MODEL
EXPLOITATION SCAMS
Remember models:
Exploitation is not art, and it should never be passed off as art. If
someone wants you to pose in ways that make you uncomfortable, tries to
talk you into posing in skimpy bikinis, or tries to get you to take off
your clothes, walk away. This kind of work will cripple your marketability
as a model, and it will undermine your modeling career!
A word
about exploitation in modeling
This is NOT a simple
subject, but be aware that there are high-risk modeling jobs out there
which will limit your marketability as a model (case in point: If you
want to guarantee that we refuse to feature you on Tampa Bay Modeling,
Independent Modeling, or any of our other sites, or wish to discourage
us from working with you in the future, post a bunch of nude / glamour
/tacky pictures online. Go out and act like an idiot, getting drunk at
parties and nightclubs, and document your behavior, and watch us avoid
you like the plague. Demonstrate that you don’t know what you are
doing, and we won’t want to deal with you. Another way of making
it difficult for us to consider you for anything is being associated with
unprofessional people, unethical parties, and known modeling scams; in
which case you would be deemed a serious security risk, as well as being
a model of extremely limited marketability. Working with you would not
be worth the risk, and it would not be cost-effective to do so. We will
not take you seriously as a model, and neither will anyone else. We only
work with, and promote, the best independent models- and if we consider
working with you, we WILL thoroughly check you out before working with
you. We also encourage all modeling jobs to evaluate all models before
working with them, too, as that reduces the risk that some unprofessional
model is going to burn them. Show us a model who has nudes all over the
internet, a model who poses in provocative poses, and who also attempts
to work mainstream modeling jobs, and we’ll show you a model who
does not know what they are doing, and who has NO BUSINESS being in the
industry; such a model is a danger to themselves, as well as to anyone
who books that model and attempts to use their image to market a product
or service which conflicts with the other work that the model is known
for).
If you do something risky, are others going to be comfortable working
with you? What about if you are associated with something questionable,
unethical, or unprofessional?
There are other types of “opportunities” which are often marketed
as modeling jobs, but in actuality are not. This includes promotional
“modeling” at parties in inappropriate attire (and doing questionable
activities), web cam modeling (don’t do this. It’s an adult
industry job that will destroy your modeling career, in our opinion, and
we’ve seen it happen), and lingerie modeling in seedy lingerie modeling
establishments (leads to exotic dancing, and escort work, which is NOT
modeling). Most real modeling jobs will not go near you if you do this
type of work, and you would be high-risk for their image, and more of
a potential liability than an asset.
If anything pays a lot of money, especially if it is described as “easy”,
consider the risk involved.
Additionally, consider what is appropriate modeling. Take underage teen
models, for example. While it would be illegal to take nude pictures of
underage models, a way that pornographers use to get around the law is
that they take pictures of those models in skimpy bikinis, lingerie, provocative
poses, and inappropriate contexts. In our opinion, teen modeling of this
type is not modeling, especially as the product being marketed and sold
is the image of the model themselves, and it can cripple and destroy any
potential for a real modeling career later. Although there is money to
be made in this kind of work, what is the cost, and where does that money
come from? Pictures from such modeling are sold to people in a context
which is inappropriate for the age of the model. Although, technically,
it is not child pornography as defined by law, it is our opinion that
it is being used as such, and that it may be a “legal” form
of it.
If you are a parent, and you allow your child to be exploited sexually
by unethical people who operate in a gray area of the law, SHAME ON YOU!
In our opinion, we feel the same way about stage parents, and damaged
parents who try to live through their kids and make money off of them.
Let your kids be kids! Don’t rob them of their innocence! They will
grow up to hate and resent you, and you will reap what you have sown.
You’ll deserve it, too. Was it worth it? If this is you, please
seek professional help.
Another angle of “teen modeling” would be models who are legal
adults, but who resemble underage teens. In these cases, the model is
sometimes photographed nude, or in provocative attire and /or poses. The
problem is when the application of such work is NOT modeling, and enters
the adult industry. Another problem is when such models are depicted as
being underage. This type of modeling, in our opinion, is dangerous, will
cripple a mainstream modeling career, and should be avoided at all costs!
If you are a new model, DO NOT attempt to do any HIGH-RISK modeling, which
includes modeling nude, modeling is skimpy bikinis, modeling which leaves
little to the imagination, modeling with voyeuristic points of view in
the composition which could look up your skirt or down your top, and modeling
in provocative poses (any modeling where you are on your hands and knees,
and your rear is higher than your head could be considered provocative,
for example. Such poses, even if you are modeling fully clothed, could
easily be taken out of context and used to market something that you would
not normally agree to). HIGH-RISK modeling should be attempted by professionals,
only, and amateurs have no business doing it. You have to really know
what you are doing to do this type of modeling, and have to know understand
things, such as segmenting your market/ branding, to avoid undermining
your marketability as a model.
What is exploitation? Exploitation could be described best as a situation
where someone benefits at the expense of others. In most cases of the
exploitation of models, fraud and deception is involved.
Are we down on swimsuit modeling, models posing in skimpy bikinis, and
nude modeling? No, not at all. ALL OF THOSE TYPES OF MODELING ARE LEGITIMATE
MARKETS IN THE MODELING INDUSTRY.
So, what’s our problem? Allow us to explain, before people jump
to conclusions, and accuse us of contradicting ourselves. It’s NOT
contradiction if it is complexity which people choose not to comprehend.
As far as those type of high-risk modeling goes, they are all legitimate
types of modeling. The problem is that they can conflict with other types
of modeling, and have the potential of limiting the marketability, and
the careers, of models.
If models understand the risks, and they are experienced enough to work
around the shortcomings of such work, that’s fine. If the model
wants to specialize in that kind of modeling, that’s fine, too.
Just don’t expect to be marketable in other fields of modeling,
especially mainstream modeling jobs.
The problem with this, though, is that models are often misled about the
risks of such modeling, and do not have all of the information that they
need to make an educated, and responsible, decision. Deceiving models,
in any way, especially when it is for modeling which may not be in the
best interests of their career, is exploitation, and the deception makes
it FRAUD, and therefor, a SCAM! Such a model would then be exploited because
someone would benefit at their expense, and this is WRONG!
That’s not to say that this could be only done to models out of
deliberate intent. It could also be done out of ignorance of the risks,
and what is appropriate for the integrity of the modeling career. There
are new photographers out there who like taking pictures of attractive
women in various state of undress, and in various sexy poses. By itself,
there isn’t anything wrong with that. It’s a problem, however,
when the photographer themselves are unaware of the risks, and they unintentionally
harm the careers of the models who they photograph in this manner.
Models need to think about the photographer who shoots models in sexy
contexts, and ask themselves if those photographers, who may be ignorant
of the risks, can really do anything for their careers. I certainly would
not want to work with anyone who claims to be a professional, but who’s
work demonstrates otherwise. Models need to work with photographers with
experience, and who know what they are actually doing! This, too, is why
freebie TFP photographers, who give away so-called “professional”
photography services, are no threat to real professional photographers.
Professionals, photographers who know what they are doing, do not work
for free when it involves their target market. They will not give away
services to models who are in need of those services. Such a photographer,
a TFP photographer who gives away services to their target market, would
demonstrate that they don’t know what they are doing, and would
not be worth much to the model, or their modeling career; it would not
be cost-effective to work with such a photographer.
Sometimes, the motivation of all of the parties involved must be questioned.
Keep in mind that high-risk modeling is, by far, a much greater risk to
the model than the photographer; if the photographer intends to specialize
in that kind of work, and sell to that type of market, it’s very
low-risk to them (although no parent in their right mind would call up
a photographer with risque pictures all over their portfolio in an attempt
to book that photographer to shoot their teen daughter’s modeling
portfolio; at least we hope not- there are some parents out there who
make money off of their children, and they will do it at the expense of
their children. In the case of the sane parent looking for a photographer
to shoot their daughter’s modeling portfolio, the photographer would
find that their chosen field of high-risk photography would cripple their
market for more tasteful work when the parent does not call them, and
they do not book the photography job).
There are cases, too, where the photographer IS aware of the risks, and
they convince the model to do high-risk modeling without disclosing the
risks to the model. This deception would make it a model exploitation
scam, and it would make the photographer highly unethical, and dangerous
to the career of the model. In this case, the model would be exploited,
and the photographer would benefit at their expense.
And then there are the sleazy photographers who just want to take advantage
of models, and who will sometimes give them services in exchange for sexual
favors; such photographers are more common among the photographers who
do high-risk work. Do we even have to go into this can of worms here?
It’s unprofessional, unethical, and is just wrong, in our opinion.
These photographers, in our opinion, are extremely dangerous for models
and the careers of models. Of course, only an idiot would fall for something
this obvious. Are you an idiot? If you’ve read this far, probably
not.
And that’s a brief exploration of the issue. As you can see, it
can get a little complex, and this is why high-risk modeling should be
left to the experience professionals, only!
TIPS
TO AVOID DESTROYING YOUR MODELING CAREER
Involve your parents!
If you are under 22, and/ or are unsure about who to work with as
a model, get your parents involved. Have them sign off on anyone before
you work with them, or even contact them. We're seeing over 80%
of the models who are under the age of 23 make mistakes which can permanently
damage their careers; they obviously do not know what they are doing,
and there are a lot of sleazy con artists out there who take advantage
of this nonsense. THINK, and consider. Do you think that a company
is going to want your face marketing their product or service if you have
all of this unprofessional chaos going on online? Don't blame us when
you are unable to compete against professional independent models who
are smart enough to avoid compromises, and you maintain the marketability
of their careers. Networking in nightclubs (See Party
Models) and drunken "modeling" parties are a mistake,
in our educated opinion, and we certainly do not want to be associated
with these so-called models (especially with all the camera phones these
days documenting such unprofessional, unmarketable conduct). We're sure
that the modeling jobs that you dream of booking feel the same way. Please,
if you just want to go crazy and be known for what everyone else is doing,
don't claim to be a model. It's an insult to the industry! We hope that
those crazy weekends were fun enough to compensate alienating professional
modeling opportunities; it's no way to manage any modeling career.
Watch those poses!
Something “innocent” like swimsuit modeling can be taken
out of context and used to exploit the model. Do not do poses which can
be viewed as sexually provocative, and keep it conservative and tasteful.
Sexy is dangerous!
Pictures which make the model look “sexy”, or put the
model in the context of a sexual object, are dangerous. Would you be comfortable
showing your pictures to your parents (If not, then they ARE not safe
for any mainstream modeling career, and they WILL cripple your marketability
as a model)? Assume that all prospective modeling jobs can see ALL of
your pictures (as most can, and do... And if they don’t, we’ll
be sure to educate them and give them the idea to check out all models
before working with them). Do any of your modeling pictures conflict with
the marketing of any modeling job? Can they handicap your ability to book
modeling jobs?
If you have self esteem issues, and you feel that you have to be “sexy”
for your own self-worth, your judgement is in question. You have no business
modeling, as modeling is no substitute for therapy.
AVOID cosmetic enhancements.
They limit your looks, and your marketability, as a model.
Why handicap yourself as a model? Think that the art director who
is booking models into the modeling job that you want likes your cool
new tattoo? Think that you are going to be be able to achieve a variety
of different looks if you have breast implants and other "adjustments"?
Think that botox is going to make you look young? Are lips which are "puffy
to the point where people think that you've been beat-up" the answer?
The best models have a wide range of marketable looks. Don't limit yourself
by locking yourself into a look that cannot be changed, and a look that
will limit your marketability and make you look like a bimbo. Take care
of yourself, eat right, exercise, and work what you have!
Avoid photographers
who have too many swimsuit photographs, and who seem to objectify women
by taking pictures of them which exploit them, or make them “sexy”.
Make sure that the photographer has a lot of tasteful, professional
pictures which show a lot of range in different areas of modeling. If
they only shoot one thing, they are too much of a risk. What do you think
that they will try to get you to shoot?
Pictures
are FOREVER, and cannot be undone.
The old saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
is an understatement here. Prevention is the ONLY cure. Once a photograph
is taken, it will last forever. Think that you’ll be able to control
the use of a photograph once a photographer has it? Don’t be naive.
Assume that your photographs will always exist, that you cannot control
them, and that everyone will see them.
This is why models need to take photography, and the photographers who
they work with, very, very seriously. Can you trust the photographer?
If not, find one who earns your trust.
Did you
know that a scam can do more than take money from a model? A scam can
also destroy the career and reputation of a model while they make money
at their expense, and it does not necessarily have to take a dime from
the model in the short term. How many times have we heard of photographers
telling models that they have to do nude and glamour type work to make
it? We totally disagree, as do the models who avoided being exploited
who are now at the top, and so do the models who have been victims of
perverts and people of poor character posing as photographers and managers.
The model who allows themselves to be exploited handicaps their market
potential and professional reputation. While glamour photography and nude
work is legitimate modeling, it is a high risk type of work which deserves
high amounts of both respect and caution! Only do this work with photographers
that you have known for a while and who have earned your trust. Additionally,
any photographer who does nude and glamour work must have a verifiable
list of REPUTABLE clientele and references, and they should be able to
demonstrate professional levels of work in more conventional model photography
styles. Under no circumstances must the work be sexual in nature, as this
enters the realm of porn, and the photographer must be able to shoot the
models in their portfolio tastefully and in a positive context. Did you
know that even swimwear modeling and posing in lingerie can exploit the
model if the posing has a sexual context? It's true. We have the utmost
respect for legitimate glamour photographers and ones that shoot tasteful
nudes. This type of work demands the most professional and responsible
attention and care. This type of photography is not for the beginner,
however, and if the photographer does nothing but glamour, very little
else, and has no verifiable references, then they will do more harm than
good to the model and their career! If they are a new photographer and
only shoot nudes and glamour, with no other types of work, stay away!
Remember: Pictures are forever, and once they are out, no power in the
universe short of the world ceasing to exist can undo them! The power
of prevention is both important and critical here, and the model MUST
be highly selective. Do you really want strangers leering at your pictures
and violating your image? We didn't think so. We know of some so-called
photographers who use the pictures that they take of models for sexual
gratification, and they even make money selling them to others because
sex sells. These pictures sell on the lowest common denominator and at
the expense of the model. We hit on the photography aspect because it
is the most common form of this scam. There are others. Web cam Internet
modeling and "lingerie modeling" are other examples, and they
are not really modeling; in our educated opinion, either one will completely
destroy your marketability as a model, as well as move you from the modeling
industry to the adult entertainment / sex industry, and trap you there.
NUDE WORK is risky!
See also Teen
Modeling Scams and Modeling
Your Future.
Scams listed here
are not limited to models, and different types can be easily combined
for new types of scams. If you cannot CLARIFY their intentions and VERIFY
their references, go somewhere else to do business. It's professionally
responsible to do so and lowers your risk. There are lots of great companies
out there, like our advertisers and the companies in our resource sections,
who are not scams. You owe it to your career to shop around and be selective.
MORE
ABOUT SCAM
Teen
Modeling Web Site Scams - False modeling careers for teen
models.
Modeling
Photography Scams - Can you trust the photographer when they
lie to you?
Pedophile
Photographers - And others in the modeling industry.
UPDATED 10/21/10
UPDATED 10/18/10
UPDATED
04/27/06
|