The end of 09

Well I thought now would be the perfect time to have a nice little thought out rant before the end of the year. Its about nothing really in particular just a collection of similar events or things I have seen this year which has left me slightly confused about not only how my mind works but how other peoples minds work too, although maybe the things I say leave people perplexed.

So I have a big bag of crisps and a cup of tea so I'm all settled for now at least, must be up early for work in the morning but I can stay up long enough to talk about the stuff that has been on my mind. Firstly I admire sooo many talented models and photographers many of which get the recognition they deserve, some will always be *hidden gems* but to me they are all stars for their attitude and skill, theres lots of people I admire and all for different reasons. I love and admire people with passion for something, even if their passion is nothing like mine, people who actually want to better themselves.. Not just to 'prove a point' to someone else or to secure more bookings but someone who actually strives to just be the best they can be, jump over hurdles to get to that level and even if they reach it they continue going because the only way is up. On the same token I'm fed up of seeing new models moan on forums that they never get listed on peoples 'fave models' lists or whatever = WHO CARES... be a better model, work with better photographers and better yourself, the only reason other models are listed is because they are bloody good at their job, they have worked for years in the industry and have put in time and effort and it takes more than a couple of months to be a 'known/reputable' model.

Someone asked me recently what I love most about modelling, I actually had trouble answering because the truth is that there is soo many things I love about it. Meeting interesting people who all have a different story to tell is pretty good. I love getting up in the morning and preparing for a shoot, I remember how nervous I was on my first 10 or so shoots and I knew that overcoming the nerves would be worth while. I love feeling appreciated and being able to help people, when a new photographer comes to me and is honest in saying 'Look i've not done this before - help me' I feel like I'm in my element and actually able to do everything I can without feeling too restricted. I make no secret about the fact that I am not the best model to direct, if you plop me in a location I do what comes naturaly and most of the time it does work better than me focusing on someone instructing me.

I do plan on travelling more next year and I know that travelling has been my downpoint, if I took on every offer I have had I know my portfolio would really benefit so hopefully the offers from this year will still be on the table next year.

Right I have prattled on a bit.
Shooting this weekend and next week so I'm really excited about that. Can't wait to start producing again, in the past few months I know I have more than halfed my 'usual' shoots. I don't have a reason for that, just seemed like when I got back from England I naturally had a bit of a break and I aint quite got right back into it yet.

Im spurred up and ready to go again, time to take off in 2010 :-)

I hope everyone has a fantastic newyear and doesn't get too drunk :-)

Cxx

Merry X-mas!!

Well santa has come and gone again for another year.

I got lots of fabby presents, infact I got soo much more than I expected.

Rory got me some amazing gifts including an art nude book, some awesome work in it and I recognised 1 of my favourite artnude photographers images in it. It really is amazing how much better a printed photograph is than a digital one. I also got a David LaChappell book, again Im amazed how awesome the prints look and the colours are to die for. I got a music cd, my favourite expensive hair conditioner, a cookery book, a special teddy bear from Hamleys in London, an I <3 tea cup, perfume, a ring and best of all my new ballet outfit that I picked. The tutu is soo crisp and white and the enpointe shoes are great. My dream was to one day manage to get enpointe even if only for 2 minutes for a photograph, well minutes after putting my new shoes on I managed to go enpointe and stay there... I was delighted so now I just need to be photographed doing it :-) I got lots of other amazing gifts too and had a really nice day. Everyone seemed happy with their gifts from me, Im glad I got them really early this year.

Heres a few images from a shoot a couple of weeks ago with Simon!

It was cold.

My hometown is burried under about a foot of snow right now :-)
must get out and shoot, only problem is getting out of Perth or people getting into Perth!

mwahahahah

Holiday Pictures Part1

Well this up-date is a quickie..
Just home and pretty tired, got a few edited..
Still lots of light painting ones to go through and other ones which include the snow yey!

Congrats to my loverly other half on his promotion at work yey :-)
You will never be the boss of me though mwahahahahahah!

Home...

Well I just got home from my little break away :-)
Had a very relaxing break. I even had a dream come true because it started snowing yesterday, a wooden lodge with a outside hot-tub and snow.. yeyy!

Rory and I took alot of pictures, he even had a little go at shooting me a'la artnude.. Just got to put them onto the computer. We messed about lightpainting last night too.

Now its time to unpack and all that stuff.


Heres a couple of non nude images from my shoot last week with Alistair. Despite feeling like death they look pretty good yey.


To be continued ;-)

....

Going away..

Well just a public note to say I'm going away tomorrow, my computer might be coming with me but I WONT be repying to e-mails or taking any work related calls all week.. :-)

Have a nice week all

x

3.27am -

As per the norm for me these days its first thing in the morning :-)
For a change though I have actually been to sleep and not long woken up, I love the winter but I hate not seeing much light and it messes with my body clock a little.

I managed to make it out to my shoot on Wednesday, despite not feeling great. I thought my anxiety was well enough for the whole 'getting on a train' sadly my nerves were slightly mad before I left the house. I think its because I wasn't feeling 100%. I still find it amazing that no matter what my anxiety is telling me (it usually tells me not to bother and just to go back to my comfort zone) I still manage to push myself forward to shoots and once I'm at a shoot I have the best time ever, I always know I will have a good time but before shoots especially if Im public transporting it I freak out and worry. Its mad what the mind can do to your body, and I still thank god that I somehow stumbled into modelling when I did or else I know I would never have faced alot of my fears. I still have the anxiety but actually being able to push past the bad bits and having something to aim for kind of keeps me going.

I spotted on Craigs blog his aims and objectives for next year so it got me thinking about what I hope to achieve next year, I know since I started that my aims were always be just to improve and they still are although its difficult when I often feel I have reached my personal peak in modelling and what I am capiable of doing. I have done pretty much everything I set out to do apart from work with Irish Puppy and a couple of other UK based artistic nude photographers but in a way I like still having that 'goal' because I know once I have worked with them then I might have nothing to aim for. The funny thing is that I know I can work with all the people I want to just now its just the oppertunity in most cases has not come up due to my anxiety. Irish is no different, if I can persuade myself to get on a darn plane I would be there tomorrow if I could even though that would mean my goal to work with him is no longer a goal :-S

So next year my plans are to travel more, I hope to do at least 3 tours. 2 are kind of in the planning stages and means I wont be going it all alone which is a great bonus for me the tours proberly wont last as long as my english summer 09 one was because to be honest although I had a fantastic time I don't think I could bare being away from home for 6 weeks again . Another aim I guess is to get more international publications and what I call 'tesco publications' meaning I can pick a copy of the magazine/book in tesco :-). I also have in the back of my mind to do a book, although photographers I have worked with have a few with just the work they have done with me I think it would be really nice to have one just of my work, only issue is that although I cannot see it being a top seller or even selling all that many copies I wouldn't have a clue how to go about sharing any profits which may be made from it.

I'm going to start dancing classes, I have contacted someone about some one 2 one tuition in Ballet but still waiting to hear back. I remember someone saying recently that you are never to old to learn new skills so I though 'bugger it' and decided that I want to get a bit of training, it will obviously help with my posture, flexibility, fitness and my strength so it can't be a bad thing even if I never manage to get enpointe which is one of my dreams. Part of my christmas from Rory is a whole new outfit for my dancing so fingers crossed the teacher gets back to me soon, if not then I might need to travel further afield for some lessons . I guess the biggest thing for next year is just to keep enjoying what I do and keep pushing myself to do better than previous attempts.

May as well start tomorrow with the whole 'getting better', im off out with Si for some shooting fun. Its been ages since we have hung out so even if its not all that productive even getting a few shots with him before the year is out will be a good thing.

Right I best at least try to get to sleep now even if its just for an hour or so!

Nite nite xx

8th of December

I was in hiding but now I'm back :-)

I spent a long weekend down at Rory's in Glasgow, we both have a bad cold like virus so pretty much just hid under the covers for a few days. I woke up this morning thinking I was actually going to die (it didn't feel nice). It actually feels like someone is sitting on my chest and limiting my breathing and my legs keep going funny.. The weird thing is that I have all the symptoms of a cold (and a few other weird symptoms) but I don't actually have a sore throat.

I'm shooting tomorrow though, so fighting this cold and drinking lots of sugary tea.
I'm actually really looking forward to the shoot, last time I worked with him we had such a good time and it was nice and laid back. I do sometimes get a booking for 2 hours but end up being there for 3 or 4 just because it gives me time to get to know the photographer a bit before the shoot and time for a cuppa and a chinwag after shooting.

Anyways attached to this blog are the pictures from my recent shoot with the awesome Craig Mcguire. I have been meaning to post these up for a week now but having no internet at Rorys weekend flat made that impossible. The first one was actually a spur of the moment type shoot, Erica got to work on my makeup, hair and dressed me.. Then held the light, there is no end to he girls talents.

I think Craig knows it but his work is really coming on these days, he should be super proud of himself right about now.



Plans for this month.........

Tomorrow - shooty
Im going on holiday on Monday, for 5 days... a nice wooden lodge with a hottub and sauna yippee, I have invited a photographer to come work with me while I'm away (im awaiting word back from him). I was not planning on shooting but its too good a place not to shoot in.
When I get back from holiday theres a couple of christmas nights out that weekend (the UKPM one im organising should be awesome). That takes us up to the 21st, have a shoot that week then working with mum for a few days running up to christmas. I'm not sure where I'm spending Christmas yet, proberly half the day up with my family and the other down at Rorys.

Anyways...
Adios

xxx

Bouncing E-mail

Thank you soo very much to the artist who has e-mailed me twice recently, his words have encouraged me and really made me smile this morning. Sadly theres a problem with e-mails and my replies are bouncing so if youre reading this Mark can you e-mail me with a different contact address or number so I can reply properly to you.

Chrissie Red x

Shoot with Wee Joe

Well here area few images from my shoot with Joe recently, I had soo much fun on the shoot.
I'm not really a 'headshot' type model but I know I did need a few new ones, I feel like recently I have not been all that productive so my resolution for next year is to shoot more.

I have been hating the weather this week, it put a bit of a pause on a couple of shoots so will need to wait for things to improve before attempting to re-schedule the shoots.


I was in Glasgow at the weekend, went down to work with Craig and Flame on Sunday afternoon at one of Ericas locations down there, finished off with a couple of sets in Ericas front room then all went out and had some food. It was pretty cold at first but its funny how your body gets used to the cold after 10 or so minutes, its the cold wind I'm not so much a fan of.

Last night Rory and I planned on going bowling, we ended up playing some little quiz type machine then I won a massive bar of chocolate (I don't even like chocolate).. Grrrr.

Well back to business

thanks again to Joe for shooting me, twas an absoloute pleasure and I really love them. Still got a few more hidden back but I might blog with them another day :-)

Chrissie Red xxx

Quick visit to the group shoot..

On Sunday Aimee and I popped into the group shoot. Was lovley meeting everyone, well everyone I had the chance to talk to. I know I only managed to stay 45 minutes because I had to get off home but it was good to see some new faces and I thought I would pop in atleast to say hello and to introduce Aimee to a few folks. Well done to Bruce for organising it!

My buddy Craig managed to steal us for a couple of pictures.

This is cheese tastic :-)

Working with Craig & Flame this weekend down in Glasgow again.. Really looking forward to it actually.. yipppeee

I have just selected pictures from a recent shoot I had, Can't wait to get them back and go on an uploading spree. Yippppeeeeeeee

Monkey Twizzle & Aimee 21st of November

Well heres my 2nd update of this morning although to me it is technically still evening.. I even have a nice cuppa in my hand and a bag of mini cheddars to keep my energy up or else I would be like any normal person and be sleeping by now. Sometimes I go through these phases where sleeping makes me feel like I might be missing something and there is never enough hours in the day for me to do everything I want to do.

So anyway.. Aimee from down south was up at the weekend, we both added each other to a 'model wishlist' on another website last month then got in touch to actually put some type of plan together. I had admired Aimee's work for awhile, she has a unique beauty about her which really opened my eyes. She is also a very hard working and fantastic model so it was a great pleasure to work with her. The first shot above is our arms/hair and legs.. I think you will be able to spot mine (the freckled one) :-)

Billy was experimenting with long exposure type stuff, below is a mixture of both amiee and I.. Please don't ask whos body part is which though because I have no idea!

The fun part was being covered in plaster of paris. Actually I think one of Aimee's comments she made during this shoot will be stuck in my memory forever (to be fair there were many funny moments) but the comment 'this feels like someone poo'ing on me but the poo is cold' was perfect timing. It was cold and bits were setting too fast then falling onto the floor but I think the images turned out pretty good :-)

Long exposure running lady :-)

Headache...

Treacle in my eyes and running down my leg. Woohoo!

I like chess...

We both like chess!

Many thanks to Billy for having Aimee and I over, and big thanks to Aimee for coming up to Scotland and being such a good sport.

Chrissie x

Monkey Twizzle 14th of November

Well as usual I'm running slightly behind on keeping the old blog updated. Seeing as I am having yet another sleepless night I thought now would be the perfect time for me to update with some images. Still waiting on some back from other shoots but heres ones from last weekend :-)

I had sparklers left over from the 5th of November so packed them in my bag and headed for Glasgow. We tested with a torch first though just to see if it would work. I was slightly worried I would end up burning myself, it did say not recommended for indoor use and that you have to wear gloves but I thought a hat looked much cooler than gloves :-)

I have to admit I do like the torch version as much as the sparkler one..


Cold and wet bandages are no fun, although trying to figure out where I was standing/facing was slightly amusing.. Its strange having one of your senses being taken away, very scary too. If Billy wasnt there Im pretty sure I would have ended up walking into the wall or tripping up.

I have this thing, its like a sarong.. I used it before in a series of nude shoots with Artpunk. I happened to have it in my bag and while having a break between shoots I got it out. Both Billy and I spotted that the light coming through it and the shadows it created on my skin was pretty cool so we used it in a shoot. Its great having the freedom to just do something spare of the moment sometimes.

Not only did I take sparklers but I dragged Samson with me too, hes a big cuddly bear who is bigger than me. We decided he should play the role of a GWC, he done it soo well..

Just to show his softer side - and mine :-)

Peace out...

Now I must put the kettle on for my next update :-)

xxx

Just a little update

Well I know its been awhile, its not that I have not had anything to talk about.. I can talk about pretty much anything :-) Just thought I would start with a nice picture Rory took of me on Sunday morning when I was at his flat. Lit by the heater ofcourse!

I have worked with Billy for two weekends in a row now, I plan on doing separate blog entries for the shoots but here's one of the images from last weekend of me and Samson the bear. I got Samson when I was in Aberdeen a few weeks ago so thought Billy was the perfect person to shoot us together.. You really don't get the full impact of his size from pictures though!

This weekend...

Well the weekend just past was great, headed off down to Glasgow on Friday evening and then popped into braehead on Saturday afternoon to pick up some stuff then went over to meet Aimee for our shoot with Billy, had such a wicked time with her. She really is such a great lady and soo beautiful! It was a breeze working with her really. Plus after the shoot we went over to one of Rorys friends house parties and she volunteered to take the bear along despite proberly getting slightly funny looks from passers by!

On Sunday I met up with Aimee again and we popped over to Contrast to meet some of the folks who were at the group shoot, Im not too good with large amounts of people though so it was slightly confusing for me..

I had Joe showing me images from last weekends shoot with him, Simon talking in my right ear about my website and Craig in my left ear talking about a shoot. I'm much better one 2 one I think so its possible that I didn't spend as much time as I should have with other people. Was nice to see people though, even if I didn't actually catch their names lol.

Aimee and I then met up with Rory in Princess Square for what was ment to be a coffee but turned out to be a coke. No cake though, both of us were stuffed on sugary snacks so the thought of eating yet more chocolate was tummy turning to say the least.

Headed back North last night and went to view a house with Rory, its only about 5 minutes from my Grandparents and 10 minutes from Perth. It is in the middle of nowhere and we are going to need to buy a new car but we did love it and it wont be forever.. Maybe just 6 months or so. Would love to wander the grounds in the snow during the winter and although we couldnt see the view because it was dark I imagine its gorgeous! Will be handy having a spare room too, means if any English photographers want to pop up to shoot me then theres a little bed and shooting space there for them at no extra cost :-)

Right im off, I will update again once I have some more images back!

Adios

xx

Weekend of wonder...

Well I will start with the good things that happened on my trip down to Glasgow -
Saturday went really well, Rory had to drive me and Samson (the massive teddy bear) to Glasgow, I needed it for my shoot with Monkey T.. I had a little 2 hour shoot in Contrast before going to Billys so Rory just waited for me, he ended up in a shot with me too! cant wait too see how the pictures turn out because they looked freaking amazin on the back of the camera :D

Saturday night was cool, went over to Billys. Got up to our usual adventures.. Im sure the results will be in soon :D I had an early night because I was due to go over to Helensburgh to work with Adam but when I got up on Sunday a whole bunch of really freaking stupid things happened and I ended up in Queens park with a million bags and a swan chasing me, they can totally smell the fear.. Had a little old woman hug me because I looked sad, dont know if its just me but when someone actually gives you sympathy it makes you end up being more sad.. I thought my fake smile was great but obviously the old lady spotted the fake smile. Decided I wasnt really in the right mood to shoot so sent Adam off a text.. I still would have went but I know I wouldnt have been at my best and thats not really fair. Luckily Adam was fantastic about re-arranging. Just need to make sure when I do get my backside over there I perform better than ever before for him :-)

Sunday got better, the stupid things sorted themselves out in the afternoon...
Spent Sunday evening in Rorys flat in Glasgow and met some of his mates which was cool :-)

Right I better get off, I really should start my daily stretching and dancing just to keep myself flexible.

ciao ciao

xxxx

All ready for X-mas :D

Not been doing a hell of alot this week, been house hunting and playing scrabble ...

I got all my christmas shopping done, I know.. Im early. My holiday is all booked now and I leave on the 14th so I dont actually have all that much time to buy things. I'm off to Glasgow this weekend, working with Monkey Twizzle and the delightful Aimee from down South. Really excited about it actually. Always admired her work and think she has a wonderful look. It will be nice to work with a female model again, only worked with a few before. Ofcourse Billy has some pretty f&^ked up ideas so horrah!



I have been getting a little fidgety recently, I miss doing random shooting of all styles. I had a long think about who I would next like to work long term with and I asked the person I have had in mind so we are meeting up for a tea next time im in Glasgow. I really cant wait to work with him again, I did work with him once (early on in my modelling) and I feel we have both grown alot since then, im also confident in the knowledge that we would be able to produce some very special images together.

I have hit that brick wall I hit every so often, the one where I am confused about what looks good and what doesnt. I dont have a clue what to put in my portfolios, do I stick with the old faves? the ones which kind of made me who I am, the ones which got me bookings, the ones I love? or do I upload a mass of new ones to show that I am still doing what I do? despite me not knowing if the new ones beat the old ones in terms of grabbing the attention?

meh I have no idea.. I guess when I stop getting bookings thats when I should worry about my portfolio not doing its job.
Chrissie Rxxxx

2 for 1! the white hat adventures

Firstly hope everyone had a nice fireworks night, Rory and I attempted to get down to the public display but we missed it then ended up stuck in traffic so we picked up some fireworkies in tesco and headed to my backgarden where we entertained the family with our spectacular display. Heres a little shot I took on Rorys camera!

Although I love my Canon theres alot to be said for the Samsung st550 2view. Its got a bloody awesome screen and soo good for taking self portraits which is handy for a poser like me. Still figuring out how to make myself look pretty on it but im sure I will figure it out eventually.

Off to Rorys tonight to have a games fest with his mum, last week was scrabble and tonight is monopoly. Got most of my xmas shopping done, cant wait to see everyones faces when they get their presents this year. Also got new business cards in but not sure about the colour of the number, its pretty difficult to read in low light eeeek..

Anyway heres a shoot roundup...


Well a few weeks ago I went out with John and Lee to do some seasonal fashion!
I had to have a rake through the wardrobe to find some suitable attire but managed to find some and picked up a lovley white hat which seems to be going everywhere with me these days :-)

Locations were - Dunkeld, Errol and Kinnoull hill - Perth!

Images on this blog are by Lee - Photoexcel,

thanks to them both for such a wicked day out and thank you god for not deciding to rain that day.



Love and kisses and every other type of nice sweet wishes

Chrissie xx

The morning after..

Well before heading home on Sunday morning I had AlisterAberdeen pop over to the apartment for a little shoot, we done some headshots then some other stuff which Im not sure how to describe really - a cross over between erotic/glamour/artnude? hell who knows but I liked these images and Alister said I was allowed to use them on my blog update so here goes.

Hope you lot like them too.

On the evening of Halloween

I worked with Mark David on Halloween in the apartment I was staying in. I had such a great time working with Mark, seriously great time. We both took our time and bounced ideas off one another and came up with really barmy ideas, this is just one image for now to wet your appitite.
I love being able to contribute to a shoot, when I am told exactly what to do I feel it limits me as a model. If someone says 'do what you want' then rest assured it usually works out 10x better than anything they had planned. I hope that statement doesnt sound too big headed woops.

I cant wait to see the other images from my shoot with Mark, he really was awesome to work with!

Cxx

If you go down in the woods today......

Well I was not down in the woods today but I was at the weekend with Craig Burgess from Aberdeen! He took me to a wonderful forest on the outskirts of the Deen. It was only his 2nd model photoshoot (first nude one), Maybe its just me but I love being someones first nude model and Craig was lovley to work with!

I also think I managed to beat a record 'getting bitten and scratched by as much nature as possible in one afternoon'. One of my scratches went from above my knee right down to mid calf.. Woops, I also ended up bum sliding off a fallen over tree trunk but I cant see my bum to see if its left any lasting damage.

Big thanks to Craig for spending Halloween with me, and thank you for linking me to the images from the shoot!