Efan Bruder wrote:
This is an idea that recently popped into my head:

Terry Richardson isn't a photographer.  He's a performance artist seeing how much crap people will put up with from someone calling himself a photographer (and having a somewhat famous father in the photo business).

Discuss.

I think you're half right.

He IS a photographer. But he's likely also a performance artist.

Christopher Hartman wrote:

I think you're half right.

But he's likely also a performance artist.

So that people can post forums about him such as MM.

Don Garrett wrote:
Ya know, if I made as much money as he does, getting blow jobs, I wouldn't give a rat's ass what a handful of idiots on Model Mayhem thought of me. And I'm sure that is how he feels about it too, (if he is even aware that we exist) !
-Don

Doug Jantz wrote:
Nor does he have time for threads like this lol

He is too busy enjoying his life. Some should take that as a hint about how they should be conducting their own lives, and time.
-Don

Don Garrett wrote:
He is too busy enjoying his life. Some should take that as a hint about how they should be conducting their own lives, and time.
-Don

Don, I just wanna say that it's cool having some chill people in this forum.

Hopefully it will be infectious to others.

Don Garrett wrote:
Ya know, if I made as much money as he does, getting blow jobs, I wouldn't give a rat's ass what a handful of idiots on Model Mayhem thought of me. And I'm sure that is how he feels about it too, (if he is even aware that we exist) !
-Don

I think he used to be a member of MM a LONG time ago...so he probably does know we exist.  That doesn't mean he cares...but I think he knows of us.

Christopher Hartman wrote:

I think he used to be a member of MM a LONG time ago...so he probably does know we exist.  That doesn't mean he cares...but I think he knows of us.

let me guess....terry's dad photographed him for TFMMVIP.

c_h_r_i_s wrote:

So that people can post forums about him such as MM.

I think he does it as part of his branding to land more jobs in the style he likes to shoot rather than perhaps other styles he's good at but less interested in shooting.

End of the Road Studio wrote:
I don't know who he is???????

Nor i.

c_h_r_i_s wrote:
So that people can post forums about him such as MM.

Christopher Hartman wrote:
I think he does it as part of his branding to land more jobs in the style he likes to shoot rather than perhaps other styles he's good at but less interested in shooting.

Or, he may do it because he's at a place where he does whatever the fuck he wants - no matter if others get offended by it.

I really don't care for the dude myself, but I respect the fact that you essentially hafta live under a rock to not know what Terry's about (if you follow fashion and/or high-profile photographers).

The funny thing is, I'm willing to bet that Terry couldn't give to fucks about the way I shoot, or you shoot, or anyone else does.

We should all just do our own thang, and let Terry worry about the shit Terry does.

john_ wrote:

c_h_r_i_s wrote:
So that people can post forums about him such as MM.

Or, he may do it because he's at a place where he does whatever the fuck he wants - no matter if others get offended by it.

I really don't care for the dude myself, but I respect the fact that you essentially hafta live under a rock to not know what Terry's about.

The funny thing is, I'm willing to bet that Terry couldn't give to fucks about the way I shoot, or you shoot, or anyone else does.

We should all just do our own thang, and let Terry worry about the shit Terry does.

unless of course terry is photographing your sister.

Mark Laubenheimer wrote:
unless of course terry is photographing your sister.

If my sister was at that caliber of modeling, I'm pretty sure she'd have an inkling as to how Terry was.

Just like if any of us were shooting at that level, we'd likely be apprised of the divas and princesses models.

john_ wrote:

If my sister was at that caliber of modeling, I'm pretty sure she'd have an inkling as to how Terry was.

Just like if any of us were shooting at that level, we'd likely be apprised of the divas and princesses models.

caliber is irrelevant when casting a female for a particular look.

Mark Laubenheimer wrote:
caliber is irrelevant when casting a female for a particular look.

It doesn't??? So are you under the impression that Terry fishes for models through Craigslist?

I'm being serious with that, because I'll likely never get to the rockstar status that Terry is, but I'd expect or assume he mostly works with agency models, which I'd say are typically more higher caliber on average than what we network with through our channels.

john_ wrote:
Or, he may do it because he's at a place where he does whatever the fuck he wants - no matter if others get offended by it.

There are maybe a handful of photographers in the world that can dictate terms, do their own thing and get paid Terry isn't one of them. He's just good for the hype in selling clients products.

I don't think he'll be running as an iconic photographer such as Avedon or Bailey.

john_ wrote:
It doesn't??? So are you under the impression that Terry fishes for llamas through Craigslist?

not at all.

Mike Adams Photos wrote:
I love haters, they do so much promoting.

This. I take my stand by not talking about him.

Mark Laubenheimer wrote:

is jesus the son of god?

I have to admit, I have no idea where you're going with this one, Mark.

Mark Laubenheimer wrote:

caliber is irrelevant when casting a female for a particular look.

At the level Terry normally shoots model selection is more a chess game with agencies, publishers, and designers.  Rarely is it just based on looks at that point.

AJScalzitti wrote:
At the level Terry normally shoots llama selection is more a chess game with agencies, publishers, and designers.  Rarely is it just based on looks at that point.

regardless....photographer's should be professional and act professional (regardless of who it is).  llamas should feel comfortable when doing a photoshoot, and should not be taken advantage of (regardless of who it is).

ArtGlo wrote:

are you certain? do you know the exact details of his finances?

The fact that Art Partner is his agency gives pretty good clues to the type of work and rates he gets.

Better Souls wrote:

This. I take my stand by not talking about him.

But you just talked about him with your "not talking about him" contribution. I get what you mean, but that was definitely a contradictory statement.

The the OP: you are welcome to your opinions, but is this type of trash-talking really necessary? It's already been proven that he absolutely is a photographer, and a professional one at that. You can begrudge him his success, and you can even disparage his character and intentions, but your opinions about this man who you don't personally know; seem more like projections, than an accurate portrayal of the individual.

Sounds like a bad case of sour grapes.

When will we start to celebrate our differences? Or be congratulatory instead of envious? Of course, this is all just my humble opinion.

G

MC Photo wrote:

The fact that Art Partner is his agency gives pretty good clues to the type of work and rates he gets.

Ha, I would say so!

End of the Road Studio wrote:
I don't know who he is???????

Why are you asking???? 

B R U N O wrote:
Regardless of what Terry Richardson may be (in your opinion), he's having a hell of a lot more fun than you are doing whatever it is he does.  Furthermore, through this he has money that you only see in your dreams, if that.  And the fact that you feel you feel the uncontrollable need to bag on him in an online forum, having done absolutely nothing comparable, is indicatory of something obvious.  You're just another sad dude wrongly focusing your attention.  Whether you truly hate him for vague reasons given (not likely) or you envy the shit out of him and refuse to admit it because you know you can't be his best friend (very likely), your words are meaningless until you become a crazy fuck with a connected father - and one who's published worldwide.  You know, since that's all that made him famous.  Show the world you can do what he does and then talk shit.  If not, stfu and go read Jezebel with your own kind.

it's sad when the world can put terry on a pedestal.

B R U N O wrote:
Regardless of what Terry Richardson may be (in your opinion), he's having a hell of a lot more fun than you are doing whatever it is he does.  Furthermore, through this he has money that you only see in your dreams, if that.  And the fact that you feel you feel the uncontrollable need to bag on him in an online forum, having done absolutely nothing comparable, is indicatory of something obvious.  You're just another sad dude wrongly focusing your attention.  Whether you truly hate him for vague reasons given (not likely) or you envy the shit out of him and refuse to admit it because you know you can't be his best friend (very likely), your words are meaningless until you become a crazy fuck with a connected father - and one who's published worldwide.  You know, since that's all that made him famous.  Show the world you can do what he does and then talk shit.  If not, stfu and go read Jezebel with your own kind.

+1

Doug Jantz wrote:
Nor does he have time for threads like this lol

He is too busy enjoying his life. Some should take that as a hint about how they should be conducting their own lives, and time.
-Don

+1

My thought, yes he is. If you looked at his web diary as my opinion he has improved. Three parts that he in way imparts all of us. 

1. Where he has the model next to the window with natural light shining through using a board to the models right side to softly reflect light is = aesthetics of photography.

2. The "techinical" is when he uses the mirror less camera to produce a beautiful high ISo makes a pleasing photo, hint: its a Panasonic'

3. The perversion side that comes out :-) Consider this when as people when we can slip out of our business suit and technical perfect lighting / 50 ISO photography suit. To put on our Hawaiian shirts, beatup shorts, and tattered hats (this isn't just one sided to men (to be fair) and embrace being Pervy

Efan Bruder wrote:
This is an idea that recently popped into my head:

Terry Richardson isn't a photographer.  He's a performance artist seeing how much crap people will put up with from someone calling himself a photographer (and having a somewhat famous father in the photo business).

Discuss.

Yet, the result of this "performance artist" is used in ad campaigns etc.

I think what you see as performance artistry is simply a knack for PR!!!