We should be helping each other, not hurting each other

It's pretty obvious that the centre of gravity on PP is nude or implied work (just look at the recent images and/or those that get most likes) that that certainly isn't everybody.

It's apparent from something that Russ said recently that the original intention of the groups was to be, well, groups rather than forums, so perhaps that's a place to start?

I think it's key is to try and get more photographers and (especially) models to post in the groups.  I would say there are maybe 20 members who post on an almost daily basis.  A few of them are nearly always positive and incisive with their comments - Huw and Orson Carter spring to mind.  Others, much less so, and they tend to dominate/divert/shut down discussions quickly - 'This has been discussed many times before' being the obvious classic, but it seems others just want an excuse to have a public spat.

It would be nice if Admin got on top of threads that are starting to get out of hand quicker.  Seeing 'to and fro' arguments between two people with many layers of quotes and ten pages worth of posts withing a few hours reflects very badly on the site and its members, and it puts others, especially new members, off of posting.  It's not always possible, but ideally a member shares their opinion, reinforces that opinion with additional thoughts where necessary, and then leaves it at that - ideally without a dramatic mic drop!  Persistant offenders could be sin-binned for a week until the message gets through.

Finally, I'd love to see a 'like' option for posts.  This will stop people quoting and replying with '+1' or 'This' and might help those who are spoiling the forum for everyone else understand that fact when they see how their and other people's posts are perceived.

Edited by FunPhotographer

The site is not willing to moderate in anyway people who are keeping within the rules. There is no such concept as a fair use policy.

As a consequence there are people on here who will hammer almost every topic into the ground in a way they think everything should be done.

Most people with the capacity for a different viewpoint find the forums a pointless waste of time or an opportunity to put people off shooting with them who read but don't take part.

I personally wouldn't encourage any model to get involved in the forums as they in the main seem a vehicle for people to complain or try and throttle other members.

You only have to look at the volume of posts related to games compared to other areas to know the forums are like they are because of the people who use them and that doesn't look like it will change without a revolution

Gothic Image

It is mainly nude and the photographers who tend to do that style are generally, but not exclusively are the ones most active on here. What I feel is happening, is that the community who don't shoot that style, tend to keep quiet.

I would like to find more fashion based people on here, but it's a losing battle because of the incessant force of the few.

I love all types of photography, and I think many others do too. One of the bigger factors here seems to be that people who comment and like images tend to prefer nude images, so a fashion image may not get much traction unless it’s posted by a female model. It’s absolutely 100 percent true that images posted by models get much more attention than the same images posted by photographers, mainly because it's predominantly photographers browsing through the recently posted images, not models.

Now, if you’re looking to shoot a specific style and look, I would recommend designing a shoot complete with a mood board and styling, and then adding it to a casting for a much greater response. There are no rules against discussing a specific shoot plan or style in a forum post to gauge interest from the general population on the forums and to gain more ideas on the shoot plan.

But I would guess that most models would prefer to shoot fashion, or at least a much larger percentage would, as long as they were getting paid the same fee as for nude shoots. They tend to shoot nude because that’s what pays, and that’s what the client (photographer) wants to shoot.

PS, im glad you chose to brave the forum :-)

Edited by ANDY00

FunPhotographer

Admin probably have so much to deal with on here, with all the accounts I see being taken off, spam accounts, vitriol on forums...But there's a case indeed for them to intervene earlier and to call out the major culprits. Maybe a time-out period for those who consistently feel the need to be bullies on conversations that are trying to be positive.

Gothic Image btw, I have always loved your work. ❤️

The share a shoot group is always nice for inspiration, to share your own work and to give some nice comments about what people are creating.

I guess it's nothing the site can do really, more for members to engage more I suppose!

Luckily the closing of the rant group helped! I also keep the politics group hidden because I don't think a networking site for creatives is the place for that and they often end up in arguments.

Edited by Holly Alexander

ANDY00 I only hope that models and photographers give each other equal treatment on forums as clearly it is not.

FunPhotographer Thanks :)

Holly Alexander the site is what it is I guess and it's not going to change without more input from us.

MaristarOxley said

ANDY00 I only hope that models and photographers give each other equal treatment on forums as clearly it is not.

If you want to change the conversation here, people just need to come out of the shadows and speak up. :-) If more of the silent majority started using the forums, the louder voices would be harder to hear. It does tend to be the same voices talking on here, and I’ll admit, many seem more interested in shutting down conversations than actually joining them. Then there’s people like me who don’t know when to stop talking, lol—harsh but true

I would love to see more models—male and female—getting more involved in the conversation, to be honest. For one thing, when a model joins the conversation, some of the louder forum regulars tend to act a lot nicer to everyone, like they’re using their ‘phone voice :-) True story.....JS

ANDY00 I definitely agree with you. The only way for it to change is for the silent majority to start speaking up. The ones who show up just to shut things down do make me wonder what the payoff is for them.

I mean, I've already been told here, that models should not get involved in forums...🤷🏽‍♂️

Edited by MaristarOxley

MaristarOxley said

ANDY00 I definitely agree with you. The only way for it to change is for the silent majority to start speaking up. The ones who show up just to shut things down do make me wonder what the payoff is for them.

It seems simple—participation in the forum brings attention to your portfolio. If you’re the only one talking, who do you think people will be looking at? But when they reduce the forum to a community of one, what are they going to talk about then? :-)

Everyone should get involved in discussions that interest them without fear—that’s the cure for trolls, and that’s how we inspire more creativity in the community. That’s what a community is all about.

You like fashion shoots? What kind of fashion shoots inspire you?

Edited by ANDY00

ANDY00 The fear and despondency is real tho 🙂‍↕️