Author Topic: Are US photo buyers bigots? (Read 9095 times)

ShadySue · « **Reply #25 on:** August 10, 2009, 09:09 »

Quote from: astrocady on August 10, 2009, 08:38

As for why a company may wish to stress white people in their advertising campaigns, that is an entirely different matter. But I don't think it's as sinister as race bigitry. They also don't usually feature overweight people, bald people, people with bad complexions, scares, etc.

That actually would be race bigotry, as their reasoning would be that the models aren't as 'attractive' or 'aspirational' to the target audience. However, whether in the cases you describe race bigotry is any worse than 'normal-looking' bigotry is one I'd leave to the lawyers. In UK law, discriminating against someone because of their race is a criminal offence, I'm not sure about discriminating against people because they aren't drop dead gorgeous. Flicking through UK women's magazines seems to show that it's mostly US companies which are still featuring ddg and 'improved' or 'highly improved' (look like plastic dolls) models in their ads, which IMO looks really dated. UK companies seem more to feature clean, healthy, girl-next-door types, still 'more than averagely attractive' (subjective judgement) though.

Jonathan Ross · « **Reply #26 on:** August 10, 2009, 10:23 »

Hi All,

Maybe I didn't make myself very clear for some people on this site. I realize there are plenty of African American shots in stock I never said there wasn't, I produce them all the time. What I said was the percentage of sales is stronger in the U.S. market than in the Asian market or the European market for African American sales that was all, and it is true.
My info is based on being owner in the largest multi ethnic agency in the stock business that spends great time, money and effort to research this as well as other similar subjects in great detail. The European agency that I am owner with offers the same detailed information on demographics and their returns in the European market. They also deliver detailed information based on sales to come to these conclusions. I try to answer questions I have knowledge of. If the second part of my statement was not appropriate for this conversation my apologies.

Best,
Jonathan

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #27 on:** August 10, 2009, 10:32 »

Quote from: Jonathan Ross on August 10, 2009, 10:23

Maybe I didn't make myself very clear for some people on this site.

I don't think anyone was confused by the first part of what you said.

Quote

If the second part of my statement was not appropriate for this conversation my apologies.

Yes, I was trying to figure out how "every photographer has to draw their own philosophical line in the sand they will not cross over in producing images" applied to a discussion on buyers spending habits. It seemed like a gear switch in the middle.

ShadySue · « **Reply #28 on:** August 10, 2009, 11:03 »

Quote from: sjlocke on August 10, 2009, 10:32

Quote from: Jonathan Ross on August 10, 2009, 10:23
Maybe I didn't make myself very clear for some people on this site.
Yes, I was trying to figure out how "every photographer has to draw their own philosophical line in the sand they will not cross over in producing images" applied to a discussion on buyers spending habits. It seemed like a gear switch in the middle.

Oh thank goodness. I thought I'd lost the plot!

thesentinel · « **Reply #29 on:** August 10, 2009, 11:56 »

Quote from: astrocady on August 10, 2009, 08:38

As for why a company may wish to stress white people in their advertising campaigns, that is an entirely different matter. But I don't think it's as sinister as race bigitry. They also don't usually feature overweight people, bald people, people with bad complexions, scares, etc.

That's why I don't have any self portraits in my portfolio

astrocady · « **Reply #30 on:** August 10, 2009, 12:16 »

Quote from: thesentinel on August 10, 2009, 11:56

Quote from: astrocady on August 10, 2009, 08:38

As for why a company may wish to stress white people in their advertising campaigns, that is an entirely different matter. But I don't think it's as sinister as race bigotry. They also don't usually feature overweight people, bald people, people with bad complexions, scares, etc.

That's why I don't have any self portraits in my portfolio

Well, I do have a few, and being slightly overweight with a bad complexion and a few scares is probably why they don't sell well

LOL

gostwyck · « **Reply #31 on:** August 10, 2009, 13:19 »

This story broke in the UK today about US publisher Bloomsbury 'whitewashing' a book cover;

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/aug/10/bloomsbury-book-cover-race-row

dbvirago · « **Reply #32 on:** August 10, 2009, 13:40 »

My best selling models are black (whether they are African-American is irrelfevant - not all black people are American).

Why are they are the best sellers? Don't know. don't care

PixelBytes · « **Reply #33 on:** August 10, 2009, 18:50 »

Quote from: gostwyck on August 10, 2009, 13:19

This story broke in the UK today about US publisher Bloomsbury 'whitewashing' a book cover;

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/aug/10/bloomsbury-book-cover-race-row

This is actually shocking to me. I am probably pretty naive.

Here I have been busting hump to try and get some African-American models in my portfolio. Buyers always seem to be moaning about the scarcity of them in the request forums.

Of course I live in the South (US) so I am well aware that racism is alive and well down here, but I thought after the last election that we were on the track to getting past that.

Like I said - naive.

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Author Topic: Are US photo buyers bigots? (Read 9095 times)

ShadySue

Jonathan Ross

Sean Locke Photography

ShadySue

thesentinel

astrocady

gostwyck

dbvirago

PixelBytes

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