A St. Louis boudoir photographer is dealing with accusations that she took hundreds of {dollars} in funds from a minimum of 5 purchasers however didn’t ship the promised pictures and merchandise.
Melanie Seleman, who makes a speciality of intimate boudoir portraits, is alleged to have “ghosted” a number of girls who paid upwards of $2,500 every for skilled photoshoots and albums. A number of purchasers say they acquired no photographs in any respect regardless of ready months previous anticipated supply dates.
Boudoir images has grown in recognition in recent times as a manner for men and women to rejoice their our bodies and reclaim confidence. Classes with Seleman usually price hundreds of {dollars} and final a number of hours, together with hair, make-up, wardrobe adjustments, and posing.
However girls who booked appointments with Seleman’s downtown studio declare their initially uplifting expertise soured rapidly after the shoots ended. Cellphone calls, emails, and social media messages went unreturned as weeks became months with no signal of their bought digital photographs or bodily albums.
One lady, Elizabeth Gaines, says she misplaced practically $4,500 after her July session yielded no outcomes. After spending hours feeling “like a princess” in the course of the shoot itself, Gaines was unable to get any response from Seleman regardless of repeated makes an attempt over two months.
“I left an excellent evaluate after my session as a result of Melanie has an effective way of creating you’re feeling great and empowered,” one other consumer wrote in her one-star evaluate. “The sentiments rapidly pale as I left my appointment and within the days that adopted. It has been practically a 12 months since my session and I nonetheless haven’t acquired the gadgets I paid for.”
One other consumer, Nancy Moore, was eight months pregnant when she paid $1,800 in June to memorialize her child bump in boudoir portraits. However by August, the photographs nonetheless had not arrived. “I will not have these recollections to share with my daughter,” she lamented.
In whole, the accused victims report dropping near $15,000 collectively from Seleman’s alleged failure to offer providers. Most say they’ve been unable to get any refund or rationalization regardless of in depth outreach efforts.
Lawyer Michelle White is representing a few of the girls however couldn’t remark additional on the instances. Seleman has not responded to media requests for touch upon the allegations.
On-line opinions mirror a sample of preliminary delight with the expertise of Seleman’s shoots turning to deep frustration over lack of follow-through. A number of one-star opinions on Google describe related tales of no contact after funds have been made.
“Melanie is a fraud; she stole over $4000 from me,” wrote one lady. “Do not fall for this rip-off. I misplaced my job whereas planning the photograph shoot, however I went by means of with it anyway as a result of I needed to do one thing particular for myself/my husband. She made me really feel nice, till she obtained her cash and fully ghosted me. I’m out hundreds of {dollars},” mentioned one other.
Whereas boudoir images will be deeply empowering for topics when dealt with ethically, the intimate nature makes communication and sensitivity particularly vital. Prospects make investments not simply cash however emotion into celebrating their our bodies by means of artwork. When belief is damaged, the harm can transcend the monetary.
“It’s particularly disheartening as a result of these photographs can by no means be retaken,” mentioned Moore about her misplaced child bump photographs. “I really feel emotionally preyed upon,” wrote one other lady who says she is out $4,500.
Photographers who promote empowerment carry an additional accountability to safeguard their purchasers’ vulnerablility. Whereas harmless till confirmed responsible, the accusations towards Seleman characterize a stark betrayal of boudoir’s core values, if true.
