Another hobby that’s grown from my photography is interviewing some of the models I meet. I enjoy learning about them and their point of views from frequenting the other side of the camera. I just finished an interview on Deviantart with Kassandra Leigh Purcell whom I met through Deviantart.com and she has given me permission to cross post this interview here as well. So without further adieu.
John First, thank you for doing this interview Kassandra, I really appreciate it! Let’s start this interview by having you introduce yourself to the readers.
Kassandra Hellu there! My name is Kassandra Leigh Purcell; I’m an alternative model, photographer, retoucher and stylist based out of Long Island, NY USA. It’s that little dinggleberry of land hanging off the mainland lol. I’m also kayleigh.deviantart.com and have been for about the 6 years I had that account (why yes! There WAS one before it lol). The account started with my artwork but slowly became full of photos. I mostly do self-taken photos. I’m the most clumbsy master of the timer arts you’ll meet. It’s like drunk person foo seeing me run back and forth. But those days are over! I purchased a cordless remote (yes, this is the right time for heavenly choirs to singg). With that said in the recent year I’ve also publicly opened myself to shooting for other models as well.
Kayleigh.deviantart.com is my main hub however I also am VERY active at cosplaydeviants.com And you’ll find stuff there you won’t find on my deviantart (DA) in both “sets” as well as in “exclusive VIP shoots” for the forums. I also have 2 ModelMayhem profiles:
- Modeling
– Photography
John First question, Why/How did you decide to go into Modeling?
Kassandra It was never an overnight dramatic epiphany, sadly nothing as kewl as that. I would occasionally post a photo or 2 on my DA account edited up as some ominous looking fairie or vampire and get really nice comments about it. Once my Dad brought home a cam I just sat there playing with it and learning it with experience. So from them on I would post photos much more frequently until eventually I didn’t suck as hard and thought to take things to a more professional level. I’m a perfectionist in a lot of things so it only seemed natural once I discovered my supernova exploding love for creating a new kind of “drawing” as it were. It’s just another visual medium to me and I love the different tools you use to create with it.
Copyright Kassandra Leigh Purcell
John LOL, and I bet your poor dad never got to use the camera again 
Next question, -Most people don’t think about models needing gear to work, they think it’s all provided for you. What do you always bring to a shoot (out of need or just in case)? Bobbie pins, a tazer, robe or coat, breath mints, etc.
Kassandra LoL I wish ANYTHING was provided for me! Be it my photography gear or my wardrobe for modeling! Nothing is handed to you in life so you best be prepared! Didn’t anyone teach you guys to be a good girl scout? Well there are a lot of basic boring staples models bring to their shoots, and the more clothing options the better. But the item I swearrrr by would be: Safety Pins! They make garments fit in a more flattering manner, make a long skirt into a gathered bustle to layer with some other garment, hold up a bra tighter for massive cleavage or even keep a hair piece in place. Generally speaking, my purse has 3 things in there even when I’m not shooting: Safety Pins, Scissors, and Duct Tape.
Copyright Kassandra Leigh Purcell
John Well, I hope you remember to dump out your purse before your next trip to the airport. Speaking of frustrations, Have you ever wanted to, or actually have, punched a photographer? Why?
Kassandra >_> I’ve wanted to do worse to a lot of people before….but I think that’s just a personal problem of mine lol. I can think of a somewhat recent excursion with a photographer who wouldn’t let me pose in any other way but the positions he manually posed me into. I thought “Why not just get a mannequin? They would have MUCH better proportions for this job anyway.” But I’ve had times where I’d want to kill my model as well. In the past I’ve had very unwilling models who show up with nothing. So I wardrobe them, do their hair makeup…etc. And then they make silly faces about doing anything but standing in one pose. IE: One of my most popular shots on ModelMayhem as a photographer would be : http://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/13930193 And let me tell you, SO Hard to get her into that water. She was all smiles when she saw how the images came out, so I’m glad it worked in the end.
Copyright Kassandra Leigh Purcell
John Well, to be honest if I was posing for you I’d want you to pick out my outfits and do all that for me, I love the styles you use!
So what would you say is the worst and best thing about modeling?
Kassandra Bad news first, then good news to make us feel better! LoL. The worst part about modeling is probably the online drama and or hate you get. If something is worth extreme notice and praise its the yang that there are people who feel equally as strong about disliking your work. It’s good to toughen up your skin though, ^_^. I think if you didn’t find any kind of fulfillment about creating images you wouldn’t really enjoy modeling as much. So getting to create these nifty images is probably my favorite part. I wear crazy stuff as my everyday wear but I imagine getting to wear fancy weird stuff for someone who is a jeans and a tank top sort of girl that would be their perk?
Copyright Kassandra Leigh Purcell
John First nude/implied nude shoot, what was it like? Did you make it all the way through?
Kassandra I kinda cheated on this one. My first nudes and implied I shot of myself. I never really had any sense of taboo about nudity, just ask my parents they will be happy to show you multiple images of me mooning the town out our front window and what not lol. The first time I was naked in front of strangers was kinda amusing though. I’m used to most people being freaked out about nudity so I went to change in the bathroom at a group hotel shoot and one girl pokes her head in and goes “What are you doing?” I kinda blinked for a moment… frowned and just stripped and stomped out lol. It’s great when you make sexually liberated friends who don’t care about boobs.
Copyright Kassandra Leigh Purcell
John LOL, What Model do you look up to and/or wish you could imitate?
Kassandra My current pose idol is the fetish model Mosh, though I’ve always had a soft spot for Ulorin Vex and Lady Morgana too. If I could be as successful as either of those awesome girls I’d be happy lol!
John Yeah, Mosh has some amazing poses, and all of Ulorin Vex and Lady Morgana’s works are stunning too. So in the realm of hope and wishes, what is your dream modeling job and you dream “normal” job?
Kassandra Well, if we are talking about dreams I’d Idealy like a job where I don’t HAVE to do anything and still make bank lol. Work on my own terms, but isn’t that what we all want? LoL. But realistically, I’d be happy to make money off my photography and modeling in the long run. I wouldn’t mind being a wardrobe stylist though. That’s one of the less emphasized skills models really need I think.
Copyright Kassandra Leigh Purcell
John As someone whose wardrobe would fit in a single suit case, I can see were that could be useful and important. When you do a shoot, do you like to look at the photos afterwards? Or would you rather just move on to the next job?
Kassandra O_O if you don’t like the work you produce why bother producing it?
Copyright Kassandra Leigh Purcell
John Agreed. When you have worked with other photographers or have been on your own doing a self-shoot, have you ever been in a modeling situation that scared you?
Kassandra No gun toting zombie donkies or anything crazy like that…but it’s always nerve racking shooting both normal and nudes in public. Sometimes you have looks outs and sometimes you don’t…but either way it’s still a stomach turning experience.
Copyright Kassandra Leigh Purcell
John I can see how that could get interesting. Okay, last official question, do you have a question you’ve always wanted someone to ask you just so you could answer it? What’s the question? What’s the answer?
Kassandra I think the new trend of formspring.me is making sure it asks all the questions there can be. And I like having the opportunity to answer questions so people don’t just assume things I suppose.
Copyright Kassandra Leigh Purcell
John I think we all know several adages about assumptions. Bonus round question: just because I really want to know so I have to ask… What’s up with the “Glasses Pride” you’re known to mention? Do you prefer glasses? Hate contacts? Or is it more of a fetish?
Kassandra LoL! Ah well I’ve worn glasses since day 1 and never really disliked them despite any heckling I had for being ugly with ‘em. I think glasses that are well chosen, frame and showcase someone’s face, not take away from it. I also think it’s absolutely ridiculous that girls and/or boys ever feel insecure about how they look because they wear glasses. Glasses do not nullify someone’s sex appeal >_< Plus, I’m a huge dork lover- there is a sense of pride in that and I don’t mind advertising that when I can ^_^
Copyright Kassandra Leigh Purcell
John Ah, I see, very good points. Well, that’s all the questions I had so thank you again. I think the readers will get a kick out of this. Keep up the amazing work and I for one will be looking forward to seeing how your modeling and photography grows.
And be sure to check out Kassandra’s art account under Unseelie Allure for images like
Copyright Kassandra Leigh Purcell
This day was so great I can’t even put it into words! The locations we hit I have been wanting to shoot with a model at for about a year and Grace was the first one who was willing (and had the time) to walk out there with me. I hope you all enjoy the photos I will be adding more to the album in the next week or two as I get some of the more stubborn photos processed.
