30 Degree Modeling

After an extensive absence from blogging & theatre/modeling in general, I finally have something interesting to contribute other than "oh you know - just been temping". 

I have been itching to start pursuing modeling more seriously since i've moved here, but i'd let things such as money, jobs, hot dogs, time, & general laziness get in my way. Well enough is enough dear friends! My amazing marine boyfriend finally convinced me to put down the ketchup & pick up the hand weights (& thus - confidence), getting rid of the final excuse set out in front of me to keep myself from pursuing my dreams. The first thing I did was re-join Model Mayhem - a facebook like social networking site for models & photographers to meet & do work together. Though there can be a level of creepiness on the site, for instance the other day I was offered a job posing for a "European online web cam site" (if that doesn't say Future Porn Star of America - I don't know what does). But i have found some genuinely nice photographers who are interested in working with me & not kidnapping me, which would turn everything in my pessimistic mind to CSI: Chicago. 

That brings us to this shoot I did yesterday. I had been corresponding with a photographer who was interested in doing TFT (time for trade, essentially work that just builds both of our portfolios), first a test shoot, then a glamour & pin-up shoot. We met a few weeks ago to go over ideas for the shoot, as well as just getting to know each other. It definitely put me at ease the day of the shoot to know that this guy wasn't going to turn this Saturday in to Law & Order: SVU. Through the following weeks we corresponded via email, discussing different location options, as well as wardrobe/hair/etc. It was decided that I would go to MAC to get my makeup done before hand. I also was able to get my friend Eli in on the modeling extravaganza, as he has been trying to get more work & I was trying to feel as comfortable as possible with being there. With his girlfriend (& my good friend) Keely involved, it was a relaxed & comfortable experience the day of the shoot. I was prettified from the sassy & wonderful make up artist at MAC & met my friends at the Sheridan red stop to meet the photographer for a day of extreme modeling.

Now, I say extreme modeling because of the weather. It was probably around 30 degrees outside, with the occasional wind that made it feel arctic to my southern girl soul. We first shot at the Sheridan red line stop underneath the train, a really visually appealing spot with lots of columns. The only issue was the stop-start situation that began to occur, as every five minutes or so a car would drive through our shooting space requiring us to either move to the side or become a permanent fixture of this location. After around an hour of this, we decided to move down to a more industrial location in the West Loop meat packing district. Definitely a cool place. The photographer had Eli & I walking down train tracks towards him, which i felt was a feat as when you mix me in heels & big rocks I have Bella Swann tendencies (that is - the tendency to fall flat on my face, & there were some definite near misses). From there we moved on to some great red doors, stopping to defrost in a coffee shop on the way.

It was definitely a great experience, even with the cold. We finished with the meat packing district & went to one last location - the infamous "bridge to nowhere", which is actually an El-train track that was stripped down except for the bridge, so it stands in over the grounded Metra track right in a tall grass field. It was a great Urban Outfitters feel & we got some great shots. 

So pictures will come later, but overall I feel happy that I am finally doing at least part of what I wanted to do when I moved here. Which was to create, in whatever way I can, art. 

(As a usual lingerie model, it was also nice to wear clothes for once).