Although most photographers in the industry are safe and reputable, as in all industries, there are always exceptions. The Guardian System has been set up as a result of the few photographers out there who cheat models, who sexually harass them, who sexually abuse them or who otherwise hurt them. It has been a slow process to get the system running, but the process is working and will continue to grow over time since there are thousands of people within the modeling industry.

What is The Guardian System? The Guardian System is an invisible network of people in a number of cities across the country who have volunteered their time and agreed to help if a model finds herself in trouble. In time, we hope to expand the system to an international level.

A model who finds herself in trouble can contact us and then be put in touch with a Guardian in her state or city. Likewise, if a model is traveling, we will try to connect her with Guardians near her traveling location. Most of the Guardians have worked within the industry for years and know what is going on. They are a resource for the model to call upon when needed -- to plug into, to ask questions, to run references by, etc.

Some Guardians have opened up their homes up for models who need a safe place stay or to use as a base. Also, if a model has a conflict or a run-in with a photographer, the model will now have someone to call for assistance. Models can let the Guardian know where they will be -- who they will be shooting with. The model can then let the photographer with whom she is working know that someone knows where the model is and thereby hopefully prevent anything bad from happening to her. Guardians may, in certain circumstances, agree to escort or chaperone a model to a photo shoot. .

I am not going to publicize the names of those who agreed to be Guardians because I believe it is information that only the models need to know. By making the Guardians invisible, we are letting the industry know that models may be attached to a circle of people who have agreed to help protect them and keep them safe from predators in the industry. The Guardians may be photographers, lawyers, police officers, or anyone else who has gotten behind the program and agreed to support it by offering to serve as Guardians. They are often big men or strong women who are sick of seeing the weak being taken advantage of and they are doing what they can to stop it. .

Hopefully, a model will never have to call a Guardian for assistance, but if she does, they will be there to help.

Here's how the system will work: if you’re a model, you can get in touch with us and we will put you in touch with a Guardian who will be near your location. You can then use them as a sort of base. The Guardian will be someone who will work with and help the model and, if something does happen to a model, the Guardian will not judge you or get angry. He or she will help. Models no longer need to feel that they are alone. There are those who care about you even though you’re a stranger. We have found many of them and now we want to connect the dots so that you can be protected by being part of the system.

The Guardian System is part of the Black Book Project and, like that Project, the Guardian System also will grow over time. The Guardians are people who I have known or found over years of searching. It is in the works and growing rapidly.

For more information please contact us directly at lostmodel@aol.com .More information will be posted in the near future, but for now, please contact us directly with questions and/or for further instructions on how to be involved with this important and worthwhile project.

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