I am a former feature dancer who has had photos in several magazines, a few calendars and of course the basic publicity shots you do in the clubs.
I worked hard and saved my money thinking I would be able to put it behind me when I got out of the Biz. I have a fully paid for home, two cars in the garage and all the trappings and toys expected in "suburbia". I did not marry for money but for love and have two beautiful children to show for it.
I have been retired from the adult entertainment industry for almost 6 years. The adult members of my family as well as my husbands know I was in the industry and it has never been an issue.
Recently, through friends I stil have in the clubs I found out a photographer I once worked with has old pics of me and is planning on using them to launch his new line of Calendars. I did not sign a release on these particular photos because the photographer was dating a friend of mine and they were taken during a weekend skiing trip. He had just bought a bunch of new equiptment and was using his girlfriend and I as his models to try out the camera and learn his new accessories. I (being money conscious) was assured at that time they were for personal use only.
I did contact this photographer and he does in fact plan to use my photos against my wishes. He told me to "take him to court". Therein lies my problem.
While I have done photos in the past I do not want new photo's of me popping up now that I am so settled in my life. I also am hesitant to take him to court and spend perhaps thousands of dollars on a lawyer just to lose.
I have thought about having some old "friends" visit him and try to make him see that what he is doing is wrong but that would be against my belief system also. I am not ashamed of my past or by the photos ( I made alot of money from them!) by any means but I am not telling if they don't already know. Plus that what if one of my kids gets ahold of a new picture? These were national calendars and pretty popular with the backyard mechanic set.
So my question is this...
Can he use my photo's?
How would YOU get out of this situation?
Thank you for any help you can give


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