A big shoutout to Don Hoekwater, the worst photographer I have ever had the displeasure of working with. He said he wouldn't want his "shitty" photos to be out there, so here I've put it. It's the least I can do considering the way he treated me.

Believe it or not, but I am standing in a thick redwood forest in this photo. I drove 30 minutes to this location to have a photo that could be taken anywhere. Usually it takes 10-30 minutes to do lighting, but it took him two hours. All the while he was getting frustrated and was not being very kind to me nor my friend who was helping. I caught a glimpse at the photos and some of them I really wanted to edit myself and put in my portfolio. That's what TFP means, time for print: We give each other our time, we both benefit from the prints so we both get the photos to add to our portfolios. This is a mutual agreement, an unwritten contract between model and photographer. A month later, I contact him to try to get the photos for my portfolio. He tells me he will refuse to give me the photos, less two, because he fucked up the lighting and he is ashamed of his work. He said that I was a good model, but he was so embarrassed by his photography that he wouldn't give them to me. I told him I reserve the right to see the photos at least, because whether or not he is happy with them they could be beneficial to my portfolio, and I want to at least make the trip worth my time. He told me, "I'm going to end this now. I appreciate your time but it was basically a waste. But, it's my work and I'm not going to have it out there, especially if it's shit, which it is." The messages he continued to send me were rude, condescending, and selfish. It's half my work, whether or not he likes them I deserve to at least see them so I can benefit somehow.

But this photo, the only one I got, is shit. The only reason why I think so, is because his editing butchered my face. I know there were better photos in there, but I'll never know.

Not only that, but driving home from the shoot my car completely broke down and I no longer have a car. This shoot was a waste of my time, money, energy, and car, and it didn't help at all that Don had to be an ass about it.

Thanks Don for giving me a story and raising my standards of who I work with. People are selfish, condescending, and bitter, and it was an experience to learn how to deal with them. This is my only rant about this, and I will leave it to that.