Comments on: Listen to your gut – {A Personal Post}

By: Kristine Paulsen Photography

Kristine Paulsen Photography — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 06:07:48 +0000

Hi Cathy – Nice to hear from you! What he did is, sadly, a black eye to the photography community here. That’s why I felt it was imperative that we make sure people know that what he did is not the norm, and especially not the norm around here and absolutely inexcusable. Missoula photographers stand strong against such behavior!

By: Cathy Deschamps

Cathy Deschamps — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 03:23:06 +0000

Kristine,
You’ve said so many things I was thinking to myself. What Dax did was inexcusable. It feels like a black eye to the photography community. In today’s world with the pressures of how we should look, there are many teenage girls with self esteem issues. As photographers, we have the ability to capture flattering photos. Our clients place their trust in how we use those photos. For him to prey upon the vulnerability of this young woman was calculated and mean.

By: Kristine Paulsen Photography

Kristine Paulsen Photography — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 18:11:39 +0000

Happy to do it, Leslie! Thanks for reading. You’re exactly right. It truly is a gift to be able to make beautiful photos of people and BOTH be able to place trust in one another, and have a great time while doing the session. It becomes an experience for both parties, and when it’s done right and respectfully, it’s absolutely incredible and one of the many reasons I love my job and love working with the people I get a chance to work with.

By: Leslie

Leslie — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 18:06:09 +0000

Thank you for standing up and speaking out about this issue! It is similarly infuriating to me to hear that this man took advantage of the trust that has been given to him by young girls and their parents as well. There are two points of view that I see this from: First, as having modelled previously I know first-hand that there are plenty of perverts with cameras that want to just drool over pretty young girls and look for a chance to hook up, which creates opportunity to victimize the vulnerable. I feel that highschool yearbook photogs should definitely be supervised by parents. It seems to me that Not many young girls are leery enough of the reasons why they are getting attention because they just want to feel attractive and wanted or loved. It is in no way their fault, it is the fault of the sickos that see that as an opportunity and take advantage. From an Artist’s standpoint, when you are capturing beautiful images is exhilarating, especially when you and your model feel comfortable enough to work together in collaboration. That model is opening up to you. It is somewhat emotional and should never be taken advantage of! Just because someone is beautiful, that doesn’t give you any reason to sexually objectify them! I feel that they are giving you a gift by working with you to make beautiful art.

By: Kristine Paulsen Photography

Kristine Paulsen Photography — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 17:34:11 +0000

Valerie – yes, I also wish more people would pay attention to the importance of morals and ethics. The world would be a much happier, friendlier, safer place if we all remembered that is one of our core responsibilities of being a human being.

By: Kristine Paulsen Photography

Kristine Paulsen Photography — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 17:31:39 +0000

EM, you’re so very welcome. I was also disturbed by the facebook comments I saw. When reading a story like this, and especially when one of the parties is unnamed (for good reason), I think a lot of people disassociate her from being a real, live person who has a family, who felt the feelings she felt, etc., etc. I wonder if those people would still behave in the same way if they took a moment to put themselves in her shoes. Or if they imagined her as being a sister, a dear friend, a cousin, etc.

I think your comment is right on regarding how much photography plays a role in a teen’s life. That’s undeniable. And thank YOU for your wonderful comment and kind words – that means so much to me. I’m glad that people are connecting with my words.

By: Valerie Piro

Valerie Piro — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 15:42:40 +0000

I really don’t believe that age should be a factor, at all. He is a predator. He violated the trust given to him. Simple ethics & morals that he should have as a human being. Evidently, he doesn’t have any. If your grandparents needed a new roof & a man came to the door, gave them an estimate for replacement & they give him a down payment, then they never see the guy again. Same thing minus the sex. Predators are everywhere. It doesn’t matter what age, if they take advantage of a vulnerable person. I feel our society has lost sight of simple, basic morals & ethics because everything seems to easy, too cheap, too much easy availability & we’ve lost sight of the simple things in life, simple human decency & how to treat our fellow humans. We, as a society, have become hardened to the plight of the people around us. It is very disturbing to see what happens on a daily basis to people around us. We should be working together to create & make a better society on the foundation that has been passed down from our fore fathers. We all have to live here. This is a no-brainer, from my point of view.

By: EM

EM — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 02:29:34 +0000

Thank you for this. As a mom of a teen girl, I am disturbed by the number of comments on facebook that don’t really get what happened, or think that nothing bad happened, or that she was old enough to judge for herself. Kids may be jaded, may be more sophisticated than ever, but they are still kids, and the adults in their lives are liable for their emotional and physical safety. She is still a child, and he is absolutely a predator. Photography plays a huge, huge part of the modern teen life. It is critically important to talk about this kind of problem with as much skill and perception and honor as you did. Well done, really well done. Glad there are people like you in the photography profession.