Back to the Basics with JBell

Let's dust off this blog and put some modeling pics on it shall we?

I admit I love having stylists dress me up in fashionably ridiculous outfits and having makeup artists transform my face into a much more glamorous version of itself. It's like playing dress up and makes for some pretty cool photos.

But on the other hand it is so refreshing to grab a pile of my own clothes, do my hair and makeup how I normally would, and go shoot one on one with a photographer that will shoot me as myself. This was my fourth time shooting with Jonathan Bell and first time since I started traveling with my work.

This shoot was the simplest I had done in a long time. Two people, a car as a change room and a couple of outfits to style. And I couldn't be more in love with the outcome. As much as I love the glamorous shots, these photos are just more me. With a bit of JBell grittiness thrown in of course.

Sometimes you just have to go back to the basics.

Chloe Magazine

The moment I no longer feel excitement in finding an editorial of mine in a magazine is probably when I should stop modeling. 

I still remember my very first tear sheet. It was for Charlie & Lee back in Victoria over two years ago now. It was in a local Victoria magazine that I had to write into the publisher to get a copy of since it was so selectively distributed. I was ecstatic nonetheless. I’ve since done over a dozen magazines in Asia but there is something exciting about having my first editorial in a Canada-wide distributed magazine. I like knowing that my mom can go to the local Chapters and pick up a copy. Which she did in fact do and then proceeded to tell everyone in the adjoining Starbucks that I was her daughter - Thanks for the adorable support mom! 
 
Arriving on location for this shoot was amazing. I had seen pictures of Casa Loma online but was still not expecting the gorgeous building that emerged as I walked up the snow covered steps from the street. Imagine thiscovered in a layer of white snow. Stunning, non? My camera was not working at the time so I unfortunately did not take any pictures that day. But these images shot by the talented Anthony Guira are more than enough.

Castings

Fashion week castings are upon us and I feel short

My height was a non-issue in Asia, I fell somewhere in the middle of the various model heights. In Toronto, on the other hand, I walk straight and never let the client see me in my flat boots as I slip into my heels in the lobby and hope they overlook the mere inch that stands between me and some designer’s set minimum height of 5’10. 

Otherwise it’s the same as any other show casting. Smoothing my hair into a ponytail, putting on a tight dress and adding some tights as we are in Canada and it is still winter. Then walking to a casting and running into other models on the street, joining together over the mutual destination and working together to find the exact room in which the designer is waiting for us to introduce ourselves, walk, and then politely make our exits. With so many models being seen in a day, the process is quick and to the point. Unlucky timing might have me waiting in line, making small talk, reuniting with model friends, or Google mapping the destination of my next casting.

Then I find it is best to put the casting out of my mind. There is no point in dwelling on it or being anxious about whether or not I booked the show. One designer might have said my hips are too big, another might have said my hips are perfect but the rest of my measurements are too small. Most, however, say nothing at all except thanking me for coming. These comments used to stress me out, make me think I had to change something, but now I simply go on with my day and check my emails as regularly as ever. Those confirmed bookings might just show up in my inbox. If not, there's always the next job.

All images via Greg Kessler @ greg backstage

Updating the Portfolio

 Updating the portfolio with a more "North American" approach

Shooting in Toronto is definitely different than anywhere in Asia. The most skin I ever showed in any country in Asia was the equivalent of wearing a modest bathing suit. There was also a lot more smiling in photos – especially in Bangkok. Fashion shoots here tend to venture into a more scantily clad area as you'll see in the photos below.

People ask me if it is weird to find topless photos of myself on Facebookbut really, with the amount I'm covering myself, I’m showing less cleavage than the average girl’s profile picture. But while one is deemed socially acceptable, the other is met with skepticism. I admit that I’ve withheld from uploading certain pictures on to my Facebook page. Not because I’m ashamed of my body but because of  the social stigma that would come with them. Maybe there is a time and place for certain images, and maybe Facebook isn’t always it. 

In my last post I mentioned that the questions of wearing fur or having tattoos are common ones for models. There are two more that appear commonly in contracts and on casting sheets: Will you pose nude, or in lingerie? It is always up to the model to do what she is comfortable with. When people talk about modeling taking away the innocence of young girls, I can’t say they are incorrect, but I would lay the blame more on the social life of a model rather than jobs. A model can always say no. I have been lucky that I have not been put in any uncomfortable situations, but I’ve always had bookers that assured me that I could call them if I was ever unsure about something on set. I won’t deny there aren’t sketchy situations in the industry, I’ve heard the stories, but I have always managed to stay out of them - in a professional capacity at least. Maybe I can credit that to working mostly in Asia where, like I said, there is much more modesty.

But to those questions, I usually answer no to the first and yes to the latter. Not because I am against nudity, but because I am cautious about how I do it. I don’t mind posing ‘nude’ if I am still covered where it matters. The pictures in this post are from a simple test shoot where I didn’t mind at all shedding my top at the reassurance that I could cover myself. I felt comfortable in the situation and with the photographer, who I have since worked with again.

Photos from a recent rest shoot with Anthony James Giura

 

Photography- Anthony James photography
Model- Therese MacCallum, Elite Model Management Toronto
Makeup & Hair- Samantha Pickles