Clothing Designer Spotlight: DS Bullock from Biddeford, Maine

DS Bullock is a creative fashion designer who enjoys making beautiful, out-of-the box garments. On top of designing, she works as a fashion stylist. She has two types of clothing lines, one includes accessories and clothing made of recycled inner tubes (Road Rash Rubber), and the other is more of a regular clothing line called DS Bullock (DSB).

Additionally, she enjoys oil painting and art.

It was a pleasure interviewing DS Bullock for this feature.


Image Credits: Photo-William Cox, Models-Jordan, Ariana, Hair-Grayling Cunningham

AVIVA: How long have you been designing clothing?
DS BULLOCK: I’ve been designing and making clothing for 26 years, since I was a little girl and my mother taught me how to sew.

AVIVA: What excites you about designing clothing?
DS BULLOCK:I get very excited imagining the potential places my garments could go, what settings they would fit into, what kinds of people would wear them. I love making clothing that is unusual for iconoclastic individuals and it excites me to imagine what kinds of adventures they could take my garments on.

AVIVA: Do you have any designers that inspire you? If so, who?
DS BULLOCK:Galliano, without a doubt. Vivienne Westwood to a certain extent. There are a number of Belgian designers referred to as the Antwerp Six whose work I eagerly follow, as well.


Image Credits: Photo-William Cox, Model-Jordan Rose,Hair-Grayling Cunningham

AVIVA: How did you get started with clothing design?
DS BULLOCK:My mother taught me how to sew when I was a child because I was always drawing the kinds of outfits I would like to wear. We were extremely poor and I identified with Wanda in The Hundred Dresses. So my mother taught me how to sew and let me raid her fabric stashes to make some of the garments I had been designing. Eventually, I was making all my clothing and making clothing for my friends. It just evolved organically from there.

AVIVA: Besides clothing design, what are(is) your other passion(s)/interest(s)?
DS BULLOCK:I love music and am in a punk band. I also love interior design and DIY home projects. I also am completely in love with Spain at the moment and am very passionate about flamenco dance. Well, I love all kinds of dance, actually. And, last but not least, I could not live without painting.

AVIVA: If money/time were no object, where would you like fashion design will take you?
DS BULLOCK:I imagine I would be working in Europe, we’ll just say Spain since it’s my favorite place in the world right now, making one-of-a-kind clothing for eccentric socialites.


Image Credits: Photo-Josh Band,MakeUp-Meg Czel

AVIVA: Do you have any crazy/weird/funny photo shoot incident that you’d like to share?
DS BULLOCK:I have a number of crazy/funny/weird photo shoot stories but the one that takes the cake was a shoot in an abandoned factory in the dead of winter in Detroit. The photographer who organized the shoot was a poor planner (and a poor photographer, coincidentally) who forgot the lights, ran out of gas for heater and generator. We all wound up freezing in the dark without flashlights and, to top it all off, we were nearly arrested by the police for trespassing! It was such an awful experience and, in the end, I couldn’t use any of the photos because the models were so cold their noses were all red.

AVIVA: Any additional comments?
DS BULLOCK:Fashion design is an extremely difficult world but there is plenty of room within it for independent designers who have enough passion and persistence to tirelessly follow their own vision. For models, designers, stylists, and photographers, the key to success in my opinion is an unfailing persistence.

I would like to thank DS for her time and this interview, and I wish her all the best in her design career.

You can see more of her work on her Website and Model Mayhem Account.

Aviva 🙂

Introducing…The Amazing Petite Model Isobella Jade


Isobella Jade is no stranger to the modeling industry. Her success story is remarkable. Isobella Jade has always been the underdog in the modeling industry, as a result of being 5’2″. However, through dedication, perseverance, the power of her dream, and a love for modeling she was able to overcome the height barrier and has modeled for Marshalls, Macy’s, Victoria’s Secret, Easy Spirit, and many more. She has also appeared in numerous fashion magazines and ads.

It was a real pleasure interviewing Isobella Jade, and I am very pleased to feature her here.

AVIVA How long have you been modeling?
ISOBELLA JADE: I started pursuing modeling in 2001.

AVIVA: How did you get started in modeling?
IJ: Today, on my modeling blog Petitemodelingtips.blogspot.com I share the ways girls of all sizes can get ahead as a model and skip scams and setbacks, but when I started off I spent a year shooting the wrong things, going in the wrong direction. When I started to take myself more seriously and focused on getting an agency and the proper photos I needed to market myself towards an agency, things started rolling. I started by mailing my comp cards by postal mail to every print agency in NYC, and talent agencies. When I continued to self-promote, build my network and build a portfolio and get professional photos that proved I could model, that is when things started. I think starting any pursuits involves analyzing yourself, figuring out what is marketable about you. And to not rush (rushing causes mistakes), or expect opportunities to happen overnight (usually they don’t). The more you put into your pursuits the more you get. One job leads to the next job but this is a self-made world and the marketing yourself process never ends.

Starting modeling comes down to knowing yourself and assets, knowing what is marketable about yourself will get you going in the right direction. It is hard to get started if you don’t know what you would be good modeling for. You have to know these things before you even get in front of the camera. I think there is a lot of pre-planning and thinking that goes into pursuing as a model, especially when you are shorter.

AVIVA: What is the most exciting thing about being part of this industry?
IJ: I love the process of bringing a concept for a shoot, campaign, or editorial to life. I think it is exciting that every day, shoot, and project is different. Every job involves a different vision, photography style, and I enjoy the artistic process of telling a story through a movement, expression or stillness.

AVIVA: Could you tell me a little bit more about the books you’ve written?
IJ: I’ve written three books. My modeling memoir Almost 5’4″
about my early modeling pursuits and the first years of striving as a model, also I wrote a graphic novel called Model Life: The Journey of a Pint-Size Fashion Warrior, and Short Stuff: on the job with an x-small model, comes out this October. I am working on a teen novel and two other book projects.

AVIVA: What are some of the major companies that you’ve worked for as a model, despite being short?
IJ: I’ve done a lot of work as a parts model, using my hands, legs, feet, and body to model for brands, Marshalls, Macy’s, Victoria’s Secret, Easy Spirit. You could have seen my legs and feet and hands being used for those companies in their ads or commercials. You can see images from my experiences on my website www.isobelladreams.com

AVIVA: Do you have any advice on how aspiring models (esp. the shorter ones) can promote/market themselves to potential clients?
IJ: Yes, if you want to work with modeling agencies you have to show you can model first. Print modeling agencies (which is where shorter girls should target themselves) do not train their models on how to model,-not the ones I’ve worked with-so really you have to already know how to model before you approach an agency. It helps if you also already have some experience modeling for something, like a small company and have in your portfolio proof that you have been hired and modeled before. Even for an online jewelry company or local hair salon in your town. I think the more you show you can the more of a chance you have to work with agencies and also brands. When you are striving to get some experience, approach some aspiring brands and designers at tradeshows, craft shows or local conventions. Improve your network and get in touch with those who are aspiring like you are.

Get out of your house, off the computer and stop counting comments and hits and clicks and instead notice what brands and small businesses are in your town, the newspaper will tell you. Start by being a savvy model that knows her assets and has the confidence to market them to aspiring brands who might need a model. Having a professional comp card helps when you approach aspiring designers, companies, etc.

When approaching an aspiring brand in your town, or a local boutique store, if you have a comp card bring it, if not then bring some printed photos, and ask who you can speak to about the marketing for their company because you’d like to drop off some photos in case they might need a model. Or take their business card and mail them a jpeg later.

I think a lot of girls think it is easy and convenient to have an online portfolio or set up a profile on a model-site, but many real brands do not take that seriously. So I’d actually skip that. If you are sending images through an email I think it is better to mail a photo attached, a jpg image, pdf or a jpg of your comp card in an email fewer than 150kb in size. And be aware of the style of the aspiring company and brand you are pitching, if it is jewelry send photos of you modeling jewelry, not a swimwear shot! I know self-promotion works, but you have to be prepared for your success. Try. Simply try; putting yourself out there, asking for the chance might get you the chance.

AVIVA:You talked about differences between fashion modeling agencies, and commercial/print agencies. Do you have any advice for approaching commercial/print agencies?
IJ: Yes, you should approach them with the right photos. I would spend time creating a nice smiling headshot and beauty shots, and shots that show your personality and upbeat appeal, something like a catalog shot, because print agencies will be marketing your personality and photogenic self. You should be able to model naturally a product, like a handbag or shoe, accessories. So go out and get a photo shoot done with a professional photographer who understands what print modeling is, and hold a cell phone in the shot, a handbag, a coffee cup, show you can work with products, print agencies want to see that. And keep the clothing, hair and makeup natural, not overkill. Study print ads and lifestyle ads, and you will see that the shots are a lot less about being tough or having an attitude and more about smiles and personality. Your photos represent what you can do as a model, so when you are creating your comp card ask yourself, Would I hire this girl to model for a product or brand?” and “What products and brands could this girl model for?” Analyze your photos and ask yourself if they fit what print modeling is before you mail an agency your comp card.

AVIVA: Do you have any weird/funny/interesting shoot story that you would like to share?
IJ: Even if you have your period you can still model and get the job done, you just have to want to do it. Don’t let any drama get the best of you, bring your best forward even if the day isn’t going as perfect as you hoped. Being comfortable, focusing on the job,staying confident and being perceptive will get you through any bad day on the job as a model. And keep in mind that reality TV has so far basically lied a lot about what it is like to be a model.

AVIVA: If money/time was no object, where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
IJ: I sort of give myself 2 year plans not five year plans, but I plan to write inspirational books for teens and young adults. Within five years, I think I will be a mother. Still modeling, writing books, but also helping other go-getters. I like being around passion people, and those who are striving to tell their stories, share their art or designs, so I would like to be in a position to help small companies and designers grow their brand.

AVIVA: Do you have any additional words/comments?
IJ: Your inner voice is what leads you. If you doubt yourself, others will. To give yourself a chance and to not be afraid of your own talents and skills. To understand that even those who are talented or established are still practicing and growing, the growing never ends.

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Isobella Jade is an inspiration to many aspiring (petite) models. She is living proof that success in this industry is not always about the size of the model in the fight, but it’s about the size of the fight in the model.

You can find more of Isobella’s work on her website and her blog, www.petitemodelingtips.blogspot.com, is filled with valuable information for models.

I would like to thank Isobella for her valuable input.

Stay tuned for more interviews, possible blog giveaways, and much more!
Aviva

Johnson Street Festival…Aug 28th/2010

Approximately a week ago, I attended the Johnson Street Festival in Victoria.

It was a very fun and interesting fashion event, where local businesses on the 500-600 block of Johnson street showcased their best items. As I walked from store to store, all I could think about was how much I would like to stop at every store and buy every single item that was my size.

However, when I didn’t have my eyes set on the beautiful garments, accessories, and shoes that were displayed outside of every boutique, I was busy taking photos of people, places and clothing.

As far as photography goes, this event was a great experience for me to test my photo skills. Ian of IMS Photographic lent me one of his cameras,Nikon D200 10.2MP Digital SLR and Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens and showed me how to use it. The reason he lent me the small and light lens is because it is much easier to handle it when going on the bus and walking around (No way you could find a decent parking spot in Victoria on a VERY busy festive Saturday).

I really challenged myself as a newer photographer by setting the camera to “M” and gradually adjusting the settings of the camera to fit the lighting situation. Although the weather was beautiful and sunny, it was not the best lighting scenario for photography. As soon as I thought I had the settings correct, the lighting changed on me, and I had to change the f stop, shutter speed, and exposure compensation to match it. I’m not complaining in any way though, since I like a challenge, especially when it has to do with photography. 🙂


Above: Photos of Miss Hiccup of the Fringe Festival. Miss Hiccup is looking pretty awesome with all the flowers…nice and colourful!


Above: These guys are pretty cool. They are coffee shop owners and they love what they do. It was great to see.



Above: These girls are dressed like princesses and they look gorgeous! I wish I was able to get a better shot.


Above: This dude has got some skills! Awesome! It was very hard to catch him as he was moving. He kept on going in and out of the frame…and I missed the part where he did a back flip. I had to have the shutter speed fairly high to catch his movement.




Above images: The crowds were gathered everywhere for various reasons. Some came to see the skateboarders, others came to watch people doing yoga, some were fond of the dunk tank, and still many others came to see the dancers pulling off some wicked moves.


Above: Who wouldn’t want to see a beautiful young lady dancing?





Above Images: Only a very small fraction of all the awesome clothing items that were displayed by the boutique owners.


Above: Waiting and relaxing.


Above: This gentleman is about to point his camera and take a photo. I was hoping to get a photo of him taking a photo…haha


Above: Yes, he was a gentleman, and his face has character.



Above: These guys are in a contest with Virgin Mobile to win free rent for a year. Help support Victoria Youth. Please click here to show your support by voting for them.


Above: The colour orange suits her. It’s bright, it’s awesome, and so I took a photo. 🙂


Above: Probably the youngest skateboarder in the group that was performing. Look at the concentration and the focus involved as he is about to go up the other side of the ramp. I just had to get this shot!


Above: Hulahoop girl…looking awesome!


Above: Great face!


Above: Gotta love that camera. It was great seeing people taking photos all over the place.


Above: These girls were serving awesome tea and handing out coupons.


Above: Shot inside a boutique. Lots of beautiful stuff in there that I couldn’t take photos of.

While I was walking around from store to store, I met a few boutique owners that will probably be doing interviews which I will be featuring here.

By the end of the day, my feet were aching from all the walking. As I walked up Douglas Street and headed towards home, I witnessed a thoughtless driver turning the wrong way onto Pandora Ave (a one-way street). Luckily, no one got hurt…

Thank you,
Aviva

Featuring Annie S…Fashion Designer from New York

Ana Segura, also known as Annie S, is a creative, passionate and dedicated fashion designer from New York. Throughout her career, she has created several beautiful articles of clothing, some of which have appeared on National Television on the Tyra Banks Show, as well as several fashion magazines. Some of the publications which showcase Annie S Intimates’ pieces include EXIT Magazine, Talent Motion Magazine, La Geneve, Intimate Apparel Business Magazine, Dominican Times Magazine, The Catwalk Magazine, El Nuevo Newspaper, and Body Magazine. Her designs have been worn on several runways, including the New York Fashion Week.

In this interview, Ana discusses her inspirations, visions, successes, and beginnings.

Image Credits:
Photographers (left to right)-Shannon Michelle, Debbi Rotkowite, Amy Dunn, Raiza Arroyo, Abdul Smith
Models-Vanessay Accey,Lupita and Erin, Diana Schnaidt (last 3 photos)

AVIVA: How long have you been a clothing designer?
ANNIE: I went to a vocational HS in NY for Fashion and then went on to college where I graduated with a Baccalaureate Degree in Science in Design and ever since I graduated in 2003, I knew I wanted to start to adventure on my own. I always believe to have a very clear view of what I wanted to accomplished and believe working for someone else would persuade my mind to see art through someone else vision, so I went ahead and started my first line under the then name Annie S. Limited as a sole proprietor. Now I have a couple of people on my team and 4 labels under my Brand Annie S. Intimates, LLC.

AVIVA: How did you get started with clothing design?
ANNIE: I learned how to sew at a very young age, it is a tradition in my family for the women to pass on their craft to their daughters. My grandmother taught my mom how to sew and crochet and my mom taught me. Growing up I did everything from ballet dancing, modeling, pianist even martial arts but never in a million years I believe the one thing that I would sit and do for hours become, what I consider today my passion and career.

I was once told by a wise professor, a job is what you do to pay for your bills. A career is what you can do for hours and enjoy the successes and challenges.

AVIVA: What excites you about designing?
ANNIE: My ability to remain unique and revolutionary, inspirations that come beauty and value from other cultures, historical time periods, ethnic traditions and everyday observations. When I create a line, is not just about the clothes, is about history, is about a story and all the pieces come together when to presented to the world. From the choice of venue, music and lighting I create an images of those times or places.

AVIVA: Do you have any designers that inspire you? If so, who?
ANNIE: Late Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood, are both very influential in me as a designer and artist. Their ability to create has always break the mold of what fashion means to retail now in days. Not allowing the norm to decide what art means them is why I one day loved to follow their footsteps and only wish to be just as great of a designer. Creative, Innovative, theatrical, and mind blowing.

AVIVA: Do you have any interesting/exciting/crazy photoshoot stories that you like to share?
ANNIE: Every time I have a shoot there is a story to tell. My photographers, models alike know that working with me is going on an adventure. One of my many favorite shoots was shooting in a old broken castle in NJ that’s been around since the 18th century and although there is not much left of the structure the feeling you get when you are standing in it, it’s as if you could go back in time and picture how it really was back in those days.

AVIVA: What do you believe has been your greatest accomplishment(s) in the fashion industry, and could you tell me more about it?
ANNIE: My signature collections. To know that I could express my way of thinking and art through my work and know that I have full control of my inspirations.

AVIVA: If you weren’t designing clothing, what else do you see yourself doing (other passions and interests here)?
ANNIE: I always wanted to incorporate pastry to the my world of fashion. I remember watching a runway show when I was 16 were great designers pieces like Oscar de la Renta and Coco Chanel designs were paired up with the most talented pastry chef to create these intricate designs entirely out of dark and white chocolate. I always have envisioned myself creating art through pastries.

AVIVA: If money/time were no object, where would you like fashion to take you?
ANNIE: I would love for fashion to take me on global journey, to learned from other cultures while been able to influence their own and when preparing to re-created to have the ability to capture each place I’ve visited through my work.

AVIVA: Do you have any additional comments?
ANNIE: Yes, I am very excited for my new collection and I hope is well received, please stay tuned for my upcoming fashion event during New York Fashion Week September 9th.
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It was a pleasure interviewing Annie about her career and artistic visions. She has talent beyond measure, and I hope she continues to succeed in the fashion industry.

You can see more of her work and updates on her website. You can also find Annie S Intimates on Facebook

Thank you,
Aviva

My Favorite Magazines and Reasons Why I Read Them

There are several magazines that I like to read for various reasons. Some magazines provide useful information on beauty, fitness/training, fashion, and make-up ideas. Others allow me to find places where I can get better deals on wardrobe, as well as coupons to online and offline stores that I can use to purchase new and exciting clothing. At the same time, I look at magazines in order to study ads created by popular brands, look at the poses and expressions of featured models, and use the magazines as guides on how to improve myself as a model.

Quite often, when I see a pose/image that I like, I cut it out of the magazine, and add it to my “reference list of things to try”. The idea here is not to copy the image in the magazine, but to use it for inspiration in order to create something unique and make it my own.

Here are some of my favorite magazines that I’ve occasionally read, looked through and found they have some awesome posing ideas.

Please note: a lot of fitness magazines have ads that are selling certain supplements, diet products, and other items for sale. It is OK to disregard ads, and analyze only the information that is presented.

However, most of these magazines are good for posing references and make-up/wardrobe ideas, and not always the information.

The links provided here are Amazon links. The website offers better deals on magazine subscriptions than what you would find in stores and on newsstands.

1. Oxygen

2. Fitness RX


3. Shape


4. Runner’s World

5. Harper’s Bazaar


6. Women’s Health

7. Cosmopolitan

8. Women’s Running

9. Self

10. Nylon

11. Elle

12. W Magazine

13. Marie Claire

14. Vogue

15. In Style

16. Maxim

17. American Curves

18. Sports Illustrated (especially the Swimsuit Edition)

19. FHM

20. GQ

21. Digital Photo Pro

I will be reviewing each magazine individually, and adding new ones to this list as I remember them.

Cheers,
Aviva

Interesting Reading for Photographers

Since photography is an interest of mine, I have found several books by highly respected experts in the field that are on my “to read list”. I will keep on adding new ones to this post, based on recommendations by others as well as reputations of the authors.

1. Professional Model Portfolios: A Step-by-Step Guide for Photographers is a book by Billy Pegram that reveals various techniques which photographers can implement to create high impact model portfolios. Billy Pegram shares his knowledge of the modeling industry, as well as agency requirements. With a 4.5/5 star rating on Amazon, this book can help both models and photographers achieve the results they would like.

2. Posing Techniques for Photographing Model Portfolios by Billy Pegram. This book reveals how to work with models, and how to contribute to a successful photo session. It is useful for photographers and models looking to create editorial fashion shots, athletics, glamour or nude photography, and shots designed to show curves, reveal personality, or showcase the hands, hair, or legs.

3. Christopher Grey’s Studio Lighting Techniques for Photography: Tricks of the Trade for Professional Digital Photographers has been well-received by intermediate and advanced photographers. It explores the fundamentals of lighting as well as teaches how to solve various lighting problems.

4. The Digital Photography Book by Scott Kelby reveals “how to take pro-quality shots using the same tricks today’s top digital pros use” (Amazon description). It has a 4.5/5 star rating on Amazon, and has achieved praise from photographers of all levels. Scott Kelby is currently President of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) and Editor-in-Chief of both Photoshop User and Layers magazines.

5. The Adobe Photoshop CS5 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter) is another book by Scott Kelby. On Amazon, a customer called it “the mother of all things Photoshop”. It currently has a 5 star rating, and teaches Photoshop users how to retouch images in order to make them look their best.

6. The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter) is yet another one of the many books by the highly-respected Scott Kelby, master of retouching. This book teaches the fundamentals of Lightroom, as well as step-by-step guides to using Lightroom

7. Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera is written by Bryan Peterson, who is a professional photographer, internationally known instructor, and the bestselling author of several other photography books. This book teaches how to take great photos anytime anywhere, as well as explains the relationship between aperture and shutter speed. You will also learn how to properly expose your photos in what many people would call “impossible lighting situations”.

8. Outdoor Glamour Photography: The Complete Digital Guide to Taking Successful Outdoor Glamour Photographs by Bill Lemon. Bill Lemon’s book explains step-by-step how to create beautiful images when it comes to outdoor photography. Some of the things you will learn about are: lighting, location scouting for various models, and depth of field, best times to shoot, and much more.

9. The Photographer’s Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos by Michael Freeman. This book explains how to create beautiful, visually-stimulating images. A well-composed shot is aesthetically pleasing, and almost anyone can learn how to see and create great digital photographs.

10. Complete Digital Photography, Fifth Edition by Ben Long.This book teaches the theory and technical skills that are needed in order to take great photos.

11.Lighting Techniques for Photographing Model Portfolios: Strategies for Digital Photographers by Billy Pegram. This book has had several good reviews by photographers who are interested in learning some lighting techniques. Billy Pegram is a well respected photographer and has written several books.

12. The Complete Photographer by Tom Ang. This book talks about how to photograph absolutely everything, from fashion to nature to architecture and everything in between. The book is based on different tutorials for different genres of photography and encourages photographers to develop their own style. Tom Ang is a highly respected photographer who has worked as a photo editor for many magazines.

If you have read any photography books that you feel should be added to this list, please let me know, either by posting a comment, or contacting me through my website. Also, please let me know why you liked and what you didn’t like about the book.

Featuring: Luciana of Lybethras Swimwear Interview

The other day I stumbled upon Lybethras Swimwear while searching for companies that produce beautiful, high quality bathing suits. I was very impressed with Luciana’s designs. All I could think of was how wonderful women would look at the beach while wearing Lybethras Swimwear. Lybethras Swimwear is a high end Brazilian swimwear company.

Lybethras Swimwear has been worn in beauty pageants, as well as featured in magazines such as Dietas Ja (Nov 2009), In Style, and Shape (Brazil).

It was a great pleasure interviewing Luciana. 🙂 I hope you all enjoy the showcase of outstanding images that go along with it.

AVIVA: How long have you been in the swimwear business?
LUCIANA: I’ve been working with clothes and swimwear together since 1991, and since 2002 only with swimwear.

AVIVA: How did you get started with swimwear? Do you design it yourself?
LUCIANA: I started with swimwear because I think it was missing good styles for all kinds of bodies. On the beach it’s only your body in your bikini and sometimes you are one size on top and another size on the bottom. In Brazil we had a revolution where many women got silicone breast implants. So it was impossible to find a size that will be good for the top and bottom. Then we created mix and match styles for Brazilians that don’t have this and they love it. I make every swimsuit to show the best part of body and hide the worst parts.Women need to be confident at the beach. Women that are mothers need more support. We create bikinis thinking of all kinds of bodies. This is one the reasons for our success.

AVIVA: What is the most exciting thing about your business?
LUCIANA: Happiness in people who discover our label and have fidelity in our styles. We receive emails from people that love our swimwear, that never go to beach nor feel powerful, but they feel that way with our bikinis. This is the best part. We want 100% satisfaction from every customer.

AVIVA: What would you say is the price range for your swimwear?
LUCIANA: We have prices for all budgets. We have swimsuits starting at USD 90.00to USD450.00

AVIVA: How can someone contact you to make a purchase?
LUCIANA: On our website we have a online store. Also if they need a special bikini, please send an email to lybethras@lybethras.com.br and we will answer it soon.

AVIVA: Do you sell wholesale?
LUCIANA: Yes and also make private labels for Pepe jeans London, Christina liquori and many others in the international market.

AVIVA: How does one apply to become a model for you? Do you offer discounts to models who would like to shoot using your swimwear?
LUCIANA: Just send us pictures when we have preselections that are in may 2011. Yes, we could offer 20% for models.

AVIVA: Do you have any additional comments?
LUCIANA: No everything was a pleasure.

You can view more of Luciana’s work on the Lybethras Swimwear Website where you can order the suit of your choice. Also, look for Lybethras Swimwear on Facebook

I hope you enjoyed this interview 🙂

Cheers,
Aviva

Why I Do Not Have a Gym Membership Anymore…

After I quit competitive running due to an injury, I wanted to stay in shape. My biggest mistake was thinking that by joining a gym, I would be a lot more motivated to work out because I spent money on it. Therefore, my thought process was, “I just spent $70 for the month, so I better visit the gym as many times as possible in order to get full value for my money.”

Unfortunately, that was not the case.
Some of my excuses were:
~I don’t want to drive there right now
~I’m too tired
~I get my exercise by running/walking/using my free weights at home and therefore I don’t need to go that often
~I’ll go tomorrow (and then that didn’t necessarily happen)

Ultimately, I maybe went 2x a week, and would have saved more money just by paying a drop-in fee each time I went.

Here are the reasons why I do NOT need a gym membership anymore:

1.To avoid being ambushed by a high pressure salesperson who will tell me the benefits of working out at their gym. They will tell me that they care about my well-being and they will be my best friend for the hour that they lead me around the gym. However, their ONLY goal is to get me to sign a non-refundable 2 year contract in order to milk me for approximately $900. Face it, the longer the contract you sign, the higher the commissions the salesperson will make.

2. I work out on my own. When I’m at home working out, I can get as sweaty as I want to, while listening to MY favorite music. At a gym, I usually don’t work out as hard, because I don’t want to get too sweaty.

3. I do not need to wait for a shower. I can shower immediately after my workout at home. At gyms, people often have to wait for a shower, and even worse-some people are nervous about showering in public.

4. I save gas money. Every time I drive to the gym, I am using gas. Gas costs money, so I’ll have to add the cost of gas to the cost of my gym membership to find out the real cost of going to the gym.

5. I do not have to worry about parking anymore. In bigger cities, people have to pay for parking. Even if it costs $1/day to park your car each time you go to the gym, you are looking at almost $30/month worth of parking expenses.

6. People do not generally need a gym membership in order to stay in shape. Yes, having a variety of equipment to try and having access to knowledgeable gym staff is great, but at the same time a gym membership is a luxury. That being said, those who are serious about being fit will find other ways to get and stay in shape.

7. The “knowledgeable” gym staff are not always as knowledgeable as they claim to be. That is especially the case if they are paid on commission.

So, save the $70/month and instead put it towards something you want or need. How about that savings account? Do you want to treat yourself to nice new clothes? Well, cutting out the gym membership and finding free ways to get fit might be a good start.

I wish you all the best in your fitness endeavors and I hope that you achieve your goals! I will be posting an article on ways to stay fit without a gym, so stay tuned 🙂

Aviva

Preparation for Photoshoots: Photographers

There are several things that photographers should remember to do when they are preparing for a photoshoot. A lot of the upcoming points will appear to be “common sense trivial things”, but it is not uncommon for photographers (and models alike) to forget a few things in the midst of organizing and preparing for a photoshoot. Preparing for a photoshoot, especially for those who are new, can have its challenges. Considering that we are all human, we all make mistakes and forget things, and that’s just life. 🙂

Please note that this article is mostly directed towards newer photographers. As a newer photographer myself, I did a little bit of research on what a photographer can do to prepare for a shoot.

The other day, I wrote a blog post on what a model can do to prepare for a photoshoot, which can be found by clicking HERE

1. Make sure you know how to use your equipment and are familiar with all the features of your camera. If you have a new camera or lighting equipment, read the instruction manuals. There is nothing worse than coming to a shoot, where the photographer is blindly fidgeting with the camera, not knowing how to adjust the settings.

2. Study up on some lighting techniques. For example, Billy Pegram’s book called Lighting Techniques for Photographing Model Portfolios: Strategies for Digital Photographers has had several good reviews from photographers and is worth a read.

3. When you contact a model about a shoot, be sure to include details of the shoot. Such details include, but are not limited to: proposed date and time of the shoot, location, type of shoot (fashion, glamour, lingerie, swimwear, etc), compensation (TFP or paid), and whether or not there will be a make-up artist or hairstylist present. That information is important, because it allows a model to do her part of the preparation for a shoot. The more information, the better.

4. When planning a photoshoot, include a contact number, so that the model can call you if needed. Also, have the model’s (and other team members’) phone number. It’s always best to talk to everyone involved prior to a shoot. Additionally, it’s a lot easier to discuss shoots over the phone as opposed to endless emails.

5. 24-48 hours before a shoot, confirm to make sure that the shoot is still on. This includes, having talked to the model on the phone. Also, make sure that your own phone is charged before the shoot, so that people can get ahold of you for any reason.

6. If you are shooting away from your home/studio (or out of town) bring snacks and water. It’s always good to be energized and hydrated for photoshoots.

7. When you contact a model (or when shooting, or when you’re on the phone), do not bore models with some long-winded explanation about the artistic meaning of the images you have in the portfolio and how much of an artist you are. If you truly are an artist, you don’t need to keep saying it-people will see it.

8. For shoots on location, it is best to scout out the location before you decide to bring the model out there. For example, if you are shooting at a park, check to see when the least busy times are to prevent interruptions. Also, some locations may require permits, so be aware of that before you start shooting.

9. Bring spare and charged batteries for your camera, and for any wireless flash devices that you may have. Also, bring an extra memory card, because you might end up taking more images and shooting longer than you’d planned.

10. If you are going outside to shoot, check the forecast, and dress for the weather. If it’s hot and sunny, bring sunscreen and lots of water. If it will be wet and rainy (it’s probably best to shoot on a different day). However, if the forecast says there’s a chance of rain, bring a raincoat and a spare change of clothes.

11. Always test your camera. Keep practicing photography before you plan any formal photoshoots. It’s also always good to know that your camera and lights are working properly before you start shooting.

12. Make sure that you have all your photography equipment and accessories in an organized place. See if you need any filters, sync cords, USB wires, different lenses, extension cords, etc (depending on the circumstances of the shoot).

If you believe that I’ve left something out, please feel free to add it in the comments section, or comment on my Facebook Page.
That way, more people can refer to it later on.

Thank you for reading,
Aviva

Fashions on the Streets of Victoria, BC

The other day, I decided to go for a walk downtown Victoria, to see if I can find any interesting people to photograph. Unfortunately, the lighting wasn’t the greatest, and the camera that I was using is only good for snapshot quality images. However, a heavy professional camera would have been impractical for the day, as I was shopping, and walking around in the scorching heat.

I was walking up Government street, and right as I was about to turn onto Johnson Street to go check out some of the local boutiques, I spotted a beautifully dressed tourist, and I approached her.

She was from Santa Barbara, and was on vacation in Victoria (good choice!). She stated that her colourful dress was Italian, and that instead of paying $350 for it, she paid $80. Additionally, her beautiful Mariano Orlandi purse only cost her $200 as opposed to $600. She got her stunning high heel shoes at Nine West. Nine West, from what I’ve seen, often have deals on shoes. 🙂

Above: Tourist from Santa Barbara.

The next image was taken as I was walking down Douglas Street on the same day.
The girl had just walking out of a cafe, and I took a quick snap of her because I liked the colourful dress that she was wearing.
Below: Local girl walking down the street.

Both ladies were flattered to be approached for a photo.
I am definitely hoping to get out more often, and photograph more people, wearing clothes that I like. 🙂

Cheers,
Aviva

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