Maidstone Wedding Photography Model Release Scam

If you are choosing a wedding photographer in Maidstone, then watch out - make sure you know what you're doing when you sign a model release form.

What is a model release form?

By law, if a photographer, or anyone else, wishes to make photos public, for sale or promotion, then any people who are recognisable in them must give their consent in writing.

This is common practise for working models, who are being paid to be in the pictures, after all. But if you are looking for a wedding photographer, you are paying them for their time, not the other way round.

Why do I need to be careful?

If you sign a model release form as part of your contract, you're giving the photographer the right to display and print your photos for whatever they want, including money.

What can I do?

As a paying customer, you are not obliged to give your consent - so check the contract carefully, and if you don't want to sign away any your rights, make sure they cross out the model release section,

Otherwise you could see your photos used anywhere, for example on a blooper site, or making money in a brochure and you not seeing a penny.

Photo shoots in Kent with Photo 3 Solutions - be careful!

Are you looking to have a photo shoot in Kent?

One of the most prolific photographers in Kent is Photo 3 Solutions, so you may come across their home made website if you're looking for photo shoots in Kent.

But make sure you check the details carefully before you agree to a photo shoot with Photo 3 Solutions.

Warning #1 - you won't own your photos
Photo 3 Solutions make it their policy to withold copyright from anyone in their photoshoots. Now, this may be normal if you're a model being paid by a client for your images. However, if you're a client, paying a photographer for their time and skills, then you darn well have the right to own your own photographs!

The only exception would be if the photoshoot itself is free, and then you only pay if you decide you want some of the images.

So, check the small print about the copyright if you're having a photoshoot in Kent, and find someone who won't withold it.

Warning #2 - photo 3 solutions is a jack of all trades
You may want a photo shoot for formal portraits, relaxed family pictures, a modelling portfolio or a wedding storybook. Each of these areas is specialist, and most photographers choose one or at most two and take pride in making sure the quality of their images is outstanding. Photo 3 Solutions has a finger in every pie (they even claim to run a 'modelling agency') - and the result is mediocre quality in all fields.

Warning #3 - photo 3 solutions are over priced
You'd think a jack of all trades that withhold copyright would at least be one of the cheapest offerings around - but sadly this is not the case. The packages offered are among the most expensive, with the least included.

For photo shoots in Kent - choose a professional, not Photo 3 Solutions.

Photo 3 Scam - withholding copyright

Be careful if you're thinking about hiring Photo 3 Solutions for your wedding or portfolio photographic need, make sure you've done your research and found out who's really behind the company.

Photo 3 have been associated with a number of scams, from overpriced wedding packages to dodgy modelling agencies to withholding copyright from paying customers.

Photo 3 won't tell you outright, but if you hire them to take photographs for you, you won't end up owning the copyright to your pictures. If questioned, they'll tell you that this is perfectly normal behavious for a photographer, but this is absolutely not the case.

If you pay a photographer to take photographs for you, then you are paying for their time and the fruits of their labour - in other words, the photos they take.

So what does it mean when Photo 3 refuses to hand over copyright?

Firstly, it means he can use YOUR photographs wherever he wishes, for life. That means for promotion, to sell them - he could print them and use them on posters or sell a CD full of your pictures to anyone he wishes.

Secondly, it means you don't have the right to use YOUR OWN PICTURES. That means that if you want copies of them - as prints, or digital, he can make you pay through the nose - and will.

So be careful if you're thinking of using Photo 3 to take your photographs and make sure you read the small print.

Photo 3 Solutions - digital wedding photographers in Kent - Scam Advice

Photo 3 Solutions claims to be one of the leading whistle-blowers of UK modelling scams.

He lists companies that he claims are model agency scams and says he has named and shamed many fake model agencies over the years.

However, there are a few facts that might make a visitor wonder exactly what Andy James (the sole trader who runs the Photo 3 Solutions website) is really all about.

Expensive Modelling Portfolios

Despite proclaiming that expensive modelling portfolios are not necessary for aspiring models, Andy James (with apparently no sense of irony), offers Model Portfolio Test shoots for a fee of £300. Why is he offering modelling portfolios if they are a scam?

Photo 3 Solutions Fake Modelling Agency?

Andy James also 'names and shames' fake model agencies. But a quick search, and even a link from the bottom of his page, goes to 'Models 3 - UK Model Register'. The website is very obviously run by Andy James as well, and is not registered with the Association of Modelling Agencies. Perhaps the reason Mr James is so aware of fake modelling agencies is because he's running one himself?

His 'modelling agency' website also includes 'useful links' that don't exist, or are completely irrelevant, such as suppliers of safety signs! Not very professional...

The many faces of Photo 3 Solutions / Model 3 / The Kent Wedding Photographer

Andy James seems to have a finger in every pie, and a different face for every customer.  So far we've found three different websites, including a blog that claims expertise on a wide range of subjects, his 'modelling agency', his main photography site, and his 'specialist' storybook wedding photography site for Kent.

Genuine professionals usually specialise in one area; even photographers specialise in fashion, weddings, or commercial, for example. Someone who spreads himself so thin is likely to be a jack of all trades and master of none at best, or scam artist trying to throw the scent off his own dodgy businesses at worst.

Before you believe everything Andy James says, think again about what he's got to gain.

Models 3 Modelling Agency Scam - Photo 3 Solutions in disguise

Photo 3 Solutions make a big song and dance of being 'whistleblowers' of fake modelling agencies, so it's extremely interesting when you find out they have their own 'modelling agency' - Models 3.

It seems Photo 3 Solutions know so much about model scams because they are running one themselves.

As well as warning aspring models against paying a deposit and then demanding one themselves, Photo 3 Solutions are actually posing as a model agency.

Running a model agency is a full time job for a team of expert people, so it's hard to believe a sole trader with a 'professional' photography business has time to act as an agent for models as well.

Photo 3 Kent Wedding Photographer

One of the services Photo 3 provides is Wedding Photography.

From someone who calls themselves a 'professional' photographer and charges upwards of £1000, you would expect work of very high quality - but a look at the galleries shows that this is sadly not the case.

Wedding photography is an extremely challenging and specialist area, with high pressure and very small windows of opportunity to get perfect images that will be cherished memories for a lifetime.

Professional wedding photographers dedicate their professions to perfecting their craft and learning all the tricks and techniques needed to provide a polished service.

However, Photo 3 Solutions seems to dabble in everything from wedding photography to model portfolios to topless photography.

Do you really want your wedding shot by a glamour photographer?
Finally - the proof is in the pudding. The Photo 3 Solutions wedding gallery doesn't demonstrate the level of quality you'd expect for the sort of prices they're charging. Perhaps for a budget solution for a few hundred, they might be appropriate - but if you're going to spend thousands of pounds on a wedding photographer in Kent - you should look for a true professional.

Here are some suggestions for professional wedding photographers in Kent:

http://www.davidfenwick.co.uk (prices start at £500)
http://www.helenbattphotography.com/
http://www.pjphoto.co.uk

Photo 3 Solutions Booking Fee

Photo 3 Models present themselves as a modelling scam whistleblower, but perhaps the reason they  point and shout so loudly, is because they don't want anybody looking too closely at them.

They warn aspiring models that they shouldn't be paying any upfront fees for a model portfolio shoot, however they state:
We ask for a £75 booking fee to confirm your shoot. 

Why are they doing exactly what they're warning against?

Because taking a booking fee for a photoshoot is absolutely standard practice, to guard against the loss of earnings and costs incurred from no-shows.

So, what is their position? Do they think that taking a deposit is bad practise or not? And if they do, why are they doing it?

 

Photo 3 Solutions Service Quality

Photo 3 Solutions consider themselves great experts in various domains. They advise on camera equipment, on modelling careers; they do wedding videos and even pictures of topless girls.

We could say they are Leonardo Da Vinci of photography - with skills in every area.

But isn't it too good to be true?

The answer is most definitely yes - they are no Da Vinci.

A quick look at their website demonstrates the poor quality of their work.

And there is the answer: if you try to do everything, it usually means that you're good at nothing.

Think twice before calling Photo 3 Solutions in Kent and asking for their services - find yourself a professional instead.