Prostitution has traditionally been explained by the media with photography focusing only in one half of the business. If aliens came to earth and tried to understand what prostitution is about they would believe it is a business based on naked women staying in dirty rooms.
With Gentleman´s club I tried to give visibility to that other 50%.
During June 2015, I put an advert in a newspaper in Rio de Janeiro asking for prostitutes´ clients to pose for me in exchange of money. My intention was first to see who these people were and also to invert the roles of the business, as they would be selling also part of themselves. The response was massive and this is a selection of the men who accepted the deal.
All of them were asked about their experience, personal history and motivations and this information is in the captions of the images. I have tried to publish this series in different media but there seems to be no interest (so far) in getting to understand the whole dimension of the business.
Silvio, 28 years. Security guard at a nightclub. Single. He visits a prostitute 3 times a week and he pays 180 Rs (40 Euros) for 40 minutes with two girls. He started making use of these services when he was 14, out of curiosity and he likes to spend time with women when he’s drunk.
Charles doesn’t want to say his age. He’s a worker in the metal industry. He never got married and he has 3 children. He visits a prostitute 3 times a week and pays 50 to 100 Rs (12 – 25 Euros) per session. He started visiting prostitutes when he was 17 years old when his father took him to a strip club. He keeps visiting prostitutes because it’s something different and to gain experience by visiting these women.
Daniel, 34 years old. Works as a security guard. He’s married and he has 8 children. He visits prostitutes 3 times a week and usually doesn’t pay for the services, because he works in the same club as the prostitutes. He started going to prostitutes when he was 19 years old and he keeps doing it because he likes the pleasure without commitment.
Marcus, 22 years old. Video editor. Single and no kids. He’s been to a prostitute 4 times and paid 60 Rs (14 Euros) for 30 minutes. His first was when he was 20 years old and he keeps going because he feels alone.
Felipe prefers not to say how old he is. He’s an independent worker. Single and father of 5 children. He visits a prostitute once a week and he pays 50 to 100 Rs (12 - 25 Euros) per session. He started going to prostitutes when he was 19 years old and he keeps visiting them for pleasure and fun.
Walter, 50 years. Works as a waiter in a restaurant. He’s single and doesn’t have kids. He visits a prostitute once a week and he pays 50 to 100 Rs (12 to 25 Euros) for each service. He started visiting prostitutes when he was 30 years old and keeps doing so because he doesn’t have a girlfriend.
Italo, 35 years. Construction worker. Married and father of 6 children. He visits a prostitute 2 or 3 times a week and he pays 150 Rs (35 Euros) per session. Sometimes it’s enough to invite them for a beer, if he manages to gain their trust. He started visiting prostitutes when he was 18 years old and he keeps doing it, because he likes sex with no strings attached.
Luis prefers not to say how old he is. Electrician. Single and father of two sons. He visits a prostitute once a week and he pays 30 Rs (7 Euros) per session. He was 11 when he started using the services of prostitutes and he keeps doing so because he feels very lonely.
Maginô, 46 years. International business. Divorced and has a daughter. He visits a prostitute twice a week and he pays 80 Rs (20 Euros) for a session. He doesn’t remember when he did this for the first time and he keeps doing it because he likes the variety and there’s no commitment.
Newton, 43 years. DJ. Single and father of 3 children. He visits a prostitute 2 or 3 times a week and he pays 70 Rs ( 16 Euros) per session. He started visiting prostitutes when he was 22 and he keeps doing it because he’s not hurting anyone, it’s fun, there are no emotions involved and because it’s simply a commercial transaction.
Hugo, 70 years old. Santa Claus. Single and as far as he knows, he doesn’t have any children. He visits prostitutes 2 or 3 times a day and usually never pats. He started visiting prostitutes at the age of 12 and he continues to do some because he believes that’s what women are made for.
