July 2008
Modern Day Femme Fatale Heidi
Van Horne is here to take your questions on pin-up modeling. Got
something to Ask Heidi? E-mail
us! And don't forget to read Heidi's print column in Bachelor
Pad Magazine.
Hi Heidi!
First of all, I think you're
absolutely gorgeous, sweet and inspiring! I really want to try my hand
at pin-up modeling and I am constantly looking to your pictures and words
for guidance. I have such a yearning to try pin-up and see how I do, but
I am struggling against my natural inclination to hide and just go for
it. I have a few questions. First of all, am I too tall (5'9") for pin-up?
It seems that most of the modern pin-ups are shorter. I also wanted to
know if you think it's ok to start out self-shooting with a digital camera?
Thirdly, could you give me your honest opinion and tell me if I have a
suitable look for pin-up? I have attached a picture or two.
Love,
Lady L
To Miss L-
You are adorable! You should definitely give
it a try, maybe go for some 50’s style girl-next-door cheesecake! You never
know what your strengths will be in it until you try! And of course I think
its okay to start by shooting your own pin-ups! That's how I started, after
all. Just know that the beauty of doing your own shots is in the editing--you
don't need to share every image from a shoot--just pick the crème-of-the-crop
and it will make you look better as both a model and a photographer.
Use your self-shot pics as a starting point and a learning opportunity,
and if you are serious about pin-up, send them to photographers you'd like
to work with, or hire a photographer so you have different styles of photos
to show future photographers, keep building your look and your resume!
As for being too tall- that's the first time
I've fielded that question! You certainly can be a tall pin-up--Sabina
(Kelley), for example, is 5’10”! Typically, models have to
be tall, but in our little niche, its usually more about proportion than
exact measurements so shorter girls have more of a chance here than in
mainstream fashion modeling. However, you will have an advantage over them
when it comes to shooting, as your height will flatter you in photographs.
Just be careful if you happen to be lanky instead of curvy, and try to
learn what poses make your body look curvier. That is where girls without
a fashion model build may have the upper hand, but being tall, you can
pull it off because you have more length to twist into sexy curves! So
stretch out and be proud, and then arch your back and bring in a limb or
two to create the illusion of curves! Practice in the mirror, and know
that when you are shooting, especially with digital, you can afford to
try and fail--and you can delete those out takes before anyone even knows
they exist. So don't be afraid to come out of your shell, you just might
find what works for you in poses or expressions that you otherwise wouldn’t
have tried!
Good luck and happy shooting!
xoxox
Love,
Heidi Van Horne
www.HeidiVanHorne.com
A little about Heidi: "I starting acting
in Texas at age 13, I have worked and trained as an actress in film, TV
& commercials for most of my life, as well as working behind the lens
on various projects. I have been shooting my own retro pinups since late
2003, when I started doing self-shot photos (just like Bunny
Yeager did!) with a self timer and a tripod in my home. Since
then, I've been on the cover of 3 books ("Hot Rod Pin Ups" by David
Perry and MBI Publishing, "How to Be a Dominant Diva" by Avalon
Press, and the new "Modern Vixens: World of Winytiki" by Octavio
Arizala and Goliath Press) as well as being featured in many
pin-up calendars, magazine covers and countless layouts, features and interviews
in counter-culture publications, as well as a few mainstream mags. I've
gotten to work with tons of amazing companies and photographers, including
original pinup, pinup photographer & living legend, Bunny Yeager--shooting
on the same beach where she and Bettie Page
made Pin Up history! Living in LA pursuing my acting, I've kept myself
busy on the side shooting the genre I love the most- and I'm thrilled to
see how the niche has grown and grown worldwide!" |
Have a question for Heidi? E-mail
us and we'll send it along to her!
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