Psst future...tell me what's out there!

Let's talk transitioning.

A transitional period is a time when you are moving from one really familiar aspect of life into a totally new one. It causes you to close a door on one chapter and get ready to flow (or crash) into the next phase. 

Some examples of transitions include: student to worker, living at home to on your own, single to relationship, relationship to single, engaged to married, unemployed to employed, city slicker to world traveler and so on. It is a time when things are a bit foreign and everything you thought you knew no longer applies.

Before transitioning, there is always the heaping water bucket of uncertainty rocking in the balance over your head.

Drip, drip, drip each droplet is painful and teasing. Aren't we all just waiting, wishing to get soaking wet? Uncertainty can drive anyone crazy. Will they hire me? Does he like me? Will I get in? Is this the right path for me?

In about one month, I will no longer be a student. I went from high school student to a Western undergrad and then directly into a post-graduate certificate program. Being a student has become a large part of my identity. However, at this point I feel I am ready to make the transition. I'm ready to move out of the classroom and see what I'm made of.

I just wish I had some answers. I'm still interviewing, applying and hoping soon someone will see something in me and think, "Yeah, that's the girl we want."

There are many aspects of my life I know are on the verge of breaking though and changing. New people are entering and new opportunities and experiences are coming my way. The overwhelming part is not knowing where I stand. 

"Uncertainty and mystery are energies of life. Don't let them scare you unduly, for they keep boredom at bay and spark creativity." - R. I. Fitzhenry


I hope this time will be a time where I can focus on the creative aspects of my life such as writing, learning more about photography and making connections. I know I've been MIA this past week, but I have a lot to share with you including a new Not A Model photo shoot!  

I'd also like to give a grand welcome to all my new readers. I can't wait to hear from you! I leave you with this photograph I took yesterday in Anthropologie of their very creative and eco-friendly chandelier.

Get inspired. Enjoy xo

Vitamin Life

Lay it out, map it out. Explain yourself.

What career are you choosing/have chosen? What relationship are you currently in/pursuing/getting out of? Have you seen enough of the world yet? Why not? At your age why don't you have a set path? At your age why are you already so stuck in your ways? What exactly are you waiting for?

Do you ever feel that you have to define your entire life?

At twenty-two, I sometimes feel like I have the whole world at my feet. Yet, I worry that I'll wake up one day and feel like I haven't really done a single thing. 

To top it off, I constantly hear people say, "You won't do all these crazy things when you get married and have kids. Get it out of your system before you settle down." It's the mentality that you must to do everything NOW because pretty soon you'll be old, and old people don't have fun. (*please note the sarcasm)

Or it's the other extreme that if you have too much fun, and never really settle down that you'll end up without a career, relationship and forced to live in your parents' basement. If you're lucky.

I hear people my age fuss and drone on and on about their lives. I watch people's ears perk up at the mention of other people's travel plans or relationship status changes. I see those same eyes glimmer with envy at people who have found careers or apartments.  It's a strange secret competition. 

It seems that most people want to see the world but have a career, relationship or "adult life" to fall back on when ready.

Also, social media allows everyone to keep track of people that you really wouldn't give a hoot about otherwise. You can see photos of that random girl who you kind of talked in university jumping off a cliff in Thailand. People can weigh themselves against other people their age and wonder if they're at the right pace.

With only a few months left as a post- graduate student and internships approaching, I'm going to be transitioning into a whole new phase of my life soon. The tough questions jump rope all day in my mind. All my worries and fears point and giggle at me. One second I'm high heeling it to work in the city and the next second I'm living in another country, scribbling away in a notebook.

And then I meet the newest addition to our family, my baby cousin Daniel Lucas. 

He's brand new to our world. A world that sometimes leaves every single person on the planet confused, lost and overwhelmed. I gaze down at his day old wrinkled face, and hold his swaddled body in my arms.

Right now, I am exactly where I'm supposed to be.

I'm a _____________.

I remember sitting across from photographer Cory VanderPloeg at our blog interview when I blurted out, "As a writer.." then I suddenly stopped myself and stuttered, "Well, uhh I mean I'm not a writer writer.."

He politely interrupted me and said, "You're sitting in front of me with a pen and you're writing. You're a writer." 

Why do I struggle to call myself a writer? Why does anyone downplay what they work towards? Is it because they haven't achieved the necessary accolades or moreover fat paycheck that is associated with their craft?

While I have yet to be published in an international glossy or write a best selling novel, I do write, a lot. I've written for many student run publications and online environments. I write in PR school everyday. I blog and continue to work on creative pieces.

Sometimes I get lazy. Sometimes I tell myself I'm a terrible writer. I get intimidated to pitch stories to bigger publications. I ask myself why did I choose this path? I'll never be the next [insert influential author/blogger/screenwriter/communicator here.]

Lately I've been reading a lot. I scour magazines, fiction, non-fiction, business books and other blogs to gain more knowledge and inspiration from other writers. 

Stephen King said, "If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot...reading is the creative center of a writer's life...you cannot hope to sweep someone else away by the force of your writing until it has been done to you." 

I love to write, and I will try to work harder and keep up with more regular blog posting. I will also try to  put myself out there more in my attempts to get published. I believe if you're working hard towards something, it will eventually pay off.

I hope to share some new writing projects with everyone soon. Until then: Read. Share. Talk. Learn. Work. Listen. Absorb. Create. Capture.

Try to improve your life's work everyday, whatever it may be.

Some rules to live by:
1. Do what you love & love what you do. 
2. Try & help others along the way. 

Shutterbug

As a non-model, I was curious to know what goes through the mind of a male photographer when he is placed in the presence of an Aphrodite. So I sat down with twenty-three year old budding fashion photographer Cory VanderPloeg (pronounced VanderPlue, the [eg] is silent) to talk models, photos and ingenuity. 

"To me, a model is just something that I use to advance a story," he says. 

VanderPloeg talks about models as only one part of the equation. To him, a model is just one piece of his art, rather than an idolized figure. I ask him about the secret world of photo retouching, and explain how the highly edited images of models can make any average Jane, or say Amanda feel inadequate.

VanderPloeg comments, "I want my photos to look the best they can. I'm not trying to say this is what a woman should look like, or this is what beauty is." He clarifies that he will never change a distinctive feature on a model like a large nose or wide hips.  The goal is to produce clean images rather than drastically change the way a person looks.

For inspiration he reads about 10 magazines a day and watches a lot of films. With a background in film (he attended film school at Sheridan College) he's had the opportunity to work on the lighting of major motion pictures such as The Incredible Hulk and Get Rich or Die Tryin'.

Yet, VanderPloeg wanted to channel himself into something more creative and hands-on. He sought out the photography genius of Steve Carty to inquire about an assistant job. With ambition and dedication, he's managed to assist and work with Carty and his talented team for 5 months now. "You can do anything when it comes to fashion. There are no limits, no rules. You take your camera and shoot," he says.

It is easy to be fooled by VanderPloeg's laid back appearance. Under his comfy hoodie, wool hat and no fuss jeans is an eagerness to discuss matters like world economics, sustainable living and music. It is rare to find someone who not only looks at life through a critical lens, (no pun intended) but who hasn't lost that sense of idealism that the world can be a better place.

"Our generation needs more thinkers," he says.

VanderPloeg's fantasy portrait goes way beyond long legs and lusty lips. He cites Martin Luther King Jr. and Bob Marley as his dream subjects. "Anyone who has made a difference in the world," he says.

Lastly, I ask him to give an inspiring quotation. On the spot, he quotes Henry Ford: "Whether you think that you can or think that you can't you're usually right."

Still curious about Cory? Check out some of his work below and visit his awesome website which features his full portfolio, a blog (includes Toronto Fashion Week) and some short films.

 

 

http://www.coryvanderploeg.com

SPOTLIGHT ON: Beauty Careers

I remember the day she arrived to take my place.

I was finishing up my beauty internship at FASHION Magazine and heading back to university. I was feeling territorial and had mixed emotions about leaving. I mean, who wants to give up a job where your daily tasks include hanging out in a giant closet of beauty products and attending cool makeup events?

With bright blonde hair and deep blue eyes, the new Amanda arrived and I was ready to show her the ropes. She was bubbly, friendly and a fellow beauty addict. I immediately knew they had chosen the perfect person to take my place.

A year and a half later she’s also moved on from FASHION and is now the Public Relations Assistant for Revlon Canada.

I interviewed Amanda Losier to give notamodel readers some insider beauty advice. Enjoy!

Q: What beauty product can you not live without?

A: It is impossible for me to pick just one! For the sake of this interview I will narrow it down to two. Pressed Powder foundation: to cover up any imperfections and blemishes. (Maybelline Pure Stay Powder Foundation is great for touch-ups on the go and the price is right!) Pink Lip gloss: to brighten up my entire face. (Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in "Pink Afterglow" is one of my favourites) As long as my skin looks great and my lips are stained pink, I'm good to go!

Q: Can you offer some advice for people who want to break into the beauty industry?

A: If there's one thing I've learned it is to not be intimidated if you don't have any experience. There are plenty of internships available which will be a stepping-stone to gaining experience, contacts and future opportunities. Networking is very important and don't be afraid to contact people to ask for help or information. With the way the job market is these days, it's all about who you know and being in the right place at the right time. Ask around. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there. Also, the beauty industry isn't glamourous all the time as some may assume (some days I'm stuck in a warehouse packing boxes all day covered in dust and tape) it's important to have realistic expectations.

Q: What is the best part about your job?

A: The variety and being surrounded by beauty products all day. Every day is different and I get to deal with all aspects of the beauty industry through my job. There are always new and exciting projects, events and products.

Q: Who is your beauty icon?

A: Barbie has been my beauty icon for as long as I can remember. She was a big part of my childhood and still has an influence on my personal style. Needless to say, I was thrilled when Barbie turned 50 this year and became the inspiration for many beauty and fashion brands. Barbie really is the ultimate glamour girl.

SPOTLIGHT ON:

Who: Stefania Sgambelluri
What: Photographer
Why: Because she is a talented, fantastic female photographer, who also took the photo for my blog logo.


Q: Tell me about your studio and the services you provide?

S.S: “I share a studio with 3 photographers called Hermann & Audrey. We are all fashion and portrait photographers. As a photographer, Photoshop is one of the most important things to know-right after your camera and subject.”

Q: What is the greatest aspect of your job?

S.S: “Meeting new people everyday. I always try to get their character to show through the photo, and when I accomplish that, I always say to myself that I love what I do and that I'm very lucky to do it everyday.”

Q: Advice for young aspiring photographers?

S.S: “Never fall in love with your photos. Shoot something amazing, put it aside, move on to your next idea and try to make it better than your last shoot.”

Q: Favourite photographer?

S.S: “Diane Arbus. Her work inspired me to shoot people that aren't usually in front of the camera.”

Check out Stefania’s photography on her website: sgambelluri.com, and try to find the full-length photo of my logo!