Sabrina Maree is OMP's Hot Model of the Week!

Check out California girl Sabrina Maree, who has already been featured as a Playboy model and is sure to set hearts racing whenever she gets in front of the camera! She started pursuing a modeling career when she was 19, and has been working steadily for the past three years. She describes herself as "a glamour model/nude model. I loved being primped and sexy!"

Sabrina Maree's first real job was for Playboy. "I attended a casting call in San Mateo and received a call back a month or two later. I shot for their Special Editions, their 'Busty Babes' site, and 'Real American Girls.'

Another of her favorite shoots took place recently with the mother-daughter team of Suze and Holly Randall. "I am loving the results of that shoot. One set is out so far on HollyRandall.com. Suze is really such a legend in erotica, and her daughter Holly is just as talented. I've done a few other things recently, but I don't want to talk about them until they are published."

She joined One Model Place years ago when a friend of hers started modeling and suggested it. "OMP has lead to many contacts that led to paid jobs, even a bodypainting job at the Playboy mansion!"

The brunette beauty lists the rewards and challenges of modeling. "The rewards are innurmerable... travel, meeting people, and experiencing things I might never otherwise. Also, dozing in the MUA's chair, I love that! The challenges involve keeping healthy when you are working in close contact with lots of people -- cold and flu season hasn't been easy on the industry this year. And of course, the perception of the people around me of what I do."

Sabrina Maree offer the following advice for models just starting out. "Don't jump into anything or pigeonhole yourself before you really see your options spread out and you pick your direction instead of falling into it. Don't be afraid to turn down shoots that make you uncomfortable, no matter the pay." for models who want to become published in magazines, she adds, "Aim for shooting with the greats in your field of choice or talent. They are the most likely to sell to magazines... although many men's magazines are shooting their own content these days."

See her full portfolio at OMP Model #167897

Cali Photographer Tim Jahns Brings Beauty Into Focus

Tim Jahns (OMP Member #4467) has, in his own estimation, been a photographer for "a long time — let's say over 25 years!" But he admits his work has gone through different stages and changes over that time. One thing is certain -- his eye for beauty has remained consistent throughout.

He got his start in photography through a friend in Santa Barbara who was a serious amateur photographer. "My friend had a good 35 mm camera, and I ended up buying the same kind of camera and playing around with it, learning to see the world through the lens. In that early stage, I was shooting a lot of black-and-white film, processing and printing it myself in a darkroom. I took a couple of classes at the city college, but also had a darkroom I shared with two other guys in the converted cellar of a house."

While he appreciates a variety of photographic styles, Tim's favorite images to shoot are what he calls "abstract fine art photography" and a hybrid style of "fashion/fine art/glamour" that he has been perfecting in recent years. Speaking of perfection, his imagery of his main muse Elyssa (Model #18537) has been so successful that he turned it into a book project -- check out the online preview at www.Elyssabook.com. "My big personal project over the last year or so is my book concept built around images with Elyssa. It's a project that's been very rewarding for me. I'm done with most of the shooting I wanted to do for the book, so I'm concentrating on editing and finalizing the images I want to use in the book, and working with a company that will help with the preparation of it to get to publishers in a more final, print-ready form. I'm finding that I have more I want to do than I originally thought in the way of post-production. That includes some manipulation or enhancement that is fun but takes more time after the shooting itself."

Working with one model has helped the photographer develop a strong creative collaboration. "Elyssa has such a unique look and presence, with such an amazing long body and incredible legs, that it's always inspiring to work with her. I want to find the most interesting locations, wardrobe and styling opportunities to use with her, something I started to expand more in the book project. She's the only real "muse" I've had in that sense, so I feed off of her physical qualities and her energy. I tend to look for locations where I can place her and know she'll make the scene by being in it. She takes direction well but can also come through with some creative choices in her poses, angles and that sort of thing."

Before any shoot, Tim prefers to cover a lot of details. "If it's a glamour or fashion shoot, I go over wardrobe, hair and fingernails, location plans, and the kind of images I plan to shoot. I try to find out what ideas they might have and what they're comfortable with. I also make clear how long the shoot will be, so they know the commitment they have in time and energy. During the shoot, I work with the model to find the best wardrobe choices and describe what I'm trying to achieve. It's always a combination of setting the stage, placing the model and giving general directions, then hoping the model will go with it. It's best if the model will start to move spontaneously and expressively, playing off the mood of the location and the styling. Finding the most interesting location areas to work with, and placing strobes or working with available light are also crucial. If it's a kind of standard or formula lighting set-up, that's routine. But if it's more experimental or free-flowing, that's even more interesting for me to develop the lighting and mood. That helps me present the model looking her best and creating a stronger image."

Another photographer initially recommended One Model Place, and before long, he was a habitual user of the site. He relates, "OMP is definitely habit-forming in the early stages. It's obviously helpful to have a representative portfolio in a major clearinghouse of models and photographers, and access to a huge talent pool like OMP. I work with many established professional models who I find in various sources including agencies, but I count on OMP for discovery of both emerging talent and some undiscovered models who are out there but not always working the mainstream."

In addition to his book project, Tim's been teaching workshops lately for places like Samy's Camera and Calumet, with a focus on glamour. And he continues to work on his "bread and butter" projects including calendars, web productions, stock, and other markets. "I'm trying to expand both the markets and the styles of work, and trying to reach back to my fine art roots a bit more. I'm starting to pursue more gallery exhibitions and magazine publications again and go after markets that feature more of that type of work."

While he thinks that quality equipment is important, Time feels that sometimes it gets over-emphasized. "The camera I use most these days is the Canon 5-D, which is fine for most of what I do, but occasionally I'll rent something for more specialized projects. I'm big on zoom lenses, even with the inevitable compromise you usually have to make in optical quality at certain points. I have a bunch of Calumet Travelite monolights for most of the strobe lighting, plus a ring flash and a couple of special lights or modifiers. My computer is a mid-period iMac, and I have a host of external drives for all the storage and back-up. Of course, Photoshop and Lightroom are extremely important software tools."

Tim doesn't travel nearly as much for work as he used to or as much as he'd like. "Being in the LA area, I have a pretty good pool of talent for models, makeup artists, assistants and all the equipment needs. I do have a lot of models coming in from other parts of the country, so the talent usually comes to me."

He offers some practical advice do you have for photographers just starting out. "Learn the craft first, and network like crazy. Have fun with photography before you have to think too much about making a living from it or other things that can stifle your creativity. Develop a style of your own without trying to mimic what others do, unless it's just to educate yourself about lighting and other elements before you find your own vision."

And one thing he himself could use some advice on is undiscovered L.A. locations. "It's become more challenging to find great locations to shoot, especially upscale homes and other interesting spots with a stylish quality that don't want a fortune for the location fee. So if you're in Southern California and have an idea for a good location, I'd be happy to hear."

Image of Elyssa OMP Model #18537 by Tim Jahns OMP Member #4467

Luana Sizzles as OMP's Hot Model of the Day

Luana OMP Model #155259 is a marvelous model originally from Hawaii who currently resides in Southern California. This petite powerhouse has been modeling professionally for five years, ever since she turned 18, and is a fan favorite in the glamour photography industry.

She got her start as a model back in Hawaii. "I was shooting with local photographers, trying to build my portfolio and make some money. One Model Place was there since the beginning of my career, and I booked a lot of work just by posting images on my profile and responding to some of the modeling inquiries coming in. Then I met David of ModFXModels.com and started my own website, which allowed me to build a fanbase."

One of the busiest working models in the business, Luana reveals some of her favorite modeling assignments. "Modeling for Mystique Magazine has been my favorite assignment by far. They have flown me out to exotic places such as Tahiti, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, and Kauai. I've always enjoyed being in front of Mark Daughn's camera because he is just a genius when it comes to bringing out the best in models, and his lighting is impeccable. Shooting for Playboy also helped me gain recognition in the glamour industry."

Playboy came calling on Luana after seeing her on One Model Place. "OMP was the largest model networking site back when I started, and it's still the largest today. I actually booked my Playboy shoot from OMP! There are many industry professionals here, so being active in the online community really puts your face out there."

Luana offers some great advice for other models who want to get their careers jump-started. "Figure out what type of modeling you are most interested in. Ask yourself what styles are you best suited for. Find your strengths, and then focus on highlighting them. It's important to showcase your special unique qualities. Of course, you also want to show your versatility as a model. Finally, be sure to think over your decisions carefully and remember to give yourself a little reality check once in a while."

Heather Sizzles as OMP's Hot Model of the Day

Heather OMP Model #74727 has been modeling for the past 7 years. She got her start by going to a modeling school, but soon after got a big revelation. "I realized that with a little work and doing some TFPs I could be where I am today without investing in modeling schools."

Having started as a youth model, Heather likes to describe herself as a wholesome model with a lot of versatility and range. She tries to maintain that versatile nature as she has grown into a woman. "The transformation for me was relatively easy. I have managed to keep a youthful look with a bit of an edge."

The California girl loves out of the box photo shoots with over the top wardrobe and makeup. "My most memorable shoot was the mermaid images I did with photographer Dave Feiling OMP Member 3407 . The styling was an adventure. It all started by roaming the beach and collecting just the right pieces of seaweed for 'coverage.' Then we were off to a fish market to take pictures of a real fish tail to Photoshop into the picture. It was a ton of fun and the pictures came out awesome!"

She takes extra care to be prepared for each photo shoot. "I always plan out my clothing and everything I need the day before so I can have the morning to think about what I need to do for the shoot that day. I bring a positive attitude, ready to shoot."

Heather enjoys modeling in South California for several reasons. "You can't beat the weather and with the variety of locations and scenery, the possibilities are endless. And then there is the advantage of having a lot of very talented stylists, MUAs, and photographers to work with in the area."

Heather doesn't remember how she first heard of One Model Place, which she says "makes me feel old!" She does recall how much the site has helped her achieve her career goals. "OMP has been invaluable for my career by providing me with exposure to wonderful photographers and models all over the country who are willing to help me gain more experience."

Heather suggests that beginning models resist the urge to get high expectations right away. "If you are just starting out as a model, you'll need a lot of patience. Anything worthwhile doesn't come quickly. Also, don't be discouraged by the rejection, it may be that your look just isn't right for a given job, but will be perfect for the next one. Always try to raise the bar on the quality of work you do. Don't be afraid to say 'No' if a project won't benefit your career in a positive way."

For young models who grow up in the business like Heather did, she offers the following piece of advice. "Know the market you are trying to pursue and keep your focus. Networking is invaluable, you never know when or who may be your avenue to success."

Image of Heather OMP Model #74727 courtesy of Dave Feiling OMP Member 3407