Melissa&Nancy
July 8th, 2005, 07:34 PM
Hello,
I am writing to respond to many emails and a few calls Nancy and I have received due to the comments I have depict in my letter to the IFBB/AMI and was later placed here in the forum.
First, we would like to express to the people that have emailed expressing there concern regarding my comments about photographers and there exploitations....(whats most sad is I wrote a very thorough saddend email regarding the MS. O and MOST people focused on 5 sentences that I wrote about photographers...COME ON PEOPLE)
What I was trying to express in my letter regarding photographers was NOT at all to offend anyone. Nancy has been in this sport 20+ years and I been in this sport 13 years. We both have shot with many photographers that are legitimate. By NO means was my words to my fellow female BB warning them about underground photosessions, meant to pin point ANY specific photographer. We all know the greats of Mr. Bill Dobbins & Steve Wennerstrom whom are so good at what they do they have actually built womans careers and fan bases. There are a few others that I have shot with that are great guys and professional as well.
All I was trying to express was to educate these woman that are doing what they are doing with some of these NOT WELL KNOWN photograhers that are offering them a few benjamins up front and exploiting them by turning around and selling those on the internet for however much.
For instance, Nancy and I were saddened recently to find out that a very well known NPC female bb, and friend of ours, was found on the internet (via webcam) having intercourse...!!! This is someone we speak with ALL the time...but unfortunately, yes she is a grown woman and can make descions on her own, BUT she was told this would NOT go on the internet and NOT be sold. OK, for most of us we would not believe that......others well...ya know there still are those damn naive woman out there. In any case SOMEONE that is WELL KNOWN in the BB world of photographers DID THIS SHOOT/ WEB CAM and told her this would get her recognition and build her a fan base!!!! Can you believe this...what type of recongnition and what type of fans?????
At the end of the day people are going to do whatever they want to do...I am simply expressing just 2 peoples points of view on 1 SMALL issue of the discrediting things that go on with womans BB. As my original letter noted I am MORE concerned as WHOLE with how our female athletes are being treated and how disgraceful it is to the GREATS of female bb to put them on a damn expo hall stage...!!!
Please people, focus on this and not a comment on these wierd, middle aged, men that walk around asking to take your picture or for a photo session in there hotel room.....!!!
Just remember greats like Lenda Murray NEVER had to stoop to such LOW measures to get where she is at. Unfortunately, since this sport is AWFUL and is dominated and biased 100% for the men...she has not got endorsement deals and her fair share of her honorable achievements....BUT Lenda has got to where she is by being a classy woman, independent, strong, one who knows what she wants and one who knows in her beliefs and would NEVER settle for ANY small time photographer trying to make a buck off of her.
So is enough said on the point. We were by NO means attacking anyone or ANY specific photographer. The photographers who are slime balls out there know who they are and the greats like Bill Dobbins and Steve Wennerstrom stand to be in a class of there own...Greats...Period!
Just remember ladies we are asking the IFBB / AMI/ the NORMS in the public to stand up for us, to believe in us, to not think of us as freak shows on drugs, to treat us as equals to the men BB.....Just remember how can they think of us in this form if WE discredit ourselves for a few hundred dollars. Be proud of what you do and how you look, treasure yourselves and your beliefs..and dont LET ANYONE take you for a fool! Remember pictures lasts a lifetime.....
Make a name for yourself out of your hard work you do in the gym and the way you look come show time....!!! NOT for these wierdos with there cameras posing to be the next best photographer.
Now if Bill or Steve ask to shoot with you........YOU BEST GO RUNNING TO DO THE SHOOT!:-)
Thank you all for taking the time to read this and I hope you understand that I did not mean to offend anyone...I only meant to educate the woman and the sport that I love and enjoy.
Best Always,
Melissa Cota
&
Nancy Lewis
I am writing to respond to many emails and a few calls Nancy and I have received due to the comments I have depict in my letter to the IFBB/AMI and was later placed here in the forum.
First, we would like to express to the people that have emailed expressing there concern regarding my comments about photographers and there exploitations....(whats most sad is I wrote a very thorough saddend email regarding the MS. O and MOST people focused on 5 sentences that I wrote about photographers...COME ON PEOPLE)
What I was trying to express in my letter regarding photographers was NOT at all to offend anyone. Nancy has been in this sport 20+ years and I been in this sport 13 years. We both have shot with many photographers that are legitimate. By NO means was my words to my fellow female BB warning them about underground photosessions, meant to pin point ANY specific photographer. We all know the greats of Mr. Bill Dobbins & Steve Wennerstrom whom are so good at what they do they have actually built womans careers and fan bases. There are a few others that I have shot with that are great guys and professional as well.
All I was trying to express was to educate these woman that are doing what they are doing with some of these NOT WELL KNOWN photograhers that are offering them a few benjamins up front and exploiting them by turning around and selling those on the internet for however much.
For instance, Nancy and I were saddened recently to find out that a very well known NPC female bb, and friend of ours, was found on the internet (via webcam) having intercourse...!!! This is someone we speak with ALL the time...but unfortunately, yes she is a grown woman and can make descions on her own, BUT she was told this would NOT go on the internet and NOT be sold. OK, for most of us we would not believe that......others well...ya know there still are those damn naive woman out there. In any case SOMEONE that is WELL KNOWN in the BB world of photographers DID THIS SHOOT/ WEB CAM and told her this would get her recognition and build her a fan base!!!! Can you believe this...what type of recongnition and what type of fans?????
At the end of the day people are going to do whatever they want to do...I am simply expressing just 2 peoples points of view on 1 SMALL issue of the discrediting things that go on with womans BB. As my original letter noted I am MORE concerned as WHOLE with how our female athletes are being treated and how disgraceful it is to the GREATS of female bb to put them on a damn expo hall stage...!!!
Please people, focus on this and not a comment on these wierd, middle aged, men that walk around asking to take your picture or for a photo session in there hotel room.....!!!
Just remember greats like Lenda Murray NEVER had to stoop to such LOW measures to get where she is at. Unfortunately, since this sport is AWFUL and is dominated and biased 100% for the men...she has not got endorsement deals and her fair share of her honorable achievements....BUT Lenda has got to where she is by being a classy woman, independent, strong, one who knows what she wants and one who knows in her beliefs and would NEVER settle for ANY small time photographer trying to make a buck off of her.
So is enough said on the point. We were by NO means attacking anyone or ANY specific photographer. The photographers who are slime balls out there know who they are and the greats like Bill Dobbins and Steve Wennerstrom stand to be in a class of there own...Greats...Period!
Just remember ladies we are asking the IFBB / AMI/ the NORMS in the public to stand up for us, to believe in us, to not think of us as freak shows on drugs, to treat us as equals to the men BB.....Just remember how can they think of us in this form if WE discredit ourselves for a few hundred dollars. Be proud of what you do and how you look, treasure yourselves and your beliefs..and dont LET ANYONE take you for a fool! Remember pictures lasts a lifetime.....
Make a name for yourself out of your hard work you do in the gym and the way you look come show time....!!! NOT for these wierdos with there cameras posing to be the next best photographer.
Now if Bill or Steve ask to shoot with you........YOU BEST GO RUNNING TO DO THE SHOOT!:-)
Thank you all for taking the time to read this and I hope you understand that I did not mean to offend anyone...I only meant to educate the woman and the sport that I love and enjoy.
Best Always,
Melissa Cota
&
Nancy Lewis