Andy ‘neolestat’ Craddock’s Photos – Friends, Family & Self

Modelling Opportunities @ Neolestat.com

Girls – Up to date information on current projects and modelling opportunities at neolestat.com can be found in the discussions. If you have any enquires please do not hesitate to email me or call me on 07795 262665.

Guys – Please don’t add yourselves unless you are a model with a proven portfolio or another professional photographer with at least a website. There is a discussion open for guys…

FACEBOOK GROUP : http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=146868354107

Please feel free to use the group to network through though not to advertise commercially. I’d really like all members to use the discussions as a mini forum. It would be a great place to share ideas and inspiration as well as modelling and photography tips. Anything regarding safety, photographers to avoid for being a bit hands on or creepy, flaky models and togs is more than welcome as safety is an issue of great importance to me… Feel free to start a new discussion and spill your guts.

Also feel free to upload photos though please don’t spam. Your best photo (in your opinion) would be a wonderful way to introduce yourself.

With much thanks,

Andy

andy@neolstat.com
http://www.neolestat.com
Neolestat’s Photographic Studio & Art Gallery
4 East Hill Saint Austell, United Kingdom

Church Admits Defeat In Erotic Photo Row

20pm UK, Friday September 04, 2009

Alex Watts, online reporter

The Church of England has dropped a legal action against a photographer who used a sacred altar for an erotic photoshoot.

The lewd pictures of semi-naked models cavorting around a graveyard and inside the church were taken at St Michael Penkivel Church in Cornwall.

One photo showed two models, called Kate and Bex, fondling each other on a cloth-draped altar, another showed a partially-clothed woman lying on a grave.

The Diocese of Truro launched legal action against photographer Andy Craddock, 43, for trespass and not having permission to take photographs.

It also accused him of blasphemy – despite the laws being abolished under the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act in May 2008.

A solicitor’s letter from Reverend Andrew Yates at the church ordered him to remove the photos from his website within 24 hours, and “begin destruction of all copies of the images in your possession or under your control”.

But Mr Craddock – who takes erotic fetish snaps during secret photoshoots at churches across the UK – ignored the letter and calls from the church’s solicitors Michelmores.

He claimed they were powerless to stop him, and defended the photos as “art”.

The 13th century church – which was used in Rowan Atkinson’s 2005 comedy Keeping Mum, about a serial-killer in a quiet village – has now dropped the case.

Jeremy Dowling, a spokesman for the Diocese of Truro, told Sky News Online: “People in the locality where he lives are not best pleased with him, and nor are the church.

“But the case has been dropped. We thought it would be better to do that rather than give Mr Craddock continued publicity.”

He added: “If he had done the same thing, say in a mosque for instance, all hell would have been let loose… he probably wouldn’t have just got a letter.”

Mr Craddock told Sky: “I can see how my photos could cause offence, but I think they would only be an offence to a minority of people.

“It’s a difficult thing, it may be a bit twee, but historically artists have offended people. Van Gogh painted prostitutes…and Banksy sprays stuff on public buildings.”

He added: “But I don’t like the way the church went about their complaint. If Andrew Yates had sat down with me, face-to-face, I would have listened to him.

“I think it shows a level of cowardice hiding behind a solicitor, it’s not the sort of openness I’d expect from a man of God.”

Modelling Opportunities @ Neolestat.com

Thank you everyone that’s joined this group. I appreciate the support and as we’ve reached the 500 member milestone I thought a message of introduction was in order.

If you haven’t seen my website it’s: http://www.facebook.com/l/f6e85;www.neolestat.com

I’m a professional photographer based in Cornwall in the UK though I shoot nationally and internationally as needed and I specialise in fetish, BDSM, glamour and Burlesque photography.

Part of my business is a shop stocking BDSM related goods, part of the business is a social enterprise and not-for-profit modelling agency helping promote West Country modelling and the final part of the business is a 6 day a week drop-in for coffee, meeting house where the BDSM community can meet with the LGBT community, the glamour, porn and alternative modelling community and the locals.

Currently I’m working on a few personal projects including the continuation of my ‘church’ project… Google ‘Andy Craddock + Church’ if you missed the controversy and I’m shooting for a pay-per-view art-core-porn website I’m developing for a niche market.

I offer paid and TFP or CD work depending on the project and I shoot model portfolios on a paid only basis unless you’re joining the agency. You are also more than welcome to contact me with any commercial projects you may have and I’ll discuss a fee with you.

I’d like this group to become a mini community within the FB community for models and selective togs alike. I closed the group to avoid non-industry people joining and hassling you models.

I’d like you all to use the discussions… Currently there is a discussion regarding modelling levels and payment, my art-core site, a discussion for male models and a discussion regarding the church work. Feel free to use them please (especially the one regarding rates as I’m out of touch here) and feel free to start your own discussions regarding anything you want… Model safety, name and shame dodgy togs and models, clothes swaps… Whatever you like!

Please upload some photos… but please don’t spam. Upload what in your opinion is your best photo and then we know who you are.

Use the wall… Promote whatever you like within the industry, share the FB links you’ve found for other modelling groups but please invite other models (especially within the glamour field and/or male models) to this group too. Again, please don’t spam the wall with links to the Maltese travel industry… I’ll just delete them and probably the spammer too. Keep things relevant.

So… Once more, thanks for joining… I’ll post this as a discussion too so feel free to either comment there or note me directly with any questions you may have. Enjoy your stay 🙂

Andy

Fetish Babes Invade Church

“What an arrogant and self-righteous photographer. I bet if he had tried his stunt in a Mosque or a Synagogue, he would have his head on a plate by now.”

What the Press is saying……

What the Press is saying ………..

Webstats for neolestat.com during August 09

The story regarding the controversy over my use of St Michael Penkivel church in Cornwall for a photo shoot broke on Saturday the 1st of August. The following statistics are for the period 1st August to 31st August 2009.

• Over 16,900,000 hits
• 117 countries have visited my site from a possible 195 including The Vatican City and Nepal… Perhaps Pope Benedict XVI and MaKuNe are fans?
• Over 1300 sites link to neolestat.com
• The bandwidth used exceeded 576 GB. I really hope I have unlimited bandwidth in my hosting!
• Of all the letters and emails I’ve received, for every one that criticises, four applaud
• 44% of the people that come to my site stay more than half an hour
• Roughly estimated, 78% of visitors to my site add it to their favourites
• On the day the news story broke I was the 3rd most popular news story on the BBC World News website, probably the most read and trusted news site in the world
• Four National newspapers ran the story; The Daily Mail (twice), The Sun, The Independent and The Sport
• Made the local rags three weeks in a row… Front page on two the same week
• I’ve been interviewed on the radio three times and the TV twice

andy@neolestat.com
Photographic Studio & Gallery
4 East Hill
St Austell, Cornwall
PL25 4TW

ile UK: 07795 262665
Mobile Int: +44 7795 2626655 262665
Mobile Int: +44 7795 262665

Model Safety & Modelling Safely

With the increase of internet modelling sites such as One Model Place, Net Model, Model Mayhem and similar, it has never been easier to promote yourself either as a model or a photographer and there has been an explosion of want to be talent on both sides of the camera in recent years. Nowadays anyone with an internet connection and a couple of hundred £/$’s can set up an internet modelling account, go out and buy a professional looking camera and call themselves a photographer. Like any trade there are professionals, there are great amateurs and there are sharks.

For the sake of this article I’m going to use the industry standard term; GWC (Guy With Camera), for the sharks. While I don’t want to misalign anyone personally, it has been my experience that for every two professional photographers I’ve met, I’ve met a GWC only in it for the girls, the glamour and their own egos. Hopefully this article will help the new model to decide who is who.

Firstly, age is of prime importance. Any model under the age of 18 in most countries (including the UK and US) can only work to lingerie/swimsuit levels and then only if modelling for fashion or portfolio work unprovocatively. A model under the age of 18 can not work to topless/nude levels under any normal conditions. There are of course certain grey areas where artists such as Sally Mann and David Hamilton have blurred the lines and produced artistic nudes featuring minors but both of these artists fought long, hard and expensive court battles to prove that what they were producing was art rather than titillation. It would be best practise to just accept that a model under the age of 18 can’t work to nude levels, ever!

Regardless of assignment a model under the age of 18 must always be chaperoned by an adult with the legal right to sign a model release form for them. In an industry with so much glamour attached it is the photographers responsibility to insure that he conduct himself in a professional manner and refuse to shoot an underage model unchaperoned. He, after all is the adult and has a responsibility to all children. As a photographer, always treat children with the same respect that you’d want your own child treated. I would also add that a photographer should always check some form of photographic ID before he shoot with any model that could possibly be under 18. I personally have a space in my model release to record what the document was and that I saw it.

If you, as a model are over the age of 18 and are lucky enough to be ID’d when going to a bar or buying cigarettes be sure to take the same ID to a photo shoot.

As a model, adult or otherwise, having a sensible chaperone attend the shoot with you is always a good rule of thumb, especially when working with a new photographer for the first time. Make sure that the chaperone is someone that you can trust to behave themselves and remain quite and courteous. A good friend is often a far better bet than a partner in my opinion. I find that a model will always look to a partner for approval when direction is given but not so with a friend. Neither you nor the photographer should have to spend time chaperoning the chaperone.

Always check for references when approached by a photographer for the first time. Ask to see some of his work. Does his style reflect how you want to be seen as a model? (Do you want to be a fashion model or a porn star?) Does he have a website? (Is it a generic MySpace one or a personal and professional domain?) Is his email address a generic hotmail address or does it link to his site? Can he supply references from previous models and will he let you choose who to contact from his past work? (Giving you a list of ten models and their contact details is preferable to him giving you his best mates girlfriends mobile number). Will he let a chaperone attend? (If not, ask why!)

Always let people know where you’re going, preferably leave them with the shoot address. Always have your mobile with you charged and topped up if pay as you go. It is a wise precaution to arrange to let someone know when you get to the studio, that you’re safe and all seems above board.

Before the shoot: Discuss modelling levels, that both the photographer wants and that you are prepared to work to. If the photographer expects an art nude shoot and you are prepared to work only to lingerie, say so and do not be persuaded or intimidated otherwise. If the location of the shoot changes at the very last moment ask why. Is the photographer trying to get you to a secluded spot and prey on your vulnerability?

Discuss and sign ‘Model Release Forms’ before the shoot rather than after. This serves a few purposes – first, GWC’s tend to either have nothing, something unsuitable, or a template of some sort. Second, it will immediately provide some insight into how “professional” the photographer is (reluctance, resistance, excuses are all bad signs). Finally, it allows the model to check for surprises – I’ve reviewed a couple of “custom” releases that had all sorts of wacky terms in them.

If it is a portfolio shoot that you are paying the photographer for and he asks you to sign a release form, you are well within your rights not to. If it is a TFP/CD (Time For Print/Compact Disc) shoot then it is usual for a release form to be signed by the model. Do not give any more personal details on the form than seem necessary. Usually just your legal name if working under a modelling name, your address and your mobile number are sufficient. If you are under the age of 18 then your guardian/chaperone will also have to sign the form by law or else it is invalid.

During the shoot: If a photographer is making you feel uncomfortable, say so. Do not under any circumstance go along with what he wants because you feel you must. Any professional worth his salt will be as aware of your comfort as you are. Unless pre-agreed beforehand due to difficult costume changes; corsets etc (ideally the job of the chaperone) never let a photographer touch you. If a photographer can’t express his desires through lack of communication skills what are his camera skills like? A photographer should be able to explain what he wants. He should never have to touch you and if he is, he is probably getting off on it. If the communication worries you and the photographer is asking probing, unnecessary questions; “Is this turning you on?” as I have heard from one model. Stop the shoot, pack up and leave. You have a right as a model not to feel uncomfortable.

Remember that a relationship between a model and photographer is usually business based. It is rare that a friendship ‘needs’ to be formed, you can leave as friends but you do not need to be ‘friends’!

Overly friendly contact before or after the shoot is often a warning sign that things are not quite what they seem. How many web site designers or graphic artists need to be friends with their clients? If you are having regular IM chats with a photographer that you enjoy talking to, that’s absolutely fine. However, if the conversation becomes uncomfortable or intrusive, block them. There will always be another photographer around the corner as good as, if not better to work with. Friendships ‘are’ made of course, people are people after all but be careful in the first instance. If a photographer turns up unexpectedly at your doorstep, let someone know, give them his details and ask him politely not to in future. If he apologises and leaves all is well. Some won’t and expect friendships to become more. You as the model be the judge here.

Lastly; safety becomes before all things. Always, always, trust your instincts. The greatest photograph in the world isn’t worth it if your personal safety is at risk. Be happy, have fun, make some great art, meet some great people but most of all be safe.

andy@neolestat.com
neolestat on deviantART
Model Mayhem

Photographic Studio & Gallery
4 East Hill
St Austell, Cornwall
PL25 4TW

Mobile UK: 07795 262665
Mobile Int: +44 7795 262665