Ask Lianne
Here is your chance to pose your questions to her and get a female perspective about any questions you might have that you need advice for. Twice a month she'll respond to selected questions with her answers for you right here.
March 22, 2004
How can I find photographers good as you are in my area and who do time for
print?
From: Allisa
Do a search online (google, yahoo. etc.) for glamour/fashion/lingerie/swimsuit models who live in your area. From those individual model sites, you will see the names of photographers on the photos or somewhere else on the site. You also may find the links to other models' sites there. Visit a bunch of model sites, and take note of the names of photographers you like. Then do a search for the photographers' sites, where you can usually email them. Be realistic - email them if they live close by to you and if you are willing to go to wherever they live. It's easier to find photographers who do TFP (time for print - free photos in exchange for your free modeling) if they are relatively new and/or are building their portfolios with model photos. Email them your photos or a link to your photos online and they will tell you if they are interested. Before you do the shoot, email the model who worked with them, and ask them if they liked working with the photographer. I tell models - just because I worked with someone doesn't mean I like them. Always get a reference first if you can. If not, bring someone with you to the shoot, and BE SAFE.
How can I be a model ? I live in a small town! I sent my pictures to photographers but no one gave me an answer.
From: Keyji
If you have bad photos to send to photographers, then they won't be interested in taking photos of you. Your photos may have bad lighting, bad framing, and may have been taken from an unflattering angle. You may need help with makeup and hair. You may need to practice posing and facial expressions.
First, find someone who is willing to spend some time to take at least a hundred shots of you. It's a plus if they have a good eye - maybe an art student or someone who is pursuing photography, and ask them to take photos of you. It's also an added bonus if the person is someone you are comfortable with. Find a nice location with good light (no asphalt or cars in the background!). The best light is outdoors in the morning or early evening, not facing direct sunlight (makes you squint), or indoors in a room with tons of light. (Beware of the flash! It often makes people look oily and washed out.)
Second, practice your poses and facial expressions in the mirror. Who cares if you look silly - just do it when no one is in the room. Take a Victoria's Secret catalog or Maxim magazine and try to copy the models' facial expressions and poses exactly. You will see that attractive poses are quite uncomfortable, but they make you look good. The facial expressions are so important as well. Do sexy and flirty smiles as well as serious and intense looks. Get used to how they feel. It's better to practice it first than to try to do it in front of the photographer for the first time, or you will spend half the time giggling.
Third, do your makeup and hair as well as you can or get someone else to do it. Many times people go to the Mac counter and get a free makeover. Or get a friend to do it. You'll need a good quality foundation (no drugstore stuff!!!), dramatic eye makeup (fake lashes if needed), and make sure your hair looks its best - shiny as possible with minimum flyaways or frizz. Also, nice nails make a big difference - get them done or at least file and paint them. Pay attention to detail! And as for the outfit - make sure it's coordinated and really flattering to your figure.
Finally, get those shots taken. Use as many poses and expressions as you can, and when the photos come out, look them over and pick out the best ones. You will see what works and what you need to work on. Send the top few photos to photographers. Good luck!
March 8, 2004
I can never put on my eye make up the right way. How can I put it on to make my eyes appear brighter and bigger?
From: msasian
Lianne: The trick to making eyes look bigger is to exaggerate what is already there. Make the light areas lighter - the brow bone and the most visible part of the eyelid. Make the dark areas darker - the crease and eyelash area. I usually put the light color on first, then a medium shade to the crease area, and a darker shade just above the outer corner of the eye, and blend them all together to avoid looking "striped". Finish up with eyeliner (I think liquid is the best - it just takes some practice to get the line straight) and mascara (or fake lashes for that special occasion). Having arched and clean eyebrows also helps to open up the eye.
My wife has not been showing me any love or attention all year. No matter what I try (telling her how much I love her and that I would do anything to keep us together, showing her by doing sweet romantic things like dinner dance cruises and hotel spas in the city topped with dozens of pink and red roses, chocolate truffles, balloons and teddies. I even tried keeping my distance and giving us some room to breathe hoping that she would miss me, nothing seems to work. Should I be worried that she has someone else or is thinking of being with someone other than me? What do you think and what should I do?
From: eric
Your wife is unhappy in the marriage, and either her needs aren't being met or it's a chemistry issue. Ask her if her emotional and financial needs are being met... does she feel loved and adored? Does she feel important? Does she feel respected? Does she have financial or job stress? Is she getting what she always wanted in a marriage? Hopefully she will open up and tell you how she feels. (There's also a chance that she feels lack of freedom and/or feels that she got married to early.) If you are doing everything right but she is bored and wants to find excitement elsewhere, then she obviously doesn't value you or her marriage. That is not the kind of person you want to be with. If she is losing attraction for you, then there are a lot of things you can do, such as working out together so you can look and feel more like the man she initially was attracted to. Don't accuse her of cheating unless you see definite clues. Have that heart to heart conversation with her before you do anything else. It seems to be long overdue.
Archive:
February 2004
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Lianne grew up near Berkeley, California and went from a quiet and shy girl to a woman who is now a professional model, actress, photographer, artist, and hairstylist.
Find out more about Lianne here: www.liannelin.com
Photos used by permission courtesy of Lianne Lin (www.liannelin.com). Photos are copyrighted by Lianne Lin.