Predatory Photographers & How To Handle Them

Dennis Bloodnok Photography said

Joceline Brooke-Hamilton said

I've been working on a new video for my YouTube channel, & have been joined by a fabulous collection of other freelance models - between us we have over 130 years of experience, and we want to use it to light the way for new models.

Content warning; sexual assault

Back in 2004 when I was still a new model, I met a more experienced model for the first time. And she warned me about 3 photographers. "He's perfectly fine, but he'll say your skin looks dry, and he'll try to rub baby oil onto your body. Tell him you'll do it yourself". "He steals models' knickers; I won't work for him any more".  "He's set up a hidden camera in the bathroom where models get changed". As I met more models, I started collecting warnings, and I very much appreciated them. As I gained more experience, I started handing my knowledge on to my sister models in return.  And the network of models, communicating with each other, is one of the most powerful tools we have for keeping each other safe.

But it'll never be possible to warn every new model about every predatory photographer, and by the time newcomers make contact with experienced models, they might already have had some bad experiences.  So the best thing I could think of doing, was to make a collaborative video with my fellow models in which we share our experiences, and what we've learned as a result. Because a lot of bad behaviour on shoots falls into fairly predictable patterns, and when you can anticipate, you can often do a better job of protecting yourself.

Thank you so much to the brilliant models who shared their stories. Some of them are hard to listen to (editing it made me cry), but I really hope that they might help equip other models to challenge predatory behaviour, and stay safer.

Your video and this (and several other discussion threads on PP) show that there needs to be a paradigm change in the way we (as a society and via the legal system) deal with sexual crimes, the sex offenders and the victims of sexual crimes.

For example, only a very small percentage of rape cases get to trial and even fewer result in a conviction. To cut a long story short, not all of the women are liars. OK, Not all of the accused will be guilty, but far too many are getting away with it due to legal loopholes etc...

It does not take too much to imagine, the predator photographers you describe, getting away with this for years, decades. Nothing being done.

Just like Jimmy Saville , Stewart Hall, Rolf Harris etc.....

Agreed, basically every model I know has had a bad experience, and I started worrying that predator photographers must be quite common, and then I realised it was far more likely that the few there are, are horribly prolific. And this video totally bears that out - the number of models who later found out that the photographer concerned had done exactly the same thing to other models, makes that very clear.

That video was excellent and very brave. It made me want to sob - but was encouraging too.

May I just say I've started a group on here called "female creatives" created so we can support one another. If you are female and want an invite to join it, please feel free to send me a message. I'll shut up about it now!

the video is so well put together.

im really thankful to have been involved(though i wish it wasnt a video that needed to be made) - i know this will help other models!

Well done to each model who by taking part in this video has had to relive painful and inappropriate behaviour from predatory photographers.

It’s a lesson to us all about respect for the people we work with.

Dennis Bloodnok Photography

Sadly the photographer I discussed in the video has been getting away with it for years.

I reported him to the police, and in fairness to them they were wonderful and took my statement and were kind and considerate and most importantly BELIEVED me and did their best to build the case. Unfortunately, even with other "testimonies" I managed to obtain from earlier models (who had not reported what had happened to them) the CPS would not proceed with the case. At the end of the day my individual case was my word against his as we were alone when it happened.

It is an awkward one to figure out from the point of view of the law. As we have the innocent until proven guilty standpoint. Which is correct in my opinion, but that standpoint DOES NOT protect lone workers. Which is realistically what models (certainly freelance models) tend to be.

On the plus side (something I did not refer to in the video) years before I had also caught a photographer filming me getting changed with a hidden camera. I also got the police involved in that, and I had had the forethought to grab the DVD he had been recording onto prior to leaving (scary situation). The police were also fantastic with that, they managed to get round to his place and discover he had other recordings of other models (including underage models!) and that "photographer" went to prison.

So I'd just like to say it isn't the police that need to change it is the actual law surrounding this type of work that needs to change in my opinion. Although I am not sure exactly how, unfortunately.

Thank you again Joceline Brooke-Hamilton Brooke-Hamilton for allowing me to contribute to this worthwhile project! I hope it helps other models!

X

Lauren-Jade said

the video is so well put together.

im really thankful to have been involved(though i wish it wasnt a video that needed to be made) - i know this will help other models!

I loved your story, thank you so much for sharing it. I think it really highlights how especially vulnerable models are right at the start of their careers xx

Penny Dreadful said

Dennis Bloodnok Photography

Sadly the photographer I discussed in the video has been getting away with it for years.

I reported him to the police, and in fairness to them they were wonderful and took my statement and were kind and considerate and most importantly BELIEVED me and did their best to build the case. Unfortunately, even with other "testimonies" I managed to obtain from earlier models (who had not reported what had happened to them) the CPS would not proceed with the case. At the end of the day my individual case was my word against his as we were alone when it happened.

It is an awkward one to figure out from the point of view of the law. As we have the innocent until proven guilty standpoint. Which is correct in my opinion, but that standpoint DOES NOT protect lone workers. Which is realistically what models (certainly freelance models) tend to be.

On the plus side (something I did not refer to in the video) years before I had also caught a photographer filming me getting changed with a hidden camera. I also got the police involved in that, and I had had the forethought to grab the DVD he had been recording onto prior to leaving (scary situation). The police were also fantastic with that, they managed to get round to his place and discover he had other recordings of other models (including underage models!) and that "photographer" went to prison.

So I'd just like to say it isn't the police that need to change it is the actual law surrounding this type of work that needs to change in my opinion. Although I am not sure exactly how, unfortunately.

Thank you again Joceline Brooke-Hamilton Brooke-Hamilton for allowing me to contribute to this worthwhile project! I hope it helps other models!

X

And thank you so much for your input. Your story is so valuable I think, because of how hard you tried to protect the models who might have found themselves treated the same by him in the future. Your experience has certainly inspired me to have more courage about speaking out, and not to feel as though I must have 'encouraged' bad behaviour from photographers. Cos hearing about your experience was the first time it'd occurred to me that models who shoot lower 'levels' than me would be just as vulnerable to inappropriate behaviour. The same photographer who assaulted you had also behaved badly towards me but I thought it was just because of who I was, and I blamed myself. Thanks for what you've done to help me and other models to be braver about speaking up.

Aww that's such a nice thing to say Joceline! ♡ At least we managed to get him blocked from the majority of the portfolio sites!

And your support and encouragement at the time was truly invaluable to me, as I wasn't feeling brave at all, I was feeling stupid. I think that's the thing that angers me the most to be fair, the fact that we blame ourselves - I even was a little annoyed at saying it myself in the video - that I "should" have checked back further through his references. I hate that it makes you feel stupid when something bad is done TO you. Grrr. :/

But I do think that videos like this, and speaking to newer models looking for advice etc is sooo worthy of our time, even if it only helps just even one model from having to go through similar!

Looking out for each other is so important!

X

Edited by Penny Dreadful

Gerry99111 said

Thanks for sharing. I am left with the thought that most of the proactive work done to raise awareness and all the model safety groups are created, facilitated and run by the models themselves. The organisations that create the environment that allow photographers and models to connect for shoots and earn a fee doing so, seem to play a far more reactive role - ie when something has gone wrong or providing guidelines that are not particularly engaging, for those that need to be engaged. I feel your job would be easier if this type of initiative was also seen to come from the sites and agencies who allow the shoots to be booked

Edited by Gerry99111

I know of 2 photographers who participate in "extras" with 2 different models all of them fairly local to me.  I would never partake in such activity and try to avoid those that do.

In my mind the photographers are no better than the predator photographers, even though it's between consenting adults.

I was so upset seeing Lucy break down on camera recalling what she went through, especially as she is someone who has probably seen more horrors than most of us while serving in the army

PixelSharp said

Right, real World cat among the pigeons reply.

Of course there is absolutely no excuse for inappropriate behaviour but, it cuts both ways. There are many models who offer extras and/or work way above their states levels and yes, some on this site. This taints all, mods and togs alike but I fear, it always was and will ever be, especially where relatively high levels of money are involved. 

£0.02

Christ on a bike.  The fact that you have decided to chuck your whataboutisms into such a delicate thread is almost unbelievable.  You really don’t get it do you.  Despicable!

Joceline Brooke-Hamilton said

Dennis Bloodnok Photography said

Joceline Brooke-Hamilton said

I've been working on a new video for my YouTube channel, & have been joined by a fabulous collection of other freelance models - between us we have over 130 years of experience, and we want to use it to light the way for new models.

Content warning; sexual assault

Back in 2004 when I was still a new model, I met a more experienced model for the first time. And she warned me about 3 photographers. "He's perfectly fine, but he'll say your skin looks dry, and he'll try to rub baby oil onto your body. Tell him you'll do it yourself". "He steals models' knickers; I won't work for him any more".  "He's set up a hidden camera in the bathroom where models get changed". As I met more models, I started collecting warnings, and I very much appreciated them. As I gained more experience, I started handing my knowledge on to my sister models in return.  And the network of models, communicating with each other, is one of the most powerful tools we have for keeping each other safe.

But it'll never be possible to warn every new model about every predatory photographer, and by the time newcomers make contact with experienced models, they might already have had some bad experiences.  So the best thing I could think of doing, was to make a collaborative video with my fellow models in which we share our experiences, and what we've learned as a result. Because a lot of bad behaviour on shoots falls into fairly predictable patterns, and when you can anticipate, you can often do a better job of protecting yourself.

Thank you so much to the brilliant models who shared their stories. Some of them are hard to listen to (editing it made me cry), but I really hope that they might help equip other models to challenge predatory behaviour, and stay safer.

Your video and this (and several other discussion threads on PP) show that there needs to be a paradigm change in the way we (as a society and via the legal system) deal with sexual crimes, the sex offenders and the victims of sexual crimes.

For example, only a very small percentage of rape cases get to trial and even fewer result in a conviction. To cut a long story short, not all of the women are liars. OK, Not all of the accused will be guilty, but far too many are getting away with it due to legal loopholes etc...

It does not take too much to imagine, the predator photographers you describe, getting away with this for years, decades. Nothing being done.

Just like Jimmy Saville , Stewart Hall, Rolf Harris etc.....

Agreed, basically every model I know has had a bad experience, and I started worrying that predator photographers must be quite common, and then I realised it was far more likely that the few there are, are horribly prolific. And this video totally bears that out - the number of models who later found out that the photographer concerned had done exactly the same thing to other models, makes that very clear.

Yes, I think that you have "hit-the-nail-on-the-head-there". Without wishing to over-generalise, the majority of photographers (in-fact the majority of everyone on the planet) are decent , honest people.

But there are a small minority (EG Harvey Weinstein and Jimmy Saville) who commit the majority of these awful crimes. If we can sort-out the legal system (and exactly what we need to do to "sort-out" the legal system, I am not 100%) the sooner we can get these awful predators / sex-offenders and paedophiles locked-away and the world will be a safer place for everyone.

I think the video was great.Its long yes and needs viewing in its entirety,some of your verbal advice "to models" should be put at the beginning so they DO watch the whole of it.42mins is long but also should give you a idea what to look for-as new models.

Now a questions-naming & shaming?.Why are no details given towards the perpetrators,I know maybe you cant verbally mention someone but maybe hold up a sign naming them?...Maybe sticky ground,legally But a new model viewing this wont know,same as photographers might want to know so they can warn others??. 

People need to be warned of these people surely??

Filmoto said

I think the video was great.Its long yes and needs viewing in its entirety,some of your verbal advice "to models" should be put at the beginning so they DO watch the whole of it.42mins is long but also should give you a idea what to look for-as new models.

Now a questions-naming & shaming?.Why are no details given towards the perpetrators,I know maybe you cant verbally mention someone but maybe hold up a sign naming them?...Maybe sticky ground,legally But a new model viewing this wont know,same as photographers might want to know so they can warn others??. 

People need to be warned of these people surely??

It's all in the video notes for people who don't want to watch the whole video (or indeed, any of the video).

Dennis Bloodnok Photography said

But there are a small minority (EG Harvey Weinstein and Jimmy Saville) who commit the majority of these awful crimes. If we can sort-out the legal system (and exactly what we need to do to "sort-out" the legal system, I am not 100%) the sooner we can get these awful predators / sex-offenders and paedophiles locked-away and the world will be a safer place for everyone.

Is it the legal system that's the issue or the ability to gather sufficient evidence to allow the legal system to operate? These people might be despicable but they aren't stupid, and seem to prefer to operate in situations where there are no third parties to corroborate the model's story.

Joceline Brooke-Hamilton said

Filmoto said

I think the video was great.Its long yes and needs viewing in its entirety,some of your verbal advice "to models" should be put at the beginning so they DO watch the whole of it.42mins is long but also should give you a idea what to look for-as new models.

Now a questions-naming & shaming?.Why are no details given towards the perpetrators,I know maybe you cant verbally mention someone but maybe hold up a sign naming them?...Maybe sticky ground,legally But a new model viewing this wont know,same as photographers might want to know so they can warn others??. 

People need to be warned of these people surely??

It's all in the video notes for people who don't want to watch the whole video (or indeed, any of the video).

Yes but there are no named perpetrators,in the text or in the video.

How do you warn new models about these guys?.