Looking to get into erotic photography

[AndyNJ]

I'm relatively new to photography, about 8 months, and I'm still trying to find that subject that really captures my attention and inspires me. I love taking photos, but I'm kind of aimless right now. However, recently, I've found that I'm extremely interested in erotic photos and sexuality in photography. My fiancée is very supportive and lets me take photos of her, but of course, those are private. I have a friend that offered to model for me and I have TONS of ideas to work with (they just keep flowing). I'm actually very excited about this.

My concerns lie in the fact that I'm just a hobbyist and I don't aspire to go pro. I'm a software developer by career and I like that. However, I also like to be able to post my photography online for others to see and comment on. I fear that if I start posting these photos on my website and with my real name attached, future employers will find them during the hiring process and view them as pornography instead of art and decide not to hire me. I am unfortunate to have a rather unique name, there is but one other person in the US with my name. So I don't want this to come back to bite me in the ass, but I'm very interested in it. There's also the issue of family members as well.

I have thought about adding an NSFW section to my website for them or even not posting them on my website and creating a second site and online identity that isn't tied to my name for posting them, but I wouldn't even know how to promote that to people anonymously.

Has anyone else ever thought about this? I'm very open to suggestions.

[Jim Poor]

Use a pen name. Or would that be a "lens name" for photographers?

[jdepould]

Create a second site, use an alias or site name. Just keep in mind that domain registrations are public.

[AndyNJ]

That's one of the options I'm thinking about. I don't like it much, I'd like to be able to post all my photography under one name and present it together. I also like having things attributed to my real name. But while I don't like it, it may be the best and smartest way to do this.

Is there concern of potential employees not hiring me because of the "art" that I'm creating a real one? Has anyone experienced this?

[Jim Poor]

Originally Posted by jdepould

Create a second site, use an alias or site name. Just keep in mind that domain registrations are public.

You can pay for anonymous registration. Sure, the name can still be obtained in some cases, but not easily.

[Jim Poor]

It's always a possibility. I guess the question to ask is whether or not you would want to work for such an employer in the first place.

Then again, any job is nice in this day and age.

Originally Posted by AndyNJ

That's one of the options I'm thinking about. I don't like it much, I'd like to be able to post all my photography under one name and present it together. I also like having things attributed to my real name. But while I don't like it, it may be the best and smartest way to do this.

Is there concern of potential employees not hiring me because of the "art" that I'm creating a real one? Has anyone experienced this?

[jdepould]

Anybody can look at anything and make judgements about you, there isn't a whole lot you can do about it.

Maybe split the difference? Put some of the more tame--very clearly art/portrait--work up with your name and portfolio, and keep the more risque images on the second site. If a potential client contacts you about this sort of work, you can direct them to the second site for more images.

Also, context matters. I'd make extra sure the site is super clean and professional. That reinforces the "art not porn" message.

[AndyNJ]

Originally Posted by jdepould

Anybody can look at anything and make judgements about you, there isn't a whole lot you can do about it.

Maybe split the difference? Put some of the more tame--very clearly art/portrait--work up with your name and portfolio, and keep the more risque images on the second site. If a potential client contacts you about this sort of work, you can direct them to the second site for more images.

Also, context matters. I'd make extra sure the site is super clean and professional. That reinforces the "art not porn" message.

You know, this is all very true and puts a nice perspective on it.

My site isn't strictly photography, it's also a blog for my radio show and running (I have too many hobbies), as well as some other stuff. I was thinking that on the main blog, I wouldn't have the NSFW kind of photos show like I do with the rest of my photography. When I update for those types of photos, I would just say that I added a new gallery and advise the visitor to click to proceed. Then when you go over to the photography gallery, they would initially be hidden until you click a link to show them.

One other thing that I can do, I guess, is have a second domain point to the same site. All things would be the same except when the visitor comes in from that domain, they wouldn't actually see my name anywhere. They would otherwise get the same site, but with the NSFW photos visible. This would be kind of an NSFW version of my site that I can give out to friends and to promote, but when searching for my name via a search engine, it would not immediately return in the results. The search would just return the regular SFW version.

This could be one place where my career choice helps with my hobby! :-)

[kirbinster]

Use a made up name, like the one I use here. I use the same one on Flickr. As long as you do that no employer will find it. These days many employers use web searchs to check on people, so your concern is a valid one.