Old goals, and new ones

By Cadence McCarrel

Last year I had some goals for 2014.  A model of the month contest, a cover, more publications, a print magazine ( as in one that can be bought at a store) merchandising work.

Well, I didn't get  any but the publications during 2014...BUT the first part of 2015, has been pretty good!

In January, I got my first cover, ( GEM Magazine, out of the UK) for their "Glitz and Glam" Edition.
In February, I won my first Model of The Month competition for The Alternative Model Directory ( for Cosplay) I also got in contact with a wonderful hat maker who will loan me her lovely handmade hats to shoot in.  So I met the goals a little late...better late than never!

More publications, are certainly on their way this year, as last year, which is a good thing.  This makes me happy too.

So I suppose, I will carry over the goals I did not meet to this year, and add some more?

So for 2015 my goals are:
A printed magazine
More paid work
more merchandising work
To go to more casting calls
Keep learning, keep refining, keep networking

Onward and Upward!

By Wolfshead Photography

Workshops

By: Blue Note Images

What about workshops?  Well, they are a great way to meet other models and photographers, thats what.
There are typically between 4-15 photographers , you get to work with most, if not all ofthem,and you get at least a couple pictures back from most of them ( make sure to pass on your card/contact info...otherwise how do they get hold of you?) It can also lead to individual work with particular photographers.
You get to meet other models, and see how they move and work- which can help you refine your own look as well.
The only downside is that there is GROUP of photographers,all trying to get their shot, and hearing the different directions all at once can be confusing.... the best groups are the ones that give each person a turn to direct, so as to make it easier for all involved.
How does one get involved?  Keep an eye on casting calls, and if any of your regular photographers teach as well...ask! They might not know if you are interested, unless you do!

Some workshops even pay, but at the very least, they are typically TFP.

Workshops...they are worth it!

I Am...and where I want to go

                                                      Photo by: G&D Studios


I am,as I have said before, a geek girl at heart.  But I am also an artist.... So while being drawn to cosplay and fun nerdy shoots, I am also drawn to deep, dark mysterious, moody and artistic shoots....I am more than happy to stand and show off clothes, or be silly and quirky if that is what you want me to do, but I want to do more too.

What does that mean to me,exactly?  Well that is when it gets hard to explain...how to explain "art" I want things that evoke a response, an emotion.I want to do things that haven't been seen before, I want to push my limits...I want to push the photographers limits.  Sometimes I want black and white and gritty images, but there is nothing wrong with pageantry and color either.

I suppose that I am a creature of contrasts...as truthfully, most people are. I like finding people that I can explore those contrasts with.  And I am very lucky that I have found more than one...and even more lucky that I can call them friends.

So, after being gone from here for the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Holidays....1. I am thankful for photographers that will explore those contrasts with me. and I resolve to work more with them in the upcoming year.  ( and also do my best to be better about posting here more often. )

Though that brings up....what kind of content would you want to see here in this next year?  Musings? ( Images are a given) more informational things about the industry as I see it?    Let me know what YOU want to see.

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 .

Patience

                              Photo by Cadence McCarrel



There are just a very few photographers that I do TFP regularly( trade for picture) with....Mostly because these are the ones that took a chance on me...the ones that brought me in ( and kept bringing me in) when I had no idea what I was doing...the ones that I am SUPER comfortable in and will pretty much shoot any wacky idea I come up with ( as I would do the same for them) Other than that, I get paid for shoots for the most part....even if that payment consists of a percentage of procedes from sales ( of calendars, prints whatever ) Payment does not have to be immediate.

However, when working TFP, there are things that one must remember.  Like patience.  Paid work for that photographer comes FIRST...that is how they pay the bills, eat, and all that other good stuff.  Trade work can and does get put on the back burner. The edits might take a while.... and bugging the photographer for them, is just bad form.

( Now if one is  GETTING paid to shoot...ANY edits they give you are nice, be appreciative!  They have all ready paid you for your time, unless agreed upon beforehand,they don't HAVE to give you anything else...remember that)

Above all, treat your photographers as you would like to be treated..with respect, and dare I say ,kindness?  This business can get catty, and snarky and ego driven....but you don't have to add to that.  Be NICE, you will be remembered for it.  

Dressing up and not

                                Photo by Wolfshead Photography


I admit, part of what I love about modeling is dressing up,and  playing characters for an afternoon, ( or morning) I get to be soft, or sultry, or my own nerdy self.  I get to be a badass, or a space alien, or wrapped in saran.... it is only limited by my ( and my photographers) creativity and the money I/ we want to spend.

I recently did a tattoo focused shoot,and for the first time I did a total  implied.( which for those that don't know that term, it simply means implied nudity.  Nothing is showing in the image...weather it be through draping or posing or sometimes shadows or props... but the model, behind that, is nude.)  The images are FB friendly, and again,show nothing, but the implication, of course....

So anyway, these really were the first total implied I have done ( I have done partials before) And though I am a little nervous about how they well turn out, I also know it is pretty much the best way to actually show all my front tattoo.

It isn't that nudity bothers me...it doesn't.  I model nude for art classes and clubs all the time.  For me there are two factors 1. nude, once it's on the Internet it is there forever...and 2. I must feel comfortable and dare I say feel the correct respect and vibes from the photographer.  Some I get that from, some I don't get that from...I suppose the other factor as petty as it sounds, is I won't  do it for free ( there are always some exceptions to that rule- life is like that...but the respect and vibe...that is non negotiable. )

So , there is nothing wrong with nudes...but make sure you are respected, feel safe and are not/ have not been pressured into it... and you know what? Don't give it away for free, you are worth more than that. ( and payment can be images that YOU KNOW will be works of art, it can be money, it can be something else you are bartering for... preferably it is for money AND art,) but don't do it for just anyone, and anytime....Am I making sense?

Gifts

By Gaylord Walter

I know, again, I apologise for not posting more often, and my excuse is the same.  I have not been shooting very much, but have been working mostly as an art model for the last couple months or so.  
Art modeling for me is much more consistent with bookings and pay than the print, or even promo modeling is, and I always love seeing how different artists will interpret the same pose, the same person, and in the classes even the same instructions....but they all come up with such different pieces.  And though I have seen all these lovely pieces, I very rarely actually get any.  ( a couple sketches here and there) And none ever finished.

This is a finished piece that a lovely gentleman by the name of Gaylord Walters brought in for me.  He is older, with a wry sense of humor, and he is a regular at a couple different drawing clubs that I model for. He brought this in for me, on a board, wrapped in plastic and very neatly wrapped in paper...When I thanked him sincerely for it, he said "you haven't even seen it yet"  I said I don't have to, because just the thought that he brought it in to give to me, I was floored by.

For me, when someone gifts you with something they have made, a piece of art from them, that is the type of gift that should be honored, and cherished, and trust me, I do.