Every model has stories… Listen to them…
I’ve been around a lot of women, they especially have stories on how men treat them. I’m far from perfect and I just want to cry over all the things they go through. When I started out in professional photography, hearing about some of the ways photographers and models interact almost had me giving up. I just want to make a difference.
Any way, take time to listen to their stories. And better yet, learn from what they are saying. Many stories are fun or even about the small victories of making the best of a scenario. It doesn’t even mean it was a horror story, those are just the worst.
We’re fighting misogyny, sexism, and the patriarchy.
One story from a model was about a photographer who claimed his camera was in the shop but still offered to shoot with his cell phone. The whole vibe was that he just wanted her posing for him. While cell phone photography is a thing, this was not happening. Just no… Smart girl to say no.
There are plenty of stories of guys who are just too happy to have a pretty model in front of their lens, and their work shows that. Models easily pick up on that sort of thing. Lack of experience is one thing, motives are another.
Another thing, a model likes to see the photos from a shoot. Photographers may want to hang on to control of those for many reasons like only wanting to show quality images. The model is wanting to see what she was doing. Listening and communicating may help both out to get the best out a shoot. I’m always learning what to do better, so are the models.
There are those moments you forget to warn the model that others are waiting to use the one stall restroom in the park. While the kid is talking about seeing butterflies, what was seen when she came out was a story his dad won’t be telling mom. Oops, that was an eye full.
I once told a friend that I was house sitting, she responded that it was too far to drive. While I had been thinking of online chatting, I wasn’t expecting that response and the assumption that I was asking her to go there. I just rolled with it and probably didn’t do a good job at that since I didn’t have the heart to tell her other wise. We chat all the time, I’m just reluctant to bring it up that I’m not always in tune with her assumptions. I’m sorry men have not treated her right in the past, I’m just learning to navigate that now.
I also hope I haven’t said something to a model and it was taken wrong. For example, when I mention a location being more private, what I really mean is there will be less hassle from passerby’s to avoid jeers and stares. Yeah, communication has to happen.
Many times, I’m sure women go into any giving situation with a wealth of experiences that help protect them. Of course men have the same defenses too. I’ve gone into many a situation assuming it’s going to end up with something I’m uncomfortable with. I’m trying not to live life afraid of those uncomfortable situations, but they happen. You just learn to roll with it and make a graceful exit.
A few more important notes:
Rashida Jones has a documentary on a similar subject for online videos. Hot Girls Wanted
Sarah Ziff’s documentary, Picture Me, is about the modeling world. And she also started The Model Alliance for being an advocate for model rights.
Jen Rozenbaum also covered the subject. NY Boudoir Photographer | All Men are Perverts, well that can be the assumption.
Laci Green’s video Sex Object BS
Jessica Lark in f-Stop Lounge Boudoir Photography Is Just Porn…
Comments with stories are welcome.
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