To think the photos aren’t appropriate/too revealing for college work

[ThatsMyPenguin]

DS is 18, he’s in his second year at college doing an Art and Design course, one of the units is all photography based. He’s loving it.
As part of the unit they need to create a mini portfolio of some portraits, landscapes and still life images. There seems to be a fair amount of creative control. He wants to be a photographer so this unit is important to him.

Last night he was working on the computer downstairs and I was looking at his images (he was editing them).
He has taken some pictures of an old school friend (currently 17) in lingerie. They are quite tastefully done (I won’t post them here as like I said they seem inappropriate to me).
Some have been done to look like she is laying on a bed I think and the placement of her hands make it seem quite sexual, another is from behind and the lingerie doesn’t provide much coverage of her behind so that seems quite inappropriate. He’s taken pictures of her which aren’t revealing too, focused more on her face etc. They are much better but he is insisting he will be fine to use a combination and it’s “art”. They are well done I just don’t think it’s appropriate to take pictures like that of a 17 year old!! His college tend to display some of the work too so I’d be surprised if they allow it, DS says they are fine with it but admits they don’t know she is 17.

AIBU to say pictures of this nature aren’t appropriate considering they are for uni and she’s not 18?

The age of consent is 16 the age of porn is 18 this is illegal even if art it won’t be allowdd

I want to add I don’t think your son has done anything illegal but to shre with the collage and them display it would be. I hope you can get him to understand this

You've missed my point. I'm saying it's his decision not his mum's. It's not like she has information or knowledge he doesn't. She's told her son to be careful and advised against it. That's it. Her input is done ....unless of course she comes up with further information which she can share with him.
I seriously doubt the college will allow him to break any laws with his exhibit.

wasn't there a big controversy recently about famouns pictures of a woman back in the 60s and she fought for ownership of them in a famous portfolio as she was 17 and it was argued that as she was underage, she couldn't give consent.

Photos in her underwear, yes not appropriate for college but not exactly child porn!
Police won’t be interested.

To study art you need to be able to draw/capture images of the body. Fine art students would always have extensive life drawing in the curriculum I'd imagine. I used to be a life art model when I was 18 (fully nude) and the students were often of a similar age. The human body is depicted in art and he is making art. She isn't even nude (but many pictures could/ might be) so it's fine, honestly. As long as it looks good as a piece of art and the model is consenting.

An 18 year old taking photos of a 17 year old in her underwear with her consent is not going to end up on the sex offenders register

This. Sorry but as subject matter it doesn't sound at all original (or appropriate). And as others have said, consent issues are crucial. Safer all round for him to use some other pictures.

I don’t think I will be doing an image search for topless photos of a 17 year old thanks! 😮

Yes exactly, some revision needed and nuance to be looked at with each case.

I'm even more extreme in some of my views about this, for example I don’t think 18 year olds should be able to consent to partake in hardcore porn, I feel it should be as old as possible, to give the person’s brain time to fully develop, possibly 25.

I guess though then you’d have to look at all the other things 16+ year olds can do such as getting married (with permission), driving, and other things that can have consequences, and ask if they’re old enough for them too?

It’s an interesting moral topic really, how old should young people be to make certain choices, and have the current laws got it right?

You need to report it including the tutor's involvement to the college.

It's notable that he's only said DELETE THEM NOW once he's realised there's a Mum sniffing around the legalities.

I wouldn't be surprised if he denies ever knowing what the content of the shoot was or claiming your son said she was 18 to try and get out of the massive safeguarding hole he's created with his students.

Would probably be a good idea for your son to mention to his tutors at college that they all need to think carefully about (and check) the age of models, whether they can consent to being used as models, what images can be made and how used/distributed. It sounds as though he has simply not thought about her age but the college should reinforce the legislation with students.

Hope he enjoys his course, I'm sure his work will progress as he matures.

He's an adult on a creative art/photography course.

We're allowed to say he isn't being original in his ideas.

It's grown women mocking a teenager trying to do well in his college course.
Obviously he hasn't got ground breaking ideas and is coming out with cliches. He's an 18 year old on an art course. He sounds like a reflective teen from what the op has said. Mocking him is uncalled for.
Nobody is mocking him for wanting to do well on his course.

There's a bit of eye rolling and mockery because when his mother has understandably challenged why he's got semi naked photos of a teenage child, instead of considering his mother might have a point he launched into word vomit about why actually what he's doing is unique, art and so much deeper than lingerie shoots of a teenager.

Thankfully he seems to be finally taking on board what's been raised, which is more than can be said for a lot of posters on this thread.

Any father who found out his dd had had her photo taken in her underwear by a peer would be beyond furious. It's beyond my comprehension how your dd could have imagined for one second that this was ok. Literally staggering. How could you not either? I'm shocked.

I came on to say YABU & that you shouldn’t stifle his creativity. Nude or sensual images are all over the place.

but then I saw the girl is 17 & changed to YANBU. I’m sure there’s no bad meaning in what has happened & she is old enough to have sex if she wants, but in terms of her image I think this could still be classed as taking & sharing indecent images of children until she is 18. I might be wrong on that & please speak up if I am mumsnetters!

I can't actually believe the OP actually asked the question and supported her son. Surely everybody knows it's wrong?

For college why do anything with someone in lingerie? Just seems totally unnecessary!

According to UK law.... it is child pornography until the age of 18... your son could easily be charged... and convicted... he'd carry that with him for the rest of his life. Probably seems harmless to them now... but could possibly affect the rest of their/his lives/life...

My advice... take the photos... enjoy the photos... (amongst themselves) but publicly displaying them while she is still a minor would be a huge mistake...

I just wanted to change the language in your post, there is not such thing as “child pornography” it’s “child sexual assault material”. Pornography only applies to adults

Thanks @Whoopaday if people are going to quote the law they shouldn’t be making fundamental mistakes like that. It’s day one safeguarding stuff.

No! It's an offence to even take or possess such images.

Sounds like it’s been a useful learning opportunity for your son. I’m glad he’s deleting them, but do continue to challenge his perception of what constitutes sexualisation/exploitation.

I believe you when you say he thought he was being avant grade, but he really, really wasn’t, was he.

@Missingmyusername OP said her son said the tutor was in and out of the studio when her son was taking the photos......

I imagine you know yourself and you have said of the bar you think it's inappropriate even if it is art, so people asking what are you thinking are misguided, but the question is how do you convince your DS. Perhaps this thread is a way to show DS it's not just you being their "muuuuum"! and without pushing too hard, which at their age means they'll dig in harder, you can put your point across better. If it was me, I'd suggest they speak with their tutor in the hypothetical (v.important!) and explain DS vision and what he wants the photos to say/provoke/emote. He can mention he has someone in mind, but definitely disclose their age and see where the college stands. I'm pretty sure they'll point him in a different direction or perhaps suggest he "use" an older model, that way you can be concerned without being the one to "censor" him and potentially stop him showing future projects. I wonder have you spoken with the girl's parents - like you I'm sure they'd not be overly keen for their d to be portrayed like that for school. The law is not ambiguous when it comes to what it considers child porn, so he needs to be very careful how he proceeds as he could land himself in a lot of trouble. Maybe ask how he would feel if he or if strangers had to pass photos of his sister displayed as Art along the corridors of her school. They could also put the girl herself at risk, it only takes one pervert have they considered that (no point telling 17 year olds the big life "your future employer could see them" consequences; kids don't think like that!)m They both may be parents themselves one day, only then will he really understand. Hope it works out. Good luck x