The goths you remember in high school might have become more popular thanks to the Twilight series (seriously thank you for ruining vampires Stephenie Meyer...). Unfortunately, not everyone appreciates the goth aesthetic. One photographer from Kansas was criticized for her work being a bit drab during a city council meeting. She wasn't all too flattered. In this case Mayor Billy Blackwell of Lansing, Kansas was recorded saying that they've had a change of heart with the photographer they used prior for official portraits: “We are going to go with a different person, so we won’t have the gothic look this time.” The photographer didn't take this to mean her work could be related to the Medieval art style made popular in 12th Century Western Germany...Instead she felt that they meant her work was dark and moody, much like Kristen Stewart's impeccable acting. In response the photographer filed a claim with the city of Lansing stating that the remarks made about her could be defamatory to her career. She's demanding $75,000 PLUS punitive damages.
Sounds a bit over the top for a bit of critique from an ex-customer...I mean, as a photographer you'll quickly come to an understanding that everyone has their own idea of what's good. Style is extremely suggestive and all that really matters is that your client is happy at the end. While hearing that your model felt you made them look unintentionally goth isn't the best review, suing the city council for that much money sounds kind of unnecessary unless it permanently ruined her career. Not to mention they'll probably throw it out of court with a dictionary. The way I see it, as long as she didn't paint their faces white with dark circles under their eyes and photoshopped in fangs, she doesn't have much of a case. What do you think: Serious libel towards a professional photographer or another case of a sue-happy melodrama?