Photography at
BDSM events and a warning about rogue photographers
There are in the UK bdsm scene generally
accepted rules about the taking of photographs at BDSM/Fetish
events.
Cameras are usually banned,
and for good reasons!
But if photography is allowed by the
organiser that ,such is the stigma attached by some people to
bdsm, it is vital the following rules are observed to protect
people present:
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- A general rule is ASK
before bringing a camera out and ASK if you can take a
picture of someone (and ASK all in the background who
may be in shot). If anyone objects before, during or after the
shoot ... destroy the images.
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- If the model's face
is shown, or the model can be identified in any way, the photographer
MUST gain permission to publish them. In law 'to publish' also
means to show the images any third party, including a friend.
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- If they are for possible
commercial use you MUST get signed model release forms.
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- Some so-called 'professional' scene
photographers seem to think that they are above these guidelines
and that they can just ignore model releases and permissions.
I am sorry to say that bravelady and I have met one at a private
play party and have suffered by it. Let's just call this pond-life
'X'.
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- 'X' continues to blatantly ignore several
of the above generally accepted guidelines.
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- We met 'X at a private play party in
the summer during which he started to take photographs using
a digital camera of , amongst others, bravelady and myself playing.
'X' was clearly informed that he could not keep them or use our
images without our specific permission being sought. He verbally
agreed to send copies of all images with us on them to bravelady
via email. Despite subsequent repeated email requests to him
by her for those images, he has failed to do so, nor even reply
to her emails. Until this time we have received no satisfactory
explanation for his actions.
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- Several months after the party I sent
'X' a PM ( a private message - not for publication) requesting
he destroy the images of bravelady and myself taken at a private
play party as he did not have any form of model release for them.
His reply was that nobody told him what to do and that he would
not destroy them. He then posted all the PM messages to a public
forum, adding defamatory remarks about myself, and proceeded
to threaten me. I posted copies of his messages on this site
so that people could judge him by his own actions and words.
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- What we now have had is a dubious
threat of legal action if we continued to name him on this site.
It is obvious to me that 'X' has no regard to scene ethics, manners
or behaviour, as any legal action would require the public revelation
('outing') of all people who attended that spanking party who
could be called by either side as witnesses.
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- Unlike 'X', I am not prepared to 'out'
friends and acquaintances by having to defend a spurious and
highly dubious court action brought by a such a piece of low-life.
I do not know why he wishes to keep images of people at play
parties for which he has no model releases or permission to film
...... but I suspect knowing his manner that the reason may not
be one that would be of comfort to the subjects of his filming.
Knowing 'X's provable lack of ethics I hope nobody in those
images becomes famous!
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- For a so-called 'professional' scene
photographer 'X's actions are deplorable and his actions are
now well known in the BDSM scene. I think his days of being able
to take images at play parties may well be numbered.
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- That is why I strongly
recommend that NO photographs are allowed at play parties unless
written permission is granted by the subject and ALL
in the shot.
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- 'X' will certainly be banned from taking
photographs in any club or event where I or my friends are Dungeon
Masters.
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- In future I will not take anyone's
word re photographs and I will prevent photos being taken of
myself or bravelady - by whatever means are neccesary!
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