Asher Kelman
OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
I remember how traumatized we were when another personality, an editor of a well known photography magazine became the obsession of local prosecutors for the drug death of his live in model-lover.
Now a very successful fashion clothes designer has been convicted of raping his models and faces 59 years in jail. What's amazing is that about 2 years ago, I received a call, out of the blue, from a well known Vogue photographer from New york to assist in making a big show in Los Angeles for this man's fashion line. To me this was going to have been a great opportunity to work with the finest teams in fashion. It coincided with a major expansion of the line. I was to meet the designer in the coming week.
Well to my shock and horror within 24 hrs the whole thing was in limbo because of accusations against the designer. The photographer who had contacted me was too much a gentleman to repeat to me the full details of the case, just the overall opprobrium and surprise. I never imagined how serious this trouble really was until I sadly read the following tonight:
US-Indian designer gets jail term
Picture AFP Anand Jon was arrested in 2007
Anand Jon was arrested in 2007
A celebrity fashion designer in the US has been sentenced to a minimum of 59 years in prison for sexually assaulting aspiring models as young as 14.
Indian-born Anand Jon Alexander, who is well-known in Hollywood, was arrested in 2007 and convicted last November.
He has denied the charges and always maintained that he is innocent.
Anand Jon specialises in clothes that blend eastern and western designs and has run his own fashion line in the US since the late 1990s.
He has dressed a number of celebrities including Paris Hilton and Mary J Blige.
'No remorse'
Superior Court Judge David Wesley said he should be incarcerated as long as possible for preying upon young girls and women.
"Mr Alexander has showed no remorse for his actions," the judge said.
The designer was arrested in March 2007 after a woman alleged he had raped her.
After his arrest, five more women, ranging in age from 14 to 23, came forward claiming they too were sexually assaulted.
In all he faced 33 charges, including rape and committing a lewd act on a child.
Anand Jon denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all the charges. His lawyer said some of the women had come forward because they were disgruntled models who had failed in the fashion industry.
He said they were looking for an opportunity to capitalise on the fashion designer's troubles.
On 14 November last year, Anand Jon was convicted on 14 counts, including rape.
He was found not guilty of four felonies, and jurors could not reach a verdict on three counts. Source. BBC News
One could say he got what he deserved. However, given his fame and celebratory status, I'd imagine he had available to him all opportunities of dating beautiful women. So this shouldn't happen! Why this did happen I have no idea, but for sure it's a tragedy for everyone, the girls, their families and even course the man himself. We could look at this as the wrongdoing of this one man and that's that.
However, we can also learn from this awful case. Models are not opportunities for dates!
I only hope that every photographer who reads this takes extra measures to ensure that they, themselves, are totally above reproach and can never be similarly accused. Well now, if we follow proper professional code, we can assume that the photographer does nothing wrong, unlike the designer in this case or the photographer at the top of the story. Still there is a lesson for all of us. I add the following without wanting to create any impression that I empathize with the two convicted men because I feel they were wrongly convicted. Still, I add some caution beyond behaving well.
A chaperon and leaving the door open is a great idea. However, the chaperon should be known to you and trusted not the friend of the model you don't know either! Ideally, shooting models will involve your team, usually a stylist and makeup artist. Consider giving an opportunity to another photographer to assist, so there's always several other people. If there is a misunderstanding, your associates will be able to clear it up for you. If you are alone, then you're defenseless. Make sure expectations are not exceeded. Always get permission to approach and touch a model, even moving a shoe! In any case, don't shoot models you don't know without a great degree of professional caution and always set up the shoot so we are all above reproach.
I strongly recommend using manequins like they use in department stores as they have no sense of time and never have misunderstandings. They are very useful for blocking out a shot and practicing new ideas.
Asher
Now a very successful fashion clothes designer has been convicted of raping his models and faces 59 years in jail. What's amazing is that about 2 years ago, I received a call, out of the blue, from a well known Vogue photographer from New york to assist in making a big show in Los Angeles for this man's fashion line. To me this was going to have been a great opportunity to work with the finest teams in fashion. It coincided with a major expansion of the line. I was to meet the designer in the coming week.
Well to my shock and horror within 24 hrs the whole thing was in limbo because of accusations against the designer. The photographer who had contacted me was too much a gentleman to repeat to me the full details of the case, just the overall opprobrium and surprise. I never imagined how serious this trouble really was until I sadly read the following tonight:
US-Indian designer gets jail term
Picture AFP Anand Jon was arrested in 2007
Anand Jon was arrested in 2007
A celebrity fashion designer in the US has been sentenced to a minimum of 59 years in prison for sexually assaulting aspiring models as young as 14.
Indian-born Anand Jon Alexander, who is well-known in Hollywood, was arrested in 2007 and convicted last November.
He has denied the charges and always maintained that he is innocent.
Anand Jon specialises in clothes that blend eastern and western designs and has run his own fashion line in the US since the late 1990s.
He has dressed a number of celebrities including Paris Hilton and Mary J Blige.
'No remorse'
Superior Court Judge David Wesley said he should be incarcerated as long as possible for preying upon young girls and women.
"Mr Alexander has showed no remorse for his actions," the judge said.
The designer was arrested in March 2007 after a woman alleged he had raped her.
After his arrest, five more women, ranging in age from 14 to 23, came forward claiming they too were sexually assaulted.
In all he faced 33 charges, including rape and committing a lewd act on a child.
Anand Jon denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all the charges. His lawyer said some of the women had come forward because they were disgruntled models who had failed in the fashion industry.
He said they were looking for an opportunity to capitalise on the fashion designer's troubles.
On 14 November last year, Anand Jon was convicted on 14 counts, including rape.
He was found not guilty of four felonies, and jurors could not reach a verdict on three counts. Source. BBC News
One could say he got what he deserved. However, given his fame and celebratory status, I'd imagine he had available to him all opportunities of dating beautiful women. So this shouldn't happen! Why this did happen I have no idea, but for sure it's a tragedy for everyone, the girls, their families and even course the man himself. We could look at this as the wrongdoing of this one man and that's that.
However, we can also learn from this awful case. Models are not opportunities for dates!
I only hope that every photographer who reads this takes extra measures to ensure that they, themselves, are totally above reproach and can never be similarly accused. Well now, if we follow proper professional code, we can assume that the photographer does nothing wrong, unlike the designer in this case or the photographer at the top of the story. Still there is a lesson for all of us. I add the following without wanting to create any impression that I empathize with the two convicted men because I feel they were wrongly convicted. Still, I add some caution beyond behaving well.
A chaperon and leaving the door open is a great idea. However, the chaperon should be known to you and trusted not the friend of the model you don't know either! Ideally, shooting models will involve your team, usually a stylist and makeup artist. Consider giving an opportunity to another photographer to assist, so there's always several other people. If there is a misunderstanding, your associates will be able to clear it up for you. If you are alone, then you're defenseless. Make sure expectations are not exceeded. Always get permission to approach and touch a model, even moving a shoe! In any case, don't shoot models you don't know without a great degree of professional caution and always set up the shoot so we are all above reproach.
I strongly recommend using manequins like they use in department stores as they have no sense of time and never have misunderstandings. They are very useful for blocking out a shot and practicing new ideas.
Asher