Photographer
Legacys 7
Posts: 33899
San Francisco, California, US
To a degree this is true. Some black women that I have heard personally say this. BUT, this doesn't apply like you think, my man. One of the posters that 'chuckled' at the another photographer's 'sigh' to your posting, portfolio is a prime example of why it's not always what you think. The majority of the women on his port are nude black women and that some sistahs might refer to as porn, but you also get this type of reply from white women and other models on here who kind of hint this in thier avatar page. It's an individual thing. I wouldn't sweat it and just look for the ones who will do what you are looking for. They are out there.
Model
Ally Dansby
Posts: 99
Wichita, Kansas, US
UnSeenYou wrote:
The problem is not finding black women to pose hoochie style. My big problem is to find one to see and feel artistic, and to express herself as a work of art. Sticking your azz to the cam with tatoos all over your body is NOT art.
Society has done a good job of glamourizing crap that black women need to do in images to be accepted. I see a TON of black women who would make tremendous subjects and I need to plan to work this winter doing exactly that, promoting black artistic imagery. Once a few samples are created, the rest will come.
Not to be racist, because I am not, but the beauty in black women is tremendous and I have gotten the most complements about the few nude black women in my portfolio because they were shot as art, not some bit** from a Ludicris video. AND I AM SPENT!!!!!
Thank you for saying what i was thinking right then.
Photographer
Legacys 7
Posts: 33899
San Francisco, California, US
Miss Martina wrote:
HELLO!!!
Im an ethnic model..and I can pose nude with the best of them.
I believe my images are of High Quality because I have been
blessed to work with some great photographers. Im very comfortable in my skin..
MY BODY IS MY TEMPLE.
Although, I will not hesitate when I say most of the good gigs get passed to the favorite model. I know the high stream magazines (PLAYBOY) is looking for more of
a diversity in the girls, but it still seems like I just cant catch a break. That's because Playboy is still more geared towards white males. Playboy has diversity, but not as much as you'd like to believe. Playboy is white, just like Players Magazine is geared to black men. Maxum and King are similar. Both King and Maxum like Playboy and Players show other women outside of the white and black, but cater more towards what the viewers want to see because the majority are of that race. Not necessarily racist. But racism is still around and some have a hard time excepting that reality.
Photographer
Legacys 7
Posts: 33899
San Francisco, California, US
Wynd Mulysa wrote:
A serious responce:
From what I have seen on this site, I disagree. Maybe there are less "black" models in your area, though, so the number of them who pose nude may be low, but I bet the percentage is similar to models of other ethnicities. Not true, and I know that alot of whites would like to believe that blacks are on the same equal playing field, but this isn't always the case. Alot of it is lifestyles. While there is and have always been nudity in the black community, a large percentage of blacks are not as open about certians that many whites will do. That just how it is and has always been. Remember too, this site is just one site that doesn't show the stats of black women nude. Yes there are many out there and yet there are many who aren't 'out there'.
Photographer
Legacys 7
Posts: 33899
San Francisco, California, US
Garry k wrote:
I was never very good at Math /satatistics but seems to me that your breakdown is flawed
If "Blacks "comprise 14 percent of the general population , shouldnt they also compromise 14 percent of the modelling population -assuming there is proportional represention and given the provision that all other demographiic factors are similar between blacks and non blacks ( ie gender balance , age distribution etc )
And therefor when you see 6 "black "models /celebs in an issue of Vogue compared to over 300 white- the actual published representation of black models falls to around 2% when it really should be that 14% Ditto. Bottomline, blacks don't, which is why there are black magazines and other ethnic magazines out there that make this happen because of the lack of.
Photographer
Vivus Hussein Denuo
Posts: 64211
New York, New York, US
Garry k wrote:
Do you think to thsi day Ms Williams views those photos as helping her , and how so ? Few of us can name another Miss America. Most of them disappear and are never heard from again. The controversy helped people to remember her name. You know the saying, "There's no such thing as bad publicity." That's true in show business (maybe not in other areas). She's appeared in a number of movies and has had a successful singing career, and has put out a number of CD's. It seems to me, those photos helped her.
Photographer
Allure Vision
Posts: 1438
Atlanta, Georgia, US
Taray Jennings wrote:
I live in Memphis which is a about 4 hours down I40 from Nashville. I have photographed many women of any color in the nude and I can say that things have not changed all that much. There are those in this city who have let it be known that they wish lynching was still allowed because I would be hanging from a sour apple tree if it was. Did I mention I have a permit to carry a big gun. LOL! I'm new to TN haven't been here even a full year yet. Thanks for the heads up!
Photographer
Christopher Hartman
Posts: 54196
Buena Park, California, US
Image K wrote:
This thread was intended to get people riled up for no legit reason.
Just because this OP has supposedly had this experience, means nothing.
Let's place "the race card" back in the deck, where it belongs.
If you have a brain- leave this thread alone. So neither of us has a brain huh? 
Photographer
Golden Light
Posts: 951
Miami, Florida, US
Image K wrote:
This thread was intended to get people riled up for no legit reason.
Just because this OP has supposedly had this experience, means nothing.
Let's place "the race card" back in the deck, where it belongs.
If you have a brain- leave this thread alone. I have little beans in my head that rattle when I shake it.
It is a big deal to me. For a painter, black women are desireable and beautyful. I have asked to shoot with 100s of black models an got O responce. Okay I am hack but still.
Photographer
Vstudio
Posts: 16
Washington, District of Columbia, US
To make it simple Man listen ..U do Have a point..Most Subjects cannot see that type of photography a cool thing to do with any random potographer..better yet for Free..Its only for the few lets Face it ..Oh yeah look beyond your back door for Tru models..If your deticated to the craft.. you will overstand that exotic flowers don't grow in any climate..
Photographer
Golden Light
Posts: 951
Miami, Florida, US
I talked to one quite nice and open model. She was born in Nigera. She said that if her family found out she posed for nude pics. They would Kill her. Give you a herd time I said? No Kill me dead. She said. Roots run deep.
Model
-Sky
Posts: 6
Linwood, North Carolina, US
i can only tell you about me. i do pose nude but don't post them. as soon as that happens i get a stamp put on my forehead NUDES/MAXIM STYLE ONLY for some reason. the only photographers that contact me are the ones that want to do such shoots. if i have one nude shot in my port that's what photog's focus in on and that's it, i frankly got tired of it.
--i'm not talkin about ALL photographers so don't stab me, just what i experienced
hope this helps a little
Photographer
RGK Photography
Posts: 4695
Wilton, Connecticut, US
-Sky wrote:
i can only tell you about me. i do pose nude but don't post them. as soon as that happens i get a stamp put on my forehead NUDES/MAXIM STYLE ONLY for some reason. the only photographers that contact me are the ones that want to do such shoots. if i have one nude shot in my port that's what photog's focus in on and that's it, i frankly got tired of it.
--i'm not talkin about ALL photographers so don't stab me, just what i experienced
hope this helps a little I don't disagree, but it is a shame. I don't think this is limited to any one race/ethnic background.
I have to agree that there aren't as many black women who will do nudes, but I don't have the knowledge to say why, beside they are a smaller portion of the population.
Model
Daniel A
Posts: 13
Springfield, Colorado, US
Photographer
RGK Photography
Posts: 4695
Wilton, Connecticut, US
Paris Finesse718 wrote:
things havent changed that fast...only SOME things have changed......our country is not as closed minded... but ways still linger.............. Things have not changed as fast as they should have, but I have to say, from my white suburban perspective many things have changed/improved.
It also depends on where you are. Being close to NYC, where anything goes, I don't see much. But then again I don't usually travel north of about 97 street, so a limited view.
Photographer
Allure Vision
Posts: 1438
Atlanta, Georgia, US
-Sky wrote:
i can only tell you about me. i do pose nude but don't post them. as soon as that happens i get a stamp put on my forehead NUDES/MAXIM STYLE ONLY for some reason. the only photographers that contact me are the ones that want to do such shoots. if i have one nude shot in my port that's what photog's focus in on and that's it, i frankly got tired of it.
--i'm not talkin about ALL photographers so don't stab me, just what i experienced
hope this helps a little In that case you have leverage with your photographers. Get what you want and give them what they want. You may even want to consider your market in both areas as a complete model. I enjoy working with women who have an open mind. It's irritating to work with a model that tries to dictate a shoot and come with a list of not requirements but demands. Those are the people that I charge the most. And for the most part the most successful models are open minded, take direction very well, and know how to work a pose.
Photographer
Hadyn Lassiter
Posts: 2898
New Haven, Connecticut, US
Nude Black Women!!
Where?
Photographer
IrisSwope
Posts: 14857
Dallas, Texas, US
Allure Vision wrote:
BY THE WAY FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO DISCUSS MALCOM X THE HISTORY OF SLAVERY AND WHO BUMPED WHO IN THE GROCERY STORE, CAN YOU PLEASE LEAVE THIS FORUM AND ENTER A DIFFERENT FORUM!! THIS IS A TOPIC TRULY FOR A MATURE ADULT AUDIENCE NO MATTER WHAT RACE THEY ARE. IF YOU ARE GOING TO LET YOUR IGNORANCE BE KNOWN PLEASE DO IT ELSEWHERE! Wow, that was hard to read...the all caps and all....
I actually did give a reasonable answer to your question in the first page...But it was ignored...
Did the models you asked, specifically say it was because nudes were porn???
Iris Swope - from the first page wrote:
Is it because they think it will be construed as porn?
or could it be... say, because they're not happy with their bodies...
because they have moral qualms about nudity...
because they don't want naked pictures on the internet?
because nude photos, can come back to haunt you in terms of many jobs.... I'm a black model, and I wouldn't get naked for you either....I plan to go on to bigger and better things than stripper style nudes 
Photographer
Garry k
Posts: 30131
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Image K wrote:
Your point is well taken, Garry.
Maybe "riled up" was bad wording on my part (I love when people play "semantics")
Don't get me wrong, you are more than welcome to hammer away at this issue all day long if you like.
At the end of the day, you will have settled nothing. And is anything really ever settled in these forums ?
Photographer
Garry k
Posts: 30131
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Vivus Denuo wrote:
Few of us can name another Miss America. Most of them disappear and are never heard from again. The controversy helped people to remember her name. You know the saying, "There's no such thing as bad publicity." That's true in show business (maybe not in other areas). She's appeared in a number of movies and has had a successful singing career, and has put out a number of CD's. It seems to me, those photos helped her. Maybe so ...I would though be curious to know her view...
Photographer
Garry k
Posts: 30131
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
amelia84 wrote:
maybe where you live should be a model ( no pun intended) for other regions...
if soo i would love to visit
or maybe things aren't quite how you perceive them...
love.love.love Ive travelled through some of your Big Cities ( Seattle , San Fran , LA ) made some wrong turns into the wrong parts of town - felt the tension as people stared at you cuz my skin was of different color ... Never felt that here in Canada---except in a minor way the few times IVe ventured onto Indian /First Nations Reservations.......
Model
Just AJ
Posts: 3478
Round Rock, Texas, US
Before I read this whole thread, I'll say this. . . Could be your location. Or not. Could be your method of delivery/tone/word choice when communicating your desire/vision to models. Or not. Could just be that a lot of black women aren't that comfortable with their own bodies. Could be that no money is exchanging hands. . .I don't know too many black women that model that aren't expecting payment for nudity. I think the general perception there is that "YOU (read: photographer) are going to see me nekkid for free??? And we're not together??? What will my man think?? Gotsta pay me." I dunno though. I do it free just b/c I don't feel I am in a position to command anyone to pay me for what I do. This will change eventually. . .hopefully sooner rather than later. I don't think that just because a Caucasian or Hispanic/Latino woman is nekkid. . .it's art. For me art is NOT automatically defined by nudity. Then again. . .I tend to have a warped perspective about things. Allure Vision wrote:
I know this post is going to get a lot of attention because of the title. But, I have a question. Yes I am a black photographer and the majority of the women I shoot are black women. The women of other races seem to be more open to topless or even full nudes on an artistic level. Or is it just my understanding? In my opinion I think nudity is an art form and can be explored. What else can be more natural. What more can be seen more beautiful? I have started to believe that more black women see nudity as porn. But when a woman of another race does it, it then becomes art.
"Allure"
Model
RDawkins
Posts: 4532
Breckenridge, Colorado, US
Steven Eldridge wrote:
Not twisting my words and making this a racial debate would be greatly appreciated.
I have asked well over 50 and "none" of them accepted. For that matter one flat out asked me if I was black or white.
Since you are bringing up race as an issue lets make one thing very clear...ignoring the fact that race does play an issue in decisions made still today will not solve the fact that those issues still exist.
Furthermore, I was not trying to start a race debate I was simply reaffirming the posters comments and adding my own experiences. Those are my words, and this is a debate about race (as well as women, models, photography and nudes). I agree with you on this point, despite the circular reference, "Ignoring the fact that race does play an issue [sic] in decisions made still today will not solve the fact that those issues still exist."
I think that by discussing race, class, gender and society, we can move forward in our struggle to honor and respect the subaltern.
Also, you didn't answer one question. Did you ask to photograph any of those 50 women in wardrobe first?
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