modeling INFORMATION

I’m not a standard fitness or lifestyle photographer since I license the Images I take of clients for the romance book industry instead of just general portfolio work like most photographers out there. That means the process is a little unique and may be different than what you’ve experienced before and/or are used to and is limited to persons over the age of eighteen (18).

Book cover photography is very different from portrait/portfolio photography on the business side, therefore it is important to demonstrate professional courtesy relative to shooting with other book cover photographers after scheduling a session with Furious Fotog.  Keep things in mind such as: 

• The proximity of other sessions with another cover photographer to avoid overlap with that photographer's marketing of your Images.
• Any restrictions/embargos other photographers may contractually impose that prevent shooting with Furious Fotog. Note that Furious Fotog does not mandate such a thing, but does ask that you do not schedule another book cover photoshoot within 2 months of your session. 
• The number of book cover photoshoots you do in a given timeframe. This will help avoid potential issues such as repeating looks that are sold exclusively (more on that below) or being overexposed.  

• For book cover shoots, there is no cost to the model.
• For any images licensed, the model is paid per image. See the After the Shoot section for more information. 

• General shoots occur in the studio on a black backdrop, interiors, and on location for country and urban backdrops.
• There is no set limit to the number of looks in the photography session; the only limit is time. 
• The images taken will be offered for popular romance and/or erotica books, which make up ~20% of the books sold globally (second behind general adult fiction) in a $1 billion industry. The storylines may include diverse characters (lgbtq+, interracial, etc.) and events as well (motorcycle club, mafia, action-adventure, paranormal, etc.).
• The appearance of final cover designs and book titles will reflect the genre but are not under my own control.

We can shoot whenever you feel your best, but a bonus with working with me for book covers is you can shoot these images at any time - whether cutting or bulking (in fact, photos where clients are not at their leanest generally sell better).

My home studio is located in Athens, Alabama. This small town is situated about thirty minutes north of Huntsville International Airport (code HSV), about an hour and a half north of Birmingham Airport (code BHM), and about an hour and a half south of Nashville Airport (code BNL). 

Several classes of hotels are available in Athens if needed (~10 min from the studio) and in the neighboring municipalities of Madison, Providence, and Huntsville. 

To promote the shoot and attempt to get sales, the Photographer routinely schedules Images to post on their social media accounts. Feel free to share these Images on your own. 

Unfortunately, due to both persistent thievery and trademark requirements, Images posted to social media must bear the FuriousFotog® watermark.

When an Image is licensed, a promotional post may be made to indicate the sale.

• When an Image is licensed, the model is paid by the Photographer once the client (authors) pays their invoice in full. This payment - called internally a talent fee - is typically $300 to the model per image that is licensed ($289.04 after business invoice fees). 
• For those payments, I use either PayPal or Venmo
• Note: Although I’ve licensed thousands of photos to date for several hundred authors across the globe, there isn't a guarantee of any sales, since that part is out of my hands and up to the authors and their particular book characters. There may be a lot licensed right away, or over time, or there could be none at all.

Because proofs are unedited and there may be a potential sale of an "unseen" Image, please do not post proofs from the review galleries online.

• Book cover photography is different from portrait/portfolio photography. Since Images are sold once and carry a high price-point, please do not repeat the exact same looks you shoot with me with other book cover photographers, and space out your other shoots.
• This will avoid causing issues with your own modeling brand, and allow creative freedom for all parties.
• Simply changing clothes, facial hair or hairstyles can work wonders alongside taking future photos in different locations with different physical characteristics such as body composition during cutting or bulking phases.  

The Model Release Form is a required document that gives consent and protects both Model Images and the Photographer from misuse of Images.

• It must be agreed upon and signed at the session before any work commences.
• You can download a copy further down the page to review beforehand.
• If you are not comfortable shooting for romance book covers, please do not book a  photoshoot.
• By signing this release, the model acknowledges they are over the age of eighteen (18) and that they do not carry any ongoing criminal liabilities such as active federal, state, or local charges, sex offender registration, etc. 

  
There are two options for the Model Release Form which are summarized below. They cannot be combined.  However, in both cases, the release protects your Model Images from being used for pornographic or otherwise defamatory purposes, so there's no need to worry.

This is the Standard Release used for book cover photoshoots. 

• The Release grants consent for Model Images to be shared online by the Photographer, at their professional discretion.
• For book covers, the Release allows Model Images to be offered for potential licensing for use on all romance book covers (including those with diverse characters [e.g. straight, LGBTQ+, etc], genres [e.g. romance & erotica], and storylines [e.g. motorcycle clubs, mobsters, etc.]) with compensation per Image sold as a prearranged Talent Fee (also documented on the Model Release Form). 
• If you are not comfortable shooting for any of these topics please do not book a shoot. 
• Examples of the types of Images that will be taken are further down the page.
• The Release allows the Photographer to use the Model Images for their own projects and advertising without additional royalties or payments to the Model (e.g. for use in advertising, on business cards, in calendars, prints, etc.).
• The Release acknowledges that the Model Images taken are within the client's comfort level at the time and that they shall be offered for licensing in perpetuity. 
• Should the model no longer wish the Photographer to offer the Model Images for sale (e.g. due to career path changes, etc.), the Release acknowledges that they shall either buy out the session at a price indicated on the Release OR allow the Model Images to be modified by the Photographer to change the model's appearance (normally their facial features) and offer those Modified Model Images for sale without further payment of the Talent Fee.
• Details what should happen if model is accused of and subsequently found guilty of a publicly known criminal offense that impacts both FuriousFotog and each Licensee is detailed in the Release.
• The Release waives the liability of the Photographer for the session relative to infections, illnesses, and viruses such as COVID-19.
• Models with tattoos acknowledge via the Release that they have permission from their tattoo artist(s) and bear liability for their use in commerce.

This is a Special Release that is used for photoshoots where the Photographer shall pay the Model for their time at a prearranged Day Rate for the sole purpose of shooting Model Images without any further compensation. In this case, the Model is being been paid for their time only via the prearranged Day Rate (in a one-and-done deal), instead of a Talent Fee per Image. Otherwise, the terms are identical to Option 1.