Missy is a real up and coming name in the world of pin-up photography. She has worked with some of the best models in the biz and it seems like there is nothing stopping her. Read our exclusive chat with her to dig a little deeper!
When did you first get interested in pin-up style photography?
Masuimi Max @ iamtrouble.com
For those of us not cool or wise enough to know, tell us about yourself?
Probably when I was 12 and fell in love with Marilyn Monroe..I was more interested in modeling at that point in my life, but I wanted to recreate those images..I’ve always been in love with the camera, modeling isn’t for me..I think I realized that 7 years ago..Either you have it or you don’t..I freeze up in front of the camera, I need to be in control of what’s going on, the only good photos of me are the ones I take myself.
Then in 1996 when No Doubt hit it big, Gwen Stefani was bringing back all these amazing hairdos from the 40’s and 50’s..I fell in love with her style..Then I started playing online a few years later and saw all these girls who were having these pin up photos taken..I became very interested in the photographers and models..I knew I had to be involved, but didn’t really have the means to do so..I got my first digital camera second hand for 75 dollars and started shooting myself and friends..The response from my friends was great..It was an outlet and I fell in love with it. When I moved to Texas 3 years ago by bf got me my first real camera and a set of hot lamps..I was new in the area and needed girls to pose for me..I did everything wrong my first round, but met some sweet girls who I would photograph again and again..Since then I have made this my only source of income..My equipment is better now, I know how to use it better..I know what..I can’t believe I got as far as I did..The model I had my eyes on since day one just shot with me July 13th.
You really seem to be an emerging name in the field. But there always so many photographers coming into the scene. Do you find that you have to fight really hard to stay ahead?
Sometimes..It hasn’t been easy..I’ve wanted to sell everything I have and walk away from it so many times..Other photographers can be very mean, but I’ve met and stay in contact with some amazingly sweet ones who’ve given me great advice..Holly West and Shannon Brooke have been amazing to me, and I look up to both of them more than they will ever know..When I was in CA this summer Keesha from Girlie Show Photography let me use her studio all day and didn’t ask for anything in return. It was really great to sit down and talk to someone who goes through the same stuff as I do and not have to question if they were being real with me..It’s very hard to trust people, well for me anyway..I’ve had people be very sweet to me and stab me in the back..I wish people would just be REAL, whether it’s nice or not so nice.
Before anything else I am a mommy..I just turned 31 and have a 13 year old daughter…I grew up in NJ, lived in PA for 10 years and then moved to Texas..My goal is to live in CA, but I am trying to figure out how to get myself in Vegas for a couple years..I don’t want to live in the same area for too long, I’ve become very unhappy with where I am right now..I guess it would be okay, if I was just a mom, but I’m not, photography has become my other love.
There’s a lot of female pin-up photographers. Why do you think that is?
I don’t know..I’ve found a lot of people just seem to think it’s an easy stay at home job, they aren’t interested in the art, they’re shooting to shoot, for friends, to be cool? No clue.
Which other photographers have influenced you?
Doris Mayday
Bunny Yeager, Shannon Brooke, Holly West, Robert Alvarado, Viva Van Story, Mehosh Dziadzio, Jill Greenberg, Ellen Von Unwerth,Mark Miremont, Celeste Giuliano, Danielle Bedics..I’m sure there are more I am forgetting about.
How do you go about setting up a shoot?
People just contact me on Facebook or Myspace or my personal email misssmissy@aol.com..My website is a mess right now, but that will one day be the way of setting up a shoot with me..I’m not hard to get a hold of. 🙂
Any models you’d like to work with?
I just got to work with three off my wish list, Heidi Van Horne and Masuimi Max and Colleen of Devil Doll Music…They were all amazing.
I’d love to work with Mosh, Jami Deadly, Micheline Pitt, Sabina and Bernie Dexter just to name a few.
Do you have any personal projects we should be aware of?
Maybe I do, maybe I don’t. Ha!Everything I do is a personal project really..I’m trying to do everything I set my heart out to do..It’s amazing to accomplish things especially when you’ve been told you wouldn’t amount to anything..I’ve been through some crazy thing in my life and I want to overcome all of them with success.
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