Per usual this bloggy blog may be all over the place, but I will do my best to funnel my thoughts.
I've been doing a lot of thinking lately...A lot of it centered around my photography and what I think my responsibilities are as a male photographer who wants to shoot for SG.
The past few months I've been working hard to build my portfolio, taking photos, asking questions and trying to learn as much as I can as fast as I can. I feel like with every shoot I am progressing forward as a photographer, I can feel the pieces falling into place, which is great, and the response from people I show my work to overall has been positive and constructively critical, which I'm grateful for. Although it has brought about certain comments and questions from friends and family I didn't expect. For instance my Dad calls my SG style work "porn" which I didn't expect. Granted I didn't expect him to love it, he is quite conservative, but we have a very different definition of what porn is. My definition is really just an old joke, "Erotica is a feather, porn is the whole chicken." But that's fine he is entitled to his opinion so its not an issue.
The question that really took me by surprise is one that I've gotten from a few friends and my brother....and cousin. It's basically the same question of, "Dude did you hit that?" or "Do you have a chance with them." or from my very elegant cousin "How do you not just go all Wolf of Wallstreet and pull your dick out!?" I don't get this kind of comment....I mean I understand the thought process obviously, but I don't get it. Kinda makes me think they don't understand that what I am trying to do is start a professional photography business.
Which this all brings me around to my feelings towards women in general are and what my responsibilities are as a male who wants to do this kind of work.
I adore women, which isn't pandering, it is just the truth, I absolutely adore women, I think they are the most interesting, crazy, wonderful and creatures on the planet. With that I believe that the female form is the most beautiful creation on earth, and as someone who is also passionate about photography, why would I want to shoot anything else?
I see myself as something of a post feminist gentleman. I don't disrespect or degrade women, and I try to treat every woman I encounter with the same high level of respect and dignity that I would anyone else. So I get slightly annoyed at my male friends comments. I view it as my responsibility to behave as a perfect professional and gentleman while shooting, I want the women I'm working with to feel safe, comfortable and beautiful. I want her to feel like she is the center of my world, which for me in that moment she absolutely is.
I realize this all sounds very...idealistic, but Fuck it, its how I feel, an if I can't be idealistic about this art and craft I'm trying to learn and grow in, then when the fuck can I?
I have run into problems that I didn't expect, where my ideals of gentlemanly behavior counteract what I need to do as a photographer to get a shot. Im still working on getting around the arguments in my head telling me "HEY! DONT FUCKING STARE, SHE WILL THINK YOU ARE A CREEP" with my working brain saying back, "Well how the Fuck am I suppose to pose her and compose this shot if I DONT look at her!?" Hahaha
But enough of my weirdness and internal dialogue.
Good News!!! for anyone reading this far I suppose.
I was contacted by the adorable @coventry who is interested in shooting with me. Which let me tell you, is extremely exciting, I can't wait to meet her in person. So I got that to look forward to.
Ok, thats enough of that, Time for bed.
Stay Classy!
