Yahoo Lifestyle 
'Inappropriate' bridal photoshoot outside Aussie church divides opinion
An Aussie designer has spoken out after a lady accused her brand of doing a 'porno shoot' while they were promoting new wedding attire.
An Australian designer and founder of fashion brand Ziji The Label has opened up about the shocking moment a passer-by confronted them during a bridal photoshoot outside a church and told them it looked like they were filming a 'porno'.
Rikki-Lee, whose label is known for its sequinned bodysuits and fun festival attire, says it was the first time in her career she had experienced a 'negative' reaction to any of her designs being modelled.
She explains she was advertising some new wedding-themed kimonos and decided to do the shoot outside of a church, as it's a place people often choose to get married. The next moment a stranger approached, scolding the model for posing in 'lingerie and boots'.
Aussie designer's church controversy: 'In no way would we want to offend'
The model, Renee, was wearing a sequinned bodysuit, knee-high boots, a hat, and a white kimono with long flowing sleeves and was photographed in front of the church, at times swaying the kimono around to get different shots.
"We got accused of doing a porno shoot out the front of a church," Rikki-Lee explains. “I want to preface here that in no way did we set out to do something disrespectful. In no way would we want to offend anyone when we’re doing a photoshoot."
She went on to say her issue with the woman's criticism was all in how she approached and handled the situation.
“After we had been there for half an hour, a woman approached us. She came straight up to us and said ‘What do you guys think you’re doing, doing a porno shoot in front of this church?’".
“Now we were all shocked and surprised and my reaction was ‘I’m sorry what makes you think we’re shooting a porno shoot?’ and her response was, 'In this f***ing lingerie, with your boobs and your boots' and she went off."
Rikki-Lee explained the model in question wasn't "indecently exposing" herself and that she does understand if some people have issues with outfits like bodysuits in front of a church. “I do not believe it makes it OK to approach strangers with aggression and accusations," she said. "We ended up moving away from the church."
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Speaking to fans of the label, Rikki-Lee said she was keen to hear people's thoughts on the matter. "I am really keen to hear your thoughts on this and whether I should continue to, apart from what I have shared in this reel, keep them [the images] hidden," she said, after explaining she hadn't shared any of the images due to the controversy.
Fans divided over church photoshoot
The comments section was divided over the photoshoot and whether or not it was disrespectful. "I do hope that some day I see a beautiful bride wearing one of these kimonos at her chapel of love," Rikki-Lee wrote in her Instagram caption.
"Definitely could have been handled better by that woman - I don’t agree that it’s porn or that she needed to approach you in that way. But I will say, I don’t think a church as a location aligns with your brand as I’ve come to know it and I don’t think an alternative bride would be getting married in a church," one fan commented.
"I’m not religious. And have my strong opinions against the Catholic/Christian Church. However, I do take in account people’s faith. It’s disrespectful to wear revealing clothes in what is a sacred space for some. Would you do the same in front of a Buddhist, Hindu temple? Or a mosque?" another person posed. "If you say yes. OK, you’re free to do it. But understand the consequences. We can’t control how someone feeling disrespect will react. How would you?"
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Other people said regardless of faith and religious views, speaking to someone in a very aggressive and demeaning way wasn't on.
"Regardless of anyone’s views they should never speak to another person like that or jump to accusations like that. You’ll never get someone onside with aggression like that. That lady really should’ve come up and asked you what you were doing and had a conversation about it," one person said. "I believe, if you aren’t causing harm to another human being (or yourself) you should be allowed to go about your business. I love that you empower women to feel comfortable in your amazing outfits!
"If you were burning the church I could understand why she’d care," another joked. "But she was obviously just jealous at how fire this outfit is!"
Yahoo Lifestyle has reached out to Ziji The Label for comment.
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