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?

There you go OP. He's broken the law. Now what are you going to do about it.

Just been having a chat about it with DS before he leaves this morning. He has agreed to check with his tutor but thinks that although she is in underwear the images aren't intended to be sexual at all. He says his goal was "simplistic, minimalistic and natural" and to show beauty without makeup/fashion wear. He claims his tutor was in and out of the studio while he was taking them so would have said something if it was an issue.
He then went on a whole rant about how it's not exactly progressive that a female can't be photographed in her underwear without it being classed as sexual, and the fact that I can only see the images that was is more reflective of me being close-minded than the nature of the images themself which aren't intended to be or in the style of a sexual lingerie shoot at all.
I've told him that while that may be his intention when taking the images, many will view a young, attractive girl in her underwear as being sexual. Whether that is right or not is irrelevant.
I've suggested he use the ones of her face which aren't revealing and then rethinks the others.
He has said he will go on what his tutor says.

I’ve read that and I’m not actually sure he has. It doesn’t state that every image of someone under age in underwear is illegal and makes it clear than positioning etc. Is relevant. The positions aren’t explicitly sexual so could be debated what he has done is fine.
I’m not saying I agree with the images or that they are appropriate just that based on what the previous poster has posted it doesn’t appear to me that they are illegal.

Does the tutor realise she is under18? Your DS will have to make that clear, as atm there is no valid model release form.

He needs to delete them, he could face prosecution.

And the college really should have covered this.

https://www.noblesolicitors.co.uk/about/a-guide-to-indecent-images.html#:~:text=To%20be%20classed%20as%20'indecent,sexual%20images%20by%20children%20(selfies)

I can imagine the safeguarding lead at their school will be receiving a few emails this morning.
This all seems like an awful idea, that will end badly for everyone concerned.

His tutor is unlikely to know which students are over 18 or under 18.
As a member of staff I'd not want to see any nude or semi-nude image of a child. He needs to be very clear that he's planning on submitting semi-nude photos of a child for his project.

The rest of his rant sounds like a teenager who thinks they're offering a new an progressive way of thinking that's more forward-thinking outlook but really it's just the same old male human taking photos of half naked female.

You're right I highly doubt the tutor knows her age, she doesn't go to that college (she's at the same sixth form as my DD, DS goes to college) so the tutor won't even know who she is!

Well you’ve seen the photos OP are they simple, minimalist and natural? Is the lingerie sporty and covering or is it lacy and revealing? Are any of the poses sexual to you? ( you said something about hands) because there seems to be a disconnect between his apparent aims and the resulting photos. By all means be guided by the tutor but the tutor needs to know she’s 17.

The model release form is necessary for any image of a child btw. Child models need their parents’ permission to take part in any kind of modelling.

OP, I doubt that there is any negative intention on the part of your DS, so don't be harsh on him. He has fully explained his intention with the photos, and part of art is exploring the human form. Artists have done this since time immemorial, it's not sexual.

However, in the context of being in school, and the girl being under 18, of course, it's right to question it and ensure she is protected from any unwanted consequences of this.

You are both right. He has produced a thoughtful piece of work and had they been a year or two older, it would have been fine.

But I do think it is right to let the tutor know that this girl is under 18.

But also, please don't invalidate the work your son has done or act like he has done something wrong - he's put a lot of work into his project - he just hasn't really thought about this, because he's 18 - it's just a mistake and a lack of understanding on his part.

I can see why he thinks that it's minimalistic. The bra is a plain black bra that comes a bit lower onto the ribs like a corset almost, but obviously it's intended to be a push up bra I imagine as cleavage is quite obviously. The bottoms are the hipster style, so her bum is quite on show in one of the images.
In the one made to look like she is laid on a bed her hand is on her lower stomach which I thought could be construed as sexual.

I think it's inappropriate and completely lacks imagination as an assignment project. Can't he take a nice photo of leaves or squirrels, why is it always naked attractive yoing girls and women 🙄 it's using sex and female body to get marks and recognition.

It's actually making me really uneasy that your son is taking photos of a girl like that and can't see your point of view regarding exhibiting them.

Photos of young women in their underwear isn’t being ‘different’. It’s very Page 3 circa 1980 tbh. Somewhat sleazy and exploitative. Now if he’d taken photos of his male mates in their underwear, hairy bums and all, THAT would be different!

I wonder what the 17 year olds parents think about it.

He's taking pictures of an underage girl. He may not intend them to be sexual but he is at best naive and at worst a liar.

Even if this girl consented for the photos I doubt she consented for them to be put up in college (and it's not clear she can't consent as others have said).

And the idea that a male taking pictures of a female in her underwear is some how arty, alternative, unusual? All the lols.

Very cliche of greasy male photographer snapping pics of young women and girls ibn skimpy clothings as 'art'. Nothing interesting or new, just sleazy, exploitative and salacious. Gross.

I wonder if it would be worth pointing your son to some instances where young girls/ teens have had their photos put online and then regretted it later.

I do think it's really important that you also validate and appreciate his work, and tell him that they are good photos etc. but that they are images of a minor in her underwear, so that needs some thought before exhibiting.

Ask him how many photos and artworks he has seen which depict people under 18 in their underwear in the way that he has. He won't be able to think of many.

There are some very valid concerns for the girl as she isn't 18 yet - he should talk to his tutor about it and be honest about that, and also find out if her parents are aware.

Why didn't he ask his male friends his own age?

If he honestly can't see that is sexual and would be perceived as sexual and you think only 'could be' that is extremely concerning. Maybe you should get his dad to chat to him about respect for women.

Other than the "greasy" description I think you're right. It's not groundbreaking in anyway.

To be honest, she could easily have a smaller/more revealing bikini and have worn it on a family holiday with pictures all over social media. I don’t think it’s how much of her is visible that’s the issue.

The college need to know she’s under 18. If that’s acceptable to them then it’s up to the girl whether the pictures are used, so long as she fully understands what that means.

Ugh another creep who says something is "art". I would not be very impressed. Is it even legal? Why did he choose this as a subject matter?

Ugh another creep who says something is "art". I would not be very impressed. Is it even legal? Why did he choose this as a subject matter?