Blurring the Edges

Thanks to Richard’s new sooper-dooper version of software, we rarely receive any spam any more. But one did sneak through this morning (Tsk, tsk Rich!), which was entitled rather aptly:

“Blogging can become a new kind of fiction where a writer completely inhabits a character”

Folks, is this us ? Do all of us (models especially) who run photo-blogs actually create a separate fictional character which we use in our little internet photography world ?

Assuming that you are not doing this for a living, do photographers and models inhabit a slightly different persona in their online photography world, far removed from how they are in real “normal” personal life with their partner and kids ?

Is this persona real ? A different facet of their personality which they can’t express in everyday life ? If so, isn’t this persona (which is used to make pictures which are ART) an art-form in itself ? After all, acting is generally considered to be a form of art.

With regard to modelling, from my own experience, I have to say that acting is definitely required in modelling. The best images (IMO) are those where the model engages with the photographer, and acting is often (but not always) required. When Rich is asking me to pose, and says “Imagine you are doing something really rude” or more recently “Show me some love Baby”, after I have collapsed in a heap laughing, I actually do try to put some effort into acting up for the pose.

Note to potential models: Rich does NOT say this to other models!
I believe such comments are only directed at me, his partner. However, when a shoot is on, judging by the usual peels of laughter from the model in the studio, I wonder what he does say to them. His photography persona is definitely “Mr Fluffy” (this is his nickname given to him by models on MM. It seems to have stuck). He always was a natural charmer with women, as are most of you photographers out there, or so I suspect.

Personally I think Rich is becoming more and more Mr Fluffy outside photography.
From my own point of view, as I get more and more into modelling, the L-von-B character also does tend to creep into the real world. Only yesterday, for example, I caught myself telling my (very Christian and strait-laced) close friend that I had been given a red latex cat suit for my 40th. What was even more surprising was that she actually seemed to like the idea and demanded to see the pictures (there’s hope for those yummy-mummys yet!)

I guess our fictional online characters are starting to creep out into the real world.
The edges of our real vs. photography personas are becoming blurred.
The “real me” is starting to become L-von-B.

You’ll know I’ve completely lost it when I do the school run in the red latex cat suit. The kids assure me that although they love me very much, I am dead meat if I EVER do this. Whatever "dead meat" means, it doesn't sound pleasant.



The dancer Kate from Rich's first ever proper nude shoot last year.