J'AIME JUNE 2020

F E AT U R E
Like a dude
BIRMINGHAM PHOTOGRAPHER GARY LINDSAY-MOORE IS AIMING TO COMBAT THE PRESSURE
MEN FEEL ABOUT THEIR LOOKS AND THEIR BODIES WITH A UNIQUE PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE
DESIGNED TO BOOST SELF-ESTEEM. AMY NORBURY DISCOVERS MORE
Just like their female counterparts, men today are
under ever-increasing pressure to have so-called
‘perfect looks’, with many feeling more body
conscious than ever before. After all, you only have to
look at the cast of reality TV favourite Love Island to
be faced with a near-impossible- to-match standard
of the perfect body, while men’s health magazines
are packed with male models with washboard abs
and square jaws.
It’s all too easy to feel judged - and to judge yourself
for any imperfections.
While women are more often under perceived
pressure to be ‘slimmer’, with an emphasis on
‘dropping dress sizes’, for men the stereotypical ideal
of bodily attractiveness means being ‘bigger’, more
muscled, and even taller - not something any of us
have any control over.
For some men the results of this pressure can affect
their mental health, often leading to a dislike of their
own body and lack of confidence to stand in front of
a camera.
Birmingham-born professional photographer
Gary Lindsay-Moore is aiming to combat those
‘ideal’ standards and to help men feel better about
themselves through a creative male-only photography
experience designed to celebrate individuals, just the
way they are.
Gary’s unique Dudeoir Experience allows men
to embrace their bodies in front of the camera -
wrinkles, scars and all - in a safe, caring, inclusive
and welcoming environment, bringing out their
own individual personality either in a studio or on
location.
“I know from first-hand experience what it is like to
be trolled on social media and called ‘fat and ugly’ by
a total stranger; it can really erode your confidence.”
says Gary.
“As an actor and mature model I have experienced
what it is like on both sides of the camera. I want
to break down barriers and give something that is
PHOTOGRAPHER GARY
LINDSAY-MOORE IS ALSO AN
ACTOR AND MATURE MODEL
completely individual to the client, not the same old
tried and tested studio setup every time; we are all
individual.”
Gary’s Dudeoir Experience launched in February,
but the project was temporarily curtailed due to
Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown restrictions.
But with Men’s Health Awareness Week taking place
this month from June 15 to 21, it seems the ideal time
to talk about male body pressures - and in particular,
the effect they have on male mental health.
“What I’ve seen in the past few years is that many
guys are feeling the same as women; they’re not
feeling good about themselves, they’ve got body
issues because there are these guys on the TV who
clearly spend a lot of time in the gym and they like to
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