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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, Elizabeth Waterman’s stunning photography redefines exotic dancers as empowered artists, challenging stereotypes through a female gaze in her captivating fine art.
In a world where strip clubs are often portrayed as shadowy dens of vice, Los Angeles-based fine art photographer Elizabeth Waterman is rewriting the narrative. Through her evocative analog and film photography, Waterman captures the raw, intimate, and often unseen lives of exotic dancers, transgender sex workers, and adult entertainers. Her work challenges societal stereotypes, offering a humanizing and empowering perspective that celebrates the strength, resilience, and complexity of these communities.
A New Perspective on Adult Entertainment
Waterman’s photography delves into the multidimensional world of adult entertainment, where dancers are not just performers but highly skilled athletes and consummate artists. These women, many of whom earn upwards of $2,000 on a good night, are often using their income to pay off student loans, raise families, buy homes, or launch businesses. Her images reveal the humanity behind the profession, portraying her subjects as empowered individuals navigating a challenging industry with poise and determination.
It took months to get access to my first clubs, and find my footing. No one quite understood what I was doing there. But I came in week after week. I helped to collect the dollar bills littering the stage. The dancers began to warm to me. I showed them my work, and they liked how I saw them. Soon they were volunteering to pose on the pole.
–Elizabeth Waterman
A Journey Through Art and Identity
Born in Taos, New Mexico, in 1985, Waterman holds a B.A. in Fine Art from the University of Southern California. Her distinctive body of work explores themes of female sexuality, identity, and subcultures, with a focus on artists and performers across genres. Her breakthrough book, MONEYGAME (XYZ Books, 2021), a sold-out collection of photographs featuring strippers from five U.S. cities, garnered critical acclaim and was exhibited in the U.S. and Europe. The highly anticipated MONEYGAME II is slated for release in 2025.
Waterman’s latest book, CANDYLAND (Unicorn Publishing, September 2024), features vibrant, color-splashed portraits of female adult film actors shot outdoors during the pandemic, with a foreword by Stormy Daniels.
Global Stories of Resilience
Waterman’s lens extends beyond the U.S. Her recent travels to Thailand have inspired a new project, MONEYGAME Thailand, set for publication in late 2026. This series captures the lives of “ladyboys” and women working in Thailand’s nightlife, shedding light on their resilience and identities. A companion docu-series, also titled MONEYGAME Thailand, is in development, alongside a TV project exploring the subculture of carnival performers in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
The Power of the Female Gaze
What sets Waterman’s work apart is her commitment to the female gaze—a perspective that prioritizes authenticity and empowerment over exploitation. Her images challenge the male-dominated narratives that often define adult entertainment, instead highlighting the agency and individuality of her subjects. This approach is evident in her upcoming exhibition at Anderson Yezerski Gallery in Boston in 2026, which will feature diptychs of richly cross-processed colored images of dancers.
Waterman’s commercial and editorial portfolio is equally impressive, with her work featured in MS Magazine, showcased at venues like the Jue Lan Club in New York City and Olson-Irwin in Sydney, and auctioned on Artnet.com. She has collaborated with fashion designers like Elie Tahari and Marc Jacobs, bringing her unique vision to a broader audience.
Through her lens, Elizabeth Waterman is not just documenting lives—she is redefining how we see them. Her work invites viewers to look beyond stereotypes, to recognize the artistry, strength, and humanity of those who perform in the spotlight and thrive in the shadows. As she continues to explore the intersections of art, identity, and representation, Waterman’s photography remains a powerful testament to the transformative power of the female gaze.
Find more from Elizabeth Waterman now:
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