It’s All In The Jeans - Photoset and Blog (Patreon)

In all my years of modeling, I've never shot anything like this. Truth be told, had anyone wanted to shoot this kind of look in the past, I'd have been rather opposed. 

Something started to shift in me in 2019. Perhaps it was overwhelm with all life had thrown our way that year (JD being sick with Mercury poisoning and a bad gut infection), perhaps it was being sick of the beauty influencer standard of 20 lbs of makeup, or perhaps it was just me missing myself in a way. Realistically, I'm sure it was a combination of all these, and some other things. I still remember the first day I thought to myself that I wanted my makeup more natural. After staying the night with my friend Rachel, we were getting ready to go for breakfast and as I put on my makeup, I oddly felt like keeping the colors to nudes and browns, and did much less than normal. I felt so fresh and so pretty! This was months before our wedding, and it ended up inspiring me to keep my makeup natural for the wedding ceremony and not even wear false lashes... I know, I know. *gasp*

Most of my life I was pretty comfortable with my natural look, but once I moved to Vegas, built a large following, and then became part of the mainstream media world via JD's family while also moving into beauty influencer life, that comfort with my natural appearance waned and the makeup was always piled on. It's really quite comical to think back on it now. Getting ready was never under 45 minutes, and was usually closer to 1.5 hours. I love makeup, and I love hair styling, but I love getting dolled up when I WANT to, not when I feel pressured to look a certain way. 

In the modeling world, I was always known for alternative and pinup modeling, and occasionally some glam work. Natural on camera? Pffffffttt!! Get outta here! NO FALSE LASHES? You jest, sir. You jest!

I don't think I ever let anyone shoot me with a "real" camera sans makeup until 2018 when JD took some photos of me in Italy, and even then, I threw on some lipstick and I think a bit of mascara. 

So, from 2009-2019, a look like this photographed professionally was just...weird. 

When Alan asked me to do this look I was thrilled because it's taken me years to get to this point. JD has shot me plenty the last couple years while I've been in a very natural state, but to be in a studio with big lights and all is a different feeling and damn, did it feel good. Certainly it helped that I trust Alan as well, as we've been shooting together for 15 years and he's a close friend. 

It's nice to see me as, well, me. Just little ol' hippie vibe me. :)