First, let’s get something straight. I am NOT in short supply of male models for my commercial and editorial work. With two years under my belt as an auto-didactic photographer, I’ve earned the trust and confidence of nearly all the agencies with strong mens board across, LA, SF, Miami, and NYC. I’ve contributed to the many agencies’ book with my images. Having said that, when it comes to personal projects, I need help!
Recently, I had the courage and the audacity to challenge my personal demons regarding creating images that my culture considers “taboo.” These are regal visages of the elusive beauty of the male form in the class and elegance of the late Mr. Herb Ritts. I had many unpleasant dealing with “so-called” professional models, but this one deserved to be blogged.
This 32-years old male model added me on Facebook and I add everyone that wants to be friends. I wrote him a message because I thought he might be interested in helping me. In my email, I sent him the exact link on my website that explained my prerequisites and submit if interested. He replied that, “he’s interested and would like to help.” He had “seen my incredible works and would love to be apart of it.”
I later received a Facebook IM. I was polite and told him that I would be honored to be the recipient of his help. Our conversation continued and I mentioned nudity. He wrote back, “I don’t do nudity.” At this point, he did not read my Modeling Info: http://ronaldntan.com/docs/ModelingInfo.pdf. I got moderately upset for bringing my hopes up and taking that away! I called him out on his incompetency at reading and he got defensive telling me, “he got all of his jobs by keeping his clothes on.”
OK…you’re the one that initiated contact and I reciprocated by sending you a message hoping you might want to help me. Our conversation was going no-where and I bluntly told him, “We’re professionally incompatible” and un-friended him.
