An interview with Tina Marie

AN

INTERVIEW WITH...

TINA_MARIEW

SUICIDE GIRL HOPEFUL AND ALL ROUND CREATIVE PERSON

Hey! Introduce yourself and tell us a little about you.

My name is Tina Marie. I am currently based out of the lovely Minneapolis. My life orbits around passion. Passion for art, writing, music. I mainly model and do work as a freelance makeup artist. Specializing mostly in special effects makeup. I also direct shoots and create storyboards for many artistic concepts as well. To simplify, I create. I create anything that fuels my soul that day and hopefully inspires others as well.

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What initially got you into modeling?

Honestly, modeling was never my main goal. Growing up, my mother was a model. She of course projected me in that career path. It truly wasn’t for me, I felt I simply could not fit in that mold. So I walked away from modeling around the age of 19. Fast forward a few years. My love for artistic and unique makeup designs started catching the eyes of photographers. With growing popularity for my technique, old photographers of mine began to reach out to me. It started as ne, just helping out old friends in the studio as a hobby, then started back in the studio as a paid makeup artist. Now some of my visions can get a bit far out there to the more shallow thinkers of society. So, I began working some shoots as a makeup artist and the model. Since some of my concepts, well, models did not take interest in them. They were “too much, too controversial” as some would say. It wasn’t until shortly after that, that my modeling shifted to that of an alternative model and progressed to Suicide Girls. I loved the way they embraced the uniqueness of each and every woman. This is where I fit. I’m currently a SG Hopeful and my goal is to become fully signed with them eventually. It is a tedious process, but the SG community has been absolutely fabulous.

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What’s your particular style of modelling?

As I mentioned previously, I suppose we can categorize me as an alternative model. My love for shock value surely got me there. As a diehard Rob Zombie fan, creatively and artistically. I tend to lean towards gore. Yet I like my work to also portray a message. For example, not too long ago, I did an entire set centered around the hypocrisy that can be found in radical religions. Namely, Catholicism.The set starts with a bitter woman, judging the people around her as if she herself were God. The shoot progresses to her returning to her sanctuary and performing satanic acts. Such as carving a pentagram into her forehead. This set was created and directed by me and brought to life by Twisted Light Photography. Titled, “The Demons Amongst us”. Urging viewers to think, do we really know the company we keep? Are we not all sinners? Aside from the special effects makeup and gore. As an SG Hopeful, I do alot of pinup and nude modeling. Some days it bores me. The sets you see on there can become so redundant. So I always try to come up with, at least, some sort of artistic progression to the shoot. I hope to one day, shake their snowglobe a bit, mess with the standard. But honestly, there’s really no category I’d be against in the modeling world. If it can speak to me or my viewers, I’m in. It is always one of my first questions when a photographer approaches me for bookings. What are we doing, and why, and how can I mesh my creativity into this piece as well.

Who’s your inspiration?

It truly depends upon what aspect of my multifaceted life we are speaking of. As a special effects makeup artist, hands down, Rob Zombie is my man. As a model, again it depends upon which category I’m zoned in for at the time. I’m me. It is all I have to offer. I dont try to emulate or put a certain mask on. I simply flow creatively through my soul and do as my heart desires. So if I really had to pick an inspiration, I would have to say it would be my mother. I am everything she raised me to be. Unique in every form. Now if you’re wondering what inspires alot of my creative collaborations I come up with, I’d have to say music and writing. Music fuels my writing, writing fuels my modeling collaborations. The emotions I feel in that moment, can snowball into an entire photoshoot series.

How do you get into ‘the zone when on set?

Music. Music is everything. I select certain playlists of mine that reflects the mood I’m trying to portray. If I’m going for dark, I’m throwing on all sorts of Marilyn Manson, A Perfect Circle, etc. Sultry or sexy vibes, I got The Weeknd blaring through the studio. I’m extremely influenced by music. Also, being a makeup artist, my eye shadow pallet, shade of lipstick, etc. Will directly reflect my mood or vibe I’m trying to get into.

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What do you think is your biggest success to date?

Taking what I loved doing as a hobby, and making it into a full time career. My mother always told me, find what you love, what you are passionate about and learn how to profit from it. This year has been truly blessed for me. I have been booked out in not only modeling and MUA work, but my cake business has took off as well. This year is the first year I actually had to hire an assistant! It’s truly amazing and I’m so grateful for all the love and support I’ve received along the way. Especially the ones who doubted me and continue to turn their back on me. You pushed me further than you’ll ever know. As they say, if you ain’t being hated on, you ain’t doing a damn thing. I did this all freelance with some guidance and if course the amazing support from the Suicide Girls community. I have no real desire to “make it big,” as they say. I’m just waking up every morning and doing what I love. And that is all the success I need.

Do you always like how you’re edited?

I try to keep an open mind about it, as there are many different forms of artistic expression and art is extremely subjective. I would never want to discourage an artist from doing what they love. I suppose the only time I’ve been really put off, is the couple times I’ve been overly edited. I had one photographer largen my breasts, widen my curves. To the point where I could hardly tell it was me. I politely told them, if that’s the model figure they wanted, then that is the model they should have sought out. I try to keep my look as natural as possible. I’m a real woman. There’s enough girls in this world trying to fit into impossible standards set by the fashion industry. I embrace my curves and natural beauty, and I’d love all women to do the same. We are all uniquely beautiful in our own way. Why should we edit ourselves into a mold? I have never gotten brash with a photographer in this regard. I just simply won’t work with them in the future. Some people just don’t mesh or see eye to eye and that’s perfectly ok.

Does it bother you that models will work for free on projects that companies make money from because they want the exposure?

Honestly, from a vague standpoint. If I were to generalize it as a whole, no. Everyone can do whatever the please with their career. I’m just over here trying to live my best life. Yet, there is one side of that, that effects paid models such as myself. It has been a rare occurrence for me, as I have many other talents within the studio aside from modeling, but it certainly cuts our market. I completely understand wanting to get your name out there. Yet, think, once you do, those companies will be looking for the next new girl who is willing to do the job for free. Instagram models, hobby models, it makes the market much more competitive and the profit drops. I dont blame the companies whatsoever. If it were my business, you bet I would pluck a free model from IG before doing a casting call of career models. A penny saved is a penny earned. In there, is where I have broadened my work in the studio. Marketing myself as a model, MUA, and creative director/storyboard creator. So no, it doesn’t really bother me. I have established myself in a way that opens many doors for me. I do my

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own thing and support anyone else who does the same. I’m not here to become some famed super model. Im here cultivating a passion. I have always said, the key to a happy fulfilled life, is to find your hobbies. Find what you are good at, what you love doing, and learn to make a profit from it. I’m in this for the art. I too have done some collaborations with my main photographers, free of charge. Sometimes, we just want to create and flow and see what we come up with.

Have you ever re-done your makeup after the MUA did it?

Well, as an MUA. I have mostly done all my own makeup and hair. On the few occasions that a company has been called upon to do that part of the studio work, I have not had one complaint. I am a very vocal woman. I like our creativity and ideas to mesh and translate as such. It also helps that I’m extremely open to trying new things. I love seeing anothers artistic mind come alive. You know, I can think of a couple times where I felt maybe the makeup was done a bit heavy. These were in the earlier days of my modeling career. I rolled with it, and the photos turned out absolutely stunning. What you see in the mirror translates quite differently through the lenses of a camera. So I keep an open mind about it.

Do you speak up if you’re not happy about your look?

Most certainly. Again, I try to do it in the most respectful way possible so as not to discourage the artful eye of another. In this industry, you are not always going to see eye to eye on things. I want my photos to not only represent the stylings of the photographer I work with, but also represent me. I want to produce images together that we can both be equally proud of. Therefore, constructive criticism is a must. Once I had a photographer send me 800 images from out shoot, EIGHT HUNDRED! In those images, I found maybe twelve that I liked. Twelve that showed our level of artistic creativity and talent. Now, he was a amateur photographer. I went into this shoot keeping that in mind. As I was going over our images I offered sound advice on how he could progress and direct a shoot. There were so many images either out of focus, or I appeared posed out awkwardly. Showing there was obviously some miscommunication on both ends. You could tell he was new to this. The photographer was completely silent during the shoot. I recall even asking him a few times, is this working? Should I repose this?As a model, I highly recommend pausing at least once during a shoot to review what has been captured thus far. Some angles just dont work for certain models and this is something that needs to be worked on, on both sides of the lense. In this particular case, the main problem was the photographers lack of knowledge. Primarily regarding lighting. Many images were oddly shadowed, too dark, or too bright. In the end he didn’t even edit my photos. All edits were done by me and I simply just never worked with that photographer again. It was definitely a learning experience.

Photo credits: Danny Baker Vortex photography

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Have you ever been put off modelling be photographer trying to push boundaries or levels, or unprofessional behaviour in the past?

Sadly, I hear horror stories of these things. I’ve seen models quit due to the actions of some photographers. I have been quite fortunate, or more so, smart with my dealings. Any photographer that contacts me with bookings, I thoroughly look into. Including their previous work and any reviews they may have from other models. Now, this has not stopped me from working with some photographers. There was one in particular I was actually mildly nervous to meet with. A few models made him out to be a character from a Stephen King novel. One model said she had suffered emotional trauma, and PTSD from this individual. Well, there was a grey area, and I am by no means trying to “victim shame” so to speak. This particular photographer, if you look at his work, shoots nude and boudoir photography. My question to the model was, if you were so morally against nude modeling, what made you decide to work with this photographer of all people? Secondly, did you Express that, that you did not want to undress during this shoot? Her answer was no. She said she was too scared to say no, thus the progression of the shoot went from casual boudoir to eventually fully nude. On those terms, I decided to meet with this photographer and chat before booking a shoot. I will tell you, yes, he had his rude moments, yes there was most definitely a strong arrogance present. Yet, he was one of the most intellectual people I’ve ever had a conversation with. Although, one thing was very off putting, his ego. Constantly talking down other models, other photographers. Like he invented photography and was the be all, end all in the craft. There is so much of that in this industry. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve had to shutdown a conversation, simply because I did not want to hear it. That is the only thing that turns me off if models or photographers. Luckily, there are so many fabulous people in this industry. So this is but a minor annoyance that I encounter on the rare occasion. I like my life, my career simple and drama free.

In a world of selfies and Instagram models, what constitutes as a ‘model’ in your opinion?

This is a tough one. I mean, in the most direct of definitions. A model would be an individual who models something. Clothing, jewelry, etc. In today’s world it seems to be much more broad of a spectrum. Especially in the art photography sense. You know, I’ve heard this phrase “Instagram models” thrown around a few times. I’m unsure of what that even means. Nor do I really care to be honest. Not my circus, not my monkeys. I suppose if I had to define a model, it would be an individual whom is paid for shoots. Even then, I feel mildly bismal saying that. There are so many talented young women out there aspiring to be a model doing TFP for portfolio work. I was there too. We all start there. I shed no judgement on others. Do your thing lovelies! If it makes you happy, do it and label it as you please. Makes no difference to me. And if you’re aspiring to make a career out of it, keep on doing it. We all gotta start somewhere. Snap that selfie, set that camera timer on and strike a pose for your insta! Who knows, this could really become your career one day. I never thought I would be here. After all, I just wanted to do cool makeup.

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Do you have any advice for other models?

I advice new and younger models quite frequently. Its astounding how many just go into this blindly, and run out just as fast. It’s such a shame, because I have seen some marvelously talented creatures turn their back over one dark day. This career is very competitive, this career has some downs to it as well. I hear about so called enemies I have, women that I have never even met. You will have rumors, you will have people talking about you. This can be a very cut throat venture. Rule #1: you NEED a backbone and you need to keep it strong. Some photographers will try to persuade you into doing things you dont quite feel comfortable doing. Stand up for yourself and learn to say no. I’ve heard of so many models that have argued with a photographer to pull certain pictures down because they are ashamed of them. If you know you won’t be proud and able to back what you are doing. Dont do it. Its really that simple. Rule #2: stay far away from the gossip that swarms this industry. Another models career is none of your business. Keep your judgements your yourself. Sure, I have seen some things and thought, well, I would never do that. But, it’s not my life to dictate. Do you, keep hustling and be real. Which brings me to Rule #3: dont ever change into something you are not. You can only fake it to make it for so long before you are simply just fake. Your shoots should always reflect a little bit of you. Yes, progress. Yes, step out of your comfort zone and try new things. But never change yourself for an ever changing industry. I have been bombarded with botox requests, breast augmentation suggestions, lip injection offers. I see no shame in these things, but it is not for me. If that’s what a certain agency wants from me, then I am not the model they are looking for. Never give up, give in, or settle. Rule #4: this is a job. Treat it as such. These are not your friends, they are your colleagues. This is a business and you must be selective with whom you “employ.” Surely I have made some wonderful friends in the industry, but for the most part, i keep my life to myself. There are many sharks in this ocean, tread cautiously. I’ve learned this the hard way. Now, most importantly the ultimate rule. Be humble. Too much ego will kill your talent. Uplift others, and support others. The good karma will flow. I’ve opened many doors for myself by simply being a good human. What goes around comes around. I’ve been offered shoots that I’ve passed onto other models. Models I deemed more fitting for the concept. In turn, I’ve had models turn photographers my way. Be the best you, focus on you. Yet know, that your are not better than anyone else. You may be exceptional at what you do, but this industry is a revolving door. Attitude will only push you out.

Finally, where can readers find you?

My work and modeling portfolio can be found on Instagram @Tina_mariew. Slowly but surely my patreon will be launched and I will broadcast that on my IG as well. I do most of my business inquires through Instagram or email. I do have a Facebook but that is mostly for personal use. Feel free to check out my work and show some love. And as always, I welcome constructive criticism as well!

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