Heresies - The Hyde - How Photography Is Used for Sexual Exploitation

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London. 1886. A respected doctor stands before a mirror and drinks a potion he swore he would only use once. He doesn’t grow horns or sprout claws. He simply becomes... lighter. The weight of Victorian morality, the heavy wool of his reputation—it just slides off his shoulders. The first time, it requires the chemistry. By the end, Hyde doesn’t wait for an invitation. He just arrives.

This is Episode 52 (Part 5 of the Heresies series)—where we say the things the photography industry would prefer you not think too hard about.

Today: We are putting down the shields and taking a long, hard look in the mirror. We’re talking about Power. Specifically, the unique, intoxicating power we hold the moment we pick up a camera. We explore how the "Artist" label is used as a bulletproof vest for manipulation, how the camera provides a "loophole" for the shadow, and why "consent" under a power imbalance isn't as clean as we’d like to believe.

This isn't just about "those predators" in the headlines. It’s about the Hyde in all of us. If you don't think you have a shadow, you're the one most likely to let him hold the camera.

What We Cover

• The Mechanism of Permission: Why the story of Jekyll and Hyde is the perfect metaphor for the modern photographer.
• The Four Tiers of Hyde:
  • The Tourist of Flesh (Amateur): Using the camera for access to vulnerable spaces.
  • The Aesthetic Architect (Artist): Using "beauty" to mask the male gaze.
  • The Specialist: Why a narrow focus on adolescent athletes (dance, gymnastics, swimming) is a red flag.
  • The Untouchable (Professional): How the industry protects "talent" at the cost of safety.
• The Permission of the Lens: Why staring, directing, and asking for vulnerability are professionalized transgressions.
• The Myth of Consent: Why "she signed the release" doesn't always mean the interaction was ethical.
• The 18-19 Year Old Dynamic: The responsibility of the photographer to recognize the inherent power imbalance of age and reputation.
• The Peer/Judge Test: The one question that determines if you are a craftsman or a man using a camera to get what he wants.
• Stewardship vs. Stupidity: My own reckoning with a shoot that went off the rails and why "laziness" is often the entry point for the shadow.
• The Protocol: My personal systems for ensuring "No Surprises" and protecting both the model and the craft.

Referenced in This Episode

Historical Context:

• Robert Louis Stevenson: The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886).

Audio & Media:

• TikTok: @chrryprncess (Reflecting on male photographers at youth dance recitals).
• HuffPost Live: Model slams Terry Richardson (The "Untouchable" Tier).
• Industry Statistics: * Model Alliance (2012) - 87% harassment rate.
  • 2024 #MeToo National Report & Late 2025 Data on on-set misconduct.

Links & Resources

The Terrible Photographer Website: terriblephotographer.com Instagram: @terriblephotographer

Support the Show (Buy Me a Coffee) terriblephotographer.com/support

Subscribe to Pub Notes (The Newsletter) the-terrible-photographer.kit.com

Patrick Fore Instagram: @patrickfore

Get in Touch If this episode made you feel something—rage, defensive, or relieved—I want to hear it. I read and respond to everything. patrick@terriblephotographer.com

Credits Podcast written, produced, and hosted by Patrick Fore. Music licensed through Epidemic Sound & Blue Dot Sessions. Recorded from my garage in San Diego, California.

Stay curious. Stay courageous. Stay terrible.