Photographer Elizabeth Waterman challenges our perceptions of porn stars

It doesn't matter how much we tell ourselves to be "sex positive", as the modern phrase goes. Most of us have never met and probably will never meet an adult entertainment worker, and so we harbour all sorts of deep-seated prejudices about them, even if we don't acknowledge it.

Well, Los Angeles-based fine art photographer Elizabeth Watermanis out to bust some of those preconceptions, with the release of her latest book Candyland on 30 September, through Unicorn Publishing Group. This 128-page art book presents a series of vibrant portraits featuring female porn stars and offers a fresh perspective on an often misunderstood industry.

In her own words, Elizabeth's new series aims to showcase these women as "goddesses of sex and light, fully owning their bodies and sexuality with innate empowerment". We chatted to the photographer to find out more.

From stripping to sex

The genesis of Candyland emerged in 2020, during Elizabeth's previous project Moneygame, which explored strip clubs across the United States. "While shooting for Moneygame, I met quite a few adult film entertainers in Los Angeles who were moonlighting as dancers," she recalls. "They had an undeniable magnetism – audacious in their sexuality and enthusiastic about their work in porn.

"I immediately wanted to capture a bit of their spirit for myself," she continues. "By photographing them, I reasoned, perhaps I could glean some of their confidence and sexual zeal, which for me was both exotic and exciting."

Her discussions with the porn stars gave Elizabeth a glimpse of their personal lives and the vast LA porn industry. "Once the fog of COVID had lifted, I began staging shoots in my home and back yard in Santa Monica and invited these and other notable women in the business to pose for me. My fascination has never stopped growing."

Delicious excess

While Elizabeth is not the first fine art photographer to tackle this subject, Candyland stands out for its collaborative nature. She worked closely with her subjects, including well-known stars like Stormy Daniels and Kenzie Reeves, allowing them to contribute ideas and express their personalities through the shoots.

The result is a series of playful, authentic images that dramatically celebrate female empowerment and individuality.

"I liked showing them in deliciousness, excess, fun, and glory," Elizabeth explains. "The porn stars that I photographed were happy to be doing what they were doing, they loved having sex, and they were good at it."

While Elizabeth generated the basic concepts for the shoots, the actresses were free to innovate through their wardrobe, makeup and pose choices. "This, they reported, was refreshing. The resulting images reveal their personalities and sense of style very differently than their on-screen work."

Avoiding the male gaze

From Moneygame to Candyland, critics have praised Elizabeth's ability to present a female gaze on a subject typically defined by male perspectives. Bridgette Redman, who critically assesses the latest book, notes that her work "transcends the superficial allure of the sex industry to reveal the humanity and agency of her subjects".

And this was no accident but an integral part of Elizabeth's creative approach. "Clearly, most imagery of female porn stars targets male desire," she says. "We see little that reflects a more exploratory, human perspective," she says. "So how, I asked myself, could I capture the female form through a lens of idolatry? Admiration? Reverence?"

She shares a memorable example of how this worked in practice. "At the beginning of our shoots, I would invite the women to position themselves however they liked," she recalls, "and they tended to assume the standard 'booty pose'. Laughing, I'd tell them to turn around. I wanted to see their faces, eyes, and sense of humour. I wanted to see who they were."

One moment, in particular, stands out for her. "The setting for the cover shot, with Kenzie Reeves, was against the magical backdrop of a golden Los Angeles evening sky," she narrates. "After spending the afternoon cavorting with blow-up pool toys, Kenzie put on her cowgirl outfit, took off her pants, and holding her lemonade glass full of sugar cubes, tipped her hat and gave me a look . . . well, a look that says it all."

Busy entrepreneurs

So what did she learn about adult entertainers in general; what shared characteristics did she spot? "Adult film stars tend to be unapologetically unconventional," she responds. "And all the women I worked with are busy entrepreneurs, representing themselves and managing the details of their careers.

"For instance, Spencer Scott organises her own press release materials, London River orchestrates her own content production, and Stormy Daniels is expanding her brand by directing her own films and starring in biographical documentaries. As I got to know these women better, I came to see them as much more than their film personas."

It's a topic that continues to fascinate her, and that fascination is partly borne from difference. "I was raised in a very conservative household, and even as a young girl, shamed for any enjoyment I showed in being naked," she explains. "Sex was rarely discussed, certainly not portrayed as joyful, fun, or creative. Even now, cleavage, short skirts, and crop tops are frowned upon at family gatherings. This might help to explain my interest in adult entertainers."

Many people, of course, can relate to this story. "And this is why I believe Candyland has so much potential. So much of our culture is still rooted in repressive Puritanism and insensitivity towards women. With this project, I wanted to celebrate the positive and joyful aspects of porn and to share what it gave me: a refreshed perspective on sexuality and personal freedom."

Candyland also includes a foreword by Stormy Daniels and a reflection by Kenzie Reeves, adding depth to the visual narrative. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Sex Workers Outreach Project USA, a national social justice network dedicated to the fundamental human rights of sex workers and their communities.