Babes in Space has come and gone again. For those who don't know (how could you not?) Babes in Space is my yearly Star Trek vs Star Wars burlesque show. For the last two years we've run double shows, which I've discovered is actually much easier and more fulfilling than running a single show!
El Toro, Kinky Biskit, and Charlie Quinn as Ewoks
This year the theme was 3-DD and I like to think we entertained in ALL dimensions! With singing, dancing, ewoks, cupcakes, aerialists, and some high profile audience members (like Playboy illustrator Doug Sneyd!) it was a packed show both nights!
Daytona Bitch as Princess Leia
This show has always been plagued with controversy, duplicates, and last minute 'Augh' factors...and this year was no different. The biggest hurdle this year was trying to figure out whether the show would have its customary booth at FanExpo, Toronto's largest nerd convention. Despite registration back in January, I didn't actually know if I had a table until a few weeks before the show. Luckily, I was able to share a space with The Comic Book Lounge, since despite my early registration I apparently did NOT have a position.
Coco Framboise as Uhura
The convention went well, despite the fact that the late notice meant I had no actualy merchandise beyond some prints and pasties to sell at the table. We sell a lot of tickets at the convention, but unfortunately that doesn't go towards covering the high table cost! It goes straight to production costs and performer pay.
That being said, the success of the show always makes the hurdles of putting it on worth it.
Nasty Canasta as Darth Vader
I had the privilege of booking Nasty Canasta,
one of NYC's biggest (and most hilarious) performers. Nasty had been
incredibly welcoming in my July trip to NYC (despite being under the
weather and very busy) and I was happy to have her and her Darth Vader booty on my stage.
Here's a few shots from the show, and a video with clips and reviews from the first night!
Nix and Myla are
definitely an experience to work with. Their shoots typically have an
edge to the sexiness, involving blood, heads not attached to bodies, or
heavy machinery. I love photo sets that have a narrative, maybe because
of my writer background. Every time they contact me with an idea, I'm
super excited to jump on it.
Our first shoot tougher involved nuns, school girls, and heavy
blood-covered chainsaws. While the photos didn't turn out due to some
bad luck, the experience was hilarious and the story behind the shoot
and their attitudes really encouraged me to continue working with them
and I'm so glad I did.
Here are some photos we've worked on together with Rodrigo from Rue Morgue Magazine!
The redhead always wins! Photos by Nix, makeup by 3BArtistry
Nix and Myla float
between Detroit and Toronto (and possibly some other places) and have
recently opened up their studio in Detroit, where one of our shoots was
used as a major unveiling! This one:
Christmas Corpse! Photo by Nix
As a bonus, I never leave a shoot with them empty handed. Whether it's a gorgeous fascinator, a really lush Santa Hat, or even framed prints of our previous work, they really appreciate and support the girls who work with them.
The lovely folks over at Pin Curl Magazine published this informative tidbit for models hoping to achieve a Pin-Up look in their next photo shoot. This article has so many tips that are great for newbies and seasoned pro's!
Here are some of my favourite tips! Click through to the full article to see all 20 tips!
Pin-Up Modeling Tips and Tricks From the Pros
3. If you want to wear a garter belt and stockings, avoid anything that
is designed to “stay up” on its own. Rubberized “thigh highs” and “stay
ups” can make even the most toned thighs look like sausage. There are
lots of online retailers that specialize in classic stockings that won’t
bind your legs. Also, if you have less than toned thighs, a good trick
is to find some completely sheer “sheer to waist” pantyhose as a
foundation. (Make sure they are not control top! A good choice- Sheer
Energy Sheer to Waist- they have the green stripe on the box.) The
pantyhose will make your legs looks great, and then you can pull the
stockings over them to have the stocking look with toned upper thigh.
... 14. When posing, try to keep your tongue firmly glued to the roof of
your mouth. This will slim your face, and cut down on the double chin.
... 18. Create lots of angles with your body without pointing a joint to the
camera. Never point elbows, knees, or armpits directly to the camera;
this is extremely unflattering. Instead create angles where these
joints are pointing away from the camera.
Toni Walachy is one of the most amazing photographers I have ever worked with. She is the Mistress of Pink Panther Studios downtown Toronto on Queen St. East, which runs workshops on Sundays and Wednesdays, providing photographers with a full studio, and models with a full dressing room and wardrobe section!
Here's a video of a shoot we did with 3B Artistry and Spanish Fly Films. It was a full bodypaint, with two looks for photographers to shoot. This was a super long day, but we got some amazing shots!
Take a look at a few shots from some of our escapades!
You can add Pink Panther Studios on facebook too! Photographers and models can benefit from her huge prop room, Sunday workshop classes, and gorgeous space, which is also available to rent if you need a spot to shoot!
Here's a view of a corner in the front room, all done up for the holidays! Also available are the brand new corset bar, a kitchen and storage room with a load of props and a coffeemaker for those early-morning shoots, and a sexy private dressing room for models! The studio itself can accomodate at least two photosets at any given time, and probably a lot more! (What do I know, I just pose!)
I'm incredibly excited to announce that I'll be shooting with Toni
Wallachy andPink Panther Studios, coming up on October 23rd as their class
model!
Take a look at the Pink Panther blog to get the scoop on what to expect, and take a look at some of their past (and upcoming!) models!
My boy-creature Mark Boyer of 3B Artistry
will be painting my face in the Sugar Skull style for this shoot. It's
definitely not to be missed! I've been told the class spots are selling out!
We'll be doing something like this. Illustration by Sylvia Ji.
A special celebration that honours what some consider the darkest day of
the year. However, in Mexico, Oct 31 is a magical day of celebration.
It is believed that the spirit of the dead visit their families on
October 31 and leave on November 2.
Our model Red Herring, with the assistance of 3B Artistry, a talented
body painter and special effects artist, will transform our studio into a
festive Mexicana shoot out.
