Amy Taylor Files Lawsuit Against US Photographer For Alleged 'Exploitation Of Her Image'

Amy Taylor, the iconic vocalist of Melbourne punk outfit Amyl And The Sniffers, has filed a lawsuit against a US photographer for alleged “exploitation of her image,” it has been reported.

As The Guardian has outlined, the lawsuit was filed in a Californian court last week and sees Taylor taking issue with the fact that photographer Jamie Nelson allegedly sold images of the singer from a prior photoshoot as “fine art prints” despite explicit instruction not to do so.

According to the lawsuit, Amyl And The Sniffers’ manager, Simone Ubaldi, had made contact with Nelson in mid 2024 with the intention of securing the photographer’s services for a shoot, with the images to be used in their then-upcoming Cartoon Darkness album and in other future activities.

However, the shoot fell through given the band did not agree to Nelson’s terms regarding “use of the Band’s name, image, and likeness on branded merchandise” and the images being used in gallery shows or to “promote Ms. Nelson’s photography business, and/or to sell their merchandise” – including the aforementioned prints.

“As explained to Ms. Nelson, the Band was zealously protective of their image and did not want these used for non- Band-sanctioned, private commercial purposes such as Ms. Nelson had proposed,” the documents explain. “As a result, the photo shoot was never conducted.”

However, in March 2025, it’s claimed that Nelson made contact with Taylor to organise another photoshoot, with the images to exclusively appear in the July 2025 edition of Vogue Portugal.

The lawsuit claims that Nelson made contact with Taylor to seek permission to sell the images as art prints, only to receive word from Ubaldi that Nelson did not have license or permission to do so.

“It was our understanding that the images were commissioned by and for Vogue Portugal, and [Ms. Taylor] agreed to do the shoot on that basis only,” Ubaldi wrote to Nelson in September. “We are not interested in a buyout of these images... I cannot be clearer about this – [Ms. Taylor] does not want you to sell images of her face, or her body as fine art prints.

“If you had been transparent with her in advance of the shoot about your desire/intentions to sell the photos, she would have said no to the shoot. If you had any notion or desire to sell pictures of [Ms. Taylor] to recoup your costs, you should have disclosed this beforehand. We simply would have said no to the shoot.”

Despite this, the lawsuit claims that the images were offered and promoted on Nelson’s website and social platforms regardless, with the photographer allegedly refusing to comply with requests to remove all images from her website and social media accounts.

Given Taylor’s status as both something of a fashion icon and a notable figure in the Australian music scene, the complaints surrounding the alleged “exploitation of her image” is a topic close to the heart of the musician and her team.

“Fans recognize Ms Taylor's likeness for its rebellious spirit and blend of a distinctive Australian 'pub rock' aesthetic — featuring mullets, footy shorts, and an unrefined style — with the style of 1970s punk," the filing noted.

"Accordingly, Ms Taylor has built a substantial fan following based upon not only her musical talent, but also her image and personal brand."

The Guardian also notes that Nelson was unable to comment on the case due to it being before the courts, but told the publication she denies all allegations brought against her.