Why Safety is Huge Driving Force in my Photography

*Trigger Warning: The topic of sexual assault is referenced.*

In the past, I've been pretty open with you all about how I got into photography, why I switched from modeling to photography, and Why I Prefer Photographing Women. One thing I really haven't talked so much about is how important safety is to me in photography and why.

My Mission Statement: "I create an environment for women to feel safe, beautiful, confident, and empowered."

I've grown very comfortable in my work, and safety really hasn't been something I've thought about too much lately. I'm not saying I've thrown caution to the wind, but even though safety is at the foreground of everything I create, its importance and my why over the past few months, especially with the pandemic and chaos of the world, kind of slipped away.

These past few weeks, I've really had both beautiful and stark reminders of why I picked the mission statement I did. And I'd like to share some of those experiences that I've had that initially inspired me to add safety into my mission.

I'm hoping this post will not only serve as some insight into me as an artist but also maybe help women be warned of potentially dangerous situations and red flags with their shoots, and some very green flags that let them know they are working with the right person for their needs. If you do not read any other part of this post, please at least take a look at this list of Red Flags that I've learned mean you should walk away from a shoot.

My Personal Experience - It Wasn't a Good One

When I was a young model, I ended up in a bad situation that almost made me run away from this industry for good. I was 18 and desperate to build a strong modeling portfolio. I was shooting with a ton of new photographers, trying to gain experience, and in one particular photoshoot, I didn't put myself in the best situation.