Rather than rage against the machine, make pictures of real people (even if they're pretty) that show them as interesting human beings, not an android mannequin clothesrack. Put clothing on them that accentuates who they are, not the other way around and show them in situations that their peers can relate to. Bag all the hyper fantasy supra-normal role playing that creates self loathing in those who cannot achieve that current absurd "standard".(posted 8804 days ago)Get the Feb 14th issue of New York magazine, and read the article about young women fashion photographers. Here's a quote: "There's an effort to try to get at the real character of the model and a sense of individuality rather than something statuesque. There's a sympathy between them (photographer and model) not the full on message of sexual frisson. That's not what the 21st century is about". It's worth your while to read and it's made me think I might be able to work within that sort of context (If only I was a young girl [smiley face, here]). I had never been able to get any interest in making young girls look like cheap hookers (BeBe), this new sentiment/attitude gives me hope...
how do you do that when the eighteen year-old model, who is working with you and has absolutely no freaking clue about the 'reality of things', is going to be the one so editorialized?
quit working with models. I'm sure you have friends who would like to be photographed. Don't ask them to be a model, don't ask them to "pose"and don't let them "pose", ask them to let you photograph them. Put them in cool clothes that they really like, put them in cool context/environment to make a relevent image (with good light, of course) and make some well composed, clean and graphically put together images. Reinvent fashion photography, 'cause it ain't goin' away and if you go "against" it, you probably won't go anywhere... t