Frederick C wrote:
I’ve had dishonest and bad behaviour from models that could be mentioned; though the intent of the list primarily targets photographers.
This request for a list; which could be unjust to anyone, would be illegal and subject to litigation.
I put a note on my profile for anyone who wishes to know my experiences; to contact me on my private email.  There is no public reporting.

The list as it circulated MM was created because there were too many creeps in the ranks,
That was a documented fact, not speculation.

But, you are right that such a list can be legally problematic and was abused by some.

will859 wrote:
I have another job helping book models for non-photo work (painters, sculptors, etc.) and we're wondering how to facilitate a list for those sorts of artists.

Unfortunately in our area there are a couple who we need to spread the word about.

How is it the business of a photographer to seek out information from models about the possible existence of a Model's Underground - Risky Client List?

Camera Buff wrote:
How is it the business of a photographer to seek out information from models about the possible existence of a Model's Underground - Risky Client List?

It's really not the photographer's job at all,
and really....
I would steer clear of anyone who created such a list and/or loudly proclaimed him/herself the protector of models.

If we learned one thing in the heyday of the Model Mayhem forum,
it was that the loudest "white knights" were some of the worst creeps on the site

Audrey Rinehart wrote:
About a decade ago, a well known traveling art model created such a list and others collaborated on it. At that time, the community was a lot more centralized and connected than it is today. The upheaval and chaos that blacklist caused actually had long-term effects on a once close-knit community of traveling figure artists and models. It had both good and bad outcomes, but after all that, the community remained rather fragmented and was never quite the same again. That was also around the time IG and FB really started replacing networking sites though, so ....

I was a traveling pro level nude/art model for about a decade before I ever started working mostly behind the camera, so I'm NOT just *just another photographer answering questions for models.* I was actively touring as an art and figure model at the time the list hit. I knew some of the models who worked on it; their intentions were based/positive. However, as with everything, there is a lot of gray area. I'd also posed for some of the photographers who'd been called out by that list. I pretty much had good experiences with everyone I ever worked with except for a very, very few people, and I was open with other models about who those people were.

Long story short, it's not a good vs evil issue, and anything that has a divisive effect will exaggerate fragmentation in a community of artists that is already very small and "historically" somewhat fragile.

100% agreed.

I remember when this happened I was in THAT Facebook group and it turned into Lord of the Flies soooo quickly because not everyone had the same experiences. I only worked with maybe a handful of photographers on that list and they were completely fine. I remember this one model called this photographer I knew personally "creepy" because he wasn't social during their shoot. Um...he has autism. Those people aren't exactly known for being social. HOWEVER, like someone else said here, the ones who were accused of more serious things I wouldn't work with anyway. Also, they are usually glamour/erotic  photographers and that is not what I do. You can get a feel of how "professional" someone is during message/email exchanges.....they almost never are. I have strong opinions on these things but I am also not a lawyer or psychologist.

But at the end of the day, you are correct. I firmly believe this list did exactly what you laid out here and it never recovered. Just bad news to even attempt this. I wouldn't want the toxicity and stress it involved. At least then it did even knowing it existed.

Model Sarah wrote:
I remember when this happened I was in THAT Facebook group and it turned into Lord of the Flies soooo quickly because not everyone had the same experiences. I only worked with maybe a handful of photographers on that list and they were completely fine. I remember this one model called this photographer I knew personally "creepy" because he wasn't social during their shoot. Um...he has autism. Those people aren't exactly known for being social. HOWEVER, like someone else said here, the ones who were accused of more serious things I wouldn't work with anyway. Also, they are usually glamour/erotic  photographers and that is not what I do. You can get a feel of how "professional" someone is during message/email exchanges.....they almost never are. I have strong opinions on these things but I am also not a lawyer or psychologist.

But at the end of the day, you are correct. I firmly believe this list did exactly what you laid out here and it never recovered. Just bad news to even attempt this. I wouldn't want the toxicity and stress it involved. At least then it did even knowing it existed.

I remember that blacklist too.  There was also a lame attempt at a badge system that did not last.  I think the best way to protect oneself is to learn and be alert for red flags.  Good or bad reviews only go so far.  I've written Yelp reviews either way for places that never seem to have much effect.  Maybe someone could create an online course on how to behave?   On second thought, that might not work either!  Okay so if someone does something inappropriate to the point it is also illegal, report them to the authorities.  If it is something "creepy" but no illegal, just don't work with that person.  Give a bad (honest) reference if personally/privately asked.  Everyone is imperfect, so being forever on a blacklist is not fair most of the time.