Photographer
Steven Starr
Posts: 1433
Fort Mill, South Carolina, US
I am at a loss at how to even describe this but, over the past few months (not mentioning names) I've had submissions for work or for Exposed Magazine (glamour nude magazine - playboy style) where models have sent me snuff portfolios. Now, I am the first to understand that to each their own..but am I way out of line by telling the models that it really isn't appropriate when applying for a glamour or glamour nude job? I mean I've gotten some of the bloodiest, goriest, and outright nastiest stuff sent to me as "samples" of their work. I'm not talking about goth (which I've been sent as well) but "gore". Some of them so gross that I couldn't get the page closed fast enough. Now, I am a fan of a good horror flick from time to time but this stuff is way beyond anything I've seen before. It would make sense to me that if your applying for a bikini modeling job...you send bikini pics. If you are applying for a fashion job..fashion pics. Glamour...glamour pics. Right?
Photographer
La Seine by the Hudson
Posts: 8587
New York, New York, US
Oh dear... I'm not one to play morals police, far far from it, this is disturbing, on many many levels.
Photographer
Steven Starr
Posts: 1433
Fort Mill, South Carolina, US
Me either. Like I said...to each their own. I fully understand that models jump from one type of modeling to another. Different genres if you will...but some are very much not appropriate for the others. For example, if I was applying for a modeling job for...let's say disney...I wouldn't send my playboy spread.
Photographer
WBV Artography
Posts: 1370
San Antonio, Texas, US
Seems to be a trend. Photoed a cute as hell girl a few months ago-she thought she was ugly...she wanted images of her with scars and blood and stuff photoshopped in. Did it for her-work is great but it's a pity she just would not like her other stuff. I've no prob doing it if they want it but yer right-the images should fit the genre they are trying to hit.
Photographer
Steven Starr
Posts: 1433
Fort Mill, South Carolina, US
WhiteBears Visions wrote: Seems to be a trend. Photoed a cute as hell girl a few months ago-she thought she was ugly...she wanted images of her with scars and blood and stuff photoshopped in. Did it for her-work is great but it's a pity she just would not like her other stuff. I've no prob doing it if they want it but yer right-the images should fit the genre they are trying to hit. So you took normal pics...and then added scars and blood? I realize that their is an enitre culture out their that I don't delve into to with regards to snuff and gore but my god...I can't believe that someone would apply for a playboy type job and send those pics as a "sample" of their work....
Model
Vera van Munster
Posts: 4095
Belmont, North Carolina, US
I have some horror photos from a few years back. Im a huge, huge horror fan and I listen to a lot of horror punk bands and the whole idea of getting all dressed up as though it were halloween and doing some photos was actually really fun.Then again I have enough brains to know what to send for what Im applying for.
Photographer
IABN
Posts: 394
Brooklyn, New York, US
We live in a culture of shoegazers and competetive depressives. A few years back a man defined sincerety in the form of a shotgun to the face. Rather than suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and perpetual royalty checks, Kurt Cobain blew his head off. Subsequently an entire generation was raised on his music and this moral platform - that self-mutilation is a step towards self-expression and sincerity. The culture as a whole is in a strange place when 'cutting' behavior is now popping up more and more frequently. Now it's listed in the DSM. One might think that this is not so much a psychological disorder as a psychosocial one. So of course it's going to show up in photography just as it has with melancholy misery-of-affluenza pop music.
Photographer
Steven Starr
Posts: 1433
Fort Mill, South Carolina, US
DeathbyNew-Wave wrote: I have some horror photos from a few years back. Im a huge, huge horror fan and I listen to a lot of horror punk bands and the whole idea of getting all dressed up as though it were halloween and doing some photos was actually really fun.Then again I have enough brains to know what to send for what Im applying for. Dont' get me wrong...I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with genre. Not my thing...but fully understand that there are those that are into it. My point is...is sending blood and guts appropriate for a glamour job?
Photographer
Steven Starr
Posts: 1433
Fort Mill, South Carolina, US
Nate Boguszewski wrote: We live in a culture of shoegazers and competetive depressives. A few years back a man defined sincerety in the form of a shotgun to the face. Rather than suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and perpetual royalty checks, Kurt Cobain blew his head off. Subsequently an entire generation was raised on his music and this moral platform - that self-mutilation is a step towards self-expression and sincerity. The culture as a whole is in a strange place when 'cutting' behavior is now popping up more and more frequently. Now it's listed in the DSM. One might think that this is not so much a psychological disorder as a psychosocial one. So of course it's going to show up in photography just as it has with melancholy misery-of-affluenza pop music. I don't deny the culture exists or whether it has its place. But would you send in a bloody corpse as a sample of your work if you were applying as a bird photographer for National Geographic?
Photographer
C R Photography
Posts: 3594
Pleasanton, California, US
Models arenât alone with snuff. An editor of mine showed me some photographer submissions for the "cute kitty" add campaign (open call). Of course the expected pink-porn images along with the snap shots of kittens came across, but the weirdest was an 8 image expose tear of a lifeless cat being shoved up a lifeless old ladies hoo-hoo (the whole cat). I almost lost my cookies man.
Model
Vera van Munster
Posts: 4095
Belmont, North Carolina, US
Nate Boguszewski wrote: We live in a culture of shoegazers and competetive depressives. A few years back a man defined sincerety in the form of a shotgun to the face. Rather than suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and perpetual royalty checks, Kurt Cobain blew his head off. Subsequently an entire generation was raised on his music and this moral platform - that self-mutilation is a step towards self-expression and sincerity. The culture as a whole is in a strange place when 'cutting' behavior is now popping up more and more frequently. Now it's listed in the DSM. One might think that this is not so much a psychological disorder as a psychosocial one. So of course it's going to show up in photography just as it has with melancholy misery-of-affluenza pop music. Actually the types that do the horror photos grew up on horror films and found the genious of being able to do that sort of makeup and effect and find humor in it. Not the ones that wore dirty hair and listened to college music.There is a difference between cutting your arms and taking a photo for sympathy and showing a love for a certain art..which, horror is an art. Just like I love the 1940's so I base my whole modeling career around what I love.
Photographer
Steven Starr
Posts: 1433
Fort Mill, South Carolina, US
C R Photography wrote: Models arenât alone with snuff. An editor of mine showed me some photographer submissions for the "cute kitty" add campaign (open call). Of course the expected pink-porn images along with the snap shots of kittens came across, but the weirdest was an 8 image expose tear of a lifeless cat being shoved up a lifeless old ladies hoo-hoo (the whole cat). I almost lost my cookies man. OMG..that comes very close to what I was sent last night.
Photographer
Steven Starr
Posts: 1433
Fort Mill, South Carolina, US
DeathbyNew-Wave wrote:
Actually the types that do the horror photos grew up on horror films and found the genious of being able to do that sort of makeup and effect and find humor in it. Not the ones that wore dirty hair and listened to college music.There is a difference between cutting your arms and taking a photo for sympathy and showing a love for a certain art..which, horror is an art. Just like I love the 1940's so I base my whole modeling career around what I love. Agreed..
Photographer
Kentsoul
Posts: 9739
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
I hate to sound nonchallant about it, but what you're referring to is just another subsection of the goth/horror/zombie/gore set. I happen to work with a guy who watches nothing but the goriest, bloodiest, most violent films he can get his hands on -- and he's the nicest guy in the world, but he's just into gore. Here in Pittsburgh, it's possible to get an Associates degree in "SFX/Makeup," which basically boils down to how to make gory/horror makeups. I hate to sound old, but it's really just something "the kids" are into. Haven't you seen any commercials for the Saw movies? Don't get me wrong, I don't dig it either [and I'm a pornographer], but I understand that it's just something that people are into. For the models you mentioned, being scarred and bloody in photographs has the same weight that high fashion carries for other models. Just different strokes, I'm afraid. If you really want some insight, I'd recommend you look up a few issues of Fangoria magazine. It's pretty much the Newsweek of the horror/goth/gore crowd.
Photographer
Steven Starr
Posts: 1433
Fort Mill, South Carolina, US
Melvin Moten Jr wrote: I hate to sound nonchallant about it, but what you're referring to is just another subsection of the goth/horror/zombie/gore set. I happen to work with a guy who watches nothing but the goriest, bloodiest, most violent films he can get his hands on -- and he's the nicest guy in the world, but he's just into gore. Here in Pittsburgh, it's possible to get an Associates degree in "SFX/Makeup," which basically boils down to how to make gory/horror makeups. I hate to sound old, but it's really just something "the kids" are into. Haven't you seen any commercials for the Saw movies? Don't get me wrong, I don't dig it either [and I'm a pornographer], but I understand that it's just something that people are into. For the models you mentioned, being scarred and bloody in photographs has the same weight that high fashion carries for other models. Just different strokes, I'm afraid. If you really want some insight, I'd recommend you look up a few issues of Fangoria magazine. It's pretty much the Newsweek of the horror/goth/gore crowd. Dont' have an issue with it existing at all. I just watched the Saw II last night : ) I am a fan of good horror films. I just question whether applying for a glamour job with your head half cut off is really appropriate?
Photographer
Steven Starr
Posts: 1433
Fort Mill, South Carolina, US
Steven Eldridge wrote:
OMG..that comes very close to what I was sent last night. Funny how they only read the title...lol
Photographer
Larry Marsh
Posts: 46
I'm with you Steven. Wrong pics to send. But I have thought about taking my figure study images to a youth soccer or a toddler portrait shoot. Never know, there may be a soccer mom who wants to take her clothes off for the sake of Art. LMAO Larry
Photographer
Steven Starr
Posts: 1433
Fort Mill, South Carolina, US
Larry Marsh wrote: I'm with you Steven. Wrong pics to send. But I have thought about taking my figure study images to a youth soccer or a toddler portrait shoot. Never know, there may be a soccer mom who wants to take her clothes off for the sake of Art. LMAO Larry Too funny Larry...lmao
Model
DawnElizabeth
Posts: 3907
Madison, Mississippi, US
Yeah, probably the wrong pics to send in for glam work. However, understand that these are probably the ONLY professional pics that these chicks have right now and they don't want to spend money on some different pics that would be appropriate, waiting, instead to either work and get those photos or TFP for them.
Photographer
Dave Krueger
Posts: 2851
Huntsville, Alabama, US
Steven Eldridge wrote: I've had submissions for work or for Exposed Magazine (glamour nude magazine - playboy style) where models have sent me snuff portfolios. Maybe they think the magazine is boring and needs something a little more "edgy". Muahahahahaha!
Steven Eldridge wrote: ...but am I way out of line by telling the models that it really isn't appropriate... Appropriate. I hate that word. It should be taken out and shot. No, that's not good enough. It should be tortured first and then shot. And then revived and taken out and shot again...
Steven Eldridge wrote: I mean I've gotten some of the bloodiest, goriest, and outright nastiest stuff sent to me as "samples" of their work. I'm not talking about goth (which I've been sent as well) but "gore". Some of them so gross that I couldn't get the page closed fast enough. I certainly hope you're planning to share this stuff rather than just teasing us about what we're missing. Sheesh! That's just like Fox News and CNN: "We have footage of the victim being slowly squeezed through a wood chipper, but it's far too terrible for you common people to handle. Oh, and the victim was naked so showing it would get us in trouble with the FCC."
Steven Eldridge wrote: It would make sense to me that if your applying for a bikini modeling job...you send bikini pics. If you are applying for a fashion job..fashion pics. Glamour...glamour pics. Right? That is just so typical. Like saying you should use an umbrella when it's raining. Whatever happened to thinking outside the box? I say, be original! Go out with the umbrella stuck right through your neck. -Dave
Photographer
Steven Starr
Posts: 1433
Fort Mill, South Carolina, US
Dave Krueger wrote:
Steven Eldridge wrote: I've had submissions for work or for Exposed Magazine (glamour nude magazine - playboy style) where models have sent me snuff portfolios. Maybe they think the magazine is boring and needs something a little more "edgy". Muahahahahaha!
Steven Eldridge wrote: ...but am I way out of line by telling the models that it really isn't appropriate... Appropriate. I hate that word. It should be taken out and shot. No, that's not good enough. It should be tortured first and then shot. And then revived and taken out and shot again...
Steven Eldridge wrote: I mean I've gotten some of the bloodiest, goriest, and outright nastiest stuff sent to me as "samples" of their work. I'm not talking about goth (which I've been sent as well) but "gore". Some of them so gross that I couldn't get the page closed fast enough. I certainly hope you're planning to share this stuff rather than just teasing us about what we're missing. Sheesh! That's just like Fox News and CNN: "We have footage of the victim being slowly squeezed through a wood chipper, but it's far too terrible for you common people to handle. Oh, and the victim was naked so showing it would get us in trouble with the FCC."
That is just so typical. Like saying you should use an umbrella when it's raining. Whatever happened to thinking outside the box? I say, be original! Go out with the umbrella stuck right through your neck. -Dave wow...we obviously don't agree.
Model
scarletdiva
Posts: 551
Los Angeles, California, US
Dave Krueger wrote:
Steven Eldridge wrote: I've had submissions for work or for Exposed Magazine (glamour nude magazine - playboy style) where models have sent me snuff portfolios. Maybe they think the magazine is boring and needs something a little more "edgy". Muahahahahaha!
Steven Eldridge wrote: ...but am I way out of line by telling the models that it really isn't appropriate... Appropriate. I hate that word. It should be taken out and shot. No, that's not good enough. It should be tortured first and then shot. And then revived and taken out and shot again...
Steven Eldridge wrote: I mean I've gotten some of the bloodiest, goriest, and outright nastiest stuff sent to me as "samples" of their work. I'm not talking about goth (which I've been sent as well) but "gore". Some of them so gross that I couldn't get the page closed fast enough. I certainly hope you're planning to share this stuff rather than just teasing us about what we're missing. Sheesh! That's just like Fox News and CNN: "We have footage of the victim being slowly squeezed through a wood chipper, but it's far too terrible for you common people to handle. Oh, and the victim was naked so showing it would get us in trouble with the FCC."
That is just so typical. Like saying you should use an umbrella when it's raining. Whatever happened to thinking outside the box? I say, be original! Go out with the umbrella stuck right through your neck. -Dave Hah.
Photographer
Steven Starr
Posts: 1433
Fort Mill, South Carolina, US
DawnElizabeth Moderator wrote: Yeah, probably the wrong pics to send in for glam work. However, understand that these are probably the ONLY professional pics that these chicks have right now and they don't want to spend money on some different pics that would be appropriate, waiting, instead to either work and get those photos or TFP for them. Good point. But I still wouldn't have sent them. Just don't think it to be "appropriate". Being different is one thing...but I do not see how sending an image of you with your head half cut off, blood everywhere, etc...gives you "any" chance at getting the job your applying for (in this case glamour). Again...unappropriate in my opinion : )
Photographer
Steven Starr
Posts: 1433
Fort Mill, South Carolina, US
MadamePsychosis wrote:
Hah. The images were very much not appropriate for the job and definately not appropriate for MM. I deleted immediately after getting them. They were that bad!
Model
Shyly
Posts: 3870
Pasadena, California, US
Photographer
IABN
Posts: 394
Brooklyn, New York, US
DeathbyNew-Wave wrote: Actually the types that do the horror photos grew up on horror films and found the genious of being able to do that sort of makeup and effect and find humor in it. Not the ones that wore dirty hair and listened to college music.There is a difference between cutting your arms and taking a photo for sympathy and showing a love for a certain art..which, horror is an art. Just like I love the 1940's so I base my whole modeling career around what I love. That really doesn't explain it as horror has been around longer than what the trend of these images coming out recently indicate. See: Nosferatu If what people are watching is what's making them act the way they do, then why don't we have a generation of models wearing cardigans and slippers since Fred Rodgers was something that so many people grew up on? Explain the rise of depression and overt displays of misery in current American culture as this is where the root of the comfort level in images of suicide and gore are coming from.
Photographer
SLE Photography
Posts: 68937
Orlando, Florida, US
C R Photography wrote: Models arenât alone with snuff. An editor of mine showed me some photographer submissions for the "cute kitty" add campaign (open call). Of course the expected pink-porn images along with the snap shots of kittens came across, but the weirdest was an 8 image expose tear of a lifeless cat being shoved up a lifeless old ladies hoo-hoo (the whole cat). I almost lost my cookies man. 0.o Goodness, The "Buffalo Bill" style of photography. I wonder if that person was trying to be like... Oh damn. I just completely flaked on the guy's name & I can't find it anywhere. American photog now living in France, I think, shoots with his wife & their various lovers, known to use pieces of corpses & animal bodies in his work, very graphic odd stuff similar to some of the art styles in Nine Inch Nails' "Closer" video, the guy is famous & I am blanking. *sigh*
Photographer
Dave Krueger
Posts: 2851
Huntsville, Alabama, US
Nate Boguszewski wrote: Explain the rise of depression and overt displays of misery in current American culture as this is where the root of the comfort level in images of suicide and gore are coming from. I think any rise in depression diagnoses (assuming there even is one) probably has a lot to do with drumming up business for anti-depressant drug makers and therapists and very little to do with a rise in actual depression. One thing is certain. It doesn't take even a vague sense of depression for someone to enjoy creating images of violence and destruction. -Dave
Model
DawnElizabeth
Posts: 3907
Madison, Mississippi, US
Steven Eldridge wrote:
Good point. But I still wouldn't have sent them. Just don't think it to be "appropriate". Being different is one thing...but I do not see how sending an image of you with your head half cut off, blood everywhere, etc...gives you "any" chance at getting the job your applying for (in this case glamour). Again...unappropriate in my opinion : ) You are right. Inapropriate.
Model
Vera van Munster
Posts: 4095
Belmont, North Carolina, US
Nate Boguszewski wrote:
That really doesn't explain it as horror has been around longer than what the trend of these images coming out recently indicate. See: Nosferatu If what people are watching is what's making them act the way they do, then why don't we have a generation of models wearing cardigans and slippers since Fred Rodgers was something that so many people grew up on? Explain the rise of depression and overt displays of misery in current American culture as this is where the root of the comfort level in images of suicide and gore are coming from. Blaming depression on images of horror icons is as logical is saying that you stole a piece of candy because the devil made you do it. It's bull crap.Depression is natural and it's been around forever and with the evolution of society, it has made depression a more accepted condition rather than seeing it as so taboo.I doubt that girl was depressed when she had the photo done. She probably just thought it was a cool idea, just like she thinks horror is cool. Dont make it out to be so theatrical.
Photographer
retphoto
Posts: 876
Sunbury, Pennsylvania, US
Steven Eldridge wrote:
Funny how they only read the title...lol It not really fuuny, 2 years ago, I was workign with some people to do an INDIE film....we sent out casting notices for what we were looking for to cast the 5 MAIN characters...we got hundreds of responces that could NOT be used even as extras...these people just don't bother to read....
Photographer
Dave Krueger
Posts: 2851
Huntsville, Alabama, US
DeathbyNew-Wave wrote: I doubt that girl was depressed when she had the photo done. She probably just thought it was a cool idea, just like she thinks horror is cool. Dont make it out to be so theatrical. So right! You are my new hero!
Makeup Artist
Lynn
Posts: 72
Did I miss something here? I thought snuff was the practice of actually killing the model and taking the shots of or filming the murder while it was being done. Snuff is usually associated with porno. Why would anybody want to duplicate that? This is a WTF in my book!
Model
Vera van Munster
Posts: 4095
Belmont, North Carolina, US
Lynn wrote: Did I miss something here? I thought snuff was the practice of actually killing the model and taking the shots of or filming the murder while it was being done. Snuff is usually associated with porno. Why would anybody want to duplicate that? This is a WTF in my book! You're right, that is what snuff is.I havent seen or heard a photographic version of it, just the porno movie version of it.The type of photo he recieved is what I call splatter art.
Photographer
Dave Krueger
Posts: 2851
Huntsville, Alabama, US
Lynn wrote: Did I miss something here? I thought snuff was the practice of actually killing the model and taking the shots of or filming the murder while it was being done. Snuff is usually associated with porno. Why would anybody want to duplicate that? This is a WTF in my book! It seemed clear to me that the OP was talking about simulated violence. I think the first clue that no one died is the fact that they were submitting portfolios which seems unlikely if they had been executed on their previous job. Perhaps if the OP would have called them simulated snuff photos, it would have been more accurate, though.
Photographer
SLE Photography
Posts: 68937
Orlando, Florida, US
SLE Photography wrote: 0.o Goodness, The "Buffalo Bill" style of photography. I wonder if that person was trying to be like... Oh damn. I just completely flaked on the guy's name & I can't find it anywhere. American photog now living in France, I think, shoots with his wife & their various lovers, known to use pieces of corpses & animal bodies in his work, very graphic odd stuff similar to some of the art styles in Nine Inch Nails' "Closer" video, the guy is famous & I am blanking. *sigh* Oh yeah. Joel-Peter Witkin. Artistic gore. This one's REALLY disturbing, so I'll just post a link http://www.masters-of-fine-art-photogra … kin_13.jpg
Photographer
IABN
Posts: 394
Brooklyn, New York, US
DeathbyNew-Wave wrote: Blaming depression on images of horror icons is as logical is saying that you stole a piece of candy because the devil made you do it. It's bull crap.Depression is natural and it's been around forever and with the evolution of society, it has made depression a more accepted condition rather than seeing it as so taboo.I doubt that girl was depressed when she had the photo done. She probably just thought it was a cool idea, just like she thinks horror is cool. Dont make it out to be so theatrical. I know it's always been around just the same way that homosexuality has. But socially it's a lot more prevalent now and more often discussed in public than ever.
Makeup Artist
Lynn
Posts: 72
Makeup Artist
Lynn
Posts: 72
Dave Krueger wrote: It seemed clear to me that the OP was talking about simulated violence. I think the first clue that no one died is the fact that they were submitting portfolios which seems unlikely if they had been executed on their previous job. Perhaps if the OP would have called them simulated snuff photos, it would have been more accurate, though. I am a brunette, I know the people submitting the pictures didn't die. My point is in snuff women are murdered. In my opinion simulating snuff or splatter art or what ever it is called implies support of the practice of mutilating and murdering women. And to answer the original poster and not hijack this thread No, pictures of mutilation are not appropriate to submit if you are looking to shoot bikini glamour shots.
Photographer
Dave Krueger
Posts: 2851
Huntsville, Alabama, US
Lynn wrote: In my opinion simulating snuff or splatter art or what ever it is called implies support of the practice of mutilating and murdering women. Very Dworkinesque.
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