Staff Blog
The Stoya Photo Shoot
I photographed Stoya, a 21-year-old It porn-star from Delaware who now resides in South Philly, for Matt Stroud's City Paper cover story on her life in the adult industry. My initial concept was to create a narrative series of images in a high-end hotel room, but I was unable to find a hotel that would play ball (I guess the Four Seasons isn't interested in tying its brand to the adult industry). I ended up using Bruce Schimmel's apartment in the society Hill Towers. Bruce founded the paper and is always willing to help out. He wrote his weekly column on the experience of hosting our shoot. Its a good read and accurately describes the atmosphere.
Bruce was very curious about what was going on in his bedroom so he tended to pop in frequently to see what we were doing. I was drawn to the sheen of the ’70s wall paper in his laundry room and used it as a backdrop for one of the sets. As I was working with Stoya, I noticed, through my lens, Bruce peeking around the corner to see what was going on. I released the shutter and then told him to get out of my frame. It's easy to make pretty pictures of Stoya. She's young and she's beautiful. However, by wandering into the photograph, Bruce helped me make an image that transcends the useless flow of sex imagery that fuels our obsession with porn. There's an emptiness, a loneliness in his expression that captures some of the ugliness behind the industry. It hints at the countless number of men who masturbate in secrecy to Stoya's sex scenes, behind closed doors, away from their daily lives. I'm not a stranger to porn, but as a photographer, I'm happy to make an image that speaks to the ugly truths behind the beautiful facades. At first, I was bummed I didn't land the high-end hotel room; in the end it couldn't have worked out better.
Here's a slideshow of outtakes:
Yo Gang, sorry, but where’s the so-called beauty? She has the body of a 9 year-old boy! No hips(looks the same size as her waist), legs so skinny they would garrotte any man they were wrapped around, Ya couldn’t get any cleavage outta those breasts even if ya put her shoulders in a vise. Careful, don’t get too close or You’ll get cut on a bone. Instead of a photo shoot Ya shoulda given her a hot meal! No wonder the Four Sesons declined… Next time find a real Woman for a shoot.
No worries, Ron. I have a feeling this woman, and any woman who looks like her, will keep her legs a safe distance away from you.
Thx for the feedback Ron. Just to be clear, the goal of the shoot wasn’t to get cleavage. As I mentioned in the post, the challenge for me in this situation is to make an image that transcends internet sex imagery. In the future, I’ll keep your advice close to heart and be careful not to get cut on a bone.
Yo Michael, I see the point to yer article… I was jus’ commentin’ on tastes. What is beauty to one is… you know. I jus’ like to think that anywhere I lay my head it’ll be soft. I happen to like ‘em thicke, or if you will, Rubenesque. …and Monica, thanx for yer reassurance.
Ron, did you know that “jus’” and “just” both require 4 keystrokes? Try it!
Yo Andrew… ’s not the matter o’ strokes, ’s how I talk. ‘Sides, I make up fer the strokes when I say ‘Yer’ instead of ‘Your’. Thanx. Stay Cool.
wolf
SYOYA;
You are one and one all alone in this business just be yourself. You turn me on
by just being,do not change YOU MAKE LOVE on the screen with each and every man you are with , YOU DON’T FUCK , I REPEAT YOU ARE MAKING LOVE, you look very real,see you in Las Vegas in jan.
Albert Malumed
P.S. ; some day you will crossover Albert
I get off just looking at your face ,what happens dow there is ok. it is super , but
it’s looking at your face is what dose it for me I have all your work and looking for
more. Please try to put out the blue-ray first and the dvd. See you next month
L/V
ALBERT of N.Y.C.
she’s too pretty to do that shit. she should be an actress.