The controversial nature of these images and the backlash from her exhibit was intense enough to result in her losing custody of her daughter, and later, as an adult, Eva Ionesco tried three times to sue her mother for emotional distress. In 1998 the French police confiscated hundreds of photographs from her mothers apartment.
Irina Ionesco spent the first half of her life touring cabarets as a contortionist and dancer, she came to photography late on when her partner at the time brought her a Nikon F camera. Her cabaret background is evident in her images, draping her models with lace beads and fake flowers. A quote from her states 'When Eva was born, because I'd come from the world of performing arts I wanted her to be part of it too. Nowadays it would be impossible.'
Blogs and photographers still debate the moral grounds of using her young daughter Eva as subjecture. Irina however has since moved on, recently being commissioned by fashion houses such as Givinchey and Vogue. "I love doing fashion photography, They're make-up people, stylists, but all anyone asks is for me to be me. They want my universe, my theatrical pictures, my literary memories. Anywhere I shoot, the pictures become mine."
text and pictures taken from:
http://atypicalfiction.blogspot.com/2011/11/irina-ionesco.html