“Cut The Shit”

I didn’t think I’d have to say something like this, but, it turns out that sadly, I do.

Guys who follow me, listen up: I’m glad you like my work. I’m glad you appreciate the time and effort and hard work that goes into making them happen. I’m glad you like the people I work with and appreciate their talent and hard work as well, but for the love of God: STOP HARASSING THE MODELS I’VE WORKED WITH!

Now, please let me elaborate; a couple weeks ago, I was contacted by a model I worked with on a previous project, telling me that some random guy was harassing and insulting her, because she rejected his offer to have her model with him on a photo. Just today, that same person reached out to me to tell me another guy messaged her, trying to get her to work with him, and when she rejected him, he was rude in response. Both times this happened, I was name dropped by these guys: “Oh I saw you model with this guy on his Flickr!”, or, “I saw you posing with Cody on his Flickr so I assumed you’d be down to collab!”

Let me explain something. I am absolutely honored by the people who decide to work with me. It’s amazing getting to have such talented people featured on my page, and I’m very lucky to have them here. Whether it’s in the past, or something very recently, all of these women (and the men, too), deserve nothing by utmost respect and courtesy. What they did with me, they didn’t have to, and could of easily rejected my offer of collaboration. HOWEVER, them participating in my Flickr photography is not an open invitation for others to harass them with friend requests, messages to collab, and harassment when said collaborators don’t get what they want. You are not entitled to their time, you are not entitled to a response, you are not entitled to anything from them, and being rude/childish to them because you aren’t getting what you want is pathetic and disgusting and you should feel ashamed.

I will stand by and support the people I’ve worked with, regardless of our relationship now. I don’t care if I’m not even friends with them anymore, they still deserve the same amount of respect they got when I first approached them, and I will defend them to my last day on here.

Guys, we have to do better. If you know anyone or are friends with people who show this kind of behavior, please, call them out on it. It’s toxic and disgusting. I’m not perfect, either, nor will I claim I am. I’ve said hurtful things to people in the past, and while I regret my decisions, I have to own it. We HAVE to do better, all of us.

Sorry for ranting, but I felt this needed to be addressed. I hope to never receive another message about someone harassing someone else again.