Senior Portraits - Do You Work Alone?

[Mike Brown]

Wow, had no idea my rather flippent remark would be taken so seriously. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

So two things here to consider. One is the nude issue. Here in my state (WA) it is illigal to take photos of anyone under 18 in the nude or any pose that could be considered erotic. I understand this applies to any style or any kind of photography. I also understand that parental permission to do any kind of nude photography of a minor is considered child abuse. These laws are usually based on the idea that the child posing would be harmed by the experiance of doing so. There is a argument brewing about computer generated figures depicting underage figures and does the law apply to that since no actual underage people are involved, so there fore no harm to a real person.
Depending on the mind set of the person making the decision, this has been said to include the old infant on the white bear rug photo of yesterday. In fact the police just shut down a "glamor studio" at a local mall for taking photos of topless 14 year olds.
If you are arrested on any kind of charge relating to sex, then you become a sex offender, a title you carry for life. And depending on the crime, when you finish your prison time you could be held for "treatment" until someone decides you are cured or something. Of course a good deal of this is still going through various courts etc, but even with that it is not something I want to be messing around with. If I was going to be getting into any kind of nude (for lack of a better term) photography I would absolutly know the current laws of the state I was doing business in.

Now on to other things:

<I feel really sorry for a photographer that puts making the customer content above the quality of their work.>

In my dictionary content means satisfied. So are you telling us that your customers will buy your work because it is of high quality, even tho they are not satisfied by it?

There once was a studio in my area that produced very good work. But his customers were not content with that, so most of them became my customers and he is gone doing something else. Producing the highest quaility of work is something we all aspire too, but makeing the customers content at the same time gets some of the bills paid. Artistic quality is in the eye of the beholder I read somewhere, and altho it is nice to produce only what we consider art, should we not take into consideration what the customer defines as art so then maybe the customer would feel content?

I hope that no one considers this as a flame or anything other than an attempt to hold a friendly discussion. Thats how it is meant, altho I sometimes have trouble talking with my fingers and getting the proper inflection in my words.

[img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Mike

[Ron]

[ June 06, 2002: Message edited by: Ron ]

[RichardBublitz]

While I agree with Ron (to a point), I personally feel that we have an obligation to give the client what they want. Quality work not withstanding, this is also an experience for the senior, and often for the parent, too.

For the reason Scott originall posted, I generally prefer the parent to accompany the senior in the camera room. - that is unless the senior objects. I still do my thing and everyone enjoys the experience.

While I must be satisfied with the results, ultimately the senior and the parent will be the final judge of acceptance - I'm not that fragile to not listen to a parents request or opinion.

Regarding touching - fingertip guiding of hands or face, and fussing with hair, is as far as I feel I can go - beond that I demonstrate. My seniors usually respond very well to me - and I wouldn't want to cross the line.

This is what I am comfortable with.

[ February 15, 2002: Message edited by: RichardBublitz ]

[KenThomson]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR> Also "I do not sell" I am an artist, and I'm not seen at the studio doing anything but creating images. I don't ever answer the phone, I don't ever book an appointment and I don't ever sell a print <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Ron, I like your style [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[Marc L.]

Richard,

I really like your website. Very professional. Kudos.

Marc L.

[img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[Ron]

[ June 06, 2002: Message edited by: Ron ]

[RichardBublitz]

Thanks for the compliments...

Ron, the background is the same as the three children with the dogs in the "Portraits" "Gallery" - first image, kind of like pastel blues, greens, etc. The artist is Photo Showcase in Chapel Hill, NC - no website that I can find - phone 919-304-4469.

Richard

[ February 17, 2002: Message edited by: RichardBublitz ]