Say "Cheese!"

Having your picture taken by an edgy charismatic photographer is every young model’s dream. But when that dream turns into reality it could turn into an unexpected twist of events. Terry Richardson, the famed American fashion photographer, is the main ingredient in a pot of controversy that involves sex, scandal and plenty of nudity. Richardson has built quite a name for himself over the years as the foremost photographer of his time. Lauded for his avant-garde techniques, he has shot adverts for top designers and made an impact in the editorial world with photo books like Terryworld and Kibosh both released in 2004. His photographs have always pushed the envelope with their graphic sexual implications and he has noted that they are also somewhat autobiographical.

So far it seemed that his powerful influence in the industry was his access card to anywhere and anything making him immune to the mundane and society’s version of the norm. But it looks like his luck has run out. Sordid stories of Richardson’s infamous photo sessions have been swirling since March with models describing in detail the exploitative process that comes with being one of Terry Richardson’s subjects. Rie Rasmussen, the Danish model-turned filmmaker started the onslaught of accusations against the photographer, when she publicly accused him of almost sexually abusing the young models he uses for his shoots. Apparently a revealing photo of Rasmussen was published in Richardson’s TerryWorld without her permission, which prompted the one time model to lash out. But then more models have started speaking out including Jamie Peck, who was 19 when she posed nude for Richardson. She talks about how Richardson also got naked during the session and encouraged her to “touch him sexually”. She explained further in her article for Jezebel that he basically used his power and charisma to coerce young girls into compromising positions because he knew they would oblige and he would get away with it.

At this point its hard to say how far this will all go or if Terry Richardson will be called to task for being an alleged sexual predator with a lens. But Richardson himself admitted his own fascination with the subject of sex and his realization that he was in a position where he was powerful enough to make young girls do whatever he asked. All he has to do is ask nicely. His only defensive so far is to claim that he wouldn’t ask any of his subjects to do anything he wouldn’t do himself. Judging from the person this is coming it is doubtful that it will bring any sense of relief to his future models or clients.