Underage model for lingerie + beachwear shoot?

[Scott_Dobry]

Perhaps those of you that shoot a lot of underwear (like James Russell ) can advise.

A local lingerie/beachwear boutique wants to do photography for advertising, in-store, direct mail, etc. This is a high-end boutique--a (and I hate this word) "classy" store. Something in between La Perla and Victoria Secret.

Anyway, the model they want to use happens to be 17. I have photographed this model before for editoral fashion and she is beautiful. I can see why they want to use her. She's thin but curvy--kind of a prettier / younger Jessica Simpson and light looks great on her. The photography we would do would be tasteful and there would be no nudity and nothing shear, but even with parental consent would we be treading on thin ice using a minor?

If you go to the La Perla site, click on "english" and then "underwear" then "la perla" or "la perla black lable" you can see some examples of what I'm talking about. Their garmet are shear but I'm looking more at the vibe/posing.

http://www.laperla.com/home.htm

Are those "indesent" for a minor?

[Barry_M_Robinson]

Hi Scott,
Get another model! Why even risk it when there are plenty of models, and wannabe models, around. Whether or not the store is "classy" and whether your shots are "tasteful" or not is a matter of perspective and personal values which may not be shared by everyone in your community. Calvin Klein had to withdraw an advertising campaign a few years ago in which he featured fully-clothed young models in, what some considered to be, provocative poses.

[Leslie_BurnsDellAcqua]

Boy, that's a toughy, but you should probably get another model. Even if you have the best release ever written and you get it signed by both parents, any other guardians, and whatever deity you choose, you still run the risk of someone trying to sue you later for some sort of (imaginary) harm.

Underage models are hardly worth the risk fully clothed anymore. In any state of undress, fuggidaboudit.

Best--
Leslie

[Scott_Dobry]

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I guess the million $ question lies with "what is erotic / provocative?" One is always going to have that sensitive person out there who is easily offended I suppose.

Anyway, we probably should look for an older model which is a shame because girls of this quality aren't common here.
Scott

[Asher_Kelman]

The child will mature. she will get friends and may get religion or influenced by opportunism.

With a minor and a quasi-erotic site, you are helping insert her in a milieu that some bottom-feeder lawyer could use to leverage some action against you both! It doesn't matter whether or not you are careful and right. If charges are ever filed, you could have your computer and equipment impounded as per Bob Shell. There there there was a death. However, there is an hysterical over-zealous politically motivated climate and it is hardly worth the risk.

Europeans are much more reasonable. However, in the USA, there are far too many cowboys trying to capture "bad guys".

The climate here is more crazy than one would image. I went with my son to a parents and student registration 4 years ago in UC Santa Barbara. Close cropped harsh young women from the University Health Service, addressed the new female students. They told them that if they struggle with their coursework it may be, as they have repeatedly found, due to repressed memories of sexual abouse by male family members, especially the father! They offered group meetings "to help them recall the abuse that they have suppressed"!

I couldn't believe I was hearing this!

This witch-hunt mentality is a a symptom of a society cultural issue that baffles me!

So, IMHO, informed consent is only a relative protection.

I was supposed to photograph a 15 year old nude/semi-nude, but photographed her instead with a stunning long dress, a bouquet of flowers and a blue stone crucifix. They were delighted.

Here, you don't have a choice of the clothing. the poses themselves for the site and other models (two girls together "derriere a derriere"), makes the placement of a minor at some small risk in the USA.

Of course, you would most probably have no problems at all. You will see the model and parents are reasonable and things will go perfectly, especially that you have shot her before. Still, what worries me is the size of the target. A client with money! All big targets can be hit easily.

As others have said, older models that look like her or better are always available.

James Russel and others with so much more experience and success, may well have no worries about this model. You however, are the only one here who is the potential target.

Asher

[TonyClark]

Seventeen? There is no way that I'd use an underaged model for images close to that campaign.

[PeterBerressem]

How's the schedule? If there are 10 month left your problem is solved [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]