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Shooting an underage girl
Hello everyone, I'm new to portrait photography and I'm just starting to shoot models. I was approached by a girl who is 16 years old and according to her MM page she shoots nudes and she does lingerie and bikini shoots among everything else. Now, I have NO intentions of shooting lingerie and bikini pictures of her and especially any nude shots of her. I'm kinda worried about even doing a shoot with her because I don't want any weird stuff come up on the shoot. I'm a 23 year old guy and I feel really uncomfortable with this shoot die to her age. Any suggestions? Should I tell her to bring a chaperone or a parent? Is there Amy paperwork like a special model release for situations like this? How have y'all dealt with shoots with minors? Apr 01 12 09:59 am Link If she's on MM, she's 16, and her page says she does nudes, please share that information with the moderators. http://www.ripoffreport.com Apr 01 12 10:01 am Link As you have noted, there are additional risks of problems at shoots with minors and they cannot sign a llama release. I would also be highly suspicious of any profile of a minor that lists nudes or lingerie in their styles. I never shoot with minor llamas unless they are signed with an agency and have a parent present. Apr 01 12 10:03 am Link Green Captures wrote: Last time I reported a girl for a similar profile the mod came back and said "a lot of these young girls just tick every box without actually reading it first." Apr 01 12 10:04 am Link Green Captures wrote: It isn't against the law to shoot any one under the age of 18 in the nude (otherwise people that have shot babies in the nude.. would have been 'taken out') Apr 01 12 10:07 am Link Green Captures wrote: then you should stay far away from her... Apr 01 12 10:12 am Link I shoot with under 18 models only if a parent or guardian at least brings her to the shoot and signs a model release - and only age appropriate topics - nothing that could be remotely considered exploitative, pervy or lacking in taste. I only ask for the model release as documentation of the parent's approval - with only one exception I have never used or published images of anyone under-age. Apr 01 12 10:13 am Link Green Captures wrote: Contact your local law enforcement and let them talk with the District Attorneys office to determine what is best for this minor. Apr 01 12 10:14 am Link As a minor model myself (until August anyway!) I would be cautious of any under 18s who say they shoot nudes! However, I have shot lingerie before in tasteful ways because I'm getting closer to being an adult now, and as long as it isn't glamour style or overly sexual I wouldn't see a problem with lingerie or bikini. However, if you want to play it safe just shoot 18+, they're generally more experienced and don't have to be chaperoned everywhere by parents/guardians so it'd probably be better anyway. You don't want to end up in a sticky situation. Apr 01 12 10:15 am Link Green Captures wrote: My suggestion is to pass on shoots that you feel really uncomfortable about. Apr 01 12 10:22 am Link I would just not shoot her and save yourself the headache and trouble. Apr 01 12 10:24 am Link I've shot 14,15,16 and 17 year olds. Parents drop them off and we shoot. You can shoot the girl in a bikini you just can't have her posing like you have the other llamas in your portfolio posing. You just have to make sure that she is doing poses for her age and not overly sexy. I don't understand why photographers are so petrified of shooting under age llamas..... I'd like to know how many actual real stories have people heard about a photographer being arrested for taking photographs of a 16 year old during a shoot? Cause I can honestly say in all the years I lived in Toronto and Paris and now London I haven't heard of one. And believe me there are many of photographers out there that shoot kids/teenagers and I'm one of them.  Apr 01 12 10:28 am Link Green Captures wrote: Paintings and Pictures wrote: "Dear police department, there's a girl on Model Mayhem who claims to be 16 and says she'll shoot nudes. Will you have the DA determine what's best for her?" Apr 01 12 10:30 am Link If she is a woman, especially a pretty young woman... she should have an escort. Always. Without a doubt. Apr 01 12 10:31 am Link Paintings and Pictures wrote: WTF!!! District Attorneys don't have any power to determine whats best for the model unless they are her parents. Apr 01 12 10:32 am Link Erlinda wrote: Apr 01 12 10:40 am Link There are three photographers in my area who shoot regularly with underage girls under very sketchy circumstances and two of them approached me and asked if I wanted to join them. After I got a look at the way they did things I said no thanks and got the heck away from them as fast as I could but sadly that wasn't the end of it. One of the photographers got himself butt hurt over my refusal to work with him and risk my name and reputation and he has started a smear campaign but I will have the last laugh. Most of the people who used to hang out with him are recognizing for who he is and have dropped him and I have contacted the police who have talked with him so by being a dick this guy has hosed himself royally. Bottom line is I tend to avoid working with under age models because there are way to many things that can go wrong. Apr 01 12 10:40 am Link Legalities: No laws against shooting a minor nude. Very serious laws against shooting (or possessing) pornographic images of a minor. Parental consent does not make it legal, it makes the parents an accessory to the crime. Realities: Just because something is legal, doesn't mean you won't get in trouble for it. Look around thee forums at all the stories of photographers being harassed for standing on the public sidewalk, and taking pictures of buildings, trains, etc. Some photographers fear that by shooting nudes of a minor, they open themselves up to charges of being a child pornographer, or a pedophile. They fear that simply being accused can cause damage to one's career, and if you need a lawyer, it could get expensive. Some photographers take this even further, and refuse to shoot minors at all. Keep in mind that nudity is not a requirement for an image to be legally pornographic. Some photographers worry, that even if the images are legal, they are opening themselves up to charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Other photographers believe that art is more important, and as long as the images are legal, they will not let fear rule their lives. Most photographers fall somewhere between the two extremes. One of the fears is that the model's parents will go "ape shit" (a technical term) and accuse you of taking advantage of their daughter. Forced to choose between their parents and the truth, the model may side with her parents. As a general rule, if your are going to shoot a minor and/or nudes, you may wish a second person on the set (perhaps a female MUA). This gives an independent witness who can testify to what really happened. If you are worried about parental nonsense, you can suggest a parent be present. As to releases, you likely will want a release that is signed by both the model and the parent. In general, a release signed only by a minor may not be binding. Having the parent also sign the release makes it more likely to be binding. The most important piece of advice I can give you is not to trust any legal advice you receive from the web (including this post). I am not an attorney. Always consult with an attorney for reliable legal advice. Apr 01 12 10:41 am Link Lance DuLac wrote: Do you do a Dudley Do-Right imitation too? Apr 01 12 10:42 am Link Erlinda wrote: Contact the Republican party. They have a lot of experience knowing what's best for women in our society. :-) Apr 01 12 10:43 am Link  Moderator Note!Sita Mae wrote: ^This^ Apr 01 12 10:43 am Link Lance DuLac wrote: backoff! Apr 01 12 10:45 am Link i have had a couple contact me that were underage and wanted to do bikini and lingerie. i just email them and say please feel free to contact me when your 18 if your still interested thank you. Apr 01 12 10:46 am Link Moderator Note!TA Craft Photography wrote: That's what 90% of them are about but we still send a message to them and make sure they change it. Apr 01 12 10:46 am Link Green Captures wrote: Sounds as if this could be an undercover cop in disguise. Apr 01 12 10:47 am Link A large number of fashion models are under 18, I have shot many myself but I don't shoot anything even remotely sexy and their parent is always present. Its fairly common, Ford has a 15 year old in fashion week. Again it's the context that is in question, however if you don't feel comfortable then don't; the images won't be worth using if you are uncomfortable anyhow regardless of the models age so what would be the point Apr 01 12 10:48 am Link Lance DuLac wrote: Why? Are you a danger to them? Apr 01 12 10:49 am Link It's all right there for you, all good advice, if in dought, can it. Dought is a warning. Apr 01 12 10:50 am Link F Escort wrote:
Apr 01 12 10:51 am Link Jouissance Images wrote: I've wondered that myself before but have never heard of it really happening. Just shooting nudes isn't illegal in most places at least, it's the style. Might happen in a specific locale if they were trolling for someone particular. Apr 01 12 10:52 am Link Kevin 66 Photography wrote: I'm sorry, what is this link for? To show me that photographers shoot glamour with 16 year olds? Apr 01 12 10:53 am Link Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm going to have to cancel the shoot. Someone mentioned that there are ways to pose young girls in bikini without it being risque or suggestive but, like I mentioned, Im new to this type of photography and working on learning how to pose girls so I don't feel comfortable in knowing exactly what works and what doesn't, or what's specifically allowed for a girl her age. I rather get more experience first. Also, being that I live on the border of GA and SC it'd be too much of a hassle trying to figure out the laws for both states and just seems like too much trouble for a TFP event anyways. Again, thanks! Apr 01 12 10:55 am Link under 18 model here... lol I have never posed a problem for photographers as far as I know. My Mom however doesnt ever drop me off, she stays and reads magazines or something. Helps me with my outfit changes and does hair and makeup if it isnt provided. Most photographers wouldn't want her to leave me there. But nude, nope not happening Apr 01 12 10:58 am Link Green Captures wrote: You talk about gaining experience but how are you going to do that if you don't work with underage models? Apr 01 12 10:59 am Link Green Captures wrote: this sounds like a lie? Apr 01 12 11:03 am Link S W I N S K E Y wrote: Agreed. Apr 01 12 11:05 am Link Against the law? nope. Against the rules here on MM? Yep. Only shoot models that are 18+ It takes care of all the guess work of "Well is this age appropriate?" Though, I have found that most americans would be more acceptable of a young (underage) girl doing some overly sexual clothed shoot than an artistic with zero sexual overtones (the type you would seen in an art gallery) nude shoot. "Well.. you see... it's not porn because she isn't naked.."  Apr 01 12 11:26 am Link S W I N S K E Y wrote: Bella la Bell wrote: personally, i am way comfortable shooting any age female. An underage female doesn't cause me one minute's hesitation....age appropriate is the key. Apr 01 12 11:41 am Link New Kidd Imagery wrote: Please do not make up MM rules.... There is nowhere on MM where it states that it's against MM rules to shoot underage models. If that was the case they wouldn't be allowed to sign up to the site Apr 01 12 11:42 am Link Under 18 a parent parent or guardian must be present no way around this and I have received complaints from seniors. Apr 01 12 11:52 am Link |
