Heidi Van Horne's Pin-Up FAQ's
I Wanna be a Pin-Up Model! Where do I start?
I started shooting my own pin-ups with a tripod and a self timer--just
like Bunny Yeager did (and still
does to this day!) Being able to experiment with different looks and poses
and being the only one to see when I fail or things don't work gave me
a lot of experience and I learned my strengths and weaknesses, my best
angles, etc. Blessed is the digital age, when trial and error is much cheaper
than it was with just film! If you can't shoot yourself or don't have a
camera with a self timer, get a friend, perhaps someone else who wants
to try pinups, and take turns shooting each other and playing around with
photos. To practice--don't be afraid to be a dork in the mirror--experimenting
with your expressions will only help you in shoots! Its funny how we think
we look a certain way when we do something, and then seeing yourself on
video or in a pic it looks very different. The more you can play around
and evaluate what you do and don't like, the more prepared you will be
to express different looks and emotions on a real shoot.
If you really want professional photos--consider
investing in a shoot. If the photographers you wish to work with don't
respond to your requests for TFP (time for prints), consider saving up
some money and paying for a pro session with one of them. Then you are
the client (and often can use the images as you wish.) It shows that you
are invested in it, and if you hit it off with the photographer, they might
keep you in mind for clients and future work.
I wanna do pin up, but I don't have the “pin-up look”!
I hear this one SO OFTEN! If you ask 50 people what pin-up is, you'd
get 50 different answers. Its my opinion that pin-up art is an image of
a beautiful woman. And hey, every woman is beautiful in one way or another!
So, a true pin-up celebrates women and any woman can take a pin-up photo!
True, there are certain body types and facial features that strike us as
more of a classic pin-up look than others, so it may come easier to some
women, but I truly believe that its just about choosing what to focus on!
So...concentrate on focusing the photo on the feature you feel best about.
Great smile? Get a good headshot! Long legs? Take a leggy pin-up! Whatever
the feature is--flaunt it! The most attractive thing in any photo is the
confidence and emotion that come out through the eyes and when the model's
personality shines through!
How do I get my name out there/meet other pinups or photographers/become
a part of the burgeoning pinup community?
One of the best ways to integrate yourself into the modern pin-up “scene”
(if you will) is to submit some of your favorite photos (self pinups or
whatever shots you have) into pinup contests. Lots of them are out there,
among them are: of course, Java's
Bachelor Pad's Cheesecake Contest which is part of Java's
Bachelor Pad--a place where you can read about and view tons of
photos of lots of famous original pin-up girls as well as modern pinups
(like Bernie Dexter, Kay
O'Hara and myself); RetroRadar
has a monthly contest with great prizes, from the folks behind the late,
great Atomic Magazine; and sites like My Vintage Hut,
Nuclear
Wardrobe, Kustomsville, and many more have similar
pin-up girl contests. You can also often join contests like these at car
shows and events.
Another good idea is to have somewhere online
that people can research you--its great if you can afford a website, but
its costly and if you aren't looking to work professionally, but more for
fun and the occasional job, it isn't even necessary. Build a MySpace
page, sign up on sites devoted to modeling networking such as Model
Mayhem, One Model
Place or RetroKitten,
which specializes in alternative and pinup modeling. Pay attention to people
who's work you like, or keep finding yourself drawn to--keep an eye on
who they work with and what they seem to look for in models and what type
of work they do. Be smart--do your research!
I wanna work with ___(model/magazine/photographer/company)___!
Read their site--some folks take unknown models, some have strict requirements.
Make sure you know what type of stuff they shoot before you tell them how
much you love their work! Then, send them an email! Express your interest
to them, send photos of yourself and a link to your site or online portfolio!
Then be patient. Most of the time, they will keep you on file until a shoot
comes up that you'd be right for. Stay in touch every so often--but don't
be a pest! You want to let them know that you are interested, not desperate!
When the time is right, they'll reply. Sometimes people wait until you've
shot with someone they know, and then suddenly several people at once are
asking to shoot! It takes time and often is about building relationships,
like any other business.
What the heck is a release form/what does my contract mean?
Get it in writing! (And read before you sign anything!) The sad truth
is, most likely any dispute over a pin-up shoot would not be worth suing
over-- no matter how badly it goes! Getting everything in writing at least
helps avoid most problems that could arise. When you are first starting
out, you'll likely be asked to sign release forms. This is a sticky situation--you
need to do TFP work in order to build a resume and portfolio and get some
experience and exposure, yet signing away your rights means your image
could be resold and used anywhere. Just because you and the photographer
share common interests or aesthetics, doesn't mean you see eye to eye on
what sort of end result the images should be used for. One way to fix this
is to include/add--on to your contract or the release form they provide,
details that would ensure certain provisions are included, such as (from
my release form/contract):
“No images may be used in or in conjunction with any adult
product, services, websites or 800/900 numbers and the like.”
Some people will have no problem, some people
will be strict in their terms--know what you are willing to bend on and
what is not flexible--and whatever you do, be sure to communicate your
needs/guidelines to the photographer/client IN ADVANCE! On set is not the
time to negotiate terms! Make sure you BOTH sign the release form and that
you BOTH get a copy!
What are some safety tips for shoots?
I have read online many photographers who claim to not allow escorts
on shoots, but to me, especially with photographers you "met" online, this
is a huge red flag! No one wants someone on set that will be a distraction
or disrespect the shoot in any way, and over-protective parents or jealous
boyfriends are sure-fire disasters, but anyone who tells you you can't
bring an escort/friend seems fishy to me. Once you have worked with someone,
you usually feel safer and know if there is a makeup/hair artist(s) on
set with you, and its not usually necessary after the first shoot to bring
an escort, but having a friend come along to make sure you are okay is
smart the first time around. Paid agency work is the only exception to
this in my book, as they are most likely legit companies with lots of paperwork
filled out through your agent in advance. On every shoot, you should ALWAYS,
NO MATTER WHAT, leave the address of where you are shooting and names of
people you are working with both at your home and with someone you trust.
You'd much rather be the girl who is overly cautious rather than another
one gone missing! Err on the side of caution on this! Your life is too
precious not to!
What are the limits of pinup? Can/Should I do topless/nude/implied/etc?
First off--if you are under the age of 18, stick to cheesecake, my
dears! No nudity or even implied nudity, and beware the sexy poses! It
doesn't matter how grown up and mature you feel, it's the weirdos looking
at you with wrong intentions that underage modeling unfortunately promotes.
It really doesn't matter how mature you act or feel, its inappropriate
for adults to portray you in a seductive way. And illegal in this country,
to boot. Stay with the cute headshots and vintage dress & fashion pics
until you are legal! Doing otherwise invokes nuthin’ but trouble and kiddie-porn
freaks!
Setting limits on nudity is a personal choice--one
for each adult person to decide on their own-- but keep in mind
that your pictures will be out there forever once they're taken. Know before
a shoot what is expected of you--and make sure you are clear with the client/photographer
on what your limits are (No nudity at all, implied only, topless, etc.)
Deciding in advance what is okay with you and sticking to it is easier
than going with the flow and submitting to any kind of pressure on set.
Know that--sad, but true--nude photos are more sell-able, so if they can
talk you into losing your top, it just means more $ for them. Don't do
anything you don't feel comfortable with! These pics will likely be around
longer than you are, so make sure you are agreeing to what you want to
do, not just what they ask of you.
Also*** Not taking your top off will NEVER
result in you getting “black listed” or not having a career, or any other
bullsh*t excuse anyone tries to give you. There are tons of girls who do
well without doing nudity, and there are tons of girls who specialize in
it- and if nudity is what they wanted for the shoot, they could have easily
hired someone who openly does it. NEVER feel pressured!***
Come back next month for more tips and a lil' Q & A!
A little about Heidi: "I starting acting
in Texas at age 13, I have worked and trained as an actress in film, TV
& commercials for most of my life, as well as working behind the lens
on various projects. I have been shooting my own retro pinups since late
2003, when I started doing self-shot photos (just like Bunny
Yeager did!) with a self timer and a tripod in my home. Since
then, I've been on the cover of 3 books ("Hot Rod Pin Ups" by David
Perry and MBI Publishing, "How to Be a Dominant Diva" by Avalon
Press, and the new "Modern Vixens: World of Winytiki" by Octavio
Arizala and Goliath Press) as well as being featured on the
cover of 3 (and inside 2 other) Pin Up Calendars for 2007, magazine covers
and countless layouts, features and interviews in counter-culture publications,
as well as a few mainstream mags. I've gotten to work with tons of amazing
companies and photographers, including original pinup, pinup photographer
& living legend, Bunny Yeager--shooting on the same beach
where she and Bettie Page made
Pin Up history! Living in LA pursuing my acting, I've kept myself busy
on the side shooting the genre I love the most- and I'm thrilled to see
how the niche has grown and grown worldwide!" |
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