With an Internet loaded with millions of bondage images and websites, one’s immediate response may be something along the lines of ‘no way’. But if you look a bit deeper and pay attention to current trends, the answer may be far less clear. While the first bondage photograph was probably taken not too long after the camera was invented 🙂 , bondage photos produced for commercial purposes didn’t really bloom in the United States until the 1970’s with the start of companies such as HOM, TAO, Harmany and a few others. Of course, the images of Irving Klaw and John Willie predate those. And in Japan, the magazine Kitan Club was publishing bondage photos as early as the lates 1940s/early 1950s. For several decades, these magazines were the primary source of bondage imagery. While most of these companies also produced bondage videos, bondage magazines lasted until they were killed off by the explosion of bondage websites starting in the early 2000’s. At first, almost all of the commercial bondage sites were photo membership sites with very little or no video content. Bondage videos were still sold mail order. With dial up, delivery of video of any size or quality via the web was just not practical. But Internet speeds have increased dramatically. Storage fees for the massive amount of space required by high quality videos became totally inconsequential. Now it is possible to download or stream a full length HD quality video in minutes. Clips4Sale and tube sites have made it possible for just about anyone to mass distribute videos. This technology driven change in the way bondage material is distributed is all well and good, but it is also changing the nature of what is being produced. Many producers are forgoing bondage photography all together and producing only videos. This is understandable as that is where demand appears to be growing the fastest – for video, not still images. Some have started using video grabs or still images taken with video cameras, but the quality is nowhere near the same. Nor is the “feel” that such images have. It is hard to describe exactly, but they just seem distant, bland and flat. A well staged and thought out bondage photograph conveys so much more than a video grab ever will – even an ultra high quality video grab. Really good bondage photography is an art form, not just a secondary product of a video shoot. In a well done bondage photo set, the staging, background, posing, sequencing, lighting, etc., all work together to draw in the viewer in a way video grab from a video session can’t. Don’t get us wrong. Bondage videos are great. But they are a completely different medium from bondage photography and unfortunately, it may be slowly driving photography into extinction. What currently seems to be left is only a small number of producers creating still bondage imagery as the primary goal, and even fewer that do it with any actual skill or forethought. Most is just poorly done and little more than a byproduct of a video shoot. At Imago Studios, we continue to produce both and we do so separately. Photo sets are shot exclusively. or at least primarily, as photo sets and video stories are shot primarily as video sessions. Of course, there is some overlap. We do occasionally shoot behind the scenes video during a photo set, or afterwards as a quick take video. And we do shoot stills of video sessions in order to advertise the videos. But we approach shooting for the two mediums differently. Our thought process for shooting a photo set is entirely different that how we approach a video. The final photo set is intended to be a unique stand alone presentation. But we fully admit we are now producing far more video, and consequently less dedicated still imagery, than ever before. The demand seems to be mostly for video and it appears to be growing. So is bondage photography a dying medium? Do people still have a strong interest in seeing quality still images? Or is such interest fading as the allure of video grows?   | |||
Like both stills and videos, but as you say, they are different mediums and elicit different responses. Personally I prefer the stills.
@Mark – Thank you. Actually, overly large and repetitious photo sets is one of our pet peaves.
@Stryder – Interesting you did not like the behind the scenes videos. That section is by far our most popular and that is why the behind the scenes section is the largest and only permanently archived section in the members’ area.
@JJ – Just to clarify, we have never shot stills during are storyline videos, not are quick take or challenge videos. Never have, never will. We agree it would be extremely annoying. But to be fair, we can’t think of any other producer who does either, but we are sure there are some that do. Hell, we have seen some where the video starts with the model looking at the camera and someone saying ‘action’ or ‘go’ – LOL
The moving image/video is more exciting I think there will always be a place for still images. If for no other reason than to promote the latest video (but I can think of lots of other reasons). And as TB pointed out,” Quality generally tells, and as you say, a well crafted photo has a lot more impact than a video grab.” Video might be more popular but I don’t think bondage photos will go away. I like Imagos videos but much of their still photography is better in my opinion (wasn’t a huge fan of the behind the scenes videos as a paying subscriber myself). And like JJ I too find the pop of a flashbulb during a damsel in distress video distracting (although it does make me wonder sometimes if I should get the JPEG set as well, so there’s that).
In the photo samples above, I like the redhead in the schoolgirl outfit, tied and cleavegagged with pallets behind her (for atmosphere?) by the way. Who’s the model? Is she available on bondagewarehouse.com? I’ll purchase some JPEGS of her (just saying).
I have saved thousands of your stills, yet have a minimal number of videos (maybe a couple of hundred). I like story videos, where there is interaction between victim and bad guy. Straight struggle and mmmph videos are repetitive for me. The stills capture an instant in time, and I much prefer them to video. My tastes only.
I have all your your pics from day one on the members site. I still enjoy the photos, but the videos have definitely taken over the business. Always liked your site because you continue to shoot photos and video. It’s one of the reasons you have the best site in the business.
I really enjoy still photos, if they are done well, and the photos at Imago Studios are the best out there. Many other producers overshoot-I actually don’t need 80 photos of a model with the exact same expression on her face, thanks. You’ve done a great job of varying the photo sets so they’re actually interesting. I would think there’s still a market out there for well done still bondage photos.
From my perspective bondage photography is still able to quicken the pulse in spite of the distractions of easily accessible and affordable bondage video downloads.
I would be sad to see this medium increasingly overlooked.
Indeed the clever use of bondage photography outshines many video offerings.
Seeing Dianne brandishing a gag to a chair bound damsel in a picture is simply awesome, as it allows the imagination to run wild. Why is Dianne gagging her? Will the damsel escape{ perhaps not!},How did Dianne catch her?
Video removes your imagination to some extent and has a less intimate feeling than a powerful image where the captor and captive engage the lens with their role playing expressions.
One of my favourite Imago pictures is Dianne and Scarlette goofing around. Their expressions into the camera lens gave the scene a very intimate feel between them and the viewer.
That said, I still eagerly await imago video releases and really enjoyed the latest Katherine West release with Dianne!
I don’t purchase stills, just videos, I think stills are dead.
I prefer still photography to video, especially if it is properly composed and lit. I don’t care for “photos” that are really just video caps.
You guys do great work at it.
Yes, I agree with you in that bondage photography interest is transitioning to video. While there will always be an interest in photos, it may not be as high as it was a generation ago and producers may end up with 30-40% of its content photos and 60-70% videos. Harmony Concepts comes to mind in recent years that seems to focus more on its streaming video than posting images from its decades long magazine history.
Sorry, my emojis turned into question marks for some odd reason
You know what I can’t stand? When you watch a video of some other producers and you hear and see the flash of the camera. The camera is not part of the scene but they combine the two anyway. For what purpose? Saving time. Pssssh.
I say keep on doing what you do. I appreciate your video authenticity and the artistic approach to photography.
Video killed the radio star and the Internet is killing bondage photography.? Keep on keeping on.?
Due to issues with card information being compromised(not on your end) Ive had to renew my membership numerous times. I’ve had the same with other sites, but I generally haven’t bothered with renewing the others….which generally have become video dominated. You two always deliver a great product , and truly enjoy doing what you do. It reflects in your still images. You guys always capture(pun) the great moments of what happens when you tie a woman up. I started with stills when I was younger, and love stills to this day. You guys should just keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to continue sending my friends your way.
I know I’m still a fan of bondage photography (not least the images produced by Imago Studios!). The decline you describe seems inevitable, but I think still photography will continue as a smaller niche. Quality generally tells, and as you say, a well crafted photo has a lot more impact than a video grab. And hey, maybe in a few years or decades it will be seen as a cool retro art form. 🙂