Modeling tips

So, with this I come back, know I have been away for too long. I have spent a few time writing this in my laptop to copypaste in my pages, wish this helps to the young girls who write me asking for tips.. Greets!

I have been receiving several messages asking me for modeling tips, and I can’t honestly spend my time answering to each one of those messages, even though I sometimes feel identified with the ones who send me those, I just don’t have enough time, and most times I can’t even read the messages I receive unless they seem to be job offerings or interesting proposals. I love seeing new messages in my inbox, even if I don’t answer or even read them, just looking at those in general makes me feel supported, thanks. But the thing here is (sorry, I am not a concise person and in my personal profiles I am gonna be as long as I wish to be) that I am making my personal tips to give my honest opinion of what is best to start into alternative modeling. This way I can give this information to more people than I could give otherwise, and since this message is made comfortably and with enough time, it will probably be a lot better advice than it would be if I am just trying to answer in two minutes a message from a girl.

Please, know that I have been into alternative modeling for not even three years, so these tips are just the beginning of the ones I am slowly getting to myself, this is just the beginning of the knowledge I wish I’ll get when more into the industry and even if I was a 40 year old woman who has been extremely successful, my tips wouldn't fit all the models. These are just my beliefs about what is best, but it depends a lot in what does a certain person want, how that person is; to say a couple. My tips are mine, you can take them or leave them, I just talk from the experience I am starting to have and the things that have worked for me, the stuff I have observed and the goals I prosecute. So, you can read them, but don’t just take them all; take a look of your own ideas about it and check if that would work for you, or if this is really what you want. I truly believe it would be helpful, because even if my tips aren’t for you, it’s always good to see what other models think, and how they feel.

So, as a model who has only been into this for two years and some months, but who has gotten some great public by her (my) own way, I post these tips; comment them if you want, constructive criticism is always welcomed.

First part is just to get into it and start getting known, the second part is more about being professional and avoiding potential problems either in a personal or legal way, or just uncomfortable situations.

Starting out:

Take a look of the photographers in your area, prices, quality and how professional they are. Make sure you make a good starting portfolio, showing your best (specially now that you are a beginner and you’ll need more help with that). Try on different clothing, different poses, make up, look…   demonstrate you are capable of several things, of showing different emotions, feelings, expressions, that you have your own attitude. Practice that by yourself while you look for the ideal photographer.

Once you have found him/her, hire a shooting and make your portfolio.

Now that you have the portfolio, look for having more experience and even more pictures. There are the TFCD/TFP shootings (Time For CD/Time For Pictures), exchange shootings where nobody gets money but both of them receive images that will be good for both of them. Now I was going to start writing endlessly, but I better just set the points one by one to make it clearer than a long generic story.

Signing contracts:

Read deeply every contract you sing, and make sure there is one in every shooting you have.

If it’s an exchange shooting, always get the ownership of the images, and the right of using them for your own exposure; that the photographer gives credit to you when he uses them for his own portfolio or contests or anything. And if one of the parts gets money from the pictures, set a percentage for the other part (for example: 70% for the one who sold the picture and 30% for the other part). But not sold as exclusive, don’t lose the right of using your own picture unless you made the picture specifically for that proposal (that would be receiving money, so it doesn’t apply here in exchange shootings). Never have an exchange shooting where they will later use your image in something as serious as an exposition, require money if it’s the case.

If it’s a paid shoot I leave up to you how much do you want to get, not just talking about money, but about your rights: being credited, owning the images, etc.

Working for free:

Besides what I explained about the contracts in exchange shootings, I only find this reason for working for free (besides a favor for a friend or similar), and the reason is: it benefits you. I could benefit you if it’s a work for something unpaid but with a great exposure and being credited, if it’s with an important photographer, a shooting that would enrich a lot your portfolio or a shooting you wanted for your own, and found a photographer who liked it and made an exchange shooting.

If it doesn’t benefit you, don’t take the shoot. The more shootings you have, the more experience you’ll get, but I personally find pointless to be in shootings that will not be useful, it will always be there a good enough photographer who would arrange a shooting both of you (yourself and the photographer) will like; so better get one of those.

Get experienced:

Shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot.

Try to have shootings constantly, if serious work doesn’t appear, arrange TFP shoots to get experience, remain fresh, be active, know more people in the industry and get more images. Maybe one of those images is the one that will get you a job (or lose it, NEVER take a picture you could regret). This is why I recommend to…

…establish your boundaries:

Before you start on this, take your time to think about what do you want and don’t want to do; specifically the amount of skin you want to show and how to show it (it’s not the same to shoot for a beautiful and delicate nude than to wear a bikini and pose with open legs and squeezing your boobs). Set this, and never pass the boundaries unless you are a hundred percent sure of it. It’s up to you, but make sure you’ll not cry later your decisions. As a model who is starting through internet, you will have a hard (more like impossible) time while trying to erase all the proofs of the pictures you took.

Take a look at the photographer’s work:

When a photographer contacts you for a first time, take a look at his/her portfolio. Not only the quality of the pictures (that would be related to the “working for free” tip). But of what does that person look for the images, if that goes for you; or, being clearer: make sure that person is in fact a photographer and not a person who pretends to be one. Ask if you can go with a friend to the shoot, if the answer is “no”, don’t accept the shooting. If the photographer seems to be obsessed with nudity, or anything that could be related to “sex”, don’t accept as well (expect phrases such as “it’s nothing wrong with nudity” or “your body is really beautiful, you are not really doing your best if you cover it”). If they say it once but accept what you don’t want to do, it’s Ok, or if they just leave; but those who try to convince you aren’t usually nice people. A lot of photographers are just guys who bought a camera to have an excuse to see innocent women naked in front of them, or worse things.

If you are not too busy, try to meet the photographers in public places another day before the shooting and get to know them a little; also talk about the shoot.

Be professional:

Make sure you arrive early enough to every single shoot you have. If you find it impossible, give them a call, even if it’s just for 10 minutes.

Don’t change your appearance without letting the photographer know. If you arrange a shoot, don’t change your appearance it the period before it, and if you plan a change, tell it to the one who wants to shoot with you so they will decide if they still want it.

Be confident, always have in mind you are the model; a human, but a professional. Relax and believe you are giving your best. Confidence makes miracles; if you are extremely nervous or feeling shy, try to break the ice a little; don’t focus on that, it will only make things worse. And remember, the photographer is another human who could be nervous about shooting with you.

Don’t be a diva. I personally hate people who want everybody to be licking their asses and mistreating the others while they wouldn’t accept any treat slightly bad to them; or not just slightly bad, just any way of treating that wouldn’t be saying “you are the best and the only and I would do anything for you because even your shit is worthy”. Ewww, hate it! You will never be the best, the most beautiful, the most nothing (not even bad things). So be confident, make yourself be respected in every way possible; but don’t think you are over (or below) anybody.

Bring your own makeup, there will usually be makeup artists, but just in case they don’t show up, bring some basics to put makeup yourself. It’s also good to have a little knowledge about applying the makeup and styling your hair; that way it would be easier for you to have shootings as you wanted. Sometimes, when I have a look in mind it doesn’t matter how good the MUA (makeup artist) is, it doesn’t look as I pictured so I feel disappointed. When I imagine a whole shooting and ask for it, I usually want to be my own stylist. (But, of course, going back do the “don’t be a diva” point; never act as if the makeup artist had no clue; if he/she is there, is because he/she got there, even if that way of working isn’t one you like).

And…

As the last comments (I could be here writing and writing endlessly but I think that’s enough): Don’t get disappointed, it’s hard to reach the top, but even more if you get disappointed.

Protect your intimacy: if you are gonna try to get known through the internet, better don’t use your real name and make your modeling accounts different to your real accounts. If you are gonna make a profile in some website and they ask you for an email, put there the modeling email only, even if the email is not going to be shown.

Keep learning, looking. You’ll never know enough.

Comment me what you thinjk about the tips.

Pictures shall be added to make this more apparent, so here I post a couple of pictures by Raquel Jaramago (Jaramatography), make up by Silvia Gil, make up by Helen and the other models are Eva Modelimage (Nazi Nurse) and Mary (retro nurse).

Greets, have a nice week! Today I am not putting a song I like, this post is dense enough.

Who made you smile this weekend? What did you do that was fun?

A friend, more than one...

Ask me anything

Goth Week III; 20 years; shoots...

Again with my writing procrastination...

Since I last wrote, I have had three shoots (one of them was double) and I was in the Goth Week in Madrid, modeling for Velvet Damita.

The web craneometal, asked me for some pics for their website, they wanted a sexy-metal-female santa for the upcoming Christmas, but not in exclusive. So I upload one of them here and I will show the rest in Christimas ;)

I had the shooting with Sivali, the "Santa" one and another different one right after, for a band. But since I don't really know what will happen with that, I am not saying which band or how were the pics.

That day I was completely off, so I forgot all the things for the shoot, and she had to improvise the whole styling, but I like the result =)

Before Halloween was the Goth Week, and I performed for the designer Velvet Damita, you can see the clothes in these two pics =)

I had to be alone on stage for about a minute before any of the other models came with me, and I was nervous as hell, specially because I had to learn the short play in the same day...

A few weeks ago (after the Goth Week), the model Diva Satanica told me her friend and photographer Raquel Blanco was coming to Madrid, so we could arrange a shoot together. I liked the idea and so did Raquel, so we met. Her first idea was to work with a designer and shoot in a park close to my house, but the designer didn't call her and the park wasn't open, so we had to make a maximum improvised shooting in my house, with a black sheet as background... xD

Even though it was so random, I have liked the results!

Well, it was my 20th birthday, I had fun and stuff xD I don't feel like talking about it a lot, I am tired xD

Yesterday I had a shooting with Olano Photography, with Mad-Rubb latex, make up artist Enrique Crespo and in the company of the models Zazu, Shade, Maryah Marimotto and Desiré Bressend. Will talk about it as soon as I can show you the pics ;)

And hm, a song to have a nice post ending, I wish I start playing (or at least trying to) this song on the guitar as soon as exams end!

Grandfather

This is my grandfather Ysidro

The picture was oviously taken some decades ago, when my mother was my age. This post will be more centered on him than in my modeling; because my blog is to talk about myself, not only about my modeling career, and my grandfather is one of the biggest influences I have ever had.

He died aroun 6 months ago, I didn't write it here because the last thing I needed then was to make a post about it, I needed time for my family, time for myself. It's on the nature of life to see the grandparents die, but that doesn't make it easier to pass through. His dead helped me realize lots of things, I have always known I loved him, but never knew he had such an impact in my life. I am trying hard not to cry. Loosing him was not just loosing a grandfather, it was loosing a role model, a figure I admired, a beloved one, a friend... I felt so small, he was a genious, I am nobody, I have thrown my life into a spiral of lazyness and when looking at Grandfather Ysidro I feel like I don't deserve him.

I would start here talking about all the things he did, but he wouldn't like me to do that, he didn't want to be on top, he just wanted to study and learn. He could be one of the most recognized doctors on the last century but he didn't want to and he kept writing his books in silence, studyin the cancer and learning, always learning, always listening to everybody even when they were a lot less experienced on medicine than him.

He lived for cancer and cancer killed him.

After he died, a cousin talked to me, she told me that the Grandfather spoke to her and said that is sad to see me outside college, failing and failing easy tests, because I am smart and I could do great things. That broke me down, I have those words hiting my ears since then. I wish I could have told my grandfather "I am studying physics and I got great grades!", but I couldn't, and not even now I am studying physics. I wish I was; I wish someday on the future I could feel like I deserve him.

I could keep talking about him, but I am feeling bad.

So, this are pictures taken by Ben Chislett some weeks ago, and I think they are raw, wish you like them, it was my first time working with a foreigner photographer.

I was the second on Lady Allura's latex contest, dunno why it did end already when the set deadline was for Halloween, don't understand why I am not even on the runners up when I was the second, but who cares anyway. I will get some latex somewhere else. =p

(I love this pic, personally. All these pics by Ben Chislett and own make up).

Love you Grandfather.

Wish I could say more stuff, but I just can think about him. Sorry for getting so personal and emotive today, but it's a piece too big for my life not to talk about it.

Lots of things... (Sinical Magazine ;) )

Today I want to say lots of things, I have been thinking (yes, I do think!) and sometimes I get scared when I read certain messages in my inbox, and in a few other places. Most of them are nice, a few are bad and almost insulting, and my concern goes to the extremes. I'll talk about this but first I want you to know that I am featured in Sinical Magazine Fall 2011 pages 8 and 9. You can download a PDF on their website and a few more places ;).

Now, please, people, I want you to know a couple of things about myself, because sometimes people tend to see images and invent a background, and my personality when that's not enough material and I have heard comment about myself which absolutely opposite. For everyone could be easy to realize I like goth, fetish and metal, among other stuff; but does this really say anything about how I really am? People is complex enough to require thousands of tests and analysis, if everything was as easy as looking a couple of pics (that are worked and not spontaneous so do not reflect my lifestyle), then psychologists whould have nothing to do but look a picture of the person they want to know.

I am just a person, with my bad and good things. Not ugly, but not amazingly pretty; I sleep, I pee, I cry, I love, I hate, I get sick, I get pimples when I eat too much chocolate (chocolate is my worst temptation), I get injured when I have an accident, I have fallen to the floor lots of times (there is still a fairy blonde kid inside me)... I like showing skin, if I didn't I would not do it, but that does not mean I take to bed the first person I find (and even if I did nobody should care about it).

Some people ask if I don't think I am a gorgeous person myself why did I get into modeling. The answer is simple: One thing is to think I am not gorgeous and another one is to think I am ugly. I don't think I am ugly, but I am far from my ideal of beauty. Besides I have blue eyes and soft skin, I am the reverse of the features I really like. I like people with wide jaws and pointy chins like Angelina Jolie, I have a really small chin and jaw; I like people with almond ayes, mines are round. Those are just two examples. I probably see myself wors than others do, and of course, better than others!

Now, why did I get into modeling? I liked it, I wanted it, I only have one face and I don't want surgery. I like goth look and I am too short (164cms) for mainstream modeling, so here I am. I just wanted to get known while I get enough skills on extreme vocals and guitars to play in a good band.

(next pic by Sivali D'Lirium, make up and model myself)

I like how they look extra photoshopped pics, and I will never claim to have such look in real life because I would look like a videogame character walking around. I also love wearing make up, yeah, I look better, and I have some pics that I'd love to burn. But of course, those are not gonna end up on the internet (at least I wish so).

Thanks to all the ones who follow me ^^ saying all this does not mean I don't like people to like my pics, it just means I don't want extremes.

Now I would like to introduce you a couple of people, well, three:

The first one is the metal model Diva Satanica, I started talking to her because of all the modeling thing, and because she was one of the few Spaniards I have found on those circles. From the pics you could think she's pretty, but now that I have seen her on the real life I can bet she looks a lot better like that than in any picture you could find, and she is a very nice person. She has worked with Hate, Blood Red Throne and more bands. Here I leave her facebook page link (run by Hermanas Muerte, not by her) so you can see how good she looks. http://www.facebook.com/DivaSatanicaAltModel

The second one is a book, well, it has an author, but I am pretty sure the author prefers his book to be known rather than himself. http://www.librometalextremo.com/blog/

Here is (in spanish) his introduction:Soy Salva Rubio, el autor del libro "METAL EXTREMO: 30 Años de Oscuridad (1981-20011)", un volumen de unas 500 páginas, con casi 1000 bandas reseñadas en más de 247,000 palabras, una análisis en profundidad nunca visto antes en el mundo, y que cubre por separado los 10 estilos principales del Metal Extremo, así como su historia, forma musical, estética, evolución, lírica y mucho más.

Si te gusta el Metal Extremo, necesitamos tu ayuda! Únete a nuestros grupos y redes sociales para que esta info le llegue a la mayor cantidad de gente posible.

El libro será publicado a lo largo de 2011, en su edición española.

And the third one is Phlegeton http://www.phlegeton.com/webv3/ He designs extreme metal covers and he is the singer in Wormed. Despite his brutal voice, he's a nice guy.

And by the way, please, vote for me on Lady Allura's latex competition (info in my facebook page).

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rifk%C3%A1-alt-model/151801571529305

Thanks to the blog middlejapan0.blogspot.com for announcing me ^^

And by the way, please, vote for me on Lady Allura's latex competition (info in my facebook page).

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rifk%C3%A1-alt-model/151801571529305

Ultratumba

This time I can really say I have been off everything!!

I have appeared in Ultratumba Webzine page 36 number 7, but right now I am lazy to upload it...

I have done lots of things but I don't even know what to say or where to start, I can't put a whole month in one page, or I tell in detail or I just say four things in one paragraph...

I have been in Madrid the whole summer and I will not leave it probably, I could have gone to the northern Spain, which I love, but for personal reasons I prefered to stay here in Madrid standing the heat. I had three shoots, but I can only show here the pics from one of them: the first one was a drawer who just takes pictures for the ideas to copy and modify in his art; the second one wants a sophisticated manipulation which it's taking some time, and the third one, the one who took the pics I'm gonna show here, was a guy who studied with my sister.

The shoot with the artist was not very complicated because the pictures are not to be seen; the second one... was painful xD This guy hung me from the ceiling to make a flowing effect on the pic, but the ties hurt hella.

Someone who likes my pictures, called Isaak wrote me a poem in Spanish, here I show you.

Dama de Metal Infernal

En la amplitud de la oscuridad universal

una montaña y un bosque que se incendian

y miles de demonios tu silueta asedian

por ser tú, la renovada maravilla celestial

Tu mirada contiene fuegos sagrados infernales,

llamas deliciosas que nuevas almas asesinan,

siniestras luces rojas que hasta al oro calcinan;

pues así es la bella dama de ojos sobrenaturales.

Que se entregue el alma docilmente al fuego

y la dama oscura venga y libere la tormenta

los volcanes se extingan ante su vida sedienta

y que la tierra gima ante aquel nocturno juego

Preciosa e infernal hada, sumergenos en el abismo

ahoguémonos en tus endemoniadas miradas

en tu espectro, vástago de nocturnas hadas

ante el vacío en que está el infierno mismo

Eres un infierno celestial,

un sueño de tortura y sangre,

una oscuridad alegre,

una caricia letal.

And well, as an end, I'll show you a Wardruna song, I really like it.

All of my pics in this post are by Arroyo.

Sister's Birthday

A few days ago was my sister's birthday, and I tried to make some cookies for her, and I must admit they were absolutely terrible hahaha, they had to eat them with jam because its taste was plain.

... I am trying... I am honestly trying, but in my last posts I just can't write properly, I just put up a couple of paragraphs in a desperate attempt to tell something intersting. Personal stuff =p but I am just not enough in this to write a lot. And I am lately having less shots and new stuff, I wish it's just a short period of time and I get back no my normal activity.

Any suggestions for new shots?

So, here is another pic from Caos =) make up Sivali D'Lirium and Noiferum Vonsiel.

And here a picture taken a year ago, from Vanyar, make up Luna Gara Quesada.

And to fill this out a little =p a song

I found this band while I was looking for a nice background for my laptop desk, it's the same image that appears on the video.