Simple, fast, fun. Welcome to the fifteenth installment of one of Asheville's most celebrated fashion events. FASHMOB XV: Photo Finish is a free meet-up that is open to photographers, models, makeup artists, hair stylists, designers, and fashion enthusiasts of all levels of experience. The purpose of this event is for the area fashion community to network and create images. No matter if you are brand new to your craft or a seasoned pro, this event will be fun for all. There is no sign up sheet, fees, opening speech, or any formal structure to the event. You just show up to mingle and create.

The home base for this event will be at Sugar Britches (31 Page Avenue) in Asheville, NC. The date and time will be Thursday, June 2nd from 5pm to 8pm. On the day of FASHMOB, the event space at Sugar Britches will be available to makeup artists, hair stylists, and models from 4pm onward to prep for the event! This is the spacious area in the back of the store with tables and several seating areas. Photographers should check out the area in advance - the Grove Arcade, the Basilica and a few grungy alleyways make great potential backdrops. Other businesses may want to contribute as the date approaches.

The basic concept is to create and share images in a trade for print (TFP) or a trade for images agreement. If you are planning to attend this event, this is the most important thing for photographers to understand. If you are a photographer and shoot with a model, a makeup artist getting a model ready, or a behind the scenes shot, you are expected to share that image for your subjects to be able to freely use in their portfolios. Photographers are not to take photos and charge people for them later. All participants are encouraged to tag Sugar Britches when posting online. They are very generous for hosting this event, so let's pay it back. Sugar Britches IG profile is @sugarbritches.style.

People can plan ahead to work with each other at FASHMOB, but most just show up, see what is going on, and jump in when ready. The biggest question I get from people new to FASHMOB is, “What do I do when I am there?” If you are a photographer or model that doesn't know anyone, just show up ready to shoot. There will always be people not shooting with someone at any given time. They are there to shoot. Go up to someone and ask, “Do you want to shoot?”

Feel free to use this event page, Asheville Model Network's Facebook group, or behind the scenes to reach out to people beforehand to connect with each other. If you are a designer, makeup artist, or hair stylist and would want to work up a look with a model, you can also just show up with your things.

You will likely be shooting with a lot of different people, so exchange contact info so images can be delivered and proper credits can be given for the photos. You don't need to give out your phone number or home address. An email address is fine. Some models and photographers insist on a signed model agreement before shooting. That is fine. If you run into that, feel free to read the agreement. If you don't like it you can pass. People under 18 will need a legal guardian to participate.

Lastly, photographers should not shoot a model that is already shooting with a photographer. This is picture poaching. Part of modeling is knowing where the camera is and adjusting your pose accordingly. Photographing a model (off to the side), who is already engaged with a photographer, is not portrait photography. This is picture poaching and it is frowned upon. If you want to shoot with that model, wait until they are done with the photographer and ask them. Shooting the entire scene of a photographer and model working together is considered a behind-the-scenes shot and is okay. Feel free to post your best shots on this official FASHMOB event page!

Be safe and don't wander off to shoot with someone you don't know. Don't get a ride with anyone you don't know. Even if they say, “Oh I know so-and-so for years.” Common sense. We hope to see you on Thursday, June 2nd. Again, the time is 5pm to 8pm.

The official Facebook event page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/events/1035627030385976

To get a better idea of what FASHMOB is all about, check out these links to past events read my blog describing the history of FASHMOB here...