STYLE AND CHARACTER
I want the people I shoot to think more in terms of style and character. I want them to love the person they are playing, and/or the clothes.
So, for upcoming shoots, I want each person I work with to consider Style & Character.
THIS IS YOUR EXCUSE TO PLAY
Use this as an excuse to wear that costume you wanted to do at halloween, the thing you’ve always been too shy to wear, play that character, experiment with that part of your mind you’re been scared to express, break things, buy those pieces you just wanted to have, experiment with putting things together, or whatever you’ve been sleeping on!
Here are some ways to play:
DICHOTOMIES: New & old. Refined & Ugly. Intentional but incomplete. Clean but dirty. Nude but wholesome. Messy but smart. Emotional but Empty. Forward but backwards.
CHARACTERS: Someone strong but wounded. Someone who doesn’t want to be seen by others. Someone expressing their feelings of being bound by culture.
CAMPY CAHARACTERS: Runaway brides. 1980’s beach babes. Alcoholic vampires. Street fighters. Clowns
MASHUPS (the psycho killing nun. The superficial witch. Futuristic Electro-Catholics. Fast Food Queen.
RAW MATERIALS: “What would happen if we just lit candles on your body? What if you were covered with tape (and if so, which tape?, how covered?) “What If I were wrapped up in ribbon?”
ALLOW IMPERFECTION
Remember, nothing has to be perfect. It never will be! Everyone will always look at their work and think “I could have done this,” “I could have done that.” I do it all the time! So don’t try to be a perfectionist - just try your best! Be playful! Be imaginative!
ADVENTURE IS A REQUIREMENT
I want to shoot with people who can roll down a hill and laugh it off, climb fire escapes, break in to buildings, run in heels, get scraped, maybe bruised - but come home laughing and excited to come back for the next shoot. People who show up in the rain with mascara running and still know how to give.
Yes, I will meet you halfway.
Yes, I will make sure the shoot is safe.
But I’m only working with people who care and want to play
2025 is for the people who believe in the image as much as I do.
I want people to look back at this emerging era of my work and think “WTF! Those people were so wild and free! They were so creative! I wish I was in that world back then!”
FOREVER HALLOWEEN
Bring costumes and theatrics, not outfits. Bring characters, not “looks.” Pretend it’s Halloween - have fun, be wild, be funny, be sexy, be weird, be scary, be whatever - stop trying to fit in and use your imagination!
It doesn’t have to be realistic or based on a specific role - but we should be able to imagine this character in a movie, book, etc. I don’t want to shoot you how you think you are, I want to shoot you how you could be.
Suggested items: Pleasers (the higher, the better) • Wigs • Latex • Leather • uniforms • Religious robes • Anything unhinged, erotic, or absurd • Weapons (fake or real) • handmade shit • eye patches • face nets • masks • tiaras • swords • broken things • clown makeup • wedding dresses • ballet clothes • things that don’t fit • club gear • stockings and knee highs • tights • funeral attire • bunny ears • body paint • bandages • helmets • wings
*If you need fake blood, I’ll make it and bring it!
Ideas to get you going: Pop star • Hollywood Nepo-baby • black widow • serial killer • feral priestess • Alien therapist • murder-babe • clown bimbo • rebellious nun • bride • pyromaniac • mad scientist • scene girl • rainbow bright • unicorn girl • rainbow hearted • pageant winner • political rebel • ancient and tribal witch
Keep it “Michael donovan” (whatever that means to you), but BE FREE!!! Use your closet, thrift stores, etc…
FEMME FATALE
Sultry, Femme, and Fun
Mico Skirts, Short tops, shimmery pieces, tights, heels, etc.. Focused on a darker, more baddie energy.
High heels, Shiny pieces,
MIXED STYLE
Style that is all over the place. Express yourself WITH DETAIL. This shouldn’t be normal shit you’d wear every day - be playful.
Wild Makeup. Rollerblades, rollerskates, swords, clothes that don’t match, rave gear, micros, sweatshirts, fetish gear, wholesome mismatched, mixed media, home sewn, etc.
Make it cute!!!
Piece it together - have fun.
BODY AS ART
I wore the same things, every day, for 5 years (black shorts and black cotton shirts). At one point I thought how silly it was - I was covering my body with thin fabric so that people wouldn’t see skin. I look around and that is how I see most everyone now. We go to work to pay for fabrics that we carry around on our bodies.
For the artist-exhibitionist - we use materials for clothes: liquid latex, tights, strings, ropes, flour, paint, Etc. It’s exploring the idea of “we are all already nude - so what defines clothes?”
It’s a messy shoot. Shot in nature or a garage or something where you feel free and comfortable. It’s exploring materials on body.
ALL NATURAL
Creative Organic Human-Centric images. Nudity in a hippie/nature way.
This is focused on raw humanity: nature, spaces, the outdoors, feminity, humanity, etc. This is raw art with the human form in inspiring locations far from the crowds.
CONSERVATIVE FEMININITY
Not religious conservative - just relaxed. Pieces your grandma or mother would have worn.
Long skirts passed the knee, dresses, pieces that cover the arms, detailed pieces, futuristic inspired, etc.