May I open a conversation? Seems like we don’t talk about sexualisation and male gaze in tattoo industry often enough. Lately (well let’s be honest since I got into tattooing) I’ve been noticing a prominent trend of tattoo pictures being taken in a very sexualised way. I understand it’s not always easy to photograph a body part without making it look exposed. Plus it seems like humanity haven’t evolved enough to always separate nudity and sex. However, there is a difference between nude photo for a purpose of showing the tattoo well and intentional sexualisation of tattooed bodies we photograph. 🔸 I see a lot of male tattoo artists building their following based on that method. Thanks to Instagram algorithm - and yes of course sex sells but who’s profiting from it? Seems unfair to me when I see male artists using sexualised photos of their clients (especially female clients) as a tool to benefit from. I understand it happens because it’s acceptable / trendy / no one is calling them out. It is in itself a bit of grey area so many artists just get away with it fine. I guess there is a question of consent too. I can imagine in some cases clients also prefer looking sexy on pictures which is fair. But on average I find this trend damaging and patriarchal. I think there needs to be a conversation about how we take pictures of our clients. Where do we draw the line between taking a good photo of a tattoo and constructing an image of a body as a whole. Do we need to make bodies look ‘appealing’ and ‘sexy’ or is it in fact damaging and exploitive? I just think we as a tattoo community should question ourselves. Especially male artists photographing women - perhaps ask your self when it’s appropriate and when not to take a ‘hot pic’ of your client. When it’s empowering for your client and when there is a genuine lack of integrity or artistry in showcasing your work but instead showcasing women’s bodies in ways that are appealing for you.