Mayanlee wrote:
Why?.... because I'm just a rope slut.

I think I'm in love.

Darque

It is all about trying to understand what we don't understand.

Wow.  You know, that's a pretty good answer to the question, "Why art?"

MIGpics wrote:
I will reiterate what many others already wrote......bondage is just one type of modeling.  I have worked with some models because they like the look, they like the style or it's just another paying gig for them.

We all know that there are other modeling sites and each one has it's own niche - it seems to me that Model Mayhem shows no favortism.  You could find glamour, lingerie, retro, bathing suit, bondage and so much more here.

I have asked many models to pose and some say yes, some say no thank you and some, unfortunately, are unprofessional and don't bother to respond (but that's for another thread!).

Hope to see some of you at FetCon!

MIG

Hope to see you at FetishCon as well. 

And yeah, the non-responders is another thread.  However, more and more models here are responding and saying "Not for me, thanks" or "I'm not interested" as opposed to not replying.  I'd rather the lady indicate she is not interested if only so I know not to ask again, and so that I can wish her well in her modeling.  I don't and never will think less of anyone for turning down one of my shoot requests.  Bondage modeling isn't something for everyone, just like riding rollercoasters isn't for everyone either (like me... unless you want to see me turn green without makeup...)

Ceehawk Multimedia wrote:
yaada  yaaada  yaaada 
Yaada
Yaada
On one level i  can look at a  bondage photograph and see the artistry in its production but then on the other hand I'm wondering what the message is in the subject matter itself and whether that is a good thing.

Actually I think bondage photography is less about the photography itself and more so about the sexual fantasy or outlet.  People do it and participate in it because it turns them on.

I suppose they post them because I tied them up and took their picture and sent it to them.  There are a few who are still tied up because I am playing with them and still shooting other pictures. 
Of course,  it is important to figure out what the message is. 

I think we all do it because it turns us on and it is artistic and people pay money for it. 

I hope those of you who are not bondage models or bondage photographers have your own fantasies and outlets.  Maybe some day you'll get an epiphany and find a darker art image can be art.

Mine is intended to show tasteful consensual erotic imagery  of some gorgeous models.  They also tell me they have fun and enjoy the shoots.  They also thank me for whatever pay or photos they might recieve.  Many of them are finding that their shots are marketable and they can create pay sites on the web for other folks who have disposable incomes. 

If you have some disposable income and would like to have me shoot roses, or jars, or if you want me to shoot you snoring,  just let me know how high you value having a ShadowCrafter shot and where and when you will pay me to give you what you want. 

Sorry,  I couldnt resist the temptation to yaada yaada yaada myself.

Happy Mardi Gras.

Dalmar wrote:
Same reason Baskin-Robbins has more than one flavor.

Mayanlee wrote:
Why?.... because I'm just a rope slut.

pw-gii photographics wrote:
To the eye of some (many, even!?), a finely bound woman is beautiful and sensuous.

Obviously, I need to start wearing a tape gag on my fingers. 

Looks like you are getting quite a variety of great reasons. 

But then,   my absolute favorite

D. Brian Nelson wrote:
because it's a whole heap o' fun handling and tying up naked chicks, and now because I like to indulge the women who model for me.  And it's still a whole heap o' fun.

-Don

now why didnt I think of that?

ShadowCrafter

vanscottie wrote:
Why is it that you "fashion/glamour" photogs think that all anyone should care about is your little world of modeling. A lot of us couldn't give a rat's ass about Ford, Elite, etc or rags like Cosmo or Maxim

I also get the not too subtle implication, not neccesarily in this post, that photogs such as yourself think you are "better" than those of us who work in the art or alt scenes

That's exactally what I was thinking. I've noticed that a lot on this site, and others. Alternative models seem to be looked down on and considered less than the fashion/runway men and women. It's sad that this view point is around and I'm sorry that the OP can't see the beauty in something that isn't covered in make-up and in designer clothes.

...Stacy wrote:
maybe you should tie up someone in makeup and designer clothes?  maybe that would help bridge the gap?  LOL

Hm..That sounds like a fun art project to me. Haha. Anyone wanna shoot it? Send me a message. I'm sure I could pull off the look if I tried. Hah.

...Stacy wrote:
maybe you should tie up someone in makeup and designer clothes?  maybe that would help bridge the gap?  LOL

already done

as i mentioned above in my post on page 1
(east west magazine rigged by midori and the thomas rusch example rigged by matthias grimme)

...Stacy wrote:
maybe you should tie up someone in makeup and designer clothes?  maybe that would help bridge the gap?  LOL

Great idea, but there is no bridging a gap that is not open to other concepts.

The saying goes, “The mind is like a parachute, it only works when openâ€?

Chip Miller wrote:
It really is not an issue for me.  Was just curious.  It is an entirely different market than what I do.

Well if you shoot fashion & have never worked in it, it might limit you from working with, say, Jean Ppaul Gaultier or some of the other designers who've used extensive fetish & bondage images in their designs & campaigns.
It's a small, small segment of the commercial & fashion biz but it still gets in there.

Chip Miller wrote:
Why is it that I will find a beautiful model on this site, when I look at her portfolio she will have a bondage photo or two included?  I don't like to think that I am that nieve.  I have been involved in commercial photography for 15 years and when I look through a models portfolio here in NYC they never have such photos.  Why do models find it neccesary to include them here.  I do not think agencies such as Ford, Next, Click, Marlyn, Madison, Mode to name a few and other top agencies care to see such work.  Maybe bondage just isn't my schtick but whatever......  Interested in what others think.

I feel that way each time I stumble accross some pretty girls portfolio and she has no bondage pics inside. That's friggin disturbing, hot chicks without hottest of all pictures - that's like a parfume in a fancy bottle but without smell. Chicks, get some bondage pics done if you don't have any. And get rid of that boring fashion crap for heaven's sake.

MarkMarek wrote:
I feel that way each time I stumble accross some pretty girls portfolio and she has no bondage pics inside. That's friggin disturbing, hot chicks without hottest of all pictures - that's like a parfume in a fancy bottle but without smell. Chicks, get some bondaqge pics done if you don't have any. And get rid of that boring fashion crap for heaven's sake.

Bahahaha!
Yeah!

SLE Photography wrote:

Bahahaha!
Yeah!

You said it !

MarkMarek wrote:

I feel that way each time I stumble accross some pretty girls portfolio and she has no bondage pics inside. That's friggin disturbing, hot chicks without hottest of all pictures - that's like a parfume in a fancy bottle but without smell. Chicks, get some bondage pics done if you don't have any. And get rid of that boring fashion crap for heaven's sake.

*snicker*

you must have been reading my mind.

Melvin Moten Jr wrote:

*snicker*

you must have been reading my mind.

Oh well damn Melvin, maybe he needs to go wash his eyes out with soap?  ;-)

Chip Miller wrote:

It really is not an issue for me.  Was just curious.  It is an entirely different market than what I do.

If it wasn't an issue for you, you wouldn't have felt the need to write about it. And if you pass up a model because she has done bondage work it's your loss and yours alone. Things were a lot different 15 years ago when you started, but now it's 2006 and the internet has made opportunities endless for models. The last thing they think about now is letting a few agencies with outdated ideas dictate the type of content they do. Don't worry about the models, there's no shortage of work out there for them!

I'm just sick of seeing another negative forum about bondage. Do your own thing, and if you don't like something then don't look at it, but don't knock anyone else's art and disguise it as just being "curious". Bondage done well is a true art, a beautiful collaboration between both the model and photographer/rigger! 

~STP~   >

STPhoto wrote:

Things were a lot different 15 years ago when you started, but now it's 2006 and the internet has made opportunities endless for models.  Bondage done well is a true art, a beautiful collaboration between both the model and photographer/rigger! 

~STP~   >

Well said!  Besides there were edgy well known photographers that were pioneers and who's work influence me.  Helmut Newton comest to mind.

Tyher

Samantha Grace wrote:
So.... who's going to fetish con!! Hahaha... I had to say it!

I am going to fetishcon and I have you down to shoot with!  I can't wait....   

any other models ??? 

Tyher

ShadowCrafter wrote:
I hope those of you who are not bondage models or bondage photographers have your own fantasies and outlets.  Maybe some day you'll get an epiphany and find a darker art image can be art.

Everybody has their own fantasies and outlets, my point is that bondage photographers get all defensive instead of admitting to theirs.    And yes the darker image can be art but your a fool if you think just because an image is dark that it is art.  Sometimes it is just twisted and perverted no matter how you color or drape it.  Still, we all have our dark sides and Ithink you can't know the light without knowing the dark.  I think one of my favorite sayings sums it up best.  It is good and preferable to be open mined, but not so open minded that your brains fall out of your head.  About all for now.

CH

StMarc wrote:
Mostly they do it to bug you.

M

I do it because I love the way it feels to be in bondage and my photographer is also a professional rigger so I am not frightened to be hung up by him. We do do it to bug you and piss you off. Infact my photographer is starting a new series called GodMadeMeDoIt. And the whole point of the series is to push peoples buttons.

Sonntag wrote:
I believe it's simply because bondage is one of many forms of modeling, and the girls who do it may not be interested in the sort of high fashion work with which those agencies deal - so they post the type of work they do hope to get. I'm not sure if you're new to the site, but MM seems meant for any kind of modeling other than pornography, which fortunately enough, includes chains, straps, and the odd straitjacket :-D

However, if someone's main interest is fashion, then it is possible a bondage shot or two may turn a potential photographer off of working with them - some people consider that less "serious" and may be looking for someone who works pretty much only in their style.

Comes down to people doing the exact kind of thing they want to do, I'd say :-)

Sonntag

freeeeeeeeeeedom.....

Ceehawk Multimedia wrote:

Everybody has their own fantasies and outlets, my point is that bondage photographers get all defensive instead of admitting to theirs.    And yes the darker image can be art but your a fool if you think just because an image is dark that it is art.  Sometimes it is just twisted and perverted no matter how you color or drape it.  Still, we all have our dark sides and Ithink you can't know the light without knowing the dark.  I think one of my favorite sayings sums it up best.  It is good and preferable to be open mined, but not so open minded that your brains fall out of your head.  About all for now.

CH

People wouldn't be as defensive if this subject wasn't brought up at least once a month, and usually starting with blanket statments, ridicule, ignorance, and condescending tones.  The OP of this thread doesn't seem to have that tone in his message, but others have drawing in trolls from everywhere.  If I started a thread once a month questioning why I see yet another photo of a huge breasted, scantily clad girl rolling around on the beach at sunset (or sunrise), and then poked at its value in the world and its artistic merit, eventually some people would get upset. Maybe even defensive.

In short, people are sick of the subject because it serves as a lighting rod for zealots from both sides, who will never see eye to eye, which provides the ever so warm and fuzzy feeling of Us vs Them.

Patrick

PlasticPuppet wrote:
People wouldn't be as defensive if this subject wasn't brought up at least once a month, and usually starting with blanket statments, ridicule, ignorance, and condescending tones.  The OP of this thread doesn't seem to have that tone in his message, but others have drawing in trolls from everywhere.  If I started a thread once a month questioning why I see yet another photo of a huge breasted, scantily clad girl rolling around on the beach at sunset (or sunrise), and then poked at its value in the world and its artistic merit, eventually some people would get upset. Maybe even defensive.

In short, people are sick of the subject because it serves as a lighting rod for zealots from both sides, who will never see eye to eye, which provides the ever so warm and fuzzy feeling of Us vs Them.

Patrick

No matter who you are, and no matter what you do there  will always be an Us vs Them so seeing eye to eye is not the issue..understanding is. People complaining about being tired of a topic being addressed is silly to me because people are at different places in their lives at different times and perhaps it is time for them to address a subject or topic.  I see many similar or related topics on the forums here but I learn something from reading each of them; all have a valuable piece of the puzzle which helps expand my knowledge and understanding of the world around me.  The message to me when someone gets defensive is they are hiding something.  I think the wisest route is to keep the lines of communication open and just agree to disagree.

As I said before, I see both the appeal and the danger of bondage photography and I'm truly not trying to persuade or disuade anyone in either direction. But I think it is a good and desirable thing to have a venue where both sides can speak their piece

Chip Miller wrote:
Why is it that I will find a beautiful model on this site, when I look at her portfolio she will have a bondage photo or two included?  I don't like to think that I am that nieve.  I have been involved in commercial photography for 15 years and when I look through a models portfolio here in NYC they never have such photos.  Why do models find it neccesary to include them here.  I do not think agencies such as Ford, Next, Click, Marlyn, Madison, Mode to name a few and other top agencies care to see such work.  Maybe bondage just isn't my schtick but whatever......  Interested in what others think.

I see so many Ford and Click models on this site, it's just crazy.  The only other internet modelling site with more agency models is OMP. 

Chip Miller wrote:
Why is it that I will find a beautiful model on this site, when I look at her portfolio she will have a bondage photo or two included?  I don't like to think that I am that nieve.  I have been involved in commercial photography for 15 years and when I look through a models portfolio here in NYC they never have such photos.  Why do models find it neccesary to include them here.  I do not think agencies such as Ford, Next, Click, Marlyn, Madison, Mode to name a few and other top agencies care to see such work.  Maybe bondage just isn't my schtick but whatever......  Interested in what others think.

cause some of us enjoy it

MarkMarek wrote:

I feel that way each time I stumble accross some pretty girls portfolio and she has no bondage pics inside. That's friggin disturbing, hot chicks without hottest of all pictures - that's like a parfume in a fancy bottle but without smell. Chicks, get some bondage pics done if you don't have any. And get rid of that boring fashion crap for heaven's sake.

great response

Sonntag wrote:
I believe it's simply because bondage is one of many forms of modeling, and the girls who do it may not be interested in the sort of high fashion work with which those agencies deal - so they post the type of work they do hope to get. I'm not sure if you're new to the site, but MM seems meant for any kind of modeling other than pornography, which fortunately enough, includes chains, straps, and the odd straitjacket :-D

However, if someone's main interest is fashion, then it is possible a bondage shot or two may turn a potential photographer off of working with them - some people consider that less "serious" and may be looking for someone who works pretty much only in their style.

Comes down to people doing the exact kind of thing they want to do, I'd say :-)

Sonntag

I think this is pretty much on target.  A lot of the "glamour" models I've worked make a lot of their money doing bondage work.  So, they show it.

Samantha Grace wrote:
So.... who's going to fetish con!! Hahaha... I had to say it!

Trying it for the first time this year.