Waking Up In Vegas (Patreon)

My first and thus far only photoshoot from the iconic city of Las Vegas. 2021 was my first time out on the west coast and it was truly a life changing experience; little did I know that I'd have the spontaneous opportunity to go out there again briefly the following spring. Now, almost one year since I've last ventured into the dry deserts, I'm beginning to miss the strange scenery that is so unfamiliar to this Georgia girl.

Vegas was fun, but when I was there, I was primarily in the city to attend Life is Beautiful fest, which was truly a dream and artistic journey even if I didn't make money (in fact, I spent quiiiiite a lot, ugh) or create content. It was a three day festival filled with so many artists I love, such as Billie Eilish, Ashnikko, Noah Cyrus, and St. Vincent, as well as artists I grew up with, like The Maine, All Time Low, and Green Day, and just damn fun artists that are shaking up the industry and making a statement to the world, like Megan Thee Stallion. That festival put a lot of life and a lot of love into me and inspired me a lot musically. I often find, to no real surprise, that I get motivated to strive higher and higher when I surround myself with environments that stimulate and enrich me. One of my best words of advice is truly to make friends and circles around your passion. Never be the smartest person in the room. Learn from those that inspire you. Observe. Network. Create.

After a beautiful 3-day weekend of non-stop music, dancing, and a ton of walking, we concluded our Vegas stay with a photoshoot in one of those hotels with a casino that are a dime a dozen in that city. Can't remember which one it was, but it was an interesting experience. I'd been planning to work with Jonathan since right before the pandemic on what would have been my first time out to the west coast, and alone at that. Of course, we know that didn't happen and 24 hours into my journey I left Texas to return home to quarantine. However, after a year in the making, I finally made it out there and we executed our project. Jonathan was super kind and motivating to work with. I particularly liked that I got to wear a raincoat in the shower. That was fun. 

I love his editing style and feel these could be in some magazine somewhere. I don't have the typical high fashion model look, so sometimes I question my place in the print world, even though I've been there before. I'm not tall, I'm not thin, I'm not symmetrical, and my body is decorated with scars, tattoos, and piercings. I'm far from what most would require from fine art or high fashion models, even though I do truly believe, and have been proof of, the ability to still do and accomplish those things with a non-traditional look of purity. Images like these bolster those thoughts. Imposter syndrome is a bitch.

P.S. Anyone get the title reference? Eh? Katy Perry, anyone? Meh.

Photography by Jonathan Ziegler
Las Vegas, Nevada 2021