing. But if this is a TFCD situation the idea for everyone involved is to simply get the best possible pictures. That's what a little flexibility did here.