All in the family...
Submitted by Doug Thompson on September 22, 2008 - 6:20am.
A Floyd County mother brought her two teenage daughters into my studio one day and said she wanted "model portfolios" produced for each.
The oldest -- 16 -- wore way too much makeup along with short shorts and a bare-midriff blouse, revealing a navel ring and a tattoo. The youngest -- 13 -- wore a t-shirt that read: "Jailbait and worth the risk."
I told the mother -- as politely as my rising anger could permit -- that I didn't do that sort of thing.
"Your daughters are under 18," I added.
"That's OK," she anwered. "You have my permission."
I tried to explain that no one's permission would be adequate to allow me to take such photos.
"Well," she replied, obviously upset. "Can you recommend someone who does?"
"No," I said. "I can't and I won't." I explained to her that the kind of glamor photography that she wanted to get her daughters into was is a shady business. Just ask Radford's Bob Shell -- convicted of involuntary manslaughter and other charges for his role in the death of a 19-year-old "glamor model" in his studio.
She left and I sat for a long time, trying to calm down. My God, I thought. I went to high school with this woman's mother.
More than a dozen area mothers have brought their underage daughters into my studios since 2004, wanting me to produce "model" portfolios for their children. They want to place these photos, featuring 12-to-17 year old girls, on "teen model" web sites that feature underage children modeling minuscule swimsuits, lingerie or other scanty attire. One wanted nude photos of her 17-year-old, saying the girl "could be in Playboy some day."
This kind of thing happened more frequently when I lived in the St. Louis and Washington metropolitan areas but I never expected to run into it in Floyd. When I mentioned this latest incident to a friend who has a daughter in high school, she said: "I know who you're talking about."
Like many photographers, I've done my share of nude photography. My subjects have been adults who are free to make thier own decisions and most were professional models. One 25-year-old in Floyd County wanted a "glamor portfolio" to give to her fiance as a wedding gift.
But I cannot understand parents who want to exploit their children in such a way. It makes me want to vomit...and then take a shower.
(Photo above for illustrative purposes only. The model for the photo was 22 when the photo was taken.)
Modeling
Would have turned the mother down also. Appears to me that some parents are either so desperate to make their children celebrities that they will go so far as to 'pimp out' their daughters, or they are simply stupid. I'm pretty liberal but I find THESE sort of photos degrading and disgusting. Good for you for standing up and turning these types of parents down flat.
Being of an age that i'm
Being of an age that i'm considered a, "Highschooler." - Despite the fact that im homeschooled. I know quite a few mothers and daughters that are like this. Complete agreement is given about this. Degrading someone or something is just wrong. Its so much worse when its you're own flesh and blood.
What's the hurry?
Where do adults get this determination to rush their children through childhood? You only get to be a kid for 16 years or so, and you have to be an adult all the rest of your life. Let kids be kids while they can.
These mothers who think it's cute to have their six or eight year-old dress like an adult with little heels and a short tight skirt, belly shirt, etc. I've seen way too many poptarts in grade school for comfort, dressed like Mama (who's apparently none too modest either), even wearing makeup.
Not only in Virginia
Unfortunately Doug, this is getting to more a commonplace with teens (and younger children) around the country. Working in a school system outside of Virginia, we have had our share of cases where parents attempt to exploit their own children in an attempt to meet their own basic needs, such as money, shelter, or addictive habits such as illegal drugs and alcohol. Also keep in mind the amount of exposure that many children get to what is called "Young Hollywood" and want to do what is considered today's hottest trend. As a cultural, our country has moved away from a rural society to a more surburban nation. During the time when most folks farmed, the children were occupied with chores and helped provide care of the farm. Since, culturally, we have moved to a more suburban lifestyle, children have more free, unregulated, unsupervised time which gives ample opportunity for exposure to most things our parents would not even talk about.
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