It took the presence of an attacker in a soon-to-be-published book for the photography world’s #Metoo to finally emerge, reports photographer Emma Birski Instagram account. An Instagram page, @metoophoto_, was launched in early March to collect testimonies and provide help to victims. The movement denounces abuses committed by both professional photographers (such as the “Tinder rapist”) and amateur photographers.
Anna*, 25 years old, was attacked by one of these “fake-tographers”.
#MeTooPhoto: “He lowered my straps and told me it was prettier”
“I’ve never posed before. In 2020, I posted my photos on a Facebook group for model and photographer collaboration. A photographer then contacted me to offer me a shot in his studio. She showed me nice photos of his work via text, which gave me confidence. Except that, once you get there, there was no study, it was just the living room of his apartment… It surprised me, especially because I was a little lost because I had never posed before, but it reassured me. We talked, he served me a herbal tea, he was very kind at that moment.
That day I was wearing a low-cut white dress with very thin straps. And during one take where I was lying on the floor, he pulled down my straps and told me it looked prettier. At first I let it happen, a little shocked, then he lowered them again, without warning me, revealing my chest which I reflexively hid with my hands. I pulled the straps up, but he pulled them down again under my breasts after telling me to close my eyes for the photo… I immediately left, politely, and From then on I felt stupid. I should have done more research, he didn’t have an Instagram page, nothing online. It hit me afterwards… The photos I saw before had nothing to do with the ones I received afterwards, which were very amateurish.
“It was when he came back in my messages that I clicked”
I didn’t tell anyone about it until today because I was ashamed. In the end, I got angry because I was afraid that she had naked photos of me and I don’t know what she can do about it. With my profession, this could be a problem for me. It took me some time to understand that I had suffered sexual violence, it was when he returned to my messages that it clicked: I decided to post the photos tagging him anyway, and from there the harassment began. He sent me messages several times, first on Facebook and then on Instagram, asking me to shoot together again, calling me “my darling”, with a heart in every message (but he knew better) that I was engaged). I blocked him. He came back with other accounts, in my professional messages and even in my Instagram comments. AND it lasted more than a year.
I didn’t take any photos during this entire period. Luckily I tried again with a group shot, with two girl photographers and a boy. It was outside and before every gesture they asked us. I later continued my work as a model with other wonderful photographers, respectful people who taught me to have confidence in myself. »
*name has been changed
#MeTooPhoto: some suggestions for future models
- Find out before accepting a shot, especially in the studio or with the photographer,
- Request your book on social networks and don’t just rely on photos sent in a private chat,
- Verify by searching on Google Images that the photos presented are indeed an original creation and not the work of another person,
- Ask for feedback from people who have worked with the photographer,
- You are accompanied to the filming, both at the person’s home and in the studio.
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Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
