I haven't had a huge amount of luck "breaking" into the business and someone from TER suggested it was because my photos weren’t very good even though I looked attractive. And I will admit I am not the best photographer (my friends tease me about this constantly!) so I have been thinking about getting some professionally done. This may sound a bit paranoid, but does the photographer keep the negatives?

No, it does not sound paranoid. It is good to be prepared when looking for a photographer. In terms of the photographer keeping the negatives, my understanding is the photographer would own the copyright of the photos, thus having the right to keep the negatives. However, they will need to have you sign a model release in order to use your photos. Good luck! ~Giamarie Lynn

Just agree he can't use the images and have him burn a disk right after the shoot.  I doubt they would use film for this.

Pm her, she's probably taken most of the girls on this board, she took many of me, and not one was a terrible shot!..she just knows exactly what to do and how to do it, and would never throw your pics out there for the her gain..she's the best!
Jay

Cassidy,
If you're ever in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, Dream Shotz is very good. My atf uses the studio. I think they have a web site. Good luck

Make sure he/she is professional

Make sure he/she has a REAL studio

Make sure he/she has a portfolio of other models they work with - Contact them to make sure they are professional to work with -

There arent negatives- this is 2008 babe -
Ask the photographer what camera he/she shoots with so you can buy a memory card to take long on the shoot -

He/she gives you the memory card back - and no one has your pics but YOU...

It used to be that photographers owned the negatives...  graduations & weddings, etc.  And had a lot of problems over it.  These days, you can certainly arrange to get all the data.  It would be a requirement to the contract.

I don't think most need professionals to do the photos, so many are competant with digital.  

There was a thread on this recently...  I don't mind a blurred face but I want to know what a woman is built like.  I lik erotic, sexy...  not explicit.  Leave a little to discover!  
Best wishes,
skb  

so there are no negatives.

Dependent upon the deal you make with your photographer, he may or may not keep copies of some of the photos for his portfolio.  Often they will offer you a better deal on photos if they are able to keep some to show to other potential clients.

If you are worried, make sure you communicate to him that you want all of the photos loaded on to a CD and deleted from their camera memory card.