Layla Mays: Emotion

Eyes are the window to the soul.

My very first photo shoot consisted of a hotel stairwell and a camera. The photographer told me we were going to try some really hard emotions and that I should just loosen up and feel it. It sounded so easy, “ but being vulnerable and emotional in front of a complete and total stranger is hard. One year later, I can finally say its easy for me to let loose in front of the camera and really get something great out of it. The biggest tip I have for anyone looking to improve this aspect of their shoots, or just for anyone who is curious how we do it, you must feel whatever emotion you're trying to portray. If you want sad, be sad. If you're happy, be happy. Feel it and be vulnerable; let your inhibitions go. Whatever emotion you're trying to portray, give it all you've got and really get your point across!

Rêver Magazine: All Flowers in Time...

I recently shot with Jesse Koska, a Nashville photographer, for Rêver Magazine, and I am in love with how the photos turned out! Shooting with Jesse is always a blast (this was my third time). He has such great energy behind the camera and really made me feel comfortable and at ease. If I had any advice for photographers, it would be this: make your models feel at home! If you are tense and uptight, your model will have a difficult time connecting with the camera. If you can crack a joke while keeping a shoot on point, you're golden and the photos will be magical. 

Interview: Price Stone, photographer

While on my trip in Nashville, I had the opportunity to shoot with Price Stone, a young photographer based out of Nashville. How young am I talking? He's actually still in high school! However, age is truly just a number. Stone is incredibly talented and passionate about his work. Take a look at my interview with him and I also snuck in some of our shots!

Nashville Fashion Week 2013!

Nashville Fashion Week, the push that started it all!

This year was Nashville's third annual fashion week and it was nothing short of the splendor it held last year. The headliners included lines like Nonoo, T. Rains, Modern Trousseau, SAND, and many more!

I booked the opening shows for Tuesday and Friday night, so my nights consisted of several clothing, hair, and makeup changes. Needless to say, I was a busy woman and I wouldn't have survived or been ready in time to walk without my dressers. Those girls did so much for me, fastening buttons, zipping up zippers, and tying my shoes.

Shout out to them, Danielle, Zaina, and Nancy, you guys are awesome!

Tuesday night was the opening night, and it was by far my favorite. The venue chosen to kick-off the week was the Pinnacle building in downtown Nashville. From the 22nd floor, I could look out and see the lights all over town. It was such a dazzling sight!

Flower Child

Polaroids taken by Price Stone

Show at the Symphony

While I was in Nashville, I was also privileged to walk in the Symphony's annual benefit show, featuring Monique Lhuillier's Fall 2013 collection. Her line came straight off the New York Fashion Week runway and into the dressing room of Nashville's Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The collection included a palette of jewel and earth tones mixed with draping, embroidery and fringe.

Cabin fever cure: Nashville road trip

It has been over a month since I returned home from Asia, and I think it suffices to say that there was nothing for me to come back to, as far as my career is concerned. The "fashion" industry in Knoxville consists of small boutiques and department stores and there is just not a whole lot going on. So, traveling to Nashville this past week was a much needed breath of fresh air.

Nashville celebrated its third annual Nashville Fashion Week, April 2-6. I was scouted during a model search at last year's fashion week and was able to walk in it for the Friday and Saturday shows. This year, I walked Tuesday and Friday night for designers such as Kal Reiman, Reddoll by Tatyana Merenyuk, and Plenty by Tracy Reese. On the days I wasn't in a show, I spent my time shooting with photographers Layla Mays, Price Stone, and Jesse Koska. Needless to say, I had a very busy, but enjoyable week. After a month of sitting idle, I was more than ready for this.