How to Not Be a Creepy Photographer

How to Not Be a Creepy Photographer

This is a post for all the dude photographers out there. I really don't want to be writing this, because I don't think it should have to be said, but apparently it does. This post is simply a call and reminder to treat your models with the respect that they deserve. I want to talk about respecting your subject's boundaries in general, but I also want to address the psychological part within men's minds that makes them want to see women naked.

It's probably always been this way -- male photographers trying to get their female subjects to take their clothes off -- but I think it's gotten way worse in the last few years. I see a lot (A LOT) of Instagram accounts of male photographers whose sole subject matter is nude women, which isn't at all a bad thing, don't get me wrong. The female body is something to be admired and has been used as a subject of all art forms for thousands of years.

But if you study art history at all, you'll quickly learn the difference between nudity and nakedness. It was common practice for painters to depict their nude subjects as being fully nude, and not in a state of undress. This was because depicting a model undressing was seen as being voyeuristic, inappropriate and inherently sexual, whereas painting a model fully nude was seen as appreciating the body for its artistically pleasing qualities. I think the same can be said today.

But I think it's the method in which some of these guys get these girls to take their clothes off that is so inappropriate; so I want to take a minute to talk about that.

It seems that there are some photographers out there that get into the industry just so they can be around attractive women.

I know this to be true from personal conversations with some of these guys as well as through stories from some of my model friends. This isn't a witch hunt, so I won't be naming names, but I know several guys whose sole purpose for their photography is to see hot girls naked.

Here are a couple true stories.

Story 1: Male photographer reaches out to a model and invites her over to "watch a movie and maybe cuddle" at his place. She refuses, naturally, but shoots with him anyway at a later date. Male photographer makes several more sexual advances after the shoot and then threatens to hold the photos he took hostage until she sleeps with him. 

Story 2: This is more of a quote than a story, but I've witnessed a photographer post as a caption on more than one of his photos: "Yes, I touch my models... (Winky face)."

And it doesn't end there. A lot of my guy friends have admitted to me that, "It must be nice to hang out with all those beautiful women all the time," and, "Do you ever get any of them naked?"

I saw a friend post this recently. The first guy tries to blackmail who he thinks is a woman into sending him nudes after seeing "her" post a nude photo of "herself" on Instagram. It doesn't go as planned.

So... It's a problem. 

Let me take a moment to say that, while I am not in the business of shooting nudes, boudoir, or really anything sexual or provocative, most of my clients are female; so I have a pretty good grip on how to act around the opposite sex on set.

Here are a few tips on how to shoot women. 

1. Open communication: Always be up front with your intentions before, during, and after a shoot. If you want to shoot something racy, ask. Never pressure them after you've already started shooting. Never post any of those photos online without permission from the model, either. 

2. Don't touch: Holy crap -- just don't touch a model. Do I even have to explain this one?

3. Be considerate: Just be a decent human being. If your model is changing, walk away. If she's adjusting her wardrobe on set, look away. Don't gawk at her like a pervert. EYE CONTACT, MAN.

4. Watch your mouth: Compliments are great, but when you tell a model she's got a nice butt, you're being a douche bag. 

5. No means no: Manipulation isn't cool. If you want to shoot a boudoir session, a swimsuit series, artistic nudes, etc., and the model you had in mind says, "No," then that's the end of the discussion -- period. 

So that's my two cents on the matter.  Whatever your niche is as a photographer, your intentions will show in your work. If your intentions are to objectify women, it'll be apparent. If your intention is to make beautiful art, people will be able to tell.

 

I’m a commercial music, portrait and lifestyle photographer based in Nashville, Tennessee. If you’d like to see more of my work, head over to my website.

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58 Comments
Previous comments

I wonder how many hundreds of articles have been written on this exact subject? (And with the exact same advice.)

Haven't read all the post below but my 2 cents?
- the photographers who behave like jerks will not change their behaviour because off this article. (Sorry)
- even between the people writing responses here there might be 1 or 2 who say one thing and do the other.
(Hell, it could even be me for that matter)

After all it will be the models who seperate the nice guys from the bad ones and not we as photographers.
But although bad behaviour will get back at you at the end there will always be "wannabee" models who are that naive (or not) to accept whatever happens cause they believe is part of "the business"

Therefor I can only use my energy
- to educate young ladies in what to espect from a good photographer.
-to eductate young ladies that nudity/lingery/topless is not a must for having great photographs of yourself.
- to educate young ladies that what might look great now could get back at you when looking for a decent job in the future.

If they after this still think that they have to take of their clothes and follow the bad guys then it's up to them.

I can not chance people and so I can only make sure that i can look straight into the mirror whitout
any doubts of why I'm a photographer.

I both like and agree with Dylan Borgman's comment, "... but disagree with you that you can't compliment a woman's body parts... I You just have to be careful not to do it in a not-creepy or sexual way..." I think he meant to say "... be careful not to do it in a creepy way..." though, but it's all good, I know what he meant. Personally, I use humor and steer clear of anything close to flirtatious or being an innuendo. I also agree with not being able to explain it, it's just something you're aware of and careful of, and you just don't act/say certain ways or things.

As an amateur, and as someone who typically sets goals, I fain have any model in front of my camera, just for the practice. As it turns out, I'm shooting mostly women, and the few men I've approached weren't very interested in having their pictures taken. But it's all good, I can practice lighting and composition in a bikini or fully clothed. Also, there's not a shortage of women in LA who want to shoot in bikinis without even having to ask them.

And I'll say this... Nobody has ever asked me if I've had sex with a model, if I saw anybody naked, or any other sordid question. At most I've heard something along the lines from the fellas might comment, "dude, she's hot", or something like that. Even my wife's friends don't say anything if a model happens to be at our place when they're around, so I've got to wonder "who acts like that?" I've been invited to drinks to meet the boyfriend and hang out with friends after shoots, and that's cool, but I probably wouldn't hang out with just a female model for drinks after a shoot... Maybe that's my upbringing showing through, but I'm just saying.

I'll end this comment with this story... I asked a model to shoot, she said yes (eventually). We were doing an outdoors shoot and unbeknownst to me, she'd texted her boyfriend where we were shooting and as it turns out, he watched the shoot from a far. As we were wrapping up, he approached at that time. I laughed and asked him why he didn't come over earlier, he didn't have to do that. He didn't want to get in the way or be a distraction to me or his girlfriend, he said. Her friend that was with us before, she left early, so it was great that the model's BF was there. I guess the moral of the story and maybe a tip to those that are conscious of even remotely coming off as douchy (I know I am) is to act as if the model's BF is right there watching you.

Good article with some solid tips. I don't do shoots with female models without a female assistant on site. It makes me feel more comfortable, the model feel more comfortable, and all around is a great policy for my business. :) The female assistant may be a MUA, a lighting assistant, whatever, but I make sure somebody professional is there. I work really hard to have "opposite of creeper" reputation because A. I am the opposite of a creeper, and B. I've heard horror stories and don't want anybody working with me to feel in any way uncomfortable.

Maybe the issue is you're looking at Instagram accounts? Seems to me you'll see what you wanna see. There will always be jerks out there, but consider the source. There are many good professional nude photographers out there, and a lot of them photograph only women. Most of the good ones you won't see posting their work on Instagram. Your article is like saying "I went to an alcoholics anonymous meeting and all I saw were alcoholics." Try browsing the work of professionals who do it for a living and the write another article. You may see a big difference in the work. It seems pretty self-evident that there are a lot of guys out there who want to see naked women and use photography as a means to do it. One more tip on how to shoot women that you didn't mention: Never - NEVER go on a shoot with just you and the model. Take someone with you, an assistant, or friend, hopefully another female. That will ease a lot of tension for the model, and it will get you better photographs, not to mention you'll be better protected as the photographer. One more thing: this isn't a one way street. There are many unprofessional models out there as well who will approach photographers for more than pay and session shots. In fact, here's a good article by Fstoppers on that very subject: https://fstoppers.com/business/how-photographers-can-deal-unprofessional...

Best advice - always be professional.

I am confused by this article. One, why would any 'man' do this kind of behavior? Two, why would any 'man' think this is any kind of appropriate or acceptable behavior? Three, why would any woman put up with, tolerate or even accept this kind of behavior? Four why would any woman let herself be in this kind of 'man's" company more than once? And finally, why would any woman not tell every other woman and everyone else in the industry what kind of 'man' this person is so they can have informed consent to avoid this person in all future matters? I'm just asking. Keep the Douche-bags out of our industry and make it so much better for the rest of us.

I've been a photographer for well over 25 years on-and-off. I've been around models during shoots and more to the point between shoots or while models are switching, one coming in while the other is going to change or while we going through the previous session shots to see what we like, what worked, what didn't so much and what we can do in the next set.
Sometimes, and this has been happening more often more recently as I don't ever recall it happening previously, models I am used to working with or who know me by reputation, 'hang out' topless or just walking around exposed, or thankfully in their bra and panties not that I'm complaining. It's nice that they trust me to be a 'professional' but at the same time I'm a guy and they are exposed. I'm hoping that they see me as a professional but I can't help but feel like they see me more as a neuter and not as a potential "Man" not that I want them to see me or think of me as a potential threat but at the same time I'm also not one of the girls, it seems kind of emasculating. I'm a Man.
I made mention of my concerns at two separate shoots to two totally different models and both the models basically if not verbally identically said was, "You've already seen me totally nude or in less than what I'm wearing now, whats to cover up?" How does a man argue with that?
They also tend to ask, " What is it bothering you now because you are thinking you might want to date me now?" They almost seem disappointed and more than slightly aggravated when I almost yell out, "No, no!." Its like somehow I've just offended them because I don't want them, need them, need to have them now ooh, ooh baby, baby.. That's not what I meant. When I'm in Photographer mode, I'm not in guy mode and vice versa. And yes I have a touch of OCD which I deal with by compartmentalizing and keeping separate what I do
Am I just being a prude or over thinking that they should be worried about me seeing them exposed in between shooting sessions?

I tried shooting nude once. Scared the hell out of the model, the makeup and hair person started crying, the penguin ran out of the studio flapping its wings and squawking at the top of its lungs, my ex wife's lawyer showed up, as did an EMT. Last time I'll ever shoot in the nude. I'm scared to shoot in RAW now...