Page 17 - Demo

www.MOSTmag.com || FASHIO N MAG A ZINE || 17helped me a lot when I began working on the other side of the camera as a fashion photographer. I was able to better communicate with my subjects and make them feel confident and beautiful. Besides I do a lot of self-portraits that allow me to channel my mood and energy through the images. Usually when I work with models I want them to play a certain character through the chosen wardrobe, makeup, hair and sets, as most of the time I don%u2019t know them personally or well enough to create artistic portraits. In turn with my personal photo shoots I know exactly how I can deliver, what part of me I want to open to the public %u2013 it%u2019s more about me as an artist and my personality not a fictional role.FMM: Do you remember your first shooting? Being a model or a photographer?VP: It was a small photo shoot I did with my sister in my hometown of Ventspils in Latvia. I came up with three characters I wanted to portray: they were a yacht lady with a silver case, who kind of went on a treasure hunting adventure %u2018ala%u2019 Ocean%u2019s Twelve; then a ninja girl with the real samurai sword and a vintage poetess girl reading a book about Charlie Chaplin. It was super fun and this is when I realized I want to do more of this type of work. My very first photo shoots were done with my sister when I was 15 years old. She is also my all-time favorite muse; I have done photo series with her almost every year for the past ten years.FMM: What qualifies the lucky photographer to be able to shoot you? VP: I have done only couple of professional photo shoots as a model and it was a long time ago before I even started working as a professional photographer. This recent photo shoot I did was done by my very good friend and my first photo assistant Mariusz Jeglinski. I%u2019ve been working with Mariusz for the past three years and I knew he would do a great job. Being a photographer myself I am a perfectionist and I know modelling is not easy, you have to know your strength and deliver every single frame, reflect on the images and deliver better. I love when the models give me all they got %u2013 that%u2019s why when I model myself I sometimes go overboard, I jump, I move, I give different emotions as I know how important is the attitude and the desire to perform at your best. It really makes a difference, makes the pictures look %u201calive.%u201dFMM: Do you retouch your own modeling images? Being such a perfectionist is the process more difficult or easy? VP: Oh yes, I do! How did you know? Haha I told Mariusz %u2013 you shoot and I will edit. I have a very specific style of editing, it is quite edgy and it is all about the details. I%u2019m a control freak and want everything to be perfect and if it%u2019s not the way I do it %u2013 it is not perfect for me haha.FMM: Do you follow a diet plan? VP: My diet plan is called %u201clisten to your body.%u201d But on a serious note I don%u2019t follow any specific diets and I cannot even count calories, I eat when I%u2019m hungry; if throughout the day I had only two meals, because I was too busy to make lunch %u2013 I%u2019ll be fine with that. But in general I try to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I don%u2019t drink alcohol, I don%u2019t smoke, I don%u2019t eat fast food and I do CrossFit. Almost every day I cook at home and go out on Fridays and weekends. I love homemade salads and soups, and most of the times I grill chicken, fish or beef with a side of mashed potatoes or veggies. I also love dairy (specifically organic whole milk) and all kinds of fresh wholegrain breads. Occasionally I will make fresh squeezed juice or smoothies. Even though I don%u2019t eat fatty cakes or pastries, I love to have cookies with coffee or tea in the evening watching RuPaul%u2019s Drag Race Show. >>>>>