Interview With Amaranth

Amarant in DraculaClothing Corset

How did you get into modelling?

By chance really. I never considered myself to be “model material” (and still debate that fact ;) but enjoyed adorning myself with all the beauty of the gothic and fantasy realms. A great photographer from America spotted some snaps of me and asked if she could take my picture when she was over in London. Her work was amazing so I couldn’t refuse. It was quite strange being the sole focus of a room full of people and having to “act naturally”, but after seeing the results and being asked by my designer friends to model for them, I eventually got the hang of it and now love the stories I can create through this medium.

What are your three best tips for aspiring models?

• Decide on your values early on and remain true to yourself. Each picture is you and will be a representation of all you stand for and believe in.

• Take the adulation and the slating with equal measures of salt. You are not as great as people seem to think you are nor as terrible as some people try to make out.

• Make sure you work with people who have the same values and understanding as you or are paying you well enough not to care ;)

What are the pitfalls of this business, what do you need to be aware of and avoid?

Pretty much everything said in the above points. As you start to become better known you’ll get all sorts of attention, you need to keep yourself grounded and remember why you are doing what you are doing. And if your art is important to you, make sure you create it with people who have similar visions and understanding – it’s best to check before hand if the photographer or designer is the sort who thinks they own the outcome with no regard to the model’s part in the whole process. If your importance lies in making money from your craft – make sure the amount is worth what the outcome may be. Know your rights and enter all photoshoots as a business deal between two people. Then there is the obvious of checking references before shooting with unknown people or taking a chaperone with you.

Do you ever get sick of modelling?

I find the actual photoshoot a necessary evil. I much more enjoy planning the idea, collecting together props and outfits and researching locations. I then love the result – a fantasy made real in 2d. Even the editing (which is something I’m starting to learn more about) is a creative process I enjoy. But all that lies on the existence of the shoot – early mornings, long tiring hours, braving the elements and being generally uncomfortable at times. There is no beauty without pain! So yes, modelling itself I get sick of quite often.

If you weren't modelling, what would you be doing?

Probably spending more time on everything else I do alongside modelling: Writing, designing, keeping my website coding skills more up-to-scratch. I also recently bought myself a camera, so would spend more time learning how to wield it properly. I won’t model forever but will always have enough to keep me occupied. I wouldn’t like to live without creating.

Can you tell us about your role in AltFashion?

I’m a freelance journalist specialising in alternative fashion and they are one of the magazines I write for on a regular basis. Others include Devolution and Unscene, but I’m a published writer in many other UK and international magazines and webzines. Photos of me are also often found within their pages as I model for a number of the companies they feature.

Can you tell us a little about your boyfriend's band Pretentious, Moi?

Fiancé if you please ;) I’m fortunate to find other wonderfully creative people and Tim has long used music as his artistic outlet. He’s been in several bands over the years, mostly on keys and backing vocals, but has always had his own side project which he began way back in 1994. Pretentious, Moi? was a working title and very much a tongue in cheek name as the music was really only meant for his own pleasure. In fact when I got together with him in 2008 there was still only really a demo CD which a few DJs had and a song on a compilation here or there. But when I heard it I knew he had to do more with it, and when Manuskript started slowing down he thankfully gathered together a number of talented musicians and made a real band of it. When his debut album finally came out it was extremely well received and we have noticed it on club playlists all over the world. As I sit and write this I can actually hear him writing new material in the room next door... a new album is in the making, and if what I hear is anything to go by it’ll be just as well received as the first! His website is www.pretentiousmoi.com

What's happening in your life right now?

Mostly wedding planning! Sandwiched between my day job as a Marketing Manager and my modelling, writing and coding as well as the required trip to a dancefloor or festival here and there, we may get married sometime in the foreseeable future :)

Truls: You can see more pictures of goth icon Lady Amaranth at http://www.ladyamaranth.com/, and you can see the corset at DraculaClothing.com photographed by Surje O'Leone.