Feminist or photographer? A day in front of the camera
By bryony edwards
5 May 2009
After organising a large scale shoot the other day (as photographer) and it going very smoothly, apart from one model 'no-show', i went on to doing my first long shoot as a model.
It took forever to find the place as it was in some welsh nowhere village, in fact i think it may have even been called that! Welshnoweherevillage.
As for the actual modeling experience...
Did i learn anything about myself? as a woman or photographer?
Did i have an epiphany about my belief system?
No.
I did however get very cold boobs wandering around a strangers house i the buff. It was a fine art nude shoot, although the guy did throw in a couple of girly glam shots towards the end which i thought was naughty.
I am very comfortable doing fine art nude, topless glam and i didn't even feel awkward walking around starkers in the togs house. He was very professional, and i didn't catch him looking at my bum once. My boyfriend chaperoned and the look on his face was priceless when i took my clothes off for the first time. I could see the cogs in his brain turning and could practically hear the inner monologue.... "Thats my girlfriend. Naked. Naked in a crazed photo taking murderers house." However eventually he came round to the idea... so much that he fell asleep on this blokes sofa in front of the snooker. So much for my bodyguard if the to had turned out to be a weirdo.
I really liked the images that i got out of it. I also made £100 in 4 hrs which helps me understand a lot why these girls do modeling.
It's the modern mentality of "why work for it, when you can have it handed to you" These glamour models, models, porn stars, or any woman who uses her looks to get ahead is only the same as the thousand of people who buy a lottery ticket every week... Looking for a quick way out. Although i can't really see there being a XXX factor or a Britains Next Topless Model.
All in all it was a good time, i didn't find a lot out about myself though.
I didn't really like it when he threw in the girly glam, playboy nudey style shots at the end. I felt slightly tricked into doing them and they are the kind of shots that, although they were the same level of nude (probably less actually) as the fine art nude, they have a different purpose. and the purpose is seedy and i wouldn't really want my grandparents seeing them, however my grandparents would think a nice fine art nude is lovely.
Is it the intention for use which affects my judgment of an image?
Or at least the implied use. I don't mind being nude for a canvas print on some ones wall but i don't want to be put away into some ones spank bank for later use. Thats just nasty,
I think that i've opened a massive can of worms and i'll have to have a think before give you another installment.
Signing off.... As a model/ tog this time.
Bryonyboo/bryonyphotography
1 response
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Brian Hinesley said (26 May 2009):
I do hope that you continue to write such wonderful stories because they are rather enjoyable/humorous to read. I had a few good laughs, and understood the thought process. Fellow tog - brian
