31 July 2009

thoughts on the situation

Blogging is new. Well, to me it is. Since I am a very secretive person, I don't usually enjoy putting my thoughts down for other people to read. But, I'm getting used to it.
I found this website, myfashionlife, which was pretty interesting to flip through. It reads on fashion, models, vintage, as well as some of the business and politics behind the industry. I shouldn't pimp out other sites, but this one is worth the look.
So after making a wonderful espresso, and confirming a dentist appointment, I am back in front of the computer planning my trip to Israel for the winter. I'm far too excited, and it will be great to spend a little money over there.

30 July 2009

Shooter shooter




Today, we were on location at a flower gallery, which meant a TON of color. I don't do color very often, so this was quite a change. One photographer wanted a very commercial look, and, lucky me, the other photographer wanted drama and darkness, almost a sophisticated and modern femme fatal type. I was wearing black denim pencil leg jeans, by Habitual, as well as an un-tucked white button down men's style shirt with a SWORD leather jacket over, which was later switched into a plain cropped vest. The make up was clean, and classic, no not a ton of retouching from the hot hot heat we were working with. California sun gleams pretty damn hard in the summer.
These were all taken by one of the photographer's assistants, the actually photographs will be through editing shortly, and then into the books! In this business, it's all about waiting for the results. Patience, because photo editing takes freaking forever.

Yes. it's that good.

Now, being a model is fun. Acting, although more challenging, is also more rewarding, but modeling...that's where the fun stuff is. It's dress up for adults. You can put on crazy, and I mean CRAZY outfits, with head pieces or body paint, all to create a new idea for yourself. When you have the right team, the shoot will get very exciting, you really start to become a new person!

But today, I'm plain old me. My best friend went into the hospital for a very minor surgery, and I was able to go in with her and her parents (my mommy and daddy #2). It was a very laid back day, from start to finish, with a bit of Thai food for a late lunch (I went for the Grilled Shrimp salad, which was spicy as all hell) at Thai Stick just south of the city.

After, some TV watching (Bad Girls Guide, with Jenny McCarthy!!), some of the ladies came over and we went to the Elephant Bar for dinner and drinks. Now, I'm not a big fan of chain restaurants, I think its ridiculous it is to have "ready made food" and slap a $20 charge on it. I would certainly rather do my own cooking. Damn chain restaurants.

But, drinks were cut short due to schedules. I needed to get back home to I could get a run in before bedtime. Shoot tomorrow, very colorful and lovely, so stay tuned for some images as they roll in.

28 July 2009

The things that wouldn't burn in the fire

...because they are too godly to be destroyed.

Now, I a very realistic shopper. I don't think it is right to spend $900 on one single pair of shoes, because you are truly paying a 50% mark up which is DIRECT profit to the designer. These shoes are MASS PRODUCED like every other heel. The reason people, women actually, pay so damn much for them is because of the lifestyle they encompass. They are teetering on torture with their 5+ inch heel height, they scream a life in which the wearer sits 98% of their work day, and to top it all off, they are not meant to be work on an everyday basis. This means, if one would have the desire, and physical ability, to wear these shoes every day, they would either have to rotate between 20 or 30 pairs each month to keep the wearing to a minimum, OR have the budget to purchase a new pair each time the heel wears through to the metal.

And with all of this messed up, morally corrupt nonsense that is designer fashions, I will still purchase these in a heartbeat, and wear them around my house, while dancing to Kiss in my underwear. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

PS. I would like these for Hanukkah


Thank you for your consideration.

26 July 2009

Happy Birthday, big man!




Friday night, it was play night for me. Dressed in very high black to the knee suede boots, I hit the town with some good friends (some new, some old) to celebrate my very good friend Robert's birthday. At one point, we were boyfriend and girlfriend, but thankfully, we were able to stay friends (really good ones at that) after the break up. And this amazing man deserved a huge birthday extravaganza, so after dinner and drinks at the factory of cheesecake, we proceeded to drink more, and dance with everyone at a local Irish bar called Molly McGee's.
At the end of the night, I had been married to a new friend, named Dante who was from Los Angeles, California. This is what happens when I drink.

high as a kite


At times, when I am waiting to hear back about a go-see or audition, I wish had some LSD or magic mushrooms so I could pass the time in a more creative way. Waiting, not knowing, is the worst part of this job. In other jobs that I have had in the past 15 years of my life, (I've been working practically since I would walk to school by myself) I was able to read my employer, to see if I was doing well, or not well. But in this industry, they judge with no look on their face, and you just don't know. So I wait.

25 July 2009

If I tell you, I'll have to kill you.

Once upon a time, there was girl who wanted to be a super hero. So, she went to as many super hero training classes as she possibly could, and began her super hero duties, with her new super hero friends and co workers.
The difficult part wasn't saving people from burning buildings, or keeping the bad guys away from the good guys, but, it was keeping her identity hidden from the people who wouldn't accept her for being a super hero. This made her life quite secretive, which she thought would be acceptable, until slowly lines started to blur.
See, this girl wanted so much to let everyone know what she had been doing for a living, but it is very easy for a super hero to 'fall from grace,' as it is said. One poorly executed save, and a super hero can be put out to pasture, not before everyone is told of their poor super skills.
For fear that she wouldn't be good enough, she decided to keep her mouth shut about her work, rather than lie about it or try to let people understand.


Modeling is made out to be a very glamorous job, which it is at certain times of course. But, like all jobs, there is work, and the reward that comes from all of the work. Now, I wish I didn't have to exercise as much as I do, or pay a trainer far too much to keep me accountable (and I have grown to despise the taste of ice cream, thank goodness), but it is a small price to pay for the fun times I have on set. And who knows, maybe I'll get to wear a cape in the near future.


oh, and this photograph was taken by Jerry Mok, a fantastic shoot in the back of a Japanese restaurant in San Mateo, California. Looks like I was channeling my evil villain side.

24 July 2009

Healthy bad food


I boiled some whole wheat thin spaghetti, while caramelizing some diced purple onion. After the onions were nice and golden (and smelling like heaven) I put in some already grilled (and refrigerated cause I'm lazy) sliced chicken breast. In goes a head of broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces, and covered for them to steam up and soften. About two minutes into that, I throw in the drained and al dente spaghetti, and mix it all together. Serve with some Gruyere cheese, along with The Dreamers, starring the dreamy Michael Pitt and the beautiful late 1960's and France. What could be better? Ah, yes, a glass of wine. Maybe next time.

23 July 2009

Little did I know


Julia Stegner is a very well known model, but I just came to realize that she joins the ranks along with the much publicized Angelina Jolie as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UNHCR. I suppose they scout beautiful women with great public speaking skills with a will to change for this role.
I had a dream last night that my Booker had emailed me two new go sees, once at 7pm and another that had been earlier in the day. And In my dream it was 6pm already (and I knew I wasn't going to get the 7pm job).

Now let me say, I have never missed or have even been late to a go see or audition. I like being early so I can collect myself, and not be rushed into anything. Because travel into the city for me takes about 40 minutes, I can rush my ass off until I get into my car, then there is nothing left to be done. No more make up, no more changing clothes, it is what it is.

Last week, that is how I felt when I was on my way up to a couple go sees. One was for a Levi's Campaign (the 3rd time I have been asked back for them) and the other for a role in a film. BUT, I knew I wasn't going to get this jobs either, not because I was running late, but more of the fact that I felt sloppy. I hadn't been taking care of my body (again, I know), and I hadn't prepared myself. So as much as I did my best on the day, because I had allowed my performance to go unrehearsed, I sabotaged my own work.

Now, I am paranoid that I missed work, and feel the need to check my email every ten minutes. (And that paid off, more or less, the Men's Divis. Agent sent out a agency wide email asking for models that can skate board, Yes I can! but tricks? Nope, I can make it look pretty when I fall hard though. Does that count?)

DermaQuest

A few weeks ago my friend had 5 models, including myself, shoot some head shots, which I imagine will be the advertising for DermaQuests new makeup line, as well as (my favorite part) some on camera "makeup tutorials". My amazing mua, Coleen, had the topic of Natural Blush, which is nice for me because my freckles usually take over my face. Coleen had the tough part, 5 minutes of speaking, with out swearing mind you, in a straight forward, effective manner is difficult if you aren't used to being in front of the lens. After a few takes, she got it down wonderfully, and we had a few laughs for the blooper reel as well. I was lucky enough to find some time to snap a few pictures of some of the other beautiful models who were shooting along side of me.

Richard Seagraves, one of my favorite photographers and friendliest person to work with. That must be my friend who got me into this shoot Katharina, or Nora to the left.

This model had the shakes, so we all had to "shake it out" and try to get the nerves out. Her pictures were fantastic.

I tried to flirt with all of the camera crew...Besides Richard, they were the only ones on set with testosterone! What's a girl to do?

This isn't a snap of Coleen and me, but I have to share this little story. She needed to wear a small clip on mike under her blouse, and because it kept falling, the crew had to look down her top every few minutes to 'readjust'. We got a few jokes in about the real reason they were looking. She had a good rack, after all, what's a boy to do?

Day one.

At nearly 6 am, I still haven't gone to sleep. I would love to say that I have been working, jet setting around the globe, but the fact is, I had to clean my bedroom. From vacuuming the floors, to going through the closet and sorting items into 'throw away' and 'goodwill' boxes, I spent my night hours ridding my life of clutter. Hopefully, the physical clutter was some sort of cathartic gateway for the more, lets say, non physical tolls that have been impending.

Now, I will be honest, less than a year ago, there is no way I would have taken the idea of being a professional model seriously. In June of 2008, I was on my way to Isiolo, Kenya from spending my entire life in the US (I did go to Mexico and Canada though). Like most freshly 21 year olds, I had to get out of the box that I had made myself, and for me that was working for a health clinic. I wish I could say that it was the need to help other people, but the decision to go had a lot to do with wasting my physical body. I wasn't living a healthy life, or what I thought was healthy anyways. I ate what I wanted, smoked, drank a bit much, I wasted money that I spent a long time earning and saving. I started talking to people that I normally didn't talk to, and researching some organizations, watching documentaries, and writing people who were, and still are trying to help people who have no means of helping themselves. I have been spoiling myself, when there are people who don't have the chance to blow there money in Las Vegas, or smoke a pack of cigarettes in two days. Some people want to succeed, and I wanted to "give them a Steph" to help them do it. So, after contacting one of the women who ran Mamahope.org, I got a meeting.

Then comes early October 2008. The meeting. I was nervous, but just in the back of my mind was the thought of "if this doesn't fly, then do whatever makes you happy". I'm sitting at the restaurant, 15 minutes early, I figure she'll be at least 5 minutes late because of the traffic I just missed. 15 minutes into the supposed meeting time, still no show. 30 minutes, still sipping on my now room temperature Pepsi, and chatting up an older grampa looking type next to me. I finally get a call from the woman, she JUST left the office. A thought passed through my head that this meeting is already in the crapper. She gets there, strokes my ego of being young, innocent and full of naive life, then pulls out all the stops. I am too young, need to go out of the country more, and every one there hates white women. I put on a smiley face until she leaves, the I realize I had just gotten shot down while pleading for the thing I have had my heart set on.
Replaying the conversation in my mind, I realized that every time she said no, I had a valid and respectful rebuttal that should have made her say yes. I had backers, I know people in Kenya, I mean, no I won't get a body guard in case people really do hate white 21 year olds.

My friend, who was managing models at the time, finds me after that meeting of torture, and says, "Look, how about you try a few modeling gigs, and see how it goes. If its fun, keep going, if not, then you can move on to the next thing." So I did. And here I am. In January, I gave myself 6 months to get signed. In March, I got a call from City Model Management, by April the papers were signed.

Now, its the hard part. But we can pick up that story later on.