What shall I do, Lemony Snicket?
(via chantrykomori)
Two pieces of advice to gentlemen
You must not dance as a mere pastime and as an occasional amusement, but you must devote yourself to it as a business and a religion. Dance with all the might of your body, and all the fire of your soul, in order that you may shake all melancholy out of your liver; and you need not restrain yourself with the apprehension that any lady will have the least fear that the violence of your movements will ever shake anything out of your brains.
If you invite a lady to go to the theater, neglect not to leave her, and go out to drink with your male friends between each act, as this will show her that you have confidence that she can protect herself; and if you can fall asleep during the play, it will be a great thing for you, as it will show that you are too much interested in her to take any interest in the play; and, besides, she has the sweet privilege of imagining that you are dreaming of her. Nothing so fascinates a woman as to know that a gentleman dreams about her. Hence you will do well to always pretend that you dreamed of her, whether you did or not. No matter if she understands your falsehood, as she will be quite sure to do, for still she cannot help being flattered that you think so much of her that you will tell her falsehoods to please her.
— Lola Montez: The Arts of Beauty: or, Secrets of a Lady’s Toilet, 1858.
~ Before the Baby Comes: A Pamphlet of Instruction and Advice for Prospective Mothers, by Joseph Brown Cooke. 1903
via Internet ArchiveAll those damn sewing machines causing miscarriages.
Put down those ping-pong bats, Prospective Mothers!
"Whenever there’s an awkward silence, try whispering, “Did you forget your line?"
— (via mana-junkie)
Pin Up Photos- Tips.tricks from my point of view
A question recently came through on my tumblr about modelling and some tips i could throw their way. I thought i would dedicate an entire blog post to this.
Hopefully you can take something away from this to help you.
Modelling to me isn’t something that i take seriously (as a profession) I Dont put it above all else, and I dont revolve my life around photoshoots. BUT when im actually out doing a shoot, i take it very serious because.. you are using other peoples time. whether it be a makeup artist or the photographer + assistant. you either put you all into it, or not at all.
Alot of people don’t know, that i actually am part of a mainstream modelling agency.its not pinup, its not alternative- they are based in Sydney but for my own personal reasons i do not tell my followers on the internet what agency or my name i go by. I Have been with this same agency since age 14 when i entered a modelling competition and got to top 25 in Qld. Since the age of 4 I have done 6 deportment courses, 3 etiquette and 3 catwalk classes and i feel this has greatly changed the way i hold myself infront of the camera- and also how i help my partner when we photograph other girls (helping with direction etc) when i was 15 with a big mouth of braces a scout for chadwicks picked me up in the street and invited me to have a meeting with them, they said they would take me on board when i didnt have braces. i never went back..i kinda wish i did..and im kinda glad i didnt..because i dont feel like that world..is me. it is creative, but not to my freedom.
The agency im with is mainly for extra work on film and the occasional photoshoot for hair stylists,fashion designers etc. and to be honest.I dont look like me at all! maybe one day i will pop up some videos of what i have done, but for now that is a lifestyle i like to keep private and its not a full time thing.
When i do a photoshoot..i can instantly change from zainey kat (im a bit silly, and like to have fun) to someone who can instantly change when the camera is on me. I think of different things to make my eyes change to a mood that will reflect differently.Sometimes your eyes can show depth for a more serious look (say if your doing a film noir shoot?) and you may want to do a cute fun cheesecake shoot and you may not even have to move your mouth- your eyes are the window to your soul. seriously! there are a few things you can do when you go to a shoot, to really get a fantastic result- that you are truly going to be happy with! and know that you put your all into.
1. Take a full length mirror to pop behind or beside the photographer (or ask them if they have one) knowing what you look like, or understanding your body movements when a photographer is directing makes it a hell of alot easier when you can see yourself.
2. Before you go to the shoot, do your hair and makeup at least 2/3 hours prior to you even heading to the location/studio. Study yourself in the mirror about the angles that look good with the makeup you, or your makeup artist has done on you. Contours, colours and different pigments look different in different angles! get to know your best angles and best features. take touch up makeup and take a 10 minute break to touch up your makeup.
3. Clean your feet. Oh my goodness, this might sound so silly to you. BUT this was the one thing i really remember from my deportment course. The teacher showed me a photo of a girl in a beautiful white ball gown with sparkley shoes on lying on a white baby grand piano. and she asked what we could see that was wrong. HER FEET! they were brown.. the photo was just taken for the gold coast bulletin, but my goodness!
4.Paint your nails all 4 sets! I have noticed something along the years that i do differently when i have my nails painted compared to when i don’t. I hide my nails and dont even think about it when i have been too lazy to paint them. and it just looks silly! When you paint your nails, you instantly feel more elegant. you can touch your face, touch your neck, show your hands! look at old hollywood photos the women had beautiful jewellery on, and manicured nails.
5. DO NOT take a photo, of ..a celebrity, or star that you wish to copy the pose of. its not going to happen..im sorry! Old pin up photos sometimes work,because you can copy poses etc but copying modern stars like Dita..is also going to reflect through that you did just that! be yourself! inspiration for makeup, clothing etc is different but if your going to spend hours trying to look like someone you are not- the photographers going to get annoyed. your beautiful how you are!!
6. When you are posing, look where your feet are positioned, imagine you are on the other side of the camera, sit straight, breathe from the stomach, shoulders up and down/slightly back (shoulders right back looks like your showing off your boobies far too much! hehe) always have graceful fingers. Dont put too much pressure on your arms so that it looks like your straining yourself- keep even weight on each part of your body so that you look even!
7. When i mentioned before that i think of different things so that my eyes set the mood whatever it may be! i pretend im playing a character (but i am still me) how do i want to portray myself..to the public? afterall a picture does tell a thousand words. I dont just go out to the street or a car show and just lounge all over a car. But just sitting in a chair next to the car in a photoshoot does not work. Your playing the role of a pin up girl from the 40’s and 50s. Have absolute class at all times and give it your all. The whole point of a pin up girl is to get guys attention! they literally pinned the girls up in their lockers! above their beds! today the female audience with respect for this style is phenomenal. My audience on the internet would be 70% female and 30% male.
8. Are you truly comfortable in what you are wearing infront of the camera??
I cannot express how awful! .. it is to wear something that you are just thinking to yourself ‘omg i just want to hide under a blanket’ and be totally uncomfortable. and someone is taking your photo! this has happened twice to me, and both times i just say straight out to the photog. ‘Nope im changing i will brb’ they! generally can see if your face that you weren’t comfortable..afterall, they want the images to turn out amazing, just as much as you do.
Anyway friends, i hope this helps somewhat? I get asked how to get into modelling and all that, the only thing i can really suggest is..that if a model warns you about a certain photographer TRUST THEM. so many times ive told girls ‘listen, not a good idea’ and they learn the hard way..
Best of luck <3
Kat
(via atompunk)
~ The San Francisco Call, February 12, 1911
~ The Sunday Times; Perth, AU, February 28, 1904
via Trove
“Finally, let your sufferings teach you to live a better life.”
Notable in that this was written before WWII.
To be “reasonably comfortable and happy” is more than most people who have ever lived on the planet earth could ever lay claim to. We are indeed fortunate.
~ The Nervous Housewife, by Abraham Myerson, M.D., 1920
via internet archive
(click to enlarge)
