Pejorism and the female form

While I may not yet consider myself a "model," I have been exposed to the industry and make a very sizeable wage when I choose to be a part of it. I believe the female form is one of the most beautiful creations known to mankind. Studied, photographed, sculpted, painted - the list goes on and on. Men love women, hell, women even love women at times. So why are beautiful women, with beautiful bodies, hiding and shying away from art in its purest forms?

Simple. Unprofessionalism.

Plenty of slang and various jargon is thrown around the modeling industry, one very important example being "GWC" also known as a "Guy with Camera." These "photographers" come in a few difference varieties: those that pretend to be professional, those claiming they are in the process of building their portfolio, and those that readily admit they are amateur and looking to practice with someone that knows what they are doing. I think it's safe to say we know which one of these things is not like the other ...

Models can't perform when they feel threatened or uncomfortable. When the level of professionalism is compromised, art can become chaos. So who can one trust when so many photographers aren't who they claim to be?

Personally I check and double check anyone I decide to work with, but, I attribute my over-zealous researching to maturity and having been exposed to the lies that lurk on the Internet. I often wonder how young models handle solicitations from "photographers" because they have so far fewer life experiences from which to draw conclusions. While it's really not my place to be concerned, I can't imagine entering an industry, at the tender age of eighteen, that is consumed by bullshitters and false hopes.

And models aren't the only ones complaining. With digital photography essentially replacing film, anyone can grab a nice camera on eBay and click away. Grab a light here, a piece of fabric for a back drop there, and you have a make-shift studio with which to lure women, to make them beautiful, to make "art." Where does this leave the truly professional and accomplished photographers? They can easily land in the poor house.

It is so easy to do TFPs or, "Time for Pictures," with unassuming models because production costs are zilch. Anyone can pirate a full version copy of the latest Photoshop, computers are coming down in price and the equipment doesn't have to be costly- especially if this is not one's bread and butter. Any professional charges for their services, so naturally, new models eat up the chance to have their pictures taken for free, or on a "TFP" basis.

So where does this leave models like me, that enjoy the female form, believe it should be celebrated and feel so comfortable in their own skin that they'd like to see artistic creations of themselves? Vulnerable.

While artistic nude work is completely different than erotic nude work, how is one to be sure that when they walk into a studio they won't be faced with a guy that just wants to look at naked chicks and jerk off to naked pictures later, even if they aren't sexually charged and explicit in nature?

I was taught, early on, from an amazing photographer to not accept nude work for no pay and I stand steadfast by this advice. If any models are reading this column, do the same! Your body is a form of beauty and since the days of creation of art, artists worldwide have strived to capture the very essence of what makes a woman. With so many jaded models, turned off to the practice due to creeps with a Canon Powershot or empty promises of fame, I fear the end of an era that captures womankind professionally and with care.

In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with wanting to show the world your personal interpretation of how you are woman. I just hope for the sake of preserving quality and artistic expression that models everywhere are at least being compensated for their willingness to oblige.

Sydney Savage is an International Conference Coordinator by day and gregarious Washingtonian by night. Feel free to criticize her opinions by emailing her at sydneysavage@hobotrashcan.com.