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The Act: Fine art photographer portrays the lives of UK sex industry workers

When we state NSFW on this series, we really mean it. The Act is the latest collection of imagery by acclaimed fine-art photographer Julia Fullerton-Batten, portraying the lives and skills of women who engage in the UK sex industry as a career.

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Via direct submission

Via direct submission

With all of the women having chosen a markedly different path in life to what you might consider as 'normal', Julia investigates why this might be through graphic imagery and video interviews.

Following a year of castings, Julia narrowed her choice of models down to fifteen. Among the subjects are aerial artists, a ping-pong girl, a dominatrix, an escort, and webcam and porn stars. Each image depicts a nude model provocatively posed against a backdrop of specially designed stage sets, highlighting what Julia describes as ‘their act’.

The collection has been collated into a beautiful book, containing powerful imagery in her unique style. Forewords are by Alessia Glaviano, Senior Photo Editor of Vogue Italia and Helen Tootsi, an up-and-coming art critic. Jen Brook transposed Julia’s videoed interviews into intimate text stories accompanying the girls’ images in the book.

To see more from Julia and to buy the book, visit juliafullerton-batten.com. All images courtesy of Julia Fullerton-Batten.

Woman with red hair posed on a black cage against a checkered stage set with a window showing another performer inside
A woman poses provocatively in a retro-styled room with turquoise damask wallpaper, featuring a gilt chair, chandelier and mirror, against a theatrical stage set
Storefront window display with neon Open sign and figure posed against red patterned backdrop, part of Julia Fullerton-Batten's The Act photography series
Woman posing on a red circular platform in a staged set with neon signage and illuminated panels, from Julia Fullerton-Batten's The Act series
Woman lying on a pool table beneath a pendant lamp with billiard balls scattered across the surface, legs raised against a teal backdrop
Aerial artist suspended horizontally on a pole in a green-walled bedroom set with vintage furnishings and floral curtains
A woman reclines on a bed with pink satin sheets in a staged bedroom set with orange walls, blue accents, and a neon sign, part of Julia Fullerton-Batten's photography series
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