Depending upon the level of artist you desire to be will determine the creative projects that you are a part of. I am very active in stretching my abilities as an artist and as a person in a healthy way. Through the years of modeling I have found that I work best on a team. The team that I worked with on this photoshoot is simply incredible. Before introducing them I want to share a few things I learned doing this amazing shoot. First, understand the task that you are about to undertake and prepare accordingly. In the wide eyed excitement of doing the Addams family I didn’t really consider how difficult it would be when we set the shooting schedule. Second, always make sure you have food. When you do anything creative you burn a lot of energy and unless you want to crash and burn you must come prepared. Third, always use something you are very familiar with to create distinct characters. I had six iconic characters to recreate and to make them uniquely different, and in order to do that; I used material that I am very familiar with.

Now to introduce the team:

The photographer- Michael Paolini who has an amazing ability to create and put together bigger than life concepts that belong in a magazine.

The Hair and Makeup- I worked with two makeup artists and Hairstylists on this shoot. First makeup artist and hair stylist I worked with on this shoot was Sandra Bilokonsky who has had years of creating fantastic characters with the stroke of her brush and Monique Yancey who treats hair styling like it’s an art form. I then had the pleasure of working with Anna Fugate who totally blows my mind with the characters she is able to bring to life with her hair and makeup.

The Wardrobe- Rachel Chadwick has the eye and ability to flesh out any character she is challenged with by assembling wardrobe.

A team such as this is what it takes to create an image that is lasting and impactful.

How it began- Our team wanted to do something to release for Halloween but everyone had different ideas. Among the lots cast in the bag of Halloween themes were the Munsters, Little Shop of Horrors and the Addams Family. At first we weren’t too sure about doing the Addams Family for the simple reason that everyone has done it. So we settled on the Little Shop of Horrors. I would be every character, including the plant. We were all on board, until we discovered in pre-production mock-ups that the plant would be practically impossible to pull off. We had to find something else.

We took another look at the Munsters and the Addams Family. Majority rules and the Addams Family was chosen. We wanted to do something unique, so we decided instead of copying the original characters we would update them. Gomez would be a sharp business man, Morticia would be a Desperate Housewife type, Wednesday we kept an updated school girl, Pugsley would be a goth, Uncle Fester would be a biker and Lurch a hipster!

We settled on shooting the Addams family at the beginning of October so we had to work fast if we were going to get this done in time. We decided to try and schedule two characters per shoot. Here’s where my first lesson came into play. I never realized what an incredibly huge task I was endeavoring to do. I got lost in the fun of the project that I didn’t realize that fully committing to two characters in one day (full costume) is exhausting. Each member of the Addams family is so distinct and unique that I had to be sure to bring believable, out of this world characters to each shoot. But with the help of my team I was able to pull it off.

The Creation of the Characters (in the order they were photographed)-

Pugsley, the goth. With this character the first thing that came to my mind was an image of a Rollie-Pollie. Simple, doesn’t say much and introverted. As a kid I was fascinated with rollie-pollie’s and their ability to immediately roll into a ball, so using this creature to create Pugsley made it easy for me to transition into this character. With each character I used an “in” that easily enabled me to move from one character to another. For Pugsley, it was the smile, with his rolled in and pressed together lips. This image in my mind is what best put me in this character.

Photographer: Michael Paolini, Makeup- Sandra Bilokonsky, Hair- Monique Yancey, Wardrobe: Rachel Chadwick

Gomez, the sharp business man- When creating this character there was but a single man that came to my mind, Rhett Butler from Gone with the Wind. Throughout my life I have seen this character a million times. Rhett is a very sophisticated yet liberal man, much like a contemporary Gomez would be. My “in” to this character was Rhett’s sideways smirk. On the day of the shoot I had the character but not the “man stance” needed to pull the look off. Michael took me through lessons on how to stand and hold my body as a man would. This is another example of how you’re your team makes you better. I had never played a man before so having Michael’s input was essential to making this character believable.

Photographer: Michael Paolini, Makeup & Hair- Anna Fugate, Wardrobe: Rachel Chadwick

Morticia, the Desperate Housewife- The typical character of Morticia is cold and serious. I wanted to create a character that I thought was more appropriate for her; a character that all the men fall over to be around, a character that was passionate about her man, a character like Jessica Rabbit. Being an 80’s classic I have seen this movie many times and have always appreciated how Jessica Rabbit is the perfect blend of sex appeal and the stand by your man mentality. My “in” to this character was the hippy walk that Jessica does.

Here is where I started learning the lesson of pacing myself when doing a project with multiple characters. On the day of the shoot, Morticia was the second character that was shot. I started getting really tired at the end of this shoot which was putting me in my head. I also realized had I brought more snacks to eat during the shoot I would have had more energy. Every time I realized I was out of character I used my “in” to the character and kept going. Despite the lessons learned, she turned out amazing!

Photographer: Michael Paolini, Makeup & Hair- Anna Fugate, Wardrobe: Rachel Chadwick

Uncle Fester, the biker- This character has been played as a dumbass guy many times. I wanted to create something richer. I felt that Uncle Fester was more like a mischievous character where you weren’t quite sure if he was good or bad, like the Cheshire Cat. Mind you, there are a lot of versions of the Cheshire Cat, most of which I don’t like. The one I used was from Disney’s animated feature, Alice in Wonderland. Why I decided to go with Disney’s version of the cat was because Disney left the cat ambiguous as to whether he was good or bad, it was up to the audience to decide. All other depictions decided that the cat was evil and out to destroy Alice. My “in” to this character was the huge smile the Cheshire cat makes. Remembering the lessons of man standing from my previous Gomez shoot I was able to pull off this character with a little “biker stance” tweeks from Michael.

Photographer: Michael Paolini, Makeup & Hair- Anna Fugate, Wardrobe: Rachel Chadwick

Wednesday, the school girl- This character is constantly presented like a heartless little girl. I wanted to do something more in line of what I think the character is really like, a brilliantly witty strategist. This one was a little harder for me. Not only did I need to come up with a fresh and distinct character but I needed to be a child again. I found the perfect personality to use to build Wednesday’s character- Dennis the Menace. Dennis is always looking for adventure and, to the pearl of others; he delights in including others in on them. My “in” for this character was a delicious secret that I came up with. Now, I’m not going to share what my secret was, but I will give you a tip on how to come up with one of your own for your photoshoots. Be specific to the situation your character is in. It must be something that affects you, and remember, it’s a secret.

Photographer: Michael Paolini, Makeup & Hair- Anna Fugate, Wardrobe: Rachel Chadwick

Lurch, the hipster- This character is played over and over again as blank. Yep that’s it. Blank. I wanted to bring this character to life but still keep the feeling that he was a Frankenstein. Who better than Alfred Hitchcock! In preparation for this character I watched an interview with Alfred Hitchcock in the 70’s where he was talking about his film career. During the interview, I made note that when he is in thought about mundane facts about his shoots he is sort of blank but when he comes to the part in the story that he enjoys the most his face lights up. I also noticed that Alfred talks with his upper lip, something many people don’t do. All of the clues I borrowed from Alfred and built my Frankenstein! My “in” for this character is the iconic stare Alfred does with his bottom lip hanging out. On the day of the shoot I used the Gomez man stance that I had previously learned (a lesson I will use over and over again) with Frankenstein stance tweaks.

This project was incredibly fun and I learned a lot. I had the most incredible team a girl can ask for. If it wasn’t for each and every member of this team I couldn’t have pulled these characters off. Every shoot has its lessons but this concept has taught me the most, not only in terms of my limits but in my abilities! I encourage you, dear reader, to put your abilities to the test and venture out into the creative unknown.

To Find Michael Paolini: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelPaoliniPhotographer

To Find Rachel Chadwick: https://www.facebook.com/rachel.chadwick.142?fref=ts

To Find Anna Fugate: https://www.facebook.com/anna.fugate

To Find Sandra Bilokonsky: https://www.facebook.com/Fatimamua

To Find Monique Vancey: https://www.facebook.com/monique.yancey.9?fref=ts

When you think about your favorite images we rarely think ‘I love that image because…’. Images have the power to give us a window view into another world. Upon seeing that other world provokes many emotions or memories that cause us to either connect or ignore that image. If, however, the image is flat and boring most likely the person viewing it will just pass by and never remember it again. I want you to think about the most powerful image you can remember seeing. Think about why it has stuck in your head all this time. That is what you should be striving for in your career.

The best way to create such a lasting impression is to internalize a powerful message and present it to your audience. This message can be conveyed most effectively through emotion.  You must always bring your emotions to the visual stories you tell. It can be anything from being bored to finding something funny. There is a whole rainbow of emotions to convey in the human experience and I suggest that you explore them all. I want to pause for a moment there. Perceived emotion by the viewer and the actual emotion of the subject can be two entirely different things. In one image the viewer could perceive that you are flustered but you could actually be feeling playful. The viewer will always connect with something in their own personal and secret experiences. Communicating the exact emotion isn’t as important as simply getting a connection from your viewer. How your viewer will decide to connect to your images is out of your hands but you can always affect your viewers in some way.

One of the best things about shooting with Barry Underhill is how he is passionate about telling a story. He always strives to reach out to his audience with a message. I first came across Underhill’s photographic masterpieces on Model Mayhem. He was doing a series specifically targeted to making a powerful commentary on today’s society and how we get bogged down with things in life that don’t matter when we die. This was something that I wanted to be a part of. We talked about the different characters he wanted to include. The two we decided on is a housewife and an intellectual. It was very important for me to know what Barry was going to use as an “entanglement” for each character. The housewife was to be tied to her housework and the intellectual to her knowledge she got from books. Once I knew that, I immediately went to Jinxedaposed Clothing for wardrobe, Allie Towell for make up and Kat Reidy for jewelry on this one.

With the incredible team I had, I knew that I needed to bring something powerful to this concept. Both characters are refusing to leave the earth because of their entanglements. I had to think about what was the most powerful part of this concept. It was when you discovered that it isn’t their loved ones that they are holding on to but to “things” that they find valuable. Now, how am I supposed to convey all of that in one image? Simple, I stepped into the shoes of my character. I listed all the things that I would bargain with God for to continue to stay alive and be with that love in my life. Once I had that argument in my head I was loaded with emotion. I want you to notice I didn’t say that I decided on an emotion to have and worked on having that emotion. No. That is backwards. I focused on what I wanted and while Barry was shooting me, I worked damn hard to get it…

Images always tell the truth. If you aren’t feeling it, it will show. When you go to a photoshoot it must be thought of as a performance with you having to captivate the audience watching you. What do you want to say to them? Say it! What do you want to show them? Show it! Do you want them to remember you? Connect with them. Work every day on expressing your emotions in your work. I promise that you will be remembered.

To Find Underhill Photography: http://www.underhillphotography.com/

To Find Jinxedaposed Clothing: http://www.jinxedaposed.com/

To Find Allie Towell: https://www.facebook.com/AllieTowellMUAH

To Find Kat Reidy: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sea-Of-Flowers-Jewelry-and-Wearable-Art/191674314193115

Working with What You Got

In the early stages of your career it is very important that you develop the resources needed to put an affective team together. While you are developing these resources YOU are going to have to fill in the gaps in your team. You will have to be the MUA, the Hair Stylist and the Designer. To pull it off flawlessly you will need to have a plan.

There are thousands of girls trying to be “America’s Next Top Model” and they are missing what will make their career the most successful- YOU. You have your own wardrobe, your own make up and your own beauty- the beginning of a magnificent thing called your career. I know what you are thinking “I don’t have designer clothes and posh make up at home. How can I start a career with what is in my closet?” My advice to you is to focus on what you have and not be discouraged by what you don’t have.

Let’s start with your wardrobe. Everyone has ‘Friday night out on the town’ clothes. Clothes that have made you look and feel hot weekend after weekend for years now. Unleash that little black dress/suit on your next photoshoot. Next, your make up.  Shamefully, many models don’t know how to do their own make up. I suggest that you pick a look that you are going for and watch Youtube videos on how to apply that makeup, look at magazines or go to the mall and watch how the different cosmetic specialists apply make up to their customers or to you. There are plenty of resources available to learn how to apply makeup correctly and to ignore them is to be lazy. For any look you are going for it would be best to practice a couple times before your actual shoot.

Now let’s talk about your unique beauty. Society will try to take what is uniquely yours and put it in a pigeonhole and say that it isn’t good enough because it is different. Women buy into this. It is wrong. Never forget that you possess your own beauty. Don’t try to be someone else- that’s impossible.

I have always admired Tom Hall’s photography. I am in awe of his use of light and his experience. When he agreed to shoot with me I was elated! He had an idea to create fluid movement in an image using a simple sheet and light. I was IN! Not knowing really anyone that I could bring to this shoot I took myself, my beauty and my A-game. On the day of the shoot I did my own hair and makeup (having experimented during the week). I think these images turned out amazing…

When you go out to meet people, those that have been in the industry for a while will look at you as a newbie and a possible flake. Professionals take their work seriously and want to work with likeminded professionals that know how to bring it! You might be the most committed model around but at first not many people are going to give you the opportunity to prove it. So how do you move from the “newbie” to “the one to go to”? Go out and make it happen with what you got.

To Find Tom Hall Photography: http://tomhallphoto.com/

Alligator Skin

When most people look at commercial images, they assume that models are just born with the best skin, the smallest waist and the prettiest hair. Wrong! Professional models work hard to look the way they do. Although most models won’t have to learn how to apply their own make up correctly, what they must master is skin care. When learning about skin care the most important thing you can educate yourself on is how to protect it from the sun.

I don’t care if your skin is as white as snow or as black as licorice you must use sun block- everyday. That might seem extreme, but you are constantly being fried by the sun’s rays- even if it’s just to step outside for five minutes. The sun’s rays are broken down into two categories: UVA and UVB. UVB rays are what contribute to sunspots on your arms and face and let’s not forget about the all-important cleavage that is constantly exposed. Sunspots left unchecked can lead to melanoma or other forms of skin cancer.

The common misconceptions when choosing a sunblock is the higher the SPF number the better the protection. Not so. All sunscreens use the ingredients that protect against the UVA rays but most brands fail to protect against the UVB. Brands that protect against UVB rays will state it clearly on the packaging. Unless you want to look like little Orphan Annie you better use a sunscreen that has both.

There are several expensive brands, such as Vivite, that offer protection against both UVA/UVB rays but the one I recommend will give you the most bang for your buck- Neutrogena.  In all my photoshoots I have used my UVA/UVB Neutrogena 30 SPF sunblock; however, there was one particular shoot where I had to apply a lot of it.

Steve Ellinger is a phenomenal photographer who has a great reputation of always working well with models. Steve approached me with an idea to shoot outdoors on one of Texas’ hot summer days. After sharing the location and inspiration behind the shot I not only agreed but I ran to Target to get stocked up on the proper sunscreen. This shoot was so successful not only because I was well protected against the rays but because of the genius team behind it. With Valeri Jinxy supply the gorgeous clothing and Shalottlilly loaning me her epic necklace this image quickly became a fan favorite.

 

Beautiful skin comes from meticulous care. With so many options out there it can be confusing as to which brand is the best. The only way to choose the best product is to look at the ingredients. One thing I would always encourage my readers to do is educate yourself on brands and make comparisons. This is YOUR body, YOUR career. No one is going to do it for you. The longevity of your career will most definitely depend on the condition of your skin. If your skin is like an alligator there is no amount of makeup that will hide that atrocity.

To find out more about UVA/UBV rays:  http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/uva-and-uvb/understanding-uva-and-uvb

To find Steve Ellinger Photography: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Steve-Ellinger-Photography/118176431597155

To find Shalottlilly: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Shalottlilly5

To find Jinxedaposed Clothing: http://www.jinxedaposed.com/

I love music. It is infectious and I always find myself moving to the beat. Most importantly, music gets me out of my head. When I’m moving I forget about how I look and let the music lead me on a journey. Many people don’t know this about me but I am a vocalist. I have studied vocal performance for years and have even toured with bands that have traveled around the world. With my background in music it is no mystery why movement to music always drastically changes my photoshoots for the better. Don’t get me wrong, I have done shoots where I am not moving at all and they turned out great. However, it is the shoots where I am in movement that are my best!

I always look forward to shooting with Peter Tung. He has got a great eye and the quality of his work is amazing. He presented me with an idea to shoot images that look like there are moving fast in the photographs. He explained the process to me but it was too techie for me to understand. I was excited that he asked me and immediately involved my go to team: Valery Jinxy- clothing designer and owner of Jinxedaposed Clothing and Kat Reidy- jewelry designer. Kelsey James did a flawless job as the Make-up artist and I was thrilled to wear one of the incredible hats by Milli Starr, created by Laura Del Villaggio.

A week before the shoot Peter asked me if I minded if he brought his colleague Jonathan Reyes to our shoot. I told him not at all! The more the merrier. On the day of the shoot they explained to me that I had to move at a specific rhythm in order for the effect to work in the shot. Moving too fast at the time the image is taken will result in a blurry image. Timing was the key. After failing miserably for what seemed to be a century to me (probably a half an hour) I finally realized that I was going about this the wrong way! I listened to Peter counting out the steps for me and I heard a metronome beat. Suddenly the sky opened and the world became clear. I needed music! After creating a quick inner song with the timing that was needed my body fell into perfect position every shot! The images were brilliant!

Every model must have several tools in their back pocket that they can use during a photoshoot to pull them out of a jam. Throughout your modeling career you will find yourself at shoots that challenge your ability to perform. When that happens you lose your confidence and the images start to look weird and forced. One of my best tools is music. It never fails me. I encourage you to find your own go to tools that can help pull you out of what I like to call the “Model’s Freeze”. You know you have an effective tool when it is personal and readily available to you at any shoot, any time. Your own personal tools are your absurdity that you will perform at your best at every photoshoot. You will be able to pull yourself out of the frozen zone so quickly no one will know you were there to begin with. Everyone is looking to you to be technically and esthetically perfect. They don’t care if you can do it or not, they only care about getting the shot. Your tools are your best friend. Choose them wisely.

To Find Peter Tung: https://www.facebook.com/PeterTungPhotography

To Find Jonathan Reyes: https://www.facebook.com/LustreMaravilloso

To Find Jinxedaposed Clothing: http://www.jinxedaposed.com/

To Find Kat Reidy: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sea-Of-Flowers-Jewelry-and-Wearable-Art/191674314193115

To Find Laura Del Villaggio: http://www.millistarr.com/

To Find Kelsey James: http://www.kelseyjames.com/

Poser!

This industry is riddled with forced body postures. From the unique to the extremely bizarre there have been many ways for a model to pose. I have also heard of models that simply stand there until they are told to move. This is completely unnatural and boring to me (and the photographer). To me a pose is all about feel. When I’m doing a shoot I move- a lot. I move until my body feels right in a position and I stop. Many photographers have been unnerved by my technique but that is how I work and when they see the images that they get, they are happy.

Poses say a lot about the model and about the product that you are selling. When you are advertising clothing think about how it feels on your body. Does it restrict your moves? Does it feel comfortable? Do you feel sexy? The answers to these questions will dictate how you move during the photoshoot. I would like to explore several poses of mine and explain how I got to that place…

Photographer: Raphael Umscheid, Wardrobe: Jinxedaposed Clothing

In this particular shot I was in downtown Austin in an alleyway. I had the pleasure of shooting with Raphael Umscheid while wearing the sexy shorts onesie made by Jinxedaposed Clothing. Raphael loved this door he found in an alleyway prior to our shoot. There really wasn’t much to do with a door. The image really relied on me to make it dynamic and interesting. The first thing I did was find something I could use- the door handle. As soon as I had a hold of the door handle I moved around until I fell into this pose.

Photographer: Lime Fly Photography, Wardrobe: Dina Chavez

This shot was taken in an abandoned cotton mill. I have always admired Juan Carlos Gonzales’ work (Lime Fly Photography) and I finally had the chance to shoot with him while wearing the stylish Dina Chavez new line. The mill was very dark and a little creepy. Juan set up the lights and explained that I had very little room to move or I would be out of the light. Understanding that I had to pose where I stood I started to move in every way I could think of standing in the same place. I had no idea where the lights were going to be in relation to my body. I focused on how my pose felt as I moved, and this is what he captured.

Photographer: South Bound, Wardrobe: Dina Chavez

This shot was taken in South Bound’s studio. This shoot was a blast. Don has a great personality and I had the pleasure of wearing one of Dina Chavez’ new pieces from a different line than the previous image. There were several props at Don’s studio to work with and we decided to use this cool hat. The clothing was fun and it was easy to move around in. I decided to use the hat in whatever way I could think of.  Don cranked up the music and I found myself into a number of different poses, this being one of the best.

Photographer: IMiko, Wardrobe: Jinxedaposed Clothing, Jewelry: Shalottilly

This image was taken at IMiko’s studio and I was wearing Jinxedaposed clothing and Shalottilly’s long dangling earrings. As I have mentioned in other blogs I totally love working with both Jinxy and Ivan. The sets at Ivan’s studio are full of fun and imagination and Jinxy’s Clothing is sexy and easy to move in. I had a great couch to work with but it just didn’t feel right in my body to sit down. I stood up and started using the clothing. This hoody was amazing to wear and gorgeous with the skirt. The earrings felt like they were dancing on my ears every time I moved! Because I made my poses about the clothing and jewelry I started thinking of scenarios in my mind that went along with the music. This image is the perfect blend of imagination, jewelry and clothing.

Photographers constantly think of composition. Models need to constantly be connected to their bodies and listen when it tells you that a pose is right. Thinking or worrying about how you look while posing won’t help you at all. Effective poses are created from movement and connection to your body and imagination. If you are having a hard time finding your own unique poses, it’s a simple fix. Turn on some groovy music and start moving. Think about how your body feels as you move through several poses. This is not dancing. This is about connecting to your body. I suggest that you practice every day to master that connection. It might sound strange or geeky, but I guarantee you that it will make you a better model.

To Find Raphael Umscheid: http://www.raphaelumscheid.com/

To Find Lime Fly: http://www.limeflyphotography.com/

To Find South Bound: http://www.modelmayhem.com/8995

To Find IMiko: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Imiko-Photographer/395072933842910

To Find Shalottilly: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Shalottlilly5

To Find Jinxedaposed Clothing: http://www.jinxedaposed.com/

To Find Dina Chavez: http://www.sixchelbydinachavez.com/

Becoming Cartoony

I love a challenge. When I am presented with an amazing idea I jump at the chance to do it. I have never been the type of model that likes to stick to doing the same thing over and over again, like Fabio. Many models find themselves stuck in the monotony of the same hum-drum posing, costuming and style because that is what they are comfortable with. They stick to the same “Blue Steel” look not wanting to go outside of their comfort zone. If you find yourself in this rut my advice to you is to start expanding your horizons! Life is about change. All around you are new things to learn and to grow in- your modeling career is no different. You must purposefully push your boundaries and try something new if you want to grow in your career.

I was approached by a good friend and amazing designer, Valeri Jinxy, owner of Jinxedaposed Clothing to re-create Spy vs. Spy. Believe it or not I had never heard of this show. Imagine my surprise when I found out that it was a cartoon! I had never been involved with a project where I had the opportunity to bring an animated character to life before and I wanted IN! With the help of Allie Towell, who is a brilliant MUA, Cheryl Custer who is a fantastic Photographer, Kat Reidy who is my go to jewelry designer and Adrienne Sparks who is an experienced model Valeri and I had all the tools we needed to make this concept a reality.

On the day of the shoot, it was over 100 degrees outside. We chose an old fire escape as the background to our characters. Adrianne and I had a blast running up and down the fire escape in the fashion of Spy vs. Spy, however, after looking through the shots, Cheryl felt that we were missing the “cartoony” element. We had the enemy aspect and played that well but was missing the whimsical theatrical glee of getting a “one up” on your opponent with a bomb or a huge hole in the wall. I started thinking about the old Tom and Jerry and Roadrunner and Wylie Coyote cartoons and suddenly I got it!

Having never seen the show I had no connection to Spy vs Spy, but I did have a deep connection to Tom and Jerry having watched them in my childhood. Emulating them allowed me to become “cartoony” enough to create a believable character.

The industry wants to type cast you. When you are starting out, that is a good way to get your foot in the door but making strides to expand your horizons is essential to the longevity of your career. Go to art shows to make friends with a painter and see if they will paint you. Being a subject in a painting will give you a great respect for art. Pick up the camera yourself and start to see the world through the lens of a camera. Not only will this give you a greater respect for photographers but it will help you understand photography better. I would also suggest that you research different types of photography and the basic elements of composition. Working with landscape or product photographers will breathe new life into the way you feel and act while being photographed. See what else inspires you and get involved! Become an animal, become a villain or become a cartoon! Break out of the walls you have put yourself in and people will begin to see you as more than just your type cast, they will see you as able to do anything!

To Find Jinxedaposed Clothing: http://www.jinxedaposed.com/

To find Allie Towell: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Allie-Towell-Makeup-Design/182629985086818

To find Sea of Flowers Jewelry: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sea-Of-Flowers-Jewelry-and-Wearable-Art/191674314193115

To find Adrienne Sparks: http://www.modelmayhem.com/1499916

The Trickle Down Effect

Almost everyone has a burning desire to change the world or at least affect it in some positive way. No one will be inspired by you if you are not inspired. Art is very subjective and gives the viewer a chance to interpret the piece and give it a personal and private meaning. When you are looking at art, you need to actively participate in the definition of what that piece means to YOU. How has the artist impacted you? How does it make you feel? Has it inspired you?

Grant Woods’s masterpiece, American Gothic has so many levels of meaning. Sometimes when I look at it I see the working class, sometimes I wonder why he would choose to paint such a boring couple then other times I see the genius in his simplicity. This is art. It doesn’t mean the same thing to me every time I see it. I see it moving through life with me as a companion that remains consistent, always delivering a simple message of truth.

It is no surprise to me that the piece in my portfolio that I have gotten the most feedback from is the “Hipster Gothic” image I shot with my friend Josh “El Mercurio”. Josh is my favorite photographer from Houston. He is a genius with photo composition and photoshop. He is always prepared and knows how to clearly communicate what he needs you to do to get the shot. He can take a crazy out-of-this-world idea and make it happen. I’m very proud to have his work in my portfolio. When I told Josh that I wanted to re-create the American Gothic image, he was excited but he felt that we should do an original version of it. Then it hit him- let’s do this image as hipsters! And our concept was born!

We decided to do the shoot in Houston which is where Josh had all the equipment and props. I’m not from Houston and I’ve never been to Houston but I was going to have to find a male counterpart and make-up artist in Houston. Not an easy task.  With the shoot date a month away, I had plenty of time to prepare. There is no one that knows how to find cool clothing other than my friend Kat Reidy, owner of Sea of Flowers Jewelry and Wearable Art. I told her about the concept and she immediately told me to come to her shop. She not only put together the outfit but made pieces that were perfect for the concept. Now that I had my wardrobe, I was ready to start looking for the male model.

Not being from Houston I had to turn to the tools available to me- I posted a casting notice on Model Mayhem. When you post a casting notice you must be clear about what you are looking for. I didn’t want to give our concept away (there is a lot of stealing in the photography world) so I focused the casting call on the commitment level I was looking for and the time frame for the shoot. I got a ton of responses for both make-up artists and male models. After looking through each one, I chose Schuy Smith as my male model. He had the right look but that’s not always enough. I set up a phone meeting with him to discuss the concept and he LOVED it. He immediately started adding his ideas to the character he would play and suggested that instead of using a pitch fork, he use a skateboard. At that point, I knew we had the right guy for the job. I chose Sabre as my make-up artist. Though each one that responded to my casting call was good, Sabre’s simple style and flair best fit the concept. We had everyone set and it turned out beautifully…

 

I love it when I hear that my work has impacted someone. Everyone that has seen my work has mentioned this image. I think that the reason for its small fame is that all parties involved found inspiration in the original work of art. I have even had someone send me a picture of their friend’s “Alien Gothic” sketch and told me that our image inspired it. Our Hipster Gothic image has spread far and wide across the photography community and has sort of become famous. Whether the viewer has liked the image or not, it has still made an impact and has people asking what “Hipster Gothic” means to them. That’s all an artist can really ask for. 

To Find El Mercurio: https://www.facebook.com/pages/El-Mercurio-Photography/146495508731534

To Find Sea of Flowers: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sea-Of-Flowers-Jewelry-and-Wearable-Art/191674314193115

To Find Schuy Smith: http://www.modelmayhem.com/1450929

To Find Sabre: https://www.facebook.com/sabre.peacock

Mu-Mu-Magnetic!

There are some pretty hilarious moments that have happened in my modeling career. I’ve had wardrobe malfunctions, images with goofy faces and even had some images taken in lighting that made my skin look like Tommy Lee Jones…. Ahem. Though modeling is a serious business, you must not loose sight of your sense of humor and adventure. In order to be a model you need to be an exhibitionist. Models aren’t intimidated by people who look and interact with them. They welcome the attention. If you find that you want to be a model but are pretty shy this blog is for you.

Models need to have a presence about them that is magnetic. When you are shy you tend to hide yourself in the middle of life. If you want to be a model you need to start creating life around you. Three easy ways to help bring you out of your shy shell is first, start talking to strangers. Talk to people while standing in line at the grocery store, at the coffee shop while you write your bestselling book or standing in line at the bathroom (this does apply to men too). The second thing you can to do is something unexpected. Dance in public, do karaoke or quote an original poem on open mic night. Put yourself out there. There is a lot to learn from putting yourself in uncomfortable situations and seeing how you react. You might surprise yourself. The third thing is to make a conscious effort to invite people to approach you. Some ways to do this is to make eye contact with strangers and smile, use open body language by facing the room and by showing interest in what is going on around you. Keep the damn phone in your purse! There is no greater “go away” signal than someone that has their face in their phone. It’s killing your career, it’s killing your social life- your phone is NOT your friend, put it away!

My favorite story to tell where I put these three practices to use was after my photoshoot with Bill Alewine. Bill is a professional wedding photographer. To say that Bill is talented is an understatement. He was voted The Knot’s 2012 pick for the best of weddings. I was very excited when he approached me to do a non-traditional wedding shoot. The dress was set; I just needed some non-traditional jewelry to compliment it. I thought of no one else but my friend Adrian Amiro, creator of Shalottlilly. Celebrities wear Adrian’s original pieces and it is difficult to find her with pieces that haven’t been photographed. I was thrilled to borrow three pieces she had just made.

On the day of the shoot I was ready and I was gorgeous! I had to get dressed at my house and drive to the location in my car. It was a challenge to get that huge wedding dress in the car, but I did it! Bill chose a beautiful church to shoot at. He had the lights set up and his locations on the church grounds picked out. He had a particular idea that he wanted to shoot and he knew how to get it. Toward the end of the shoot he asked me if I had any ideas to shoot and I told him yes! I had this idea to run past the camera and jump up in the air. Bill liked the idea! I was so excited that he was into it! No one but Bill could have captured my idea so beautifully…

I’m not done. This blog is about creating magnetism… the magnetic part comes next. When the shoot was done there was nowhere to change so I stuffed myself back in the car. On the way home I realized that I was starving and I had no food at home. So I decided to do something unexpected. I went to Whole Foods- in the wedding dress. People looked but I could see that they were intimidated to talk to me because I was in a wedding dress. I was surprised that even the cashier didn’t say anything. As I shoved myself back in the car I realized that I needed to rev up my magnetism odometer- so I went to Costco! Everyone noticed but still no one approached me. I decided to make a conscious effort to invite people to approach me: I smiled, I waved at the little girls, I faced the room. People started to warm up and say little passing niecties: “Nice dress”, “You look pretty”. I then decided to talk to strangers and BOOM! People came up to me in droves. I was asked if today was my wedding day, if I was in a show, I even had a lady that while touching her chest in sympathy asked me if I was stood up at the alter! HAHA! It was awesome! I told them all the truth that I was at a photoshoot…. I don’t think that any of them believed me but I owned the room.

I have used this story many times at social events and it has made me very popular. Most people can’t believe that I would go to the store in a wedding dress. 99% of people would have gone home, no matter how starving they were, and changed out of the wedding dress. This is what separates a magnetic personality from average people. What most people would consider a very embarrassing or uncomfortable situation can be turned into something that is incredibly cool and something that the average person wishes they could do themselves. In order to be magnetic you need to take risks. Step out of your comfort zone, put on that corset and steam punk make up with a faucet in your hair and go to Whole Foods for some coffee!

To Find Alewine Photography: http://www.alewinephotography.com/

To Find Shalottlitlly: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shalottlilly/139807909382822

Working with Make-Up and Props

At some point in your career you will realize that images aren’t taken to capture your pretty face. They are taken to promote a product or an idea. The sooner you realize this, the easier booking commercial work will be. An image should always either sell or say something.  As a professional you will need to learn to draw the on looker’s focus to the “product” you are selling. This can be done several ways: by the direction you are looking, by the pose you are making or by the attitude you are portraying.

My portfolio is full of images that promote incredible pieces of art made by talented people. One of my favorite shoots was shooting jewelry with Philip Leach. I saw Philip Leach’s work on Model Mayhem and immediately wanted to work with him. His images are commercial, polished and would look great in any professional portfolio.

The day finally came that I was able to shoot with Philip and I wanted to be sure that I had something that made a statement.  I went to Adrian Amiro, the creator of Shalottlilly, to see if there were any pieces that she needed photographed. Adrian was the first person I met when I moved to Austin and she is still one of my favorite people. Her pieces are a show stopper, literally a work of art around your neck. I was ecstatic when she told me she had four necklaces that hadn’t been photographed yet. When I told Philip the good news, he immediately involved one of his favorite make-up artists, Bobbi Douglas. When I asked around about Bobbi I quickly found out that she had the reputation of not only being an incredible make-up artist but also being able to come up with creative ideas on the spot.

On the day of the shoot Bobbi came through the door ready to go with sketches of the make-up she was planning to do. After seeing Adrian’s pieces, she and Philip decided that they needed to come up with four fresh ideas. They decided to start with a basic make up and progress into a rich, bold look. It was inspiring to see them work together. As I listened to how the make-up was going to be done, I knew that I needed to bring my top game to accentuate the make-up and necklaces in five uniquely different ways.

Models have the misconception that photoshoots are about them; that the photographs that are being taken are to show how pretty they are or how fierce their pose is. Wrong. Professional models know that they are hired to promote a product. I see models everyday doing the same “pose” that they saw in a magazine because they think that is what it means to be a professional model. What they fail to realize is that the reason the model is “posing” that way is because they are showing you the product that they are selling. Professional models move in a way that makes the product look good, not themselves. They will bend in awkward positions, endure freezing temperatures and face criticisms and sometimes insults from the product’s creators in an effort to make the product look good. Being a model is not about being beautiful, it’s about selling a product to the best of your ability. If you are looking to make pretty pictures, you might want to re-asses if modeling is for you and focus on your instagrams.

To Find Philip Leach Photography: http://phillipleachphotography.4ormat.com/

To Find Shalottlilly: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Shalottlilly5

To Find Bobbi Douglas: http://www.bobbidouglas.com/