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Location Shoots of a Questionable Safety
I do a lot of 'on' location and 'out of studio' shoots for bands, entertainers, etc. Mainly, it's me going to their choice of location. The problem with this is that sometimes you may have to be more trusting than you would be traveling to see someone that you met over the internet as you may not have as much info on these people as you would someone you might be marrying one day.
Granted, there are all kinds of people out there in the myspace world who are safe and sane. However, there are some crazy ones as well.
I’m not going to carry on with scenarios as I am sure most of you could come up with your own about going to meet some people that you do not know in a place that you're are not familiar with.
Ok, I can’t resist, one scenario that I know is a true event. A photographer gets contacted by some people to do a shoot. Agreement is reached on money and expenses and said photographer travels about an hour to a location, in a not too pleasant neighborhood, does the shoot, and all goes well, though he feels a little uneasy the whole time.
The photographer leaves the building with gear and money, walks across the parking lot and gets jumped. Camera, lenses, flash attachment, memory cards, laptop, lights and the case they came in all gets taken. A few bruised ribs and some scrapes from being thrown on the ground by at least three people get added in for good measure.
Police get contacted, a report is filled out and the photographer is informed that he is the third photographer to get mugged in that area in as many months. The gear never gets found.
It almost sounds like a setup doesn’t it? We may never know, but things like that happen to people everyday. None of us are immune to it.
I have had a few close calls myself and I take precautions to help insure that I do not become a victim... or at least not an easy one.
Take action to let people know where you are going. Take somebody with you, if possible, that can at least be eyes and ears for you. Make a call when you get there and let people know where you are at (exact address) and that you will contact them in about an hour again. Contacting them every hour on the hour and when you are leaving. I know that may sound excessive but just spend some time surfing the missing person web sites one evening and see what you think.
If you have to travel to a second location take your own vehicle and follow. Do not ride with total strangers just because they are sexy. You are not there to date, you are there to do a job.
If you live in state that is free enough to have Concealed Carry. You know what? Carry!!! Try a stun gun or anything if you don’t like guns.
Be as paranoid as you can possibly be and still keep your sanity as it may pay off one day.
Keep in mind, People get killed at ATM machines for $10 and you are lugging around a few grand worth of equipment that can bring enough money at a pawn shop to by a pretty good fix for a person(s) who just don’t care anymore.
Hopefully, it will never happen to you. Be smart. Be safe.
Also, don’t forget to have them sign a release form. That foreign magazine that features dead models will want one.
Until next time,
'Brant is a staff photographer and graphics design artist for the largest retail music store between St. Louis and Memphis. Though probably better known as a heavy metal musician with a discography of 21 albums released worldwide to date. In his past years he has been a certified fitness trainer and a warehouse worker. He is also currently working in independent films and still very active in the music scene.
He lives in Southeast Missouri. |
