22/10/2026
I left my editing dungeon for a few hours- I knew that this was an opportunity I may not get again and had to cease it.
And y’all, WTF are we doing?
What I read today shook me. How is it possible there is so much concrete evidence..Grown adults preying on a 13 year old at summer camp. Grown adults violating children and joking with their friends about it and they are STILL being protected.
Before I am a/your photographer, I am a father. Before and after planning your happiest day ever, I have had to have hard conversations with my 11.5 year old about what happens if people touch her against her will and what to do if that happens- all while trying not to cry so she doesn’t become upset. This isn’t a “guy afraid to cry or show emotion” moment, it’s me not being ready to rip the band aid off of how ugly this world can be. I was protected as a child, but so many, TOO MANY of my friends were not.
After those conversations, we have had to sit and reflect on how sad it is to even have to think about this. To have to basically prepare for the worst case scenario and pray to whatever god we may believe in, that it never happens.
As a man who is primarily in women’s spaces, it is of the utmost importance for you to know AND feel that I am a safe space. That is one half of my north star, with the other half being inclusivity.
You will always be safe and protected here as I treat you the same way I would want any person (a man, specifically) to treat my baby when photographing and interacting with her, especially during intimate and private moments.
This isn’t necessarily how I wanted to say this, but I have a substantial amount of work to get back to and I don’t believe you need perfection to understand the message I am trying to convey.
If they won’t protect us, we must protect us and that means calling out your friends when they become the bad guys. Locker room talk doesn’t need to enable disgusting, violating and criminal behavior.
Please vote the sick bastards out who continue to conceal, deflect and victim blame.
You, your love, your bodies and your families will ALWAYS be safe here. 🫶🏼
I don’t blame you for choosing the bear; I would too.
-R
