After Report - Ujena Bikini Jam 23, Aug 25th - Sep 3rd, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

A.) Pre-Scheduling - 23 shoots were set up in the preliminary time, and additional plans for trying to connect with another 10 models was made. In addition, MUA’s were scheduled for many shoots, as these resources were available, and are a valuable addition to any shoot for quality shots.

Pre-Scheduling proved to be a mixed bag though, and it is questionable as to where the fault is to be placed. 15 out of the 23 shoots were blown, and only one had a real excuse for the miss, being that she was not there as yet. In addition, 4 MUA appointments were blown, also casting an additional shadow onto that area as to the professionalism of parties.

Blame is not easily assigned. Partly, on the Ujena system of promoting more partying than professionalism, especially when a phone call to one model found her still asleep from partying from the night before. Yes, the models are responsible, but one can not expect these unfettered souls from not accessing everything possible if it is laid out before them, and if things were trimmed down some, maybe the models & photogs could constrain themselves better, and make these appointments.

Worse still, two of these shoots were with sponsored models, and that will be discussed further later.

B.) Professionalism - Lord knows I am not perfect, but the blatant lack of professionalism was something I would think would be thought of as less than "Ujena - Like". I know I was not the only photographer with profound blown appointments, showing either a lack of respect, or just laziness. Additionally, I saw the other side of the coin, and the photographers who were not getting out discs until 12 noon on Friday were numerous, and there were many who did not even get them out then. There were 3 photogs standing among the 10 finalists who were being complained about by surrounding models as to the fact that they had not gotten out their images to them, making one wonder what could have been the final 20 models had the photogs done their work! Plus the big Photog ‘no-no’ of crossing the Photog-Model barrier was evidently not applicable in a foreign land, and there goes professionalism again.

C.) Discs - So, how many people came into Mexico with more than 25 discs? Be honest now, as I did the same! I handed out 50 CD’s, and 15 DVD’s. I came in with 75 and 25, and had no idea of the limits prior to seeing the form (something Ujena might address in the future!) as I was thinking I would also be burning a lot of discs for MUA’s, but thankfully not! I did burn discs for models when I would ‘overshoot’ a shoot if I was sitting someplace waiting for a model, and there was something interesting to shoot nearby. (Something I am sure we all do, but how many of us get discs to the model concerned?)

Anyways, I learned of the server idea the year before that had overloaded and been unsuccessful, and gave the whole thing much thought. When I was pulling out my Flash Drive it hit me! With the use of inexpensive 512KB USB Flash Drives, with either Logo’s on them, or small keychain ID’s attached, one could actually speed up their distribution time, as there would be less time involved as in the burning of discs. Sure, models would have to get the Flash’s back to the Photog’s, but there is also the added security of not having to explain one’s having forgotten the fact that you had 4 times the allowed number of discs in your baggage to the man at the incoming inspection should that light turn red.

Solution:  I have been finding a lot of USB Flash Drives 256MB and 512MB in lots of 3 and 5 on Ebay for minimal cost (like under $20, and sometimes under $15, including shipping) and I figure with a dozen or more, one would be set for a Jam. Just a suggestion, but one that makes a lot of sense, and is a lot more portable, re-usable, and in the long run, cheaper than those blasted discs, or getting nailed with them, especially since we are headed back to Mexico again!

D.) Expo: A total lack of use of any space, time, resources, and not even worth the effort... I was in there from 1:30 to 2:30 on the 29th, and there was nothing that was applicable to a photographer, except the Ujena booth. I came ready to do the total sales pitch thing to whomever, and it was a bust... I would have rather been out on my swollen feet in the hot sun, shooting models for images, in pain, than in there doing nada.

E.) Sponsor’s Party - I did attend a few parties, and suffer through my feet throbbing and swelling even more under me, while my whole body ached in pain from my pelvis down… See the X-ray to see what the dump-truck did, and know why I look like I do now. Anyways, it was not the music, as I love loud music! I have worked as a DJ in professional radio, and have enjoyed introducing bands on stage for our station. I also love body grinds, and loved the shots and the great time everyone was having!

There is a time though, and a place for that, and a Sponsor’s party is not it. A Sponsor’s Party is usually a very social affair, and even associated with a charity event (something Ujena should be doing the affair as soon) and while not a body grind, they can be close, social events where each individual can actual circulate, meet the people responsible for the event, and express their gratitude for their contributions for their having been able to attend. Hilo did not meet those standards, and whatever that was, or remains to be, it should not be labeled a Sponsor’s Party.

F.) Sponsorships - Wow… What a sticky wicket! Already the Announcements board is being clogged with sometimes daily pleas from some models for $$$$$ for their ability to go to Australia. Talk about feelings of entitlement. Then the Photogs get in there, asking when they can get sponsored.

I sponsored 9 models for the Bikini Jam 23. Now, I am on a fixed income, and I am basically retired, so, I got resourceful in doing it. I have been a Critical Care Registered Nurse (among other things in my lifetime), working in Open Heart, Trauma, even Flight Nursing for 32 years, and even an EMT/Paramedic/Firefighter before that, and getting Hepatitis B vaccines for the majority of that time. His actually made my plasma a good commodity. So, I actually bled to get those models to Puerto Vallarta, and by doing the Plasma thing, was able to boost my income enough to send them, $100 here, $100 there, and flights for 2 of them, one with miles, one with full out fare. Total model costs, now that it is over, is $2500. That is a lot of plasma.

Of the nine models I sponsored to PVR...

• 2 never shot with me, and both did finally apologize for missing their shoots in the following week, and in effect ‘using‘ my services without return, one weakly, and the other even wanted to return the money, surprisingly, to which I was stunned. I told her I was so took back by her show of honor, that I wanted her to keep the money, and that she had actually been the only one to miss the shoot with any real excuse it turned out, as she had not even been in PV yet, due to Visa problems. That model I would sponsor again.

• 3 models were thankful, and shot fine, and were great...

• 2 models shot fine, but never mentioned a word of thanks for having gotten them to PVR...

• 1 model was flown in, and after even added costs, and additional air miles to try and rectify a problem in her return ticket, and other problems, her $90 dollar trip has wound up costing 5 times that much with the air miles, and she is calling me unprofessional, and everything else in messages in Yahoo groups, and was even demanding I not display her images.

• The last model, who I actually paid a full fare ticket for, and got to PVR, stood up there, accepting award after award, and did not have the backbone, the 'cojones' the stamina, the professionalism, the fortitude, or whatever it takes to say 'Thank You Keith Hamlin for having flown me here, for without that assistance, I would not be accepting this award now!' So, with the lack of any acknowledgement, I proceeded to try and get hammered through the rest of the awards, which means I got to the stumble stage by the time they ended... :)

But overall, now that I spent about $2500 on models for PVR, I should have saved the $$$, and had a better time elsewhere...

Oh, and I even invested an additional $150 in the team, thinking that they would do well as a team, for the Team Image Award, but seems that the big award getter was also promised to another team, even though they did not invest as much $$$ as I did, nor did they have the idea to fly their winner to PVR to win, and she never would have made it without my efforts...

I have yet to get a straight answer to my question as to whether the miracle model counted on my team, or the other, even though I invested more in her than the other guys…

Truthfully, I doubt I ever will get my ‘straight’ answer. Somehow, I doubt the real ability to be straight in some corners of the system, going back to the severe lack of professionalism demonstrated in the many points above.

So, as I keep telling all these models who are already seeking money as if it were an entitlement, give me a good month or two before trying to request any monies from me ever again...

And will anything come of any of these points… Doubtful… But maybe a photog or a model might take some of it to heart upon reading it, and be a bit more professional for the sake of Ujena next time through, and also might take some other points to heart also, for efficiency.

©2007 Keith R Hamlin

Photos Joint © Ujena & Keith R Hamlin