Catching Up With Richard Cameron and the Boys at the Bear Hotel

10th January 2025 John Hernandez

Its been nearly a year and a half since we checked in with Richard Cameron and the Bear Hotel, his body positive photo series celebrating the many shapes and sizes present in our beautiful community. Predictably, Richard’s work and the photo series itself has continued to grow, expand and evolve. Join us as we catch up with this visionary artist below.

John Hernandez (JH): Hi Richard! Thanks for joining me. The last time we spoke was just over a year ago and it seems a lot more gorgeous bears have checked into the hotel since then. How do you choose the models?

RC: The models kinda choose themselves these days… sometimes they get in touch via the website, or social media – I’m particularly active on BlueSky and Instagram, or they are recommendations from guys who’ve already modelled. I recruit a bit on the cruise apps but less than I used to do when I first started, or I give out my business cards to handsome guys at events… I’ve flyered the Mr Bear LA competition, BearBash in Manchester UK and Folsom Europe in Berlin in the last year!

JH: Can you tell us about a particularly moving or standout shoot you’ve done since we spoke?

RC: Recently I shot a really handsome – but slightly disabled – guy… his pics have been popular, and I’m so pleased for him. I really feel proud because I feel there wouldn’t be a place for him in most of the other photo projects. I’ve always tried to include guys with differing abilities in the project as I really don’t understand why someone using a wheelchair, or a hearing aid, or having a prosthetic limb would make them less sexy.

JH: Couldn’t agree with you more on that. Bear Hotel remains a hallmark of body positivity in the world of bears and photography. In your opinion has there been any sort of cultural shift in the way bigger bodies are viewed?

RC: I really thought that Lizzo might start to change public perception of how big people are looked upon… but then, it seems, she blew it big time! The whole phenomenon of the ‘dad bod’ has happened since I started the project – so it’s good that chunky guys are now viewed as attractive. I do think we’ve still got a long way to go until fatties like myself are considered socially acceptable. The crusade continues one photoshoot and hotel room at a time!

JH: Would you ever consider a Bear Hotel photo book?

RC: Of course, I’d love it! The problem now is how do I choose which of the four hundred-odd guys to feature?!?! Maybe I’ll do it when the hotel closes it’s doors and the project is finally complete! If there’s any publishers out there who might be interested in discussing something please get in touch!

JH: I for one would love to see that happen! Now, please tell us about the Bear Bares Podcast.

RC: Like most things that happen to me, it was an accident. Bear – that’s the host of the BearBares podcast – was talking to The Hairy Hypnotist, who’s been a model for me a couple of times, about being a guest to talk about his hypnotherapy practice and it’s potential effects on body positivity. The Hairy Hypnotist generously suggested Bear should talk to me too. I was completely out of my comfort zone as I’d never really done anything like that before – but it was a fun experience, we had a great chat about lots of subjects, and I’m glad I did it. Maybe a bearhotel podcast could be in the future now I’ve got a taste for it!

JH: Anything you’d like to mention that we have not covered?

RC: Steven from Room 152 and SJLG Films has made a short documentary about the project, giving a little glimpse behind the scenes and meeting a handful of the models to explore why they’re taken part. There’s a nude – and SFW – version… the models being nude that is, not the photographer you’ll be glad to hear.

There’s links to the Xhamster and YouTube versions, and to the aforementioned BearBares podcast, on https://www.bearhotel.net/cinema

I’m planning to leave X at the end of the month so I’m becoming much more active on BlueSky, it already seems like a much nicer place to hang out – I’m @bearhotel.bsky.social on there. I even have a ‘starter pack’ of models from the project who I’ve already tracked down so you don’t have to! You can follow a load of hot BearHotel guys en mass with a couple of clicks on https://go.bsky.app/LGkg49r

Other than that I’m looking forward to a whole new year’s worth of beautiful men checking into the hotel. There’s always room for a few more so get in touch if you would like to discuss a visit! I’m based in London UK but, like the proverbial bad penny, my camera and the infamous BearHotel bathrobe get around a bit!

JH: Sounds great Richard! I can’t wait to see who checks into the hotel next!