I am not a professional photographer. However...... I have a very serious and personal question.
My wife is not a professional model. However, in 2005 she posed mostly naked for boudoir photos as a personal gift for me. She was paranoid about the photos ending up on the Internet or in the wrong hands. If they did and she was discovered, it would be very embarrassing for both of us as well as possibly damaging for her career. We specifically chose a photographer from a neighboring state so there was no chance she would run into him in our town. It was purely to be a one-time thing for her and the photos were supposed to be for my eyes only. He gave me several model references. I contacted three and all stressed he was a true professional.
In 2008 I ordered more enlargements and he made them. No problem there. Last holiday season I decided I wanted more enlargements; of course, I didn't know if he even had them after so many years.
I was stunned to find that he seems to have vanished. The phone number I have for him is no longer in service. My emails to him have been returned. He still has his web site up but it looks like it hasn't been updated for years. (A friend told me there is no regular maintenance fee for that type of web site.)
I got in touch with a handful of other photographers from his area and not a one ever heard of him, to say nothing of where he is. One of those photographers did me a favor and put a note about my search for him on the forum of a state photographers group. Those who replied said they never heard of him. I did locate one of the models who served as a reference back in 2005. She said she thinks he left photography because his girlfriend was unhappy with the lack of a steady income. She reassured me that he always acted professionally during the six or so shoots she did with him. (I know he also did environmental photography as well as photographs of new products and house interiors in addition to boudoir photography.)
I did google and facebook searches and nothing came up. One other note -- I did a who is search and found a street address for him in a town near his former studio. However, I called information and was told there is no one by his name at that address.
Naturally, this whole thing sounds very suspicious to me -- not to mention very creepy. All sorts of horrible scenarios have gone through my mind (he is in legal trouble; he sold his previous models' photos to web sites, etc.) I admittedly know very little about your business, so I am asking does this type of thing happen often with photographers. Are many just "fly by nighters? His ex-model that I spoke with told me I am likely over-thinking this. She said he probably just quit the business, got another job and likely moved. She again stressed that he was always a professional with her. So do you think I am over-reeacting?
My main questions -- other than how common this is in your business -- are: 1) what do most boudoir photographers do with their archived photos if they leave the business -- do they destroy them or do they continue to keep them, or do some actually sell them? and 2) should I have expected him to contact me when he left the business to ask me what I wanted him to do with the photos of my wife. A school photographer who once took school pix of my kids retired and asked me if I wanted to buy the original art. Should I have expected this boudoir photographer to do the same?
In sum, my wife and I are both anxious as to whose hands those pictures are in now. I am preoccupied with this as we put our absolute trust in this photographer that her pictures would not end up on the Internet. He gave me his word. I am really sorry I ever had them done.
One other note -- he was registered with modelmayhem and his modelmayhem site says he last checked in in Oct. 2012, for whatever that is worth.
I truly appreciate any feedback from professionals. Thanks very much.
My wife is not a professional model. However, in 2005 she posed mostly naked for boudoir photos as a personal gift for me. She was paranoid about the photos ending up on the Internet or in the wrong hands. If they did and she was discovered, it would be very embarrassing for both of us as well as possibly damaging for her career. We specifically chose a photographer from a neighboring state so there was no chance she would run into him in our town. It was purely to be a one-time thing for her and the photos were supposed to be for my eyes only. He gave me several model references. I contacted three and all stressed he was a true professional.
In 2008 I ordered more enlargements and he made them. No problem there. Last holiday season I decided I wanted more enlargements; of course, I didn't know if he even had them after so many years.
I was stunned to find that he seems to have vanished. The phone number I have for him is no longer in service. My emails to him have been returned. He still has his web site up but it looks like it hasn't been updated for years. (A friend told me there is no regular maintenance fee for that type of web site.)
I got in touch with a handful of other photographers from his area and not a one ever heard of him, to say nothing of where he is. One of those photographers did me a favor and put a note about my search for him on the forum of a state photographers group. Those who replied said they never heard of him. I did locate one of the models who served as a reference back in 2005. She said she thinks he left photography because his girlfriend was unhappy with the lack of a steady income. She reassured me that he always acted professionally during the six or so shoots she did with him. (I know he also did environmental photography as well as photographs of new products and house interiors in addition to boudoir photography.)
I did google and facebook searches and nothing came up. One other note -- I did a who is search and found a street address for him in a town near his former studio. However, I called information and was told there is no one by his name at that address.
Naturally, this whole thing sounds very suspicious to me -- not to mention very creepy. All sorts of horrible scenarios have gone through my mind (he is in legal trouble; he sold his previous models' photos to web sites, etc.) I admittedly know very little about your business, so I am asking does this type of thing happen often with photographers. Are many just "fly by nighters? His ex-model that I spoke with told me I am likely over-thinking this. She said he probably just quit the business, got another job and likely moved. She again stressed that he was always a professional with her. So do you think I am over-reeacting?
My main questions -- other than how common this is in your business -- are: 1) what do most boudoir photographers do with their archived photos if they leave the business -- do they destroy them or do they continue to keep them, or do some actually sell them? and 2) should I have expected him to contact me when he left the business to ask me what I wanted him to do with the photos of my wife. A school photographer who once took school pix of my kids retired and asked me if I wanted to buy the original art. Should I have expected this boudoir photographer to do the same?
In sum, my wife and I are both anxious as to whose hands those pictures are in now. I am preoccupied with this as we put our absolute trust in this photographer that her pictures would not end up on the Internet. He gave me his word. I am really sorry I ever had them done.
One other note -- he was registered with modelmayhem and his modelmayhem site says he last checked in in Oct. 2012, for whatever that is worth.
I truly appreciate any feedback from professionals. Thanks very much.
. The only way a general release/internet posting would be a problem is if you or your wife is particularly well-known. Utter worst case, as I see it, is someone sees them and you have to say "Yes, I like how MY WIFE looks naked, but why are YOU looking at them?" ... very unlikely, but still not all that bad.
