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Liv Sage |  VIP Member | Verified Credits (79)

Model: Liv Sage; Photographer: AJ Moksha

Where are you from? Where are you based now and do you travel for shoots?

I’m from a small town in Ohio and also spent a bit of time in Georgia growing up. I’m now living in Baltimore.

Who or what inspired you to become a model?

Nothing in particular inspired me. I actually used to abhor having my picture taken – when I was a little kid, I would pout if I had to have my photo taken or hold up my hand to block my face. There are photos of my little four-year-old self frowning at the camera (that much hasn’t changed, ha) after hours of adults trying to coax me to smile. Especially as a teenager, I absolutely hated photos of myself. I still shy away from photos unless it’s a shoot.

For me, modeling was the process of creating art rather than wanting to be a model. I had never had the intention to do it professionally until people began offering to pay me and wanted me to travel to work with them.

Model: Liv Sage; Photographer: Luettke Studio

How and when did you start modeling?

A few years ago, I was regularly doing self portrait work with my phone, I’d become a bit more comfortable with photos of myself, and a few photographers reached out to me on instagram. I decided, mostly on a whim, to work with a few. After that, more photographers got in touch, and it developed from there.

What type of modeling do you enjoy most?

I enjoy artistic portraiture the most. I also love doing art nude and occasionally like strange conceptual shoots – like Sebastian Rut in Chicago.

What do you look for when deciding to work with a photographer?

I first look through their work to see if I think we’d be able to create well together and if our aesthetic sensibilities align in in some manner. We might not agree on everything but there needs to be some sort of common ground in order to have a good collaboration. Professionalism in pre-shoot communications. References that check out. Those are the basics.

Model: Liv Sage; Photographer: Diana Schenkel

Which models or other artists currently inspire you?

Quite a few… I’m reluctant to name names as I’d be leaving out a few, but, I’ve always been inspired by Nettie Harris and Kelsey Dylan‘s modeling work. I saw both of their portfolios before I had started and really love the work they’ve done throughout their careers. Diana Schenkel, Erin the Artist, Brittany Markert, and other women whose work is mostly self portrait based. I love doing self portrait work, so I like seeing others who focus on that a bit. I also follow a lot of painters as well as renaissance art, sculptors, and landscape artists. I really love Kristen Hatgi Sink, Saul Leiter, Imogen Cunningham, Edouard Boubat, and Dorothea Lange’s photography. I have a tumblr (@curiousdreamsofasmallwoman) where I reblog images that I love.

What would be your dream shoot?

This is a difficult one… I honestly really love natural portrait work, so I don’t have some grand plan for a shoot in terms of landscape/location, set design, or makeup. I’ve been pretty lucky and have worked with many people who take my ideas in consideration for a shoot though, so perhaps I don’t have a grand scheme for a shoot because of that.

In all honesty, it’s a strange question since I could think up all manner of bizarre shoots or crazy concepts that aren’t in my portfolio. But, are these things that are “dreams” for me necessarily? No, not particularly.

My most realistic answer: A shoot within my limits that pays enough money for me to buy a condo. Haha. Sorry, that’s a really bad answer, but it’s the damn truth. Being self sufficient and comfortable in life is very important to me.

Model: Liv Sage; Photographer: Cvitanic

How important is social media in your success?

I use instagram and tumblr on a regular basis to post work and keep in touch with artists. I consider them important networking tools, but I still get many of my bookings (especially full day bookings) on Model Mayhem. Instagram is important from the standpoint of your following – and only because some people have begun equating your number of followers to your skill as a model. I do get bookings on Tumblr, Instagram, and Facebook, but most are still coming from Model Mayhem or Model Society.

Then again, I started modeling by posting self portraits on Instagram, so it definitely played a role in getting me started.

What else do you like to do outside of modeling?

Outside of modeling, I love doing photography (especially of my two fluffy cats, Petunia and Delilah), painting, reading, looking up random stuff on Google so that I know random facts, taking walks, watching movies and documentaries, and cooking.

Model: Liv Sage; Photographer: Jamiya Wilson

What’s the best career advice you can give to new models?

Trust your gut instincts, don’t just believe everything someone tells you. Check references and make friends with other models so you can mutually help one another. Learn a bit about photography – especially about angles and light – so you know exactly what the photo is really showing so you can make a smart decision about what you’d like to be showing. Know your limits and boundaries and be comfortable sharing and enforcing them.

Instagram: @asmallwoman