My Favorite 10 Inspiring Success Quotes for the Month of July

Starting this month…I’ve decided to bring something new to AH Life & Style. I want to share with you quotes that inspire me, and help me get through days when I feel disappointed in something.

Doesn’t everyone sometimes feel disappointed in something?

Sometimes, all you need is an inspirational message/quote from someone you admire in order to get yourself re-fired up.

So, without further delays…here are my July Quote Picks and why I chose them:

1. Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally. ~David Frost
WHY? I am a big believer in doing what you love and have a huge passion for. When you’re doing what you feel is great for YOU, you will keep trying, and eventually, if you stick at it long enough, you will be one of the best at it. When you’re one of the best at it, don’t you think you’ve succeeded?

2. There is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way. ~Christopher Morley

WHY? Well, if you’re not living life on your own terms…then whose life are you living? The best reward for succeeding at something is that you can keep doing what you want and have the freedom to choose what you would like to do and when. In other words, if you are rich/wealthy, but you have to work 80 hours a week at a job you hate, is the money really worth it for you?

3. Flaming enthusiasm, backed up by horse sense and persistence, is the quality that most frequently makes for success. ~Dale Carnegie
WHY? Your enthusiasm shows passion to people around you. Then, if you have a good idea of where you want to go, you will be more able to make a plan and try to follow it. As you’re following your plan, you must be persistent because there will be roadblocks that you will have to take care of before you arrive at your destination. Also, it is enthusiasm that will help you break through those roadblocks.

4. Eighty percent of success is showing up. ~Woody Allen

WHY? I think that this one especially applies to modeling and just general business sense. You can only miss an appointment or flake so many times before people mark you as “unreliable” and will never give you anymore chances. I knew a girl who flaked 3 times on one of the top glamour/fitness/fashion photographers in Canada, until eventually he has had enough and said “Well, I guess that’s it, then. Good luck”. Talk about a bad business move…

5. Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. ~Winston Churchill
WHY? When you are pursuing something, you will encounter many roadblocks as well as sometimes take paths that take you in the wrong direction. It’s very important to remain positive because the more you fail, the closer you are to success (whatever that may be for you).

6. There is no point at which you can say, “Well, I’m successful now. I might as well take a nap.” ~Carrie Fisher
WHY? I think that the achievement of one goal is the starting point for another.
7. Sometimes in life you don’t always feel like a winner, but that doesn’t mean you’re not a winner. ~Lady Gaga
WHY? Everyone occasionally goes through times when they are disappointed that their hard work did not yield the desired results they are looking for. That’s OK, because often along the way they don’t realize the value of the experience, which can one day make a difference between winning and losing.
 
8. Whenever I hear, ‘It can’t be done,’ I know I’m close to success. ~Michael Flatley
WHY? There are always people around who will say “that’s impossible” or “that can’t be done” but what’s important is that you have a vision and you are on a mission to make that vision come true.
 
9. Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.~ Thomas A. Edison
WHY? There is always the “what if factor”… as in…”what if after having 999 doors slammed in your face, the 1000th will open and all the 999 times times of rejection/failure will be worth the whatever it is that’s behind the 1000th door?” If you quit after failure #999, then you will never experience the success that awaits you behind door 1000. Then you really have failed not because you were rejected, but because you quit.
 
10. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not lived at all. In which case, you’ve failed by default. ~J.K. Rowling
WHY? Nothing risked, nothing gained. The greater the sacrifice, the greater the reward. If you are too afraid of risk and failure, you will never ever find out what you are capable of and how far you can go.

 

(Oh, I’m sure that when I go through these 10 years from now, I will have a completely different reason why I chose these right now)

What are some inspirational quotes that you like?

Your online friend,
Aviva =)

A Photo of Me Wins Daily Deviation on Deviant Art :)

Do you recall my collaboration with Eriko Y., Nightshade Beauty (Kat), and Shimon Karmel for Eriko’s entry into Contessa Awards 2010?

It did not win Contessa, but it did win Daily Deviation on DeviantArt, it has now been added to 600+ “favorites” lists by other DeviantArt members, and received over 10,000 views on Kat’s (NightshadeBeauty) portfolio on DeviantArt in a very short period of time.

I was thrilled to hear that this is Kat’s 2nd time winning Daily Deviation for her outstanding make-up and bodypaint work. She is an all-round artist, and is definitely one of my favorite make-up artists to work with. When it comes to art, Kat puts her passion into everything she does.

Although we did not win Contessa, I believe that everyone who took part in the shoot put in a lot of work into making this a successful collaboration. In my honest definition, a successful photographic collaboration is one that results in images that are portfolio-worthy for all the people involved in the photoshoot. I feel that we have achieved that, and I am very happy to have been a part of this.
Kudos go out to Kat, Eriko, and Shimon. Wishing you guys all the best!

Differentiation in the World of Modeling

Almost a year ago, I took a marketing class as part of my program, and the subject of “differentiation” came up. Back then, of course, I only thought of it as a vocabulary word, but now I am able to think of the possible ways to apply this concept of “differentiation” to modeling.

So, you’re probably thinking…”what the heck is differentiation and why am I speaking about it on a fashion/lifestyle blog?” Differentiation is “the process of making a product/service different from other similar products/services to ensure a greater chance that your target market will choose you over your competitors”.

As a model, there are millions of other girls competing with you for the very few modeling jobs that are available. If you are a freelance model, it is even harder, because you have to do your own marketing and networking.

The key question is: how do you differentiate yourself as a model from the millions of other models who want the same thing as you? The answer to that is: “it depends”.
Depends on what? Your strengths (look & talent) and the target market. Differentiation helps you position yourself in the market.

As a model, you are the product and the service. So, why YOU?

Here are some ways that you can differentiate yourself as a model:

1. You have a skill that can help you model better. For example, you have extensive years of dance, acting, and gymnastics experience that can help you pose for photos better. There are many photographers and clients who are looking for models that can pull of certain concepts which require such skills/experience, so if you can do that-then you’ve got something that sets you apart from your competitors.

2. You have access to networks of key people. This is important because when you are suggesting someone to hire you and you know several other talented people that can help the potential “client” execute their vision, they are more likely to choose you.

3. You perform the best in a certain modeling niche. If you are a great glamour model-stick to that. If you can do crazy contortionist poses-do that, and market yourself that way. Pick a few modeling genres that you are most suited for, and build a great portfolio which will prove to your potential clients why they should choose you and why they should rely on you. For example, Mosh, I believe, has done wonderful in this area.

4. Your “rates” are lower and you only compete on price. Some lower budget clients and many new photographers cannot afford to hire very experienced and published models who are represented by agencies and who have amazing talent, so you can certainly try to offer something in between the “TF model” and the “Top Notch Expensive Model” and get paid that way.

5. You can also do make-up, hair, or wardrobe styling, you’re a clothing designer, or you’re simply full of creative ideas. Some photographers like it when a model can come up with and execute a great concept for which she did all the work, and all the photographer had to do was take the photo. So, if those are the photographers who are within your target market, and you have those kinds of creative skills/abilities, then yes, you should definitely play that up! Your marketing messages would give potential clients the signal that you can do what a whole team can do, and that really does set you apart.

Ultimately, the key to differentiation is finding something you are best at, understanding the degree of demand for it, being unique in your value proposition, and sending those messages out to your target market.

So, how do you differentiate yourself?

8 Things to Look For in People to Collaborate With

Whether you are a model, photographer, clothing designer, make-up artist, or another creative professional who is looking for people to collaborate on a shoot with, there are a few things that you should look for, which will help make your collaboration produce the results that you want.

Considering that collaboration usually does not involve exchanging cash (since everyone is supposed to get something that benefits their portfolio), who you choose to work with is crucial and will ultimately determine if the time you spent on a shoot was actually worth it for you in the end.

Remember, also, that when you are collaborating, EVERYONE involved has to benefit somehow. Collaboration is a team effort, so the whole team needs to get something out of it. This is not a “take, take and take” relationship-it is a “give and take” relationship.

So, here are a few things that should help you find good people to work with and produce the results that you will all benefit from:

1. If you’re looking for people online, check out how the person filled out their profile (on Model Mayhem). If their profile shows that they “don’t care about anything at all” or is filled with “negative and defensive talk”, chances are they will not be good for you to work with.

2. Look at their portfolio. Their portfolio is very important. Is it approximately of equal to slightly better caliber than yours? If the answer is “yes”, then they are worth approaching for collaborations. Also, are they good at the style of shots that you are looking for? If the person whose portfolio you’re viewing is a very good nude model and you want to shoot lifestyle/commercial images and she does not have those in her portfolio, then it is best to find someone else to work with.

3. After the initial contact, check to see how well they respond to your messages. Are they prompt, or do they take a week to get back to you? Are they direct when it comes to their goals for the collaboration and what they want out of it?

4. Do the person’s/people’s goals align with yours? This is very important so that there is no “but I thought we were going to shoot to submit to Vogue vs. I just wanted to test the lights”…you know what I mean?

5. The previous point (#4) brings me to this one…Are your potential collaborative team members realistic in their expectations? It’s one thing to have goals, but it’s another to have unrealistic fantasies that can be counterproductive and disappointing. Believe me, I’m all for dreaming, but there is a line between a dream and a goal (though they are not mutually exclusive by any means).

6. Is the person saying negative things about other people? The reason why this is important is because I don’t think that you should work with someone who puts down others. I mean, if they put down others, what if they do the same to you when you’re not around and when you do something that they don’t “like”? It’s best to avoid negative people like that all together.

7. Do they have drama? If they have too much drama that they are constantly complaining about, then they are not going to be fun to work with.

8. Check references. Find out if the potential members of your creative teams are flakes or not. You are putting a lot of energy into making a good shoot happen, so make sure that other people are on the same page with you when it comes to flaking.

What do you think? Have you used any of the above? Were they helpful to you? What other things do you look for when searching for people to collaborate with?

🙂 Aviva

Iman by Markus Klinko & Indrani

Today, while browsing around on Facebook, I couldn’t help but notice Markus & Indrani’s latest creation in my news feed: this photo of Iman for the London Times Magazine (July 2011). It was styled by GK Reid, who I think is, and has always been, a great addition to their team of photographic excellence.

The colours of this photo are perfect. They all go so well together. Everything from the hair to the make-up, to the wardrobe and lighting is amazing in this photo. Her dress is very beautiful and elegant, not to mention that it showcases her figure in great light.

Want to see more great stuff?
~Visit Markus & Indrani’s WEBSITE
~Become their fan on Facebook
~Follow Markus on Twitter
~Follow Indrani on Twitter
**Yes, this image was posted here with Markus Klinko’s permission**

Fish Hair Salon, Victoria BC: Review

Today’s post will be about my personal experience as a customer at Fish Hair Salon in Victoria, BC on 1227 Broad Street.

A couple of weeks ago, I had to get my hair done on short notice because a very important trade show modeling job came up. I got very excited about it, so I called all the different hair salons in Victoria asking for appointment times and price ranges, but none of them had times that suited my schedule.

Then, a friend of mine recommended that I go to Fish Hair Salon to get my trim and colour done. I have never been in the place before, so I called Fish Hair Salon, and I was SO happy to be able to book an appointment that same day. I had a bunch of meetings, appointments and interviews that I had to attend that week, so being able to fit a “hair improvement day” in the midst of all that was a coup (OK, maybe not quite a coup, but you know what I mean). 🙂

When I got there, I was greeted by a very friendly receptionist. I waited for a few minutes, and then the hairstylist, Billie, approached me. My hairstylist was great! She was very knowledgeable about how to do hair, and she really understood what it is that I was looking for. Also, while I was waiting for my colour to set, I was given a complementary hand massage with a lavender lotion. She also served me iced tea, which tasted great and helped me quench my thirst. Additionally, she’s a great conversationalist and made me feel very comfortable.

The atmosphere in the place is good too. Basically, I got “good vibes” when I was there.

As for results-excellent! I was very happy with the colouring job and the trim. Also, the person who hired me for the trade show was like “WOW! I LOVE WHAT YOU DID TO YOUR HAIR!”. So, it is not just me 🙂

I don’t have any hesitation about recommending Billie as a stylist or Fish Hair Salon to you.

I really hope you found this review helpful in your hair salon decision. If you have been there, what was your experience like?

Aviva

PS…Fish Hair Salon also uses high quality Bumble and bumble hair products.

Interview with Miami Photographer Jonathan Kama

Jonathan Kama is a very talented photographer from Miami, Florida. His photos can be seen in FHM, Fashion Ledge Magazine, LMH Magazine, and several others. Jonathan enjoys the creativity that photography allows him to explore, and he has extensive experience as a portrait, art, glamour, fashion, commercial, and lifestyle photographer.

I am thrilled to have been able to ask him a few questions about his career. It is equally as great to have his insights into the modeling/photography industry. I hope you enjoy 🙂
                                              
Above: Model-Natalia, Photo by Jonathan Kama

AVIVA: How long have you been doing photography?
JONATHAN KAMA: I’ve always loved photography, ever since I was a kid but I was never anything more than a hobbyist who liked to take pretty pictures until recently. Back in the 90’s I bought a Nikon 8008s from a friend and used it to take landscapes and typical travel shots while traveling around Europe and the U.S. but didn’t start working with human subjects until January of 2009. Prior to that, it was always just something I enjoyed but didn’t take very seriously.

AVIVA: Who/what inspires you as a photographer?
JK: Initially, my inspiration was my son, Xavier. He was born in the middle of 2007 and, shortly after, I decided to buy a digital camera to document his life. He seemed to, at first, tolerate the camera, then be curious about it, and, not long after, shun my attempts to photograph him most of the time. So, I thought, maybe I should just try to find some models and work with people instead of places. I’d literally avoided having human subjects in anything I photographed prior to that, because, well, to be honest, those people were in the way, rather than a part of the architecture or location I was attempting to capture. An ad on Craigslist and a friend pointing me to Model Mayhem and the rest is history, as they say. Strangely, now I find myself looking at places as locations and backdrops rather than subjects.

Most of the artists whose works inspire me are well-known masters, like Herb Ritts, Ansel Adams, Helmut Newton, Steve McCurry, Joe McNally, et al. However, there are some great contemporary photographers whose work I admire: Kenn Lichtenwalter, Shane Perez, Thomas Dodd, Sarah Small, Mojokiss, Anthony Neste, and Harold Glit. I find myself drawn to their websites and images and am constantly amazed by their creativity.

                                              
Above: Photo-Jonathan Kama

AVIVA: What achievements in your photographic career are you most proud of (publications, etc)?
JK: I’ve had a few smaller magazines and websites publish my work, but my biggest publication to date is in the May 2011 issue of FHM, with the gorgeous Tahiti Cora. She is, by the way, one of the sweetest, nicest, most beautiful women I’ve had the good fortune to meet and I’m very proud of the layout we did for them.

AVIVA:  What advice could you offer to photographers who would like to submit to FHM?
JK: Honestly, I just got lucky with them. Cora liked our shots and was approached by FHM. She asked me if she could submit the images we created to them and, of course, I jumped at the opportunity. I am honored to be included in a magazine known for its style and incredible selection of breathtakingly beautiful models. I’ve kept in touch with the editor and they’ve expressed interest in a couple of other models I’ve sent to them and I’m in the process of setting up shoots for future publication in the magazine as well.

As for advice: Treat your models with respect and as equals, rather than objects. If they like you and love what you create together – for it’s not just about you; without them, it’s just a picture of a landscape or abandoned building – they’ll be the ones to make or break your images.

                             
Above: Jonathan Kama’s FHM Tearsheet from his shoot with Tahiti Cora.

AVIVA: Do you have any memorable/crazy/funny shoot story that you would like to share?
JK: *laughs* Oh I have some memorable and crazy stories, but most are a bit too risqué to share and most would probably make me a few enemies if those involved found out I’d told about their stumbles on location or wardrobe malfunctions! I’ve had the good fortune to work with some wonderful people but, to me, the most amusing are the newbies. As far as ‘funny’ goes, there was one model who showed up three hours late to a shoot. I asked her why she was late, obviously a bit peeved that she was THAT late, and, without any intended humor, she said, quite simply: “I’m Brazilian.” I started to laugh, thinking she’d made a joke, but realized quickly that she was dead serious. In her mind, it was quite acceptable to do whatever she wanted, just because, I guess, she assumed people would accept that as an excuse. It was our first and last shoot.

AVVA:  What do you personally believe is/are important attribute(s) for a model to succeed?
JK: Well, first, be on time or, if you can’t, at least show the courtesy of letting your photographer know something’s come up in a timely fashion. Nothing bothers me more than a model who books a shoot and either disappears entirely or shows up really late. 10, 15, even 30 minutes I can handle, but, whether or not you’re being paid, show up on time, be ready to shoot, and leave any emotional or mental baggage you have from a bad day behind you. I have a pretty much zero-tolerance policy for flakes these days. I don’t care how gorgeous you are, if you flake on me, you’re on The Flake List and have burned down that bridge. It’s funny, when I first started, there were quite a few models that had flaked entirely that, as soon as someone showed them my publications, messaged me asking to shoot. I politely said: “Thanks, but we had a shoot scheduled at such and such a time and date and you didn’t show up then. Good luck!”

You never know whom you’re working with and where they’re going in life, so, follow the golden rule and give the same respect you expect in return. Other than that, I’d suggest models practice their trade, just like any other; be aware of trends and styles and poses and expressions, but don’t just copy them, make them your own! The world has plenty of those ‘high fashion’ crampy, arms-in and back arched poses, models covered in caution tape, or using a belt as a bra images already. Find the next thing, rather than follow clichés.

One more thing: When you’re practicing your expressions and poses, FEEL what you look like; don’t just see. I haven’t had a single shoot where I’ve carried around a full-length mirror and shot through a hole in it, and know of no other photographers who do either so it’s safe to assume you won’t be able to see yourself while shooting. Hence the reason ‘feeling’ the way your body looks is important to duplicate what you saw in your mirror.

                                             
Above: Photo-Jonathan Kama

AVIVA:  Do you have any favorite photography books that you would recommend newer photographers to read?
JK: There were two that were recommended to me when I started and from which I learned quite a bit: “Light: Science and Magic” by Hunter, Biver and Fuqua, and “Understanding Exposure” by Bryan Peterson. I’d agree with those that pointed them out to me that these texts, though at times overly technical, are a must for beginners and those wishing to brush up on their technical knowledge of lighting.

AVIVA:  If you could shoot/meet 5 famous people, who would they be?
JK: The Dalai Lama (love his energy), Adriana Lima (seriously, could she be more beautiful?), George Clooney (coolest man on the planet), Thom Yorke (such an interesting character) and Hayao Miyazaki (I’d so love to watch him create his masterpieces).

AVIVA: What would you do with the money if you won the lottery?
JK: Easy, I’d travel the world with my son and show him absolutely everything I’ve read about or seen in National Geographic and document both the sites and his reactions to the many beautiful and interesting places and people.

I’d like to thank Jonathan for this interview, because if it wasn’t for him, this insightful post would not have existed.

You can check out more of his work on Model Mayhem, Facebook, and Deviant Art

Aviva 🙂

Elegant STYLEBOP Look

A while back, I was “e-window” shopping again…I do that quite often, in fact. Of course, I go and look at the STYLEBOP.com website (a), because well, they sell good quality designer clothing, shoes, handbags, and more stuff that I like to check out.


ABOVE: Lovely black dress. I think that it would look great with black leggings and high heels.

ABOVE: I love this handbag. I’m a lover of all shiny accessories, and this is just something I would like to add to my “list of things to get when I can afford it”. It would look good with the dress that is also featured in this post.

ABOVE: I absolutely love these shoes. They would be great at a shoot, though I am not sure how long I would be able to walk in them. Either way though, they are very stylish. I think that they would complete the outfit that I put together in this post. High heels make the legs appear longer, which is another reason why many women like to wear them.

Would you wear this outfit? Can you think of anything to add to it?

***Images are from the STYLEBOP WEBSITE***

How to Fill Out Your Model Mayhem Profile

When you are signing up for Model Mayhem, you will be asked to fill out your “About Me” section with a minimum of 100 words. Yes, photos are an important component of starting your profile, but it is equally as important to write something about you that will encourage your profile viewers to want to work with you, as opposed to click away from your profile the moment they read the first line.

The “About Me” section, your stats/details, and your avatar photo are the first things that a person sees when they go to your profile on Model Mayhem. This is exactly why it would be best for you if you fill it out completely and accurately.

When I was first starting out on Model Mayhem, I made some mistakes in how I filled out my “About Me”, and now I want to save you from doing the same, which is the only reason I wrote this article.

1. For your “About Me” section, you can write what type of modeling you are interested in, themes you are interested in shooting, who you would like to work with, if you have any past modeling experience, your general availability, and if you have any scars/birthmarks/stretchmarks/piercings/tattoos. You may also indicate if you are interested in nude modeling or not, as there will be people who will ask you to pose nude.

It’s OK to write “I am not interested in nude shoots” but do not write “I DON’T DO NUDE, DON’T ASK, I HAVE SELF-RESPECT”. Writing such a statement (especially in capitals) can prevent others from wanting to work with you because you are offending a large majority of MM’s membership who shoot nude (and who make a living doing it). Everyone has their own views on nudity, but you don’t need to make overtly harsh statements one way or the other.

What you also don’t want to write is that you are going to be a rich and famous supermodel, how you’ll be a star, how you will replace Kate Moss, and how you will revolutionize the modeling industry. Having dreams is great, but it’s also good to be realistic when it comes to your chances of actually doing such things.

It’s also not a good idea to have a bunch of negative statements in your profile about stuff that you won’t do.  Having a long list of demands, such as “all photos on a CD immediately after the shoot” “no signing of releases”, can also backfire on you and prevent good people from wanting to work with you (especially when you are new and have those demands).

You also don’t want to lie about your past modeling experience in your profile, nor do you want to say that you posed for Vogue, Maxim, or Playboy (and other such large publications) because people can easily tell if you are lying. First off, if you had posed for such magazines, you would have tear sheets or other evidence to back it up.

Additionally, don’t go on and on about your favorite food, favorite colour, or what you do in your spare time. When people are looking for models, they don’t care that your favorite colour is green, nor that you like to eat your pancakes with maple syrup in the morning, nor that you like long walks in the park. Basically, if it is not relevant to your performance/aspirations as a model or how you are at shoots: don’t write it in your “About Me” on Model Mayhem.

2. When you fill out your stats/details, fill it out completely. It will ask for your weight, height, measurements, and other sizing information. This is very important because if you say that your measurements are 34 24 34 and you show up 38 28 39, people will notice. Also, if you say you’re 5’8″ but you show up to be 5’5″, it will get found out, the same way that if you say you’re 120 lbs and you show up to be 150.
The point of this is: be honest. Whether you are 110 lbs or 210 lbs, there will be photographers for you on Model Mayhem who prefer one over the other. Therefore, lying about your measurements will not necessarily get you more shoots. If you do lie, then make sure that it’s not by more than 1 inch either way, and I realize that MM does not allow for half sizes.

3. Pick an Avatar photo that makes the viewer want to open your portfolio. It should be one of the best photos that you have that show off your talent/look.

If you are thinking of starting a Model Mayhem account, I hope that you found this article helpful.

Cheers and best of luck!

Aviva

P.S. Do you think there should be something to add to this?

It’s OK to Say "No"

If you have just started modeling, especially if you joined a networking site for models, you will get several offers from people who you may not want to work with before you get offers from people that you do want to work with.

The people that you would want to work with are probably those that you should approach yourself, because chances are they get so many messages from people wanting to work with them that they do not have the time to send you a message, or even look at your profile.

However, if you get a message from someone that you don’t want to work with, or whose concept/idea/proposal does not appeal to you, don’t be afraid to tell them that you are not interested. If that person is mature, he/she will take it with a grain of salt and won’t contact you again with the same proposal.

If he/she chooses to have a hissy fit about your response, and starts telling you about the “world of opportunities” that you have missed by choosing not to work with him/her, or starts writing you nasty messages in response to your rejection of their offer, then the best thing to do is to block the person and stop all future communication. By nipping this in the bud right then and there, you are saving yourself a world of weirdness/trouble. If that person reacts that way to a simple “Thank you for your offer but I am not interested”, think of how they would react to your future communications where you happen to disagree on something.

The person who sent you the proposal to work together should understand that rejection is part of life.

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