Under: Matt Mahon Explores the Sex Industry in Photo Gallery

Matthew Mahon had his first sexual experience with a prostitute at the age of 14, an encounter that was paid for by a friend's uncle. At the time, he couldn't have imagined that his career would someday take him to seedy motel rooms, where he would spend hours working with ladies of the night much like the one who defined that first experience. But that's exactly what happened, and the fruits of this trajectory can be observed at The Public Trust gallery in Deep Ellum, where Mahon's photo series Under is on display through May 31.
An editorial photographer, Mahon has worked with magazines ranging from ESPN to People to Fortune, and although he's based out of Austin, he shoots as many as 90 assignments a year, a workload comparable to that of successful New York photographers. When the opportunity to do a personal project struck for the first time since 1999, Mahon chose the women of the sex industry as his muses. "I felt a kinship, a connection to these women," he says. "I met one girl who told me that at 14, her mom had pimped her out to get money for meth and she and her siblings went hungry. That shouldn't have been happening to her at 14, and I shouldn't have been having sex with a prostitute at 14."

Mahon sought out prostitutes on the Escort Client Community Information Exchange, otherwise known as yelp for escorts. ECCIE enabled Mahon to find independent sex workers to photograph. "I always tried to vet them to make sure there wasn't a pimp involved that would have added a dimension I didn't want to deal with," he says.

Mahon began renting rooms in Austin, and invited women to meet him there. He had his laptop on hand to show potential subjects the project that they would be participating in. While he occasionally found it difficult to attract participants online, none of the prostitutes he met in person turned him down.

"I don't know if it's cause I grew up with three older sisters, but a lot of women are really comfortable with me once they meet me," he says. Mahon sometimes photographed four to five women a night, with shoots often running until dawn. He payed them the going rate for an hour of their time -- which typically ranged from $150-$300 -- and encouraged them to express themselves in whatever way they liked...


More: http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/mixm...matt_mahon.php

Here's the photo set: http://www.matthewmahon.com/UNDER-/-AUSTIN--/1/caption/

According to the Observer article, it was only Austin providers.

I don't know how ya'll feel about it, but I think it's awesome.

Interesting. Thanks for posting that.

Interesting! Judging by his pictures, he's a great photographer as well!

Great photos, but a rather dismal realization. Glad I'm a domestic hooker. Those girls look really sad to me.

I'm hoping some of the models find this thread and are willing to talk about the experience. As a filmographer, I've been wanting to do something like this.

EDIT: these were all ECCIE providers, btw.

Some thoughts after viewing the photo set:

I can see why you guys are all gaga over Jade.
Way too many Staff Edit, or worse.

^^^^^oops^^^^

All these models are from this community. Can we maybe be a little less dickish towards them?

this guy's work is brilliant. good post, op.

Some thoughts after viewing the photo set:

I can see why you guys are all gaga over Jade.
Way too many crack-whores, or worse. Originally Posted by FoulRon

You have been a member here for a month and you have already become so expert at judging folks? Wow. That is a lot of photos, a small number that show and indication of Staff Edit--and since there are multiple photos of the same person, it may be as few as one individual with paraphernalia. Looks like a lot less than the random population of Austin to me.

You have been a member here for a month and you have already become so expert at judging folks? Wow. That is a lot of photos, a small number that show and indication of Staff Edit--and since there are multiple photos of the same person, it may be as few as one individual with paraphernalia. Looks like a lot less than the random population of Austin to me. Originally Posted by Old-T

I saw at least 3 pics with Staff Edit, as I recall. All definitely different layouts, devices, and assorted other items. I doubt the photog went to the trouble to stage a bunch of seriously random shots from just one set of Staff Edit. And you're probably right about the percentages being less than the population of Austin. Still gives one pause about being careful who you visiit.
<sarc>Then again, perhaps it was the photographers personal stash. </sarc>

I'm hoping some of the models find this thread and are willing to talk about the experience. As a filmographer, I've been wanting to do something like this.

EDIT: these were all ECCIE providers, btw. Originally Posted by Doc Holliday

My photo is the silhouette of my back standing at the balcony door of the hotel room, wearing nothing but chuck taylors and watching the sunrise. experience wise, i enjoyed the photoshoot because i liked that i could impose my own idea and incorporate it into the shot after being explained what image he was trying to convey. On the other hand, beware to any future providers who are contacted by this man, for he not only robbed me money of our session (saying he had to go to the atm, then his card was missing and would reimburse the sessions charge, blah blah, etc.,) but as well as abused Staff Edit during our session (not sure if this habit was pre-existing or an accumulated addiction caused by this long, experimental project where he was obviously continuously surrounding himself to these addictive substances. Although a part of me does carry a little resentment and a feeling of being cheated, i still find the concept very prominent to todays culture and believe it exposes the sex industry in a very raw, shock-value inspired concept and i did think it was cool to contribute to.

those are pretty strong accusations.

The thought that the photographer was not straight forward in his dealings is disturbing. In a PFP session I expect the provider to be drug-free— or at least not under the influence,—during the session. The provider should expect that I have the agreed upon donation available in pre-counted cash. No one likes to be jerked around. As a photographer myself, I would like to know if he got a model release from any of the models.

Typically, I am prepared to tip a provider some as well. Cash is good, but one provider has asked for a print of a photograph that I made (not a portrait of her). With that in mind: A perk for the model could have been one or two less introspectively artsy shots for their show case.

Another interesting series would be to photograph some of these same models once (or several times ) a year for several years.

And now an old photography joke: One photographer says to another, "Every time I try to do some nude photography, I either catch a cold or get sun burned!"