Comments on: Three Women on Modeling Sites Go Missing in Denver

By: IEC Studios

IEC Studios — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 08:01:00 +0000

If thats the case then we as professional photographers should stand up and leave the site in protest. That will make them think twice about protecting models that are new and don’t understand the business.

By: Eric Fialkowski

Eric Fialkowski — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 00:54:00 +0000

Sadly, this sort of information shows up and then photographers start having to defend themselves because they suddenly are guilty until proven innocent. I’ve seen models start posting on FB that they will be bringing their boyfriends to shoots to make sure things like this won’t happen to them. The reality is that said boyfriend is way more likely cause them harm than a photographer.

Now, I’m not saying don’t be safe (I don’t mind models bringing escorts, I just prefer that they aren’t significant others) but do you take an escort to see a dentist? Because there are a few that have raped patients while they were under. How about when you see a doctor? Same has happened. Office hours for a professor? Guess what? There are creeps there, too.

The point is that there are creeps everywhere. Using ModelMayhem or some other online model site to find models doesn’t not increase the odds that you are a pervert looking for someone to rape.

By: Smart_Alex82

Smart_Alex82 — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 08:16:00 +0000

Unfortunately, this is the Fstoppers nouveau, take it or leave it :/.

By: Smart_Alex82

Smart_Alex82 — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 08:14:00 +0000

Actually, IEC, the admin of MM encourage this type of behavior- not disappearing models, per se, but whenever I’ve seen a specific example of a photographer abusing their power- it’s been deleted from the forums within hours.

They tend to be very accepting of photography misconduct there, unfortunately.

By: THE GREAT ZEEE

THE GREAT ZEEE — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 07:03:00 +0000

that would be a wise thing to do.

By: Douglas Lochmiller

Douglas Lochmiller — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:21:00 +0000

Come on, lets be realistic; opportunists are everywhere. From kleptomaniacs, to those that are on the prowl to kill, they will do anything to feed their obsessions.

The advent of cheap cameras is not a factor. You can post anything on most web sites saying you are a pro photographer. Pay a few bucks, and you are golden. How can anyone truly know their credentials?

Predators can find anything online, and post as theirs. Models that might be starving for money to pay their bills, are not looking to discredit, they are looking to make money they desperately need.

How many people do you hear of that have been fired from top level positions in Fortune 500 companies because of a lie on their resume? Take into consideration, pretty much all of them are people that had a face-to-face interview with the companies brass…and were hired!

These girls undoubtably fell into the hands of a predator (he or she); the Internet is full of them! Model Mayhem is not to blame. They are an excellent forum for those of use that are true professionals.

What about a certain football player that was fooled by a “girl” online?

By: Stefan Parol

Stefan Parol — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 10:04:00 +0000

“Three women have gone missing in Denver, all with one thing in common: They left for a modelling gig found through Model Mayhem.”
Thats what it says on your Facebook teaser.
Turns out, totally different story: One is missing but considered a runaway. The other two are not both on ModelMayhem, one of them is on a different site. Also, you miss to report about the people who have booked the girls- there must certainly be a trace of them?
I find this kind of journalism very distasteful: teasing with what seems to be a solid story, and then turns out as a consideration. Still, the going ons here are suspicious to say the least, but with a headline like this you are fooling your audience, leaving them annoyed, and not concerned about the matter.

By: Mbutu Namubu

Mbutu Namubu — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 06:54:00 +0000

They really are professional amateurs lol Anybody that’s hawking DVDs and doing workshops is making money from an audience of amateurs. Bourdieu wrote about this phenomenon in his book “Photography, a Middle-brow art.” He observed that there was a whole class of failed or precariously positioned commercial photographers that were able to make a living by teaching naive amateurs how to be pros.

Don’t expect most online photographers to be receptive to the fraudulent nature of amateur-pros. Most people really enjoy the fantasy. The sad part is that many of them really think it’s real. Going online and talking about the photo business is a virtual reality entertainment and there is a whole industry of false modeling sites, do-it-yourself lighting formulas, and you-ban-be-a-pro business advice that enforce the illusion.

Your original premise is spot-on. Fraudulent photographers create an environment where lies become normal. It’s hard to know who is real from who is fake, and predators take advantage of the situation.

I think it’s great that lots of people are interested in photography and connecting and sharing. But, I wish that they’d admit that they’re just amateurs and having fun and stop acting like they’re the real thing.

By: IEC Studios

IEC Studios — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 06:17:00 +0000

What’s ad about this story is that no where on model mayhem is anyone discussing this story. I have been a member for years and I’m sad to know that there are people pretending to be photographers so they can take avantage of your women.

By: the_pro_amateur

the_pro_amateur — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 05:34:00 +0000

…People on here are kinda dumb huh? The guy who thinks I was serious about my troll comment, and now you thinking I’m calling myself a pro amateur. That’s the joke pal. It’s a contradiction. Most of the people reading this call themselves “professional” when they’re anything but. I wonder how many other people are missing the point.