Carly Cherie wrote:
What photographers are willing to work with somebody that's 16

Since most photographers won't shoot with you unless a parent is present to sign a release, less photographers will be willing to work with you.

Carly Cherie wrote:
What if you don't live with your parents

Your legal guardian.

The one who can sign legal documents.

Carly Cherie wrote:
What photographers are willing to work with somebody that's 16

I can't speak for all photographers, but I'm certian that most would require an adult chaperon and a model release signed by a parent or legal guardian, as a bare minimum.

Captured Grace wrote:

I can't speak for all photographers, but I'm certian that most would require an adult chaperon and a model release signed by a parent or legal guardian, as a bare minimum.

Very true.

Carly Cherie wrote:
I mean like, what if your emancipated

Since you are a minor, there has to be someone that can sign for you, since you are too young to enter into a binding contract.

Who do you have that signs for you?

Carly Cherie wrote:
I mean like, what if your emancipated

I'm sorry, wouldn't matter for me, I, like most in my position, have put too much sweat, blood, tears and cash into my profession and reputation to put it in the hands of a teenager. I'm not trying to discriminate, but you aren't even old enough to sign a contract that would be considered legally binding. It's a potential nightmare. All it would take is ONE person considering ONE image REMOTELY exploitative and I'm ruined. Sorry, that's the world we now live in.

Carly Cherie wrote:
What photographers are willing to work with somebody that's 16

I have and will continue to do so. Too bad you are so far away.

Keep looking, you will find someone.

Vic

Carly Cherie wrote:
Those pictures are really pretty :]

I took this shot of Kai Lansangan (mm# 773996) at Red Rock Canyon when she was 16...

Image K wrote:

Since you are a minor, there has to be someone that can sign for you, since you are too young to enter into a binding contract.

Who do you have that signs for you?

I'm curious. Wouldn't this only be an issue for someone who plans or wants to use the photos for commercial purposes? If I understand it correctly, a release is not required for personal use (port, web, etc) or even to be used in a book, newspaper, etc. Anything that doesn't tie the image to an ad.

Captured Grace wrote:

I'm sorry, wouldn't matter for me, I, like most in my position, have put too much sweat, blood, tears and cash into my profession and reputation to put it in the hands of a teenager. I'm not trying to discriminate, but you aren't even old enough to sign a contract that would be considered legally binding. It's a potential nightmare. All it would take is ONE person considering ONE image REMOTELY exploitative and I'm ruined. Sorry, that's the world we now live in.

Well said.

Carly Cherie wrote:
I mean like, what if your emancipated

There could possibly be problems with an emancipated model signing a release.
Depends on many factors, state of residence of both model and photographer, and even if all paperwork is legal and in order, there is the chance anyone who might purchase an image in the future might not accept the release as signed.

Some won't care......for many I suspect, there is just too much flypaper lying about to bother with.

David Scott wrote:
I've shot with 16 year olds. No big deal.

The problem isn't strictly the age, it's the lack of any legal guardianship or representation.

Image K wrote:
I took this shot of Kai Lansangan (mm# 773996) at Red Rock Canyon when she was 16...

I wouldn't feel comfortable shooting something like that with a 16 year old girl.

Carly Cherie wrote:
I mean like, what if your emancipated

If you're legally emancipated, you're legally and adult and can sign contracts.  However, you'll have to find 1) a photographer who knows about emancipation and 2) who trusts your legal proof of emancipation.

And most will still want some escort, since being 16, emancipated or not, still leaves a photographer more vulnerable to possible misconduct or even child pornography charges.

Captured Grace wrote:

I'm sorry, wouldn't matter for me, I, like most in my position, have put too much sweat, blood, tears and cash into my profession and reputation to put it in the hands of a teenager. I'm not trying to discriminate, but you aren't even old enough to sign a contract that would be considered legally binding. It's a potential nightmare. All it would take is ONE person considering ONE image REMOTELY exploitative and I'm ruined. Sorry, that's the world we now live in.

well don't shoot remotely exploitative images with minors and you don't have to worry about it. People shoot with minors all the time.

Captured Grace wrote:

The problem isn't strictly the age, it's the lack of any legal guardianship or representation.

I'm lost.

I don't see a problem.

Conceptually Black wrote:

well don't shoot remotely exploitative images with minors and you don't have to worry about it. People shoot with minors all the time.

The problem is, what defines "remotely exploitative images" is very ambiguous.

Carly Cherie wrote:
I don't know what there is t sign

Most of us here on MM require our model's to sign an agreement of some kind, as well as a model release.  Both of those documents are types of contracts, and while I don't know what Florida's laws may require, I do know that in Illinois only persons 18 years of age or older may contract on their own behalf...

Sucks, but there it is.  Until you're 18 and a legal adult, the only way I can or will work with you is if you have a legal guardian to sign off on the paperwork...  I suspect most of the rest of the photographers in this thread operate under similar constraints.

Conceptually Black wrote:

If you are emancipated you will have a state appointed guardian who is your legal "guardian" when it comes to legal documents.

Depends where you are.  In most of the states, emancipation kind of shoots you up to "adult" status, instead of minor- this means you can enter into legally binging contracts and so forth.  However, the states rarely grant legal emancipation- in recent times, I've only known of emancipation being granted when a kid was almost 18 anyways and something extreme happened (such as death of a family or foster parents)... well, discounting actions such as marrying before turning 18 (which grants automatic emancipation).

Gallery By Hal wrote:

Most of us here on MM require our model's to sign an agreement of some kind, as well as a model release.  Both of those documents are types of contracts, and while I don't know what Florida's laws may require, I do know that in Illinois only persons 18 years of age or older may contract on their own behalf...

Sucks, but there it is.  Until you're 18 and a legal adult, the only way I can or will work with you is if you have a legal guardian to sign off on the paperwork...  I suspect most of the rest of the photographers in this thread operate under similar constraints.

Yes, we do.

Those that do not can roll the dice, and take their chances.

I'm not going to compromise my comfort level because somebody says "Dude, shooting minors is not a big deal".

Carly Cherie wrote:
I don't know what there is t sign

A model release. My advice for you is to work with photography students. Are there any schools in your area where students are looking for models to shoot? It's a great way to start. Make sure you let them know that you are underage. They may or may not make you sign a release (I've never had to at the school where I model), but make sure you also talk that over with them before they agree to shoot you.

Image K wrote:

The problem is, what defines "remotely exploitative images" is very ambiguous.

no. It is done all the time. People shoot with minors all the time. You don't see them being drug before a court and burnt at the stake, it isn't a crime.

Dove KT wrote:

Depends where you are.  In most of the states, emancipation kind of shoots you up to "adult" status, instead of minor- this means you can enter into legally binging contracts and so forth.  However, the states rarely grant legal emancipation- in recent times, I've only known of emancipation being granted when a kid was almost 18 anyways and something extreme happened (such as death of a family or foster parents)... well, discounting actions such as marrying before turning 18 (which grants automatic emancipation).

I was just reading more, even found some places where contracting an STD or HIV/AIDS is grounds for legal emancipation. Yeah, it is varied state by state.

Image K wrote:
The problem is, what defines "remotely exploitative images" is very ambiguous.

Exactly. Call me paranoid, but I live and work in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada and there is no shortage of young ladies 18 and over that can legally sign a contract. It's not that I have an issue with shooting with a model under 18, I simply will not do it without a parents signature and one or both present for the shoot. Maybe if I met with her parents I would feel different about needing them at the shoot, but that's a BIG maybe, even so, I would still require another adult present.