Oh I realize the title coupled with photo may lead some of you to believe I’m going in a particular direction with this. As usual, there’s a method to my madness so bear with me. I selectively chose to use the image from my session with my friend and fellow photog Pamela Tuckey for a very good reason. It’s the perfect example to illustrate my stance regarding the rant I’m about to spew.
Just the other day I saw yet another request from a person seeking a photo shoot and only wanting a female photographer. Okay…to be fair…it has been quite a while since I’ve seen one of those and that truly is a good thing. But regardless of when and how often it comes up, it still irks me to no end. I personally view that request as being sexist. I hold it in the same regard as someone saying they’d prefer a white photographer over a Black one.
Now I do get there are those one-off situations. Maybe the client had a bad experience with a male photographer in the past. Maybe she had a shoot and she had to deal with one who made some inappropriate comments and/or advances. That may be enough for anyone to decide they don’t want to deal with a male photographer again. Definitely not if it was a one-time occurrence, but quite possibly if it happened on more than one occasion and they had had enough. However, even then it still comes down to a person merely having to properly vet their photographer before shooting with them. That could easily prevent several potential creepy situations from happening.
Where I do take umbrage is when the aforementioned isn’t the case at all. When it comes down to the fact that they just have that preference because they simply just feel more comfortable with a female photographer. When it comes down to it, there are SEVERAL of us male photographers who have a penchant for being so professional that we make those around us comfortable. To just cut us off at the knees because of a personal surface bias and/or prejudice is quite unfair.
Which brings me to the image which I decided to match with this post. Pamela is a photographer who also shoots boudoir as part of her portfolio. She has the benefit of getting clients like the ones I mentioned because she is a female photographer. She could have very easily followed that same mindset having seen it firsthand. But when she was looking to have some classy boudoir done, she booked with me. Because what it should really come down to is who is the best person for the job regardless of race, GENDER or any of those identifications that always attempt to divide us.
It’s a struggle that us male photogs contend with daily. Many of us put in years and years of blood, sweat and tears into our craft. All done to get to the point of where we are respected in our field. Yet time and time again you will see requests like that. Some clients would rather book with a female photographer instead even if it means sacrificing working with a male photog with more experience. Some things just never change…