Hey Y'all~ Check out my "Sexy Santa 2009" Photoshoot pics I just put up! Whoohoo! And just in time for the largest snowfall on the east coast in over a 100 years--lol (no I didnt plan that)
In 2008 I did 1 photoshoot; but it was a pretty good one. That photographer's wife had a baby though, the following halloween of 08, so he got really busy and I had to find somebody else, going into 09.
So in due course I lassooed some folks--lol and ended up working with 2 different people and doing a total of 5 shoots in 2009, the latest and greatest of which was the Santa's Helper type outfit in my pics.
Im really trying to work more toward the aesthetic of the Gothic Lolita and trying to get away from the punkrock look. Alot of my gear is more punk, since I really like the color RED (can you tell?) and also I tend to wear PVC or Vinyl over the froufrou and ruffles.
However, I think this next spring Im going to go all out because I finally figured out a way to use my Antique Doll collection in a shoot with that Gothic Lolita theme, so its going to get closer and closer to the "angelic pretty sweet lolita" look, for the next shoot this coming spring.
If it comes down to it I might have to get alot more stage props (ouch: there goes the budget!) but its worth it to get pics that are really that finer, refined quality.
Gothic Lolita models do tend to use some weird props, its alot like Cosplay, if anybody plays that. In cosplay, you dress up like your favorite cartoon character, like Sailor Moon, for example.
If I was going to dress as Sailor Moon for Halloween or whatever, I would buy the wig and red boots and cape and so on. You know, there are all those accessories she has, also.
Its the same way with the Gothic Lolita costume; its practically codified into a Cosplay character, its so formulaic. I havent really gone that far, since I tend to think of myself more as a "goth" first, lolita second (more like incidentally--lol)
but if you want to do a photoshoot in character you have to just get used to certain aspects of things that arent always part of your comfort zone. One aspect for me so far has been using the Acrylic Wigs.
I do have several in various colors: blond, blue, red, pink. Those are your standard colors in Cosplay also and they are easy to comeby online.
So far I havent used them in the Photoshoots much because they require alot of extra staging. If you try to use them out of context in a naturalist venue (like the Cemetary) it just looks trashy and weird.
I think this Sexy Santa 09 Shoot with the blonde wig is really a gentle cross over. The Stage isnt really too elaborate, very neutrally colored. I got to wear RED (yay) and use alot of my fav goth gear like leather and boots (yay) which is technically not really "lolita"--lol
Its sort of a mix that came out slightly racy, but I think it works. The blond wig really reminded me of Mermaid Tresses, when I was wearing it. All I needed was a fishtail and I could have blended it at the Aquarium!
I am interested. Where are you ? I am in Texas. I have done goth,High Fashion,Fantasy,Sci-Fi & Runway. In this photo I am blonde but I have many looks & many hair lengths & styles.
I live in NYC. I'm involved in modeling...Look at my pictures...Those were from a Zombie Voodoo Priestess themed shoot. I am looking to do something more horror-ish though. If you or anyone else in in the NYC area, let me know.
It looks like I might be doing a photoshoot this weekend! Probably will stretch over 3 shooting days, with different "looks" on each day. Since Christmas is coming, I want to start with a red latex "Santa's little helper" type of look, which will have the chair and christmas tree (but no santa--lol) ~ maybe a santa hat + stocking.
Then, I want to do some really dark pics in the cemetary where I have done about 3 shoots already ~ a place called "Oakwood Cemetary" which has alot of gothic stone architecture and now that the leaves are turning color, its got that "dark" feeling. The weather has been mixed between mild and rain, so I guess it depends on whether we get rain. But if not, I was thinking of trying some medieval looks, with chain mail.
Then, finally, want to finish up with a very feminine white and lacy refined look, maybe do an indoor set with some dolls and dollchina for a "tea party" (I love antique dolls! I have been dying to figure out how to use them as props--lol)
And also, I wanted to mention that besides Baudelaire I also like Mallarme, who famously wrote "l'Aprex Midi d'un Faun" and it actually was made into a Ballet !! The french is really enchanting. I like alot of his poems, not just that one.
I was thinking about it and you know: language itself is sort of spellbinding, it creates pictures that form in your mind and influence you, without even needing a model or a camera!
I was reading some Latin translations of the Song of Solomon this morning, which made me feel almost bewitched! (Song of Solomon: book about a wedding, from the Old Hebrew Testament of the Bible)
Examples: Ch 6:4 Thou art beautiful my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an Army with banners
(pulchra es amica mea suavis et decora sicut Hierusalem terribilis ut castrorum acies orginata)
Ch 7: Vs 6, 9, 12, 13
vs 6~ Oh how delightful you are, how pleasent, O Love, for utter delight!
it sounds almost pornographic in Latin--lol
( quam pulchra es et quam decora carissima in deliciis)
Vs 9~ And your kisses are as exciting as the best wine, smooth and sweet, causing the lips of those who are asleep to speak.
(guttur tuum sicut vinum optimum dignum dilecto meo ad potandum labiisque et
dentibus illius rumi nandum)
Vs 12 Let us get up early to the vineyards : Let us see whether th evine hath budded and its blossom open, And pomegranetes in flower : There I will give thee my love.
( mane surgamus ad vineas videamus si floruit vinea si flores fructus parturiunt si floruerunt mala punica ibi dabo tibi ubera mea)
Vs 13~ The Mandrakes give forth fragrence, and at our doors are all manner of choice fruits, new and old, which I have kept for my beloved.
(Mandragora dederunt oderem in portis nostris omnia poma nova et vetera dilecte mi servavi tibi)
The latin version sounds to me like rather intimate witchcraft--lol that borders on pornographic connotations~ but then I suppose that is from the familar tone and also the subject--lol
Finally Ch 8: vs 6, 7
Vs 6~ Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is as strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are the coals of fire which hath most vehement flame.
( pone me ut signaculum super cortuum ut signacalum super brachium tuum quia fortis est ut mors dilecto dura sicut inferus aemulatio lampades eius lampades ignis atque flammarum )
Whoohoo!! The combination of Verse 6 & 7 have a somewhat alchemical aspect in the insistance of Love to Water and Fire. And not just ANY water and fire~ but the fire of the grave of cruel jealousy, the water of all waters of judgement. NICE!
Vs 7~ Many waters cannot quench Love neither can floods drown it; if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would be judged a price not great enough
(aquue multae non poterunt extinguere cartatem nec flumina obruent illam si dederit homo omnem substantiam domus suae pro dilectione quasi nihil dispieient eum )
I find latin to be rather insulting occasionally, in the violence of the terms, so I dont read it often. However it is rather a hoot to read the Song of Solomon in Latin, I must say! Got my blood singing--lol
My point I guess is that if you are looking for drama in Gothic Photography, theres nothing wrong with adding it through the verse and stage craft as much as anything. People who try to come from doing Landscape Photography and then apply the same principals to indoor portraiture are simply stupid.
So I dont have any quams about setting up elaborate staging, whether its outdoor or indoor. In my example about the Ohio River Steamboats: to try to pretend you are doing nature photography and all the elaborate festivities are some sort of co-incidence of the weather is REDICULOUS.
Obviously, its not only well planned but also timed to the rites of Spring! And those 4 star hotels are impressive! Go online sometime and check out the internet Menu they post for their clientele! (and the pricetag!)
What have you written? Im an ameture "gothic" model, but as you may have gathered, there are many types of goths and many types of models. If you are unfamiliar with the term steampunk, I guess you could visualise it as a short story.
Imagine if one of Hugh Hefner's bunnies had worn some really haute couture/bondage gear to the Run for the Roses at the first of May, in Louisville Kentucky. And instead of just showing up for the Derby, they went on a jaunt in an antique car or maybe a jamebond type car, down the Ohio to see some Rally driving in those nitrous mustangs the countryboys love? And stayed in an Artnouveau epoch 4star hotel?
YOu could write yourself quite a little story around that, since there are several Derby's leading up to the final run and many events, including fireworks, hot air ballons, steamboat races, tons of FOOD.
So imagine in that environment, the clothes you would wear and the scenes you could paint in tableaux.
Thats steampunk. And, if you add the futuristic stuff, its cybersteampunk or whatever. People really get creative by adding in things like vampires and stuff that are popular with goths.
Personally, I really like the Romantic Period of English Lit. And also, the same period in French. One of my fav authors is Baudelaire. Have read his book "Les Fleur du Mal"?
I like gothic fantasy photography, more than the Cyber stuff, really. Some of the fantasy photography out of Germany is pretty epic. They have a large latex fashion industry that is considered part of the "gothic" trend. And then, it crosses over into the English-Victorian fashions with the "Lolita" archetype.
Right now Im doing a series of Photoshoots just for fun, like you say, but its something that if you ever accomplished anything good, would open a wide horizon.
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