Some help re: topless and lingerie and 17 yr olds

[Tequila_Woods]

A photographer friend of mine is casting for a pretty high profile job and has got 10 girls on his shortlist. One of them is 17. I know that you cant shoot her topless, even with her mothers consent but where does he stand with regards to lingerie and clothed? As a minor, can she sign a model release etc.

Any help and advice would be much appreciated.

[Paul L]

Hi Tequilla, I do not know the legal standing on this, but I personally would very very very strongly suggest avoiding anything to do her till she was 18.

Cheers

Paul

[Tequila_Woods]

Hi Paul,

Yeah, thats what iv said to him. Its a grey area with morals, laws etc. He has spoken to her mother on the phone but i said thats not good enough.

Im trying to find the laws etc on the net.

Thanks for your comment though.

Tee x
P.S when is the stuff me n Lolly did gonna be up on your site?

[daveydude]

I had a similar question but didn't get a straight answer. It came to my attention that a certain website has images of at least one 16 yr old on it. She isn't nude or topless, but she's on the same site as girls who are doing hardcore stuff. Surely that can't be legal?

[Peter]

The problem is, 'indecent' hasn't yet been defined, so its down to the magistrate/jury of the day to decide what is and isn't 'indecent'.

One sure thing, is it doesn't have to be nude to be indecent, so just one complaint from a "Mary Whitehouse" type could trigger an investigation, which may not end in prosecution, but is something you really don't need.

There are so many variables which contribute to the construction of the image (make-up, pose, setting, outfits........) that any could easily trip you up.

Best avoid under 18s until the test cases have set some precedents.

[Cenobitez]

The legal position on this is "Sexually Provocative / Suggestive" which the advice my solicitor gave me, Basically IF the image is sexually provacative its illegal, if its sexual suggestive its illegal, EVEN if the model is 24 and she is suggesting she is underage, its illegal.

My Solicitors basically said "if its remotely sexy, get ready to sign on the dotted line of the SOR (Sex Off Reg)".

As for sites with underage girls mixed with harder adult stuff, illegal again as ur exposing a minor to the adult element insinuating she is old enough or going or is doing something more.

The only exception my solicitors found was in regards to public forums, which if kind of like the "The poster is responsible for the post" where the owner cannot be held responsible for a minor gaining access as long as warning are posted kinda thing.

The final bit of advice i was given was "look at Kays, Littlewoods and Grattan and see how far they go woth the ages of models, as thats pron a safe area" and "If you have to ask yourself its ok then its NOT!"...

I'm not 100% this is accurate but was the advice i took, I decided i would offer advise to the age range if i was able to, but NOTHING MORE... Its not a situatiuon where you get a second chance once branded always branded, so its not worth the risk, so STAY AWAY

[Cenobitez]

Hey Peter,

I was told "Sexually Provocative" or "Sexually Suggestive" are the buzzwords, to make it illegal, as u said doesnt have to be nude/topless to be suggestive or provocative, and i think those 2 phrases are pretty accruate description.

The precedents i dont think will ever be set as no one really pushes the limits that much to be innocent and in that situ, unless they are not right in the head.

[Tequila_Woods]

Thanks guys! Very helpful.

[laralatex]

She's under 18 and in this business you don't want you're name linked with under age models (well i don't ) so stay clear Tequila babes. ;p

[Cenobitez]

Have u ever posted something, and someone has posted right after u what u was thinking, but couldnt word ?