How to rebuild your reputation

Interesting regardless. I'd assumed that it was a) none-of my business and b) (other) work-related and hoped it was not because of some specific bad actor.

Is it rebuilding though, or building a new reputation and practice?

Wave if you come near, please.

Hi Fay,

I don't think we've ever crossed paths.

However, I can understand if your "brand" is art nude it'd be like someone like one of the very big art nude names on here suddenly transitioning to fashion; art nude is what they're famous for, it's what they specialise in. It'd be like McDonalds suddenly switching to Hauté Cuisine.

They'd also likely suddenly have a completely new target audience of photographers. You can't expect the big art nude photographers to still be interested if art nude is what they shoot - and regardless of how many times I've butted heads with them, do it well.

I know one model who was doing Concealed Nude but dropped to lingerie during this year. However, as a trained ballerina she's had plenty of ballet shoots to keep her busy. If you have an extra string to your bow or a similar USP, I'd definitely play that card.

In short, you're playing to a whole new target market. And that's fine.

Good luck on your journey.

Edited by JME Studios

Your choice of levels is yours and yours alone, it's no-one else's business. If people don't understand that, it's their problem, not yours. 

I might suggest reaching out to other models who've made a similar transition - seemingly successfully - such as Angel and Pippa, and asking how they managed to do it.

Sensual Art the thing with Pippa is I feel she was always more of a high fashion model, I think she was good at bendy art nude poses but I always saw her strength to be in fashion. But that’s another thing, I noticed there was an influx of models changing their levels around the same time as me and yet they still managed to shoot full time.

Edited by Fay Pearson

I also had some concern it was because of some unpleasant event. Glad to see you back.

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More specifically, you were one of the top ten art nude models on here. You had an established reputation and market.

Changing areas of work is incredibly hard. Basically, you were starting again, almost from the beginning. And competing with the 5' 8" size 8 fashion models.
Tough market to crack. I think you'll do it.

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As you know, I'm on of those "Art nude guys" (not my favourite name for it).

I don't get to shoot very often, and I shoot someone with clothes on about once every ten years.
It's nothing personal - as you also know, I think you're great - but I specialise.

Edited by Huw

You're face is very photographic. Timeless and shapely. Surprised your profile pic wasn't selected when it was suggested.

Deffo a portfolio update needed.

It's not really rebuilding your reputation - more like targeting a new market.

Geography probably didn't help - bigger market down South.

Edited by Huw

Huw yes you’re right, I think I gave up too quick and couldn’t see it like that at the time as obviously I knew my versatility to shoot other genres, but yeah it wasn’t a case of me not being good enough rather just needed to give it more time to rebuild a new target audience.

In terms of rebuilding reputation I think I just feel not as likeable after letting some photographers down when I cancelled.

I wouldn't worry too much about a few cancellations - you were stressed, and we knew it. 

I have think you have a unique look and you need to be patient, having come from a landscape background, doing portraits is very different as I can imagine doing different genres of modelling. I know one of my friends has done a non nude shoot with you and would be certainly interested if you want to dip your toe back in the water.

It's an interesting practical and philosophical question. 

If you are known for one sort of work, and build a reputation with customers who work in that area, and then decide you don't want to do that anymore and want to do something else... you're pretty much back at square one.  

Can we move on from what we once were? I hope so. 

I’ve only shot with you the once, fashion/portrait (strictly SFW) and you were great! I’d tag you on those images but all the ones on my port are FPIs so unfortunately can’t. You are a versatile model with great camera presence and I’m sure you will do well.

Sorry to hear you're having issues. Can you elaborate on what you mean by photographers "didn't respect me as a fashion model"? As in they didn't respect your levels or they didn't respect your portfolio/abilities?

When you changed your levels, did you feel you had enough strong work at your new levels to warrant interest? From a business point of view, it's important to have a strong shop window if you want to create interest. I honestly wouldn't know, but if all of your best work previously was in a genre you no longer work within, its hard to get people (especially photographers) to translate the quality of work to other levels. 

Ultimately it can take time to cultivate a new audience/market and that may take some investment in terms of building up a deeper portfolio of the kinds of images you want to market yourself with. 

All the best. 

Hey Fay, I think you can easily re-establish your reputation.  Everyone goes through ups and downs and actually despite the bad rep that PP gets, I'm sure a consistent string of positive reviews will get you back on track.

I can't give you any advice as to how you switch away from being a proper art nude model (right up there with the best not just here but internationally). But I wish you all the best