A few weeks ago, I had a photoshoot at the Baja Grill. The shoot involved a team of the following pretty cool people: Ian Simpson of IMS FotoGrafix, talented Trisha Sidhu the make-up artist, and beautiful Andrea Pasutti (the other model I was working with).
Cheers,
Aviva 🙂
Photos by Ian Simpson
This article was written by JP Erickson, a fitness photographer whose work appeared in Oxygen Magazine, Fame Magazine, Muscle & Fitness, Pro Wrestling Illustrated, MuscleMag International, Women’s Physique World, Natural Bodybuilding & Fitness and more. It is copyright of JP Erickson has been reposted here with his permission.
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Should you use a model alias or your real name when doing shoots?
Let’s start with the premise that whatever direction you choose to go, be consistent. Remember: You’re creating a product or brand, said product being you the model. If fans and industry people can’t find that product on the store shelves, you’re not doing your job.
If you do one shoot with your real name, the next with an alias and the following shoot with yet another alias, you’re confusing the matter. Make your choice; practice consistency.
I strongly recommend using a model alias. There are multiple reasons for making this choice.
As a fitness model, your product is your physique. In this business, a sexy hard body sells. When you’re showing off that hard body, some of your shoots will feature minimal clothing.
You may be fine with that image, but there will always be people that are far less accepting of this than you are. This could be anyone from your employer to family members. An alias in the model world gives you an extra layer of privacy in the real world.
The person you are today might be quite different from the person you will be five years from now. Right now, the spotlight might be great, but what happens if you need more anonymity in the future? Creating a model alias provides you with extra options in the future.
One of the major reasons why the web is a superior vehicle to print is that once you publish something on the web, it keeps working to bring you exposure long after a print piece dies. Excellent when you want the exposure, but should you ever decide to change directions, your published web material awaits discovery by anyone curious enough to Google your name. Again, a model alias provides you with that extra security should you decide to take a different direction with your life.
If you compete, you can create a model alias and compete under that name. From a marketing standpoint, this is the best strategy as it’s going to give you maximum exposure for your product, that product being you.
If you’re unsure, start by using your first name only as your model alias. Better to err on the side of caution than start with your real name and then attempt to undo what’s been done. Keep in mind that once your name is out there, it’s there for the world to see.
If you’re going to create a model alias, you need to put some thought into your name. Look at it from the perspective of naming a new product. You want something that is easy to remember and easy to pronounce. Avoid cutesy sounding names. People might call you buff and people might call you hot, but Buff Hottie as your model name likely isn’t a good choice.
Once you’ve selected potential candidates, the next step is research. Google your name and make certain you haven’t selected one that belongs to an adult star or mass murderer. As important, make sure the corresponding URL is available so that you can purchase the domain name to go with your model alias. This is the first step in building your product and something we will explore in future articles.
There you have it – a new name and product waiting for you to take it to market.
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I would like to thank JP for sharing this article. You can view more information and articles on his website, Muscle Model 101
Cheers,
Aviva 🙂
Now that the holiday season is here, you are probably being invited to many gatherings that involve delicious food. Turkeys, stuffing, red wine, prime rib steaks, cakes, candies, chocolates, and other deserts are on your mind.
Additionally, there seems to be no time for exercise as you are going from one party that revolves around amazing food to another. At the same time, you are doing your last minute shopping, cooking, and more.
The holiday season is a time where people usually take a break from their diet and exercise regimens. That’s fine. However, to make it easier for you to deal with the holidays, here are a few tips on how you can enjoy the season, eat the food you like and still maintain your ideal weight.
1. Don’t deprive yourself of delicious foods. If you want that piece of cake, go ahead and have a small piece. If you keep depriving yourself, eventually you will end up binging, and that is worse for you than having a small piece when you really want it.
2. Control your portions. You can have a taste of every delicious food item on your friend’s party table, but there is no need to go for seconds or thirds.
3. Stay hydrated. Drinking water or tea curbs your hunger, which will help you keep your portions under control when it comes time to eat.
4. Make exercise a part of your holiday routine with your friends and family. For example, instead of sitting and watching a movie, go for a nice walk downtown where you can enjoy window shopping and sharing the festivities with other people. Exercise can also help you deal with the stress of the holiday season.
5. Eat slower. When you eat slower, you savour the taste of that yummy food, and eating slower also keeps you from overeating because you get full sooner.
6. Don’t skip meals. You might think that skipping breakfast and lunch because you were invited to come to a large turkey dinner is a good idea, but such thought can backfire because when you are very hungry, you will eat more than you intend to. Ultimately, you will end up taking in more calories in that one meal than you would have if you had eaten your breakfast and lunch.
7. Don’t eat junk foods like chips. Chips are filled with trans fat and empty calories. If you must have something “bad”, have a small piece of your favorite holiday treat. You will be happier, as opposed to blowing your caloric budget on junk food that you can eat all-year-round.
8. Control your intake of liquid calories. Alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, and other beverages can rack up the calories very quickly if you are not careful. Try limiting your alcoholic drinks to only one or maybe two. As for soft drinks, skip them.
9. If there are vegetables and fruit at the party, eat those first. Fruits and vegetables are delicious, healthy, and they can help keep your cravings down.
10. Aim to maintain your weight, as opposed to dieting. The holiday season is probably the worst time of the year to start dieting, and besides diets don’t last, but healthy eating habits do.
Happy Holidays!
Aviva 🙂
Are you out of ideas of what to get your friends, family, and acquaintances for the holidays?
When deciding what types of gifts to give people, a couple of things have to be considered:
1. Your budget. You can’t spend your whole month’s salary on gifts…well, I mean you could if you really wanted to and I’m sure your friends/family would really love you for it (they do anyways).
2. What they like…such as their hobbies, favorite books, etc. For example, if your friend likes fitness, you can’t get him/her a World Of Warcraft game membership and expect them to be satisfied with the gift, although they won’t show their disappointment.
In this post, I am going to talk about some gift ideas for those who are interested in photography, modeling, fashion, and fitness.
BOOKS:They are pretty inexpensive, and people love to read about stuff that interests them. A good book is something that your friend can keep, refer to, and pass on to others when they are done reading it. There is a huge selection of books on Amazon. Take a look at some of them and see if they interest you or someone you know.
Photography:1. The Digital Photography Book
Scott Kelby has a great reputation in the photographic world, and therefore his work is worth paying attention to.
2. Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera
3. True Confessions of Nude Photography: A step-by-step guide to recruiting beautiful models, lighting, photographing nudes, post-processing images, and maybe even getting paid to do it.
If you know someone who is into art nude photography, this book is worth a read. It talks about techniques, how to get the good photos, and how to find models who are willing to shoot nude.
4. Life: A Journey Through Time
5. Lighting Techniques for Photographing Model Portfolios: Strategies for Digital Photographers
Includes photographs, tips, techniques, and much more from the amazing photographer Billy Pegram.
6. Christopher Grey’s Studio Lighting Techniques for Photography: Tricks of the Trade for Professional Digital Photographers by Christopher Grey
7. The Complete Photographer by Tom Ang
8. The Photographer’s Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos by Michael Freeman.
9. Complete Digital Photography, Fifth Edition by Ben Long
10. Outdoor Glamour Photography: The Complete Digital Guide to Taking Successful Outdoor Glamour Photographs by Bill Lemon
Modeling:1. Almost 5’4″
This is a story about a short model who took charge of her own career and the persistence that it took overcome her setbacks, from going homeless, to landing gigs with Macy’s and Victoria’s Secret, this book will inspire young women who are passionate about modeling.
2. Model Life: The Journey of a Pint-Size Fashion Warrior
3. Break into Modeling for Under $20
4. How to Become a Successful Commercial Model: The Complete Commerical Modeling Cookbook
5. The Professional’s Guide to Modeling
6. Complete Guide for Models: Inside Advice from Industry Pros for Fashion Modeling
7. Your Modeling Career: You Don’t Have to Be a Superstar to Succeed
8. The Business of Professional Modeling
9. 500 Poses for Photographing Women: A Visual Sourcebook for Portrait Photographers
10. Model: A Memoir
Fitness:1. 101 Workouts for Women: Everything You Need to Get a Lean, Strong and Fit Physique
2. The AbSmart Fitness Plan: The Proven Workout to Lose Inches and Strengthen Your Core Without Straining Your Back
3. Body for Life: 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strength
4. Eating For Life
5. Runner’s World Complete Book of Women’s Running: The Best Advice to Get Started, Stay Motivated, Lose Weight, Run Injury-Free, Be Safe, and Train for Any Distance
6. The Butt Book: How to Build a Non-Cellulite and Fat-Free Butt in 9 Weeks
7. Transformation: The Mindset You Need. The Body You Want. The Life You Deserve
8.Keeping Fitness Simple: 500 Tips for Fitting Exercise into Your Life
9. Women’s Weight Training and Bodybuilding Tips and Routines (The Best of Joe Weider’s Muscle and Fitness)
10. The Jennifer Nicole Lee Fitness Model Diet: JNL’s Super Fitness Model Secrets To A Sexy, Strong, Sleek Physique
11. The Mind, Body & Soul Diet: Your Complete Transformational Guide to Health, Healing & Happiness
MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS: Magazines, when they are not filled with useless ads, are great whether you are looking for photographic inspiration, fashion/fitness/beauty tips, and posing references.
1. Cosmopolitan
2. Esquire
3. Oxygen
5. InStyle
6. Marie Claire
7. Vogue
8. Health
9. Fitness
10. Self
11. Runner’s World (1-year auto-renewal)
13. Harper’s BAZAAR (1-year auto-renewal)
14. Elle
15. Fashion Magazine
17. W Magazine
18. Women’s Running
19. Redbook Magazine
20. Muscle & Fitness
Fashion/Clothing & Gift Certificates: People LOVE gift Cards!!
2. Malibu Strings Gift Card http://www.malibustrings.com/
4. Victoria’s Secret Gift Card http://www.victoriassecret.com/
5. Lululemon Gift Card http://www.lululemon.com/
6. Garage Gift Card http://www.shopgarageonline.com/
7. JCPenney Gift Card http://www.jcpenney.com/
8. Lord & Taylor White Gift Card
9. Dangerous Curves Swimwear Gift Card
10. Guess Gift Card
Other Gift Cards: Gift Cards are great! 🙂
CAMERAS: If you can afford it, and have friends who are into photography, giving them a camera for Christmas will make a big difference to them. Based on reviews and looking at people’s wishlists, I came up with the following list, in no particular order:
1. Nikon D90 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera (Great for Beginners)
2. Nikon D200 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera
3. Nikon D300s 12MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera
4. Nikon D700 12.1MP FX-Format CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD
5. Nikon D7000 16.2MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR with 3.0-Inch LCD (Good for Beginners)
6. Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens and 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD
7. Nikon D3S 12.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD and 24fps 720p HD Video Capability
8. Canon EOS Rebel T1i 15.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD and EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens
9. Canon EOS 5D 12.8 MP Digital SLR Camera
10. Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-inch LCD
11. Canon Rebel XS 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens
12. Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens
Of course, if you are getting someone a camera, check out some lenses too.
Nikon Lenses:
1. Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF Zoom Nikkor Lens 
2. Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor Wide Angle Zoom Lens
3. Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
4. Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor Zoom Lens
5. Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR Lens
Canon Lenses:1. Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens
2. Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens
3. Canon EF 100mm f/2 USM Telephoto Lens
4. Canon EF 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye Lens
5. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens
6. Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens
7. Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Standard Zoom Lens
Other Ideas:1.AVON Items
3. Ansel Adams 2011 Wall Calendar
5. Fashion 101: A Crash Course in Clothing
6. The End of Fashion: How Marketing Changed the Clothing Business Forever
7.Avedon Fashion 1944-2000
9. How to Set Up and Run a Fashion Label
Disclosure: Some of the links on this page will take you to Amazon. Any purchases you make through Amazon by clicking my links will help me with my university expenses, contributions to local charities, and more.
Natasha Lazarovic is a very talented up and coming fashion designer and model from Edmonton, Alberta. She is of Ukrainian heritage, which is one of the reasons her clothing line is called Temna Fialka.
Natasha’s designs include custom Eastern European inspired pieces, which are unique and never duplicated. She is amazing at what she does! I am very happy to have been able to interview her 🙂
Image Credits:
Photo: Arianna Biasini
Retouching: Sunny Baker
Model: Catherine Guo
Hair: Grateful Head Hair Salon
AVIVA: How long have you been a clothing designer?
NATASHA LAZAROVIC:I have been making and designing clothes since I was about 7 but began seriously designing and selling things when I was 20.
AVIVA: How did you come up with the name “Temna Fialka”?
NL:Temna Fialka means Dark Violet in Ukrainian and has always been with me since I was a little girl, so I found it only fitting to name my company that. 😉
AVIVA: How did you get started with designing clothes?
NL: My Mom used to sew our evening wear dresses as children and our Halloween Costumes so I spent alot of time mimicking her on her beat up 70’s Singer until I started to figure it out. For some reason it always fascinated me and was almost methodical for me in a way.
Image Credits:
Photo: Arianna Biasini
Model: Catherine Guo
Retouching: Sunny Baker
AVIVA:Do you have any designers that inspire you, if so, who?
NL:I believe that artists are so readily inspired by each other, whether it be color, print, cut, styling – something about a simple shot can set your creative wheel spinning. But there are some Designers I have alot of respect for as Artists, and these include Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Tiffa Novoa, John-Paul Gaultier and then artists like Frida Kahlo and Salvador Dali.
AVIVA: What,in your opinion, is the most exciting thing about being a fashion designer?
NL: That I am able to create Art from a fabric media. The endless possibilities that can come from a simple bolt of fabric, a box of tails, old couch apolstry, re-used records, leather – pretty much anything is fascinating to me and ever engaging.
Image Credits:
Make-Up & Hair: Manuela Bonanni
Model: Kayla Gagnon
Photographer: Samantha Scharf
AVIVA:Do you have any crazy/funny/weird/interesting photoshoot story that you would like to share?
NL:LOL. I really enjoy my international adventures and the amazing artists and people I meet along the way (especially at airports ;)). I think one of my most recent favorites would be my work with photographer Anisa Nin and our adventures in the ever mysterious and surprising North Dakota. 😉
AVIVA: What else do you like to do besides clothing design (other passions/interests here)?
NL: I teach High Risk Inner City Kids Fashion and Design, I write Slavic Gypsy Music, I paint and sculpt, love music, culture and a good bottle of wine! LOL
Image Credits:
Photo: MT Photography
Hair: The Beauty Lounge
Model: Qidi Gao
Make-Up: Janelle Ford
AVIVA: How would you best describe your style?
NL: My personal style – Chic Urban Gypsy.
My work – One of a kind cultural high fashion art forms.
AVIVA:If money/time were no option, where would you like your designs to go (ie. career goals, etc)?
NL: Everywhere. If I could touch every country, media and person, whether they loved or disregarded my work – as long as it inspired them in some way and they took a minute to view it- that would be enough. 😉
I wish Natasha much success in the fashion industry! She has an amazing collection of designs, and you can check out more of her work on Model Mayhem
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Stay tuned for more images, interviews, modeling tips, and more!
Aviva
Photo By: IMS FotoGrafix Model/Hair/Make-up: Me
Swimsuit by Savilla Swimwear
This second image below, was yet another one of my attempts at retouching. I enjoy doing it, so I am very happy that Ian lets me retouch the images sometimes. 
This suit is great in every way. I love the ruffles on the top and the way the bottoms fit. Not to mention the sarong that goes with the suit. I wish I had this suit and the necklace when I did the Nifty Magazine submission…well, there’s always next time 🙂
Have a wonderful day!
Always,
Aviva
Photo By: IMS FotoGrafix, Model/Make-up/Hair: Me
Swimsuit by Savilla Swimwear
This photo was another one of my attempts at retouching. Of course, when Ian takes a photo and then teaches me how to use PhotoShop CS4, I am not one to get the retouching credit on this one. 🙂
This is my absolute favorite swimsuit by Savilla. I love the way it fits, the colours, and how it looks.
Cheers,
Aviva
