Log Four- Reflective Study

Yet again another busy couple of weeks! I'm totally relishing on the busy days though because in my line of work, I know that soon enough will come the slow season until April. Even with the networking, hard work and persistence every model encounters a slow season.
I have been reading through Task 2b and 2c while also reading through the theories suggested in 2c. I was most drawn to Kolb's learning cycle. Most would probably think reflective study would do more harm than good to anyone in the modeling business especially when so much negative feedback is given to you on a daily basis and you're purely judged on your looks, height and body image. But I've found that Kolb's learning cycle has been very useful and I had unknowingly been using his theories already.
As a freelance model, being 5'8 and not having the "standard" measurements (my hips are to big) it's been difficult for me to be perfectly honest. But since I did not take the path of simply listening to agencies telling me I could not model because for whatever reason, I would analyse and reflect on why the casting did not go well and what I could do next time to better my chances of getting the job. For example, I visited an agency around two years ago. They told me they could not sign me on and I could not model because my hips were to large. So I analysed what he told me and planned to lose a little weight in my hips, have a bigger and more varied portfolio in my book and made sure I networked with the right photographers, MUAs, designers, stylists and other models. When I came back two years later with everything I had reflected on done, those actions took effect in a very positive way. The agency wanted to sign me on the spot. I did not however sign with them yet. I've learned that I can practice Kolb's learning cycle in similar situations with other agencies which I have already started doing, so I will be repeating the learning cycle to better my chances and have more of a choice in who I sign with. I do realise though that the learning cycle will not always work. Toronto is becoming a fashion city but only slowly. I've come to realise a lot of people in the fashion industry in Toronto can't seem to let go of tradition and old habits. They stick with the same fashion and that usually means the same models. A lot of the magazines showcase the same waif, blonde, 5'10, elf looking girls as they have for the last 10 years. Europe and most of the world is moving away from that look, always trying to find something different, so even if I do use the learning cycle in other meetings with agencies it may not work simply because those agencies are stuck in their old ways.
I do have to say that the internet has been my most vital tool in my career. Facebook, Model Mayhem (a social site for models, photographers, etc), Twitter and blogs have all been essential in my success so far. The best example I can give right now is the competition I have entered over a month ago now to achieve a front cover shoot with a magazine called Wowza. In order to win you must upload a picture of yourself to their fan page among other photos and the photo with the most likes by December 1st wins. I have been extremely successful so far due to the social networking, previous jobs, Twitter, social networking help from friends, this blog, other blogs and my Model Mayhem. I am currently over 2,000 likes which is an absolute dream come true. I have been working six years to not only appear in a magazine but be on the cover of one. Again, I could not have done it without applying my skills and knowledge about the internet and social networking. There is two days left so if any of you would still like to help me out please click on this link Victoria's competition photo and like the photo. If you also pass on to your friends it does help a lot. As for the styling I've had to put that a little bit on the back burner these days. It has been difficult and right now I really want to concentrate on the modeling since I can only do that for so long.
Before I end this blog I am going to post a few pictures I have had taken lately and a few from a fashion show raising funds for breast cancer research I did just a few days ago.

I also wanted to show you all my very first window appearance! I am currently the face of Cos on the Kingsway hair salon, a shoot I did back in July with a very prestigious photographer (which I cannot disclose yet due to magazine submissions) and I blogged about not to long ago. My friend sent me this the other day, I have yet to see it. Very excited though! Let me know what you think!

Log Three- Reader Two: The Reflective Practioner

So I'm not exactly sure where to begin with this entry. As usual I've had a lot of different jobs during these last couple of weeks, which explains the delay in this entry.
One thing that has just come and gone was Toronto Fashion Week. It was something I've lately been longing to be a part of. Unfortunately this year they have strictly said ONLY agency models can be a part of the shows which made things extremely difficult for me obviously being a freelance model. It made me realise despite the fact I have done very well for myself there are still many closed doors for me. For some reason being with an agency gives you more entitlement and credentials rather than years of experience. I am also vulnerable still to people scamming me out of more money that I deserved from jobs. At the same time, the issues with signing onto an agency is they could be scam artists themselves, they may not be getting in enough castings, they may just put you into one category of modeling when I want to do it all and also the fact they cannot actually get you the jobs, they can only get you the castings. I have started agency shopping but it has not been easy. I've sent emails to agencies with either no response or saying they were not interested. I've also gone to see agencies, two of which were interested but I've had some bad reviews on them. I also had one agency tell they weren't interested and leave within five seconds of myself arriving at their office. There have been positives though from these last couple of weeks. I've had confirmation from the photographer from the hair shoot that he is submitting still the pictures to hair magazines. The shoot Tara Wright, Stephen Loban, Linda Pazic, Lisa Jackson and myself has gained interest from W25 Magazine, asking for all the hi-res from the shoot. I also participated in a photo shoot yesterday for designer Arnaldo Santos with his dresses and a new online magazine for Fabulous PR. I also modeled for friend and fabulous knitwear designer Dylan which you can see on his website www.dylaniumknits.com. Here is just a few of my favourites from his site...

So even though I've had some pretty negative moments especially with the agencies. From this experience and others in my past I've learned to not give up so easily. Whether it is the fashion industry or performing arts industry, I find both can be equally brutal and pretty self esteem destroying. But you need to keep going if you really want to be successful in what you do, because even if everything seems hopeless things will work out in the end. I've also seen in my many years of doing the modeling and the performing, people giving up the minute things don't go right I guess expecting things to come easily and always be smooth sailing, especially when you have made a pretty strong resume for yourself. But it will always be tough and you must persevere no matter how bad it gets.

The bad experiences have also made me even more determined to crack this industry. I've just signed up for a competition where I could win a front cover shoot with Wowza Magazine which is this fantastic high fashion but alternative magazine. My model friend, Dalia has been lucky enough to appear in their pages already. In order for me to win my photo, on their Facebook page that I uploaded, it needs to have the most "likes" by December 1st. It's been pretty competitive so far but I have been really determined and asking for as much help as I can. People have been  really fantastic so far and this has helped me reach out to more networks and connections. I've also really got my face out there to others. If any of you would like to help out here is the link to the photo Victoria's front cover photo on Facebook, just simply click "like" on the photo and share with others. I really hope I can win, it would be such an amazing opportunity and another job I can add to my ever growing resume. Like I said, I am even more determined now than ever and will not allow the bad experiences to effect me.

Log Two- Oh my goodness!!!!!!!!!!

What a week!!! Or has it been five?! It has been insane whether it was one, five or ten million weeks! Where do I even begin?! Well... In case you did not know I am both a freelance model and stylist. I use to be signed with an agency here in Toronto but they didn't provide me with the jobs I was looking for. They would constantly send me to castings for hair shows which is not great when all they want to do is turn your lovely, long, blonde hair into a pixy short, black hair cut for peanuts. Especially when your whole portfolio is you with blonde hair. So after my contract was over I decided to persue jobs on my own without any agency's help (not to mention keep the 20% they usually take off from your paycheck). Slowly I came into styling aswell since the majority of my own shoots I would style for myself. Again I chose the freelance path so I had more freedom in what jobs I took, keep all the money and style how I wanted to style. Luckily from my modeling connections and previous jobs I have been able to make this happen.


 It's been hard freelancing as a model but I feel like things are finally picking up. The other day I got to work with a fantastic photographer who is very well known in Canada. I was lucky not only as a freelance model, even some agency models will never get the chance to shoot with him. I cannot unfortunately disclose his name since he is currently seeking out hair magazines to have the photos published. I will share though a few of the photos.

Log One

So my first entry I thought I would discuss and showcase a particular company I have on countless occasions worked for. Her name is Cat Shanahan and she owns an online vintage store through Etsy called "Aiseirigh Vintage". She has a fantastic collection of vintage clothes she has collected and continues to collect over the years. It is all very feminine and yet some what wild, very much to my taste. She is planning to bring her online store to the masses in Yorkville (the Bond Street of Toronto) and would like me to be involved which is fantastic for both my modeling and styling. If it wasn't for her encouragement I don't think I would've pursued with the styling. Here I thought I would showcase a few of the clothes I have modeled for her. Old and new.

It has always been a pleasure to work with Cat and I hope I can help with her dream to bring vintage to the runway and make vintage even more relevant in the fashion industry. On another note, I am very excited to have started with BAPP. I am currently editing with my BAPP "Getting Started" video and hope this will expand my career in the performing and fashion world.