Having Fun

Photo by Castle Rose Photographer 

Even when getting paid for a shoot, if the photographer does not give you specific directions...there is no reason not to have fun, not to play a little and for goodness sake, inject some of yourself into the shoot.

I recently shot with Castle Rose Photography , and really the direction that I was given was 'soft hair and makeup"  and "showing off the ink" That's it.  Why not show off the ink and bring in some favorite things?

In the process, I found out that the photographer and I share a love of  Doctor Who.  I brought the 4th Doctor arm warmers and knee socks, and the photographer HAD a stuffed Dalek and a TARDIS standee.  The rest of the set just came from that.

We experimented , we played we laughed,we had fun, and the images show that.

Being professional, does not exclude being able to have fun at the same time .

Trolls

Photo by: G&D Studios 

Photo by: Micahel Barton Art 

What do these two images have in common? ( Other than the obvious that they are of me) Both in corsets, both with "strong" arm positions, both with hair down...both with slightly challenging. or again "strong" expressions....both had the ever popular "internet troll" say they looked like a man..or a"dude" .

Now, I am very aware that when you put yourself out there,in pretty much any capacity, you run the risk of negitivity...this is the nature of humans and especially the internet...you can't let it get to you, and I don't.  But me being me, have a need to analyze.  ( Silly, I know)

So really the only thing that comes to mind is neither of these are "soft". Not only do they both have some small amount of definition in my arms ( believe me, I want MORE) and neither have a "sexy" or "breathless" or "shy" look on my face...they have a little smirk, a challenge, maybe even a  bit haughty .
That's all I have...do you think I look like a "dude"?  Seems to me that I lack one major anotomical part, and have an additional two , rather prominant ones :)

Regardless, I will keep doing what I am doing, keep challenging myself ( and hopefully others) and not ever let the Trolls bring me down...( and I certainly won't feed them!)

Disappointment

Photo by: Cadence McCarrell

Have to say that I am a little disappointed.  Hubby and I are going to Las Vegas next week ( Parents are going to watch the kid, cats and house) and I was really hoping to be able to book at least one gig  while we were there.  I got one answer, when I told them when I would be there " we only work with local models" How weird is that ? I tell you when I will be in town,tell you that I will have a car ....anyway, that is a silly way to do business, you would think a chance to work with someone not in your geographical area would be interesting... and it isn't as though you can't e-mail people I have worked with before for references .  Well, I am STILL open for shoots May 20-22, in Vegas....but you have to book soon, otherwise I won't bring my kit with me....though hey, if there are no bookings... more time for me to hangout by the pool!  ( and that isn't a bad thing at all.....as long as I have plenty of sunscreen! )                                                                                                                                                                                    

Tattoo session

                            Photo by G& D Studios 


I am continuing work on the large tattoo of a Dragon and a Phoenix you see in this photoshoot.   Since this shoot in December, The Phoenix ( on my stomach)  has been completely colored in.  The next session is March 7th, where we will work on finishing the dragon on my leg.

Most of the time,I sit rather well for tattoos...I don't squirm,or yell, faint or puke.  ( Yes,ask your tattoo artists,they most likely have had ALL of these things happen to them at one time or another) Now granted, on the whole this has been a tough tattoo...it goes to my lower ribs at the front, from hip bone to hip bone, around the ribs on my side,and down to my upper thigh....most,if not all of these spots tend to be painful ones.  ( more than ,typically a shoulder, an arm etc)

My sitting yesterday did not go well.  I seemed to be just super sensitive,so had to break every half an hour or so...I spent a good portion of time having to bite my own knuckles ( I did avoid screaming and crying,though there was some soft cursing and grunts- The whole screaming thing tends to frighten other clients in the shop...I try to avoid that )  The goal for the day was to finish up the wing on my ribs and the tail feathers ( except for little bits of extra color) We did indeed make it through... Though by the end of the thigh, and the session ,  I could feel the muscles, especially in my leg, start to jump and twitch.  ( an aside, Miles Maniaci at Deluxe Tattoo is very calming and mellow...and certainly helped me make it through)

By the time I walked in the door at home,I was not feeling well ( after an hour drive) I was shaky, woozy, and shivering.  I managed to get up the stairs and hit the couch before I quite literally fell over.  I think I was actually shocky.  I ate a steak salad and an Atkins snack bar and felt reasonably better, though I almost puked twice, and spent the majority of the evening laying on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, with a cat curled up next to me,and a cup of hot tea in my hand.  It wan't until this morning that I felt "myself" again.

What was wrong, what was different, what was the problem? What is the lesson here?  EAT.  I had eaten my normal breakfast/ lunch( or my normal lately, as I am working on getting back down to my modeling weight) So I had had 2 cups of tea, lots of water and a large apple  ( and ran 2.5 miles) before going in.  Apparently this was not enough.  Now I know. Don't eat heavy...but don't eat too lightly either.    

Second, and the real beginning.

                            Photo by: MYK Productions HMUA: Nicole Lanute


This is from my second Photoshoot on   8-27-12.
Taken by My dear, old friend Mike Jones ( he is my age,but I have known him for well over 20 years)

He had come back to the Chicago area to go to school , and get a degree in digital photography, and he wanted to work on his portfolio.  He,knowing I had recently lost much weight, wanted me to model for him.  I had enjoyed my session with Aza Azunia so much that I agreed.  I figured I would get a couple shots, and get to spend the day with some of my best friends...win, win right?

So he came over,helped me pick out some wardrobe from my closet, and we set a date the next week.

Nicole, the MakeUp and hair artist, I had known from a former job where she had been the receptionist, I a  designer, and I had put Mike and she in contact.

Mike picked up Nicole and they came over to my house ( these were all shot in the forest preserve behind my house...it has been used several times by me for shoots...as well as by other photographers in the area)
Having someone else do my makeup was a rather novel experience for me ( still is, since 99%of the time I still do my own makeup and hair)  So we got dressed and done and trooped out to the woods.

Mike still is a very mellow guy,but becomes very focused when shooting, he gives tips if he feels it is needed, but for the most part lets you do your thing ( though he will get flashes where he is like " we have to do THIS" )  As the day went on...he kept saying things like " you are good at this" " you should do this" " you SERIOUSLY need to do this"  I laughed at him. I told him " I am 40 years old, short and tattooed, how is THAT going to work?" Only knowing at that time runway and high fashion type modeling where yes...young and tall and very thin are indeed the rule.

Thank goodness for Mike and his stubborn insistence that this was a path I should look into!

Finally after about a month of him bugging me about it, I did some research....lo and behold,there is a market for alternative types such as myself.  Is it huge? No. Will I EVER make the kind of money as the women working fashion week or in the pages of Vogue make. No. But you know what, that is ok.  I partly do this, because as an artist, ( I paint and am a designer) I enjoy  using myself , to help others to make a different type of art. Because I believe that yes, photography is just as much an art form as Painting ( or it can be...it isn't always)   I enjoy pushing myself to learn to be better...working on poses...to make them interesting, better, finding better angles, expressions, positions.  Working on hair and makeup for different looks ,and different eras.  Finding interesting outfits and concepts to push not only myself,but the photographer.
Learning and pushing myself, and showing people that one doesn't have to be 19 ,and rail thin to be published,or even signed ( yes,I am agency signed...it is a small local one, but they are good people, and they are working hard. Kingdom Model Talent Agency, go check them out if you are casting or looking to model yourself )
All in all, I enjoy what I do,and am excited to see where this path will lead.

     

Natural Tattoo Care

                                                       Photo by: Bill K

( I wrote this for the Modified Beauties Blog a while ago, and am sharing it here)

Many Tattoo shops recommend using normal / conventional over the counter items such as petroleum jelly, or  lotions to care for a new tattoo.  One is normally not really given options or information for a more chemical free, natural tattoo aftercare.

As more and more information comes out about the danger of many of the chemicals and ingredients in conventional lotions, creams and salves, (not to mention soaps, body washes and shampoos) it is even more important to care for our skin, and our ink in a gentler, natural way.

So,after many tattoos,and trying many different products and regimens to care for them with my ( very)sensitive skin.Here is what I have figured out. ( I have also researched)

A tattoo is essentially an abrasion... a scrape on the skin.  The key is to keep the skin not only happy, but be careful that the ink stays where we want it.  

1. For the first few days cleanse gently with a chemical free soap or cleanser. The often recommended DIAL has a huge amount of chemicals in it including Triclosan  which not only is harmful to the environment  and  helps produce “super bacteria” has also been linked to higher rates of allergies in children.
 Instead use something like Castille Soap, which comes in both bar and liquid forms.  I personally like the Dr. Bronners all in one brand.  You can get it plain, or with Lavender or tea tree oil added.  I use the tea tree version, the lavender would be quite soothing as well. (Tea Tree oil is a natural antibiotic and anti fungal.)

2. Keep it moisturized, lightly.  Don’t use thick ointments that are petroleum based or occlude ( clog) the pores.    Old fashioned tattoo remedies are thick and do occlude the pores, in effect suffocating the wound while it’s healing. For immediate tattoo aftercare, look for a light, oil-based product that allows the skin to “breathe.” Hemp oil, olive oil, coconut oil, as well as almond oil are all good base oils for this. The addition of such botanicals as Tea Tree oil, Lavender, or Honey, only help add to the effectiveness of the moisturizer and the healing properties. ( You could indeed put pure honey on it, as it has wonderful  healing properties...but that is a VERY messy proposition)

3. Avoid the "crusties." For the first day, your tattoo will seep a clear liquid . Try not to let this crust on your skin, but if it does, gently wash it off with warm water. ( Don't PICK)

4. After the tattoo is scabbed, THEN you begin moisturizing with a good unscented, dye-free lotion. Keeping the skin hydrated during the peeling process and long after will help with itchiness, flakiness, and preserving the richness of your tattoo color. Try to stay away from lotions that contain  petroleum.  Instead use a lotion that is rich in fatty acids for free- radical protection and non-greasy hydration. Lotions containing Shea butter, hemp oil,  coconut Oil, Almond or walnut oil as well as olive oil will  work well to keep your skin moisturized and help healing. I ADORE  and totally recommend Warrior Bear Rub by Native Touch.  Pure and natural Shea Butter with added essential oils and herbs. It has been,hands down, the best tattoo aftercare I have ever used.  

5. Watch the ingredients. Lanolin, for example, which comes from sheep's wool, causes allergic reactions in a lot of people. Some tattoo aftercare products also contain  beeswax or petrolatum, and mineral oils which can clog pores, or may contain contaminants. These ingredients are widely popular in over-the-counter creams and lotions because they are cheap and easy to manufacture. The lanolin ( if allergic/ sensitive) and mineral oil found in these lotions can cause excessive seeping, clogging, scabbing, scarring and color loss. Stay away from products that contain mineral oil, propylene glycol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfates or parabens. It is also best to use lotion that is free of dyes and fragrance to keep any potential skin irritants to a minimum. Obviously if you have a known allergy to something like Lanolin, Shea butter, or vitamin E, it is best to avoid putting it anywhere on your skin.

6. Remember to always protect your tattoos from the sun ( the rest of your body also ,but especially your tattoos) sun can cause color fade as well as discoloration. No need to spend extra on "tattoo" sunscreen, as it identical to regular sunscreen.Just find your self a natural,gentle sunscreen that you like and slather it regularly.

You have made the investment in money,  time, planning, pain and perhaps a little blood for a tattoo that speaks to you and who you are, don’t you think that the aftercare, deserves just as much care and attention?