Interview with Raven Lynette — 22 year old all around artist and model
Raven Lynette is a 22-year old model residing in San Diego, California.
How would you introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi Everyone! I’m Raven. I am half Filipino, half Caucasian, which nobody can ever guess! I was born in Sacramento, California, then moved to the tiny town of Oroville, California when I was 10 years old where I spent most of my “growing up” years. I now reside in the beautiful San Diego, California.
I grew up in Oroville with my parents, two little sisters and over 60 animals at one time. Moving from a big city to a small town I could not wait to join 4-H and start raising animals. What started as one dog, one cat, and one gecko soon turned into three dogs, three cats, five geckos, ten goats, three horses, some rabbits, and a bazillion chickens. I guess you could say I grew up on a farm. I had dreams of becoming a veterinarian and now I was the lucky little girl who got to take on the responsibility of caring for, breeding, and even butchering goats, rabbits and chickens. I learned at a young age the circle of life, where our food comes from, and how to be self sufficient, and I am thankful for every moment.
When I wasn’t getting my hands dirty on our farm, I was doing all kinds of art, drawing, painting, sculpting, you name it. I played soccer, competed in swimming and gymnastics, and finally in my teens started dancing, and I haven’t stopped since.
When, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?
This is kind of a funny story actually. Finding a job in my small town with the current economy was extremely difficult, and something that my already employed parents didn’t understand. I tried and tried with no luck, all the while being nagged relentlessly by my mother. One day I saw a flyer for “Models Wanted” in the hallway of the Art Department at my college. The figure drawing class needed models, so having never taken a figure drawing class and not knowing the exact nature of figure drawing, I jumped right on the opportunity. The instructor told me how great it was, being paid to pretty much lounge around, which it is actually way more work than that!, and brought out some work to show me. I was presented with pages and pages of nude drawings! Now I was the kind of person who felt uncomfortable in my underwear in the locker room and had nightmares of being naked at school.
Finally my rebellious streak spoke up and I said I’d take the job. I thought, “There mom, you want me to get a job? I’m going to go take my clothes off and get paid for it!” When I found out how comfortable I was, I joined Model Mayhem and quickly expanded to photography. Of course the whole thing was very tasteful and beautiful, my mom was happy, and I’ve never had a nightmare about being naked in class again.
What are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?
I am currently attending school in San Diego with the love of my life, both as Dance majors, so in five to ten years I hope to be in the peak of my dance career. Right now we are lucky enough to teach dance at a private elementary school and Montessori preschool together, but I can’t wait for the day we get to join a company and travel the world sharing the art of dance. It would also be nice to get an agent and do commercial and music video dance, as well as continue my modeling career. If no agent is in my future, I’m happy to continue being a freelance model. I love the freedom of creativity I get to have with it. At some point I’d also like to start taking classes to become a veterinary technician. I gave up a veterinary career and UC Davis when I fell in love with dancing, but I don’t want to let that go completely. I guess when I’m old and broken from all the dancing and modeling, I’d like to focus on my animals again.
As far as personal goals, when we are not touring for our careers, I want to travel with my love, just for the fun of it. We are currently living in a cute little trailer, and I wouldn’t mind sticking with the full-time RV lifestyle for a while. It’s very freeing to not be tied down to one location.
I’d also like to continue with my art, hopefully taking commissions and selling some pieces. Right now I make the odd sculpture, teddy bear,or headdress -featured in a few photoshoots- here and there, but I’d love to eventually have more time to do more of all of it.
How often are you modeling and what does it usually consist of?
I have a steady modeling gig once a week doing fine art black and white and infrared nude figure studies. I love that I pretty much get to dance, and stretch, all the while creating photographic works of art. When I am not in the studio dancing or teaching dance, I also work with many other amateur and professional photographers on the weekends to help build their portfolios. Since I also do my own retouching and special effects, many photographers are kind enough to give me images for my portfolio as well. In return I take the retouching work off their hands.
As far as the content of my shoots, I love figure studies. I think the human body in its prime is absolutely beautiful, and should be celebrated. It’s also quite nice not having to cart around a wardrobe, although I do occasionally like to shoot fashion and editorial type stuff. I love vintage, Victorian, and Steam-punk concepts, and enjoy creating accessories such as hair clips and headdresses to go along with the style. I also do a lot of shooting at the beach and other natural locations, where I feel most at home. My creativity just flows better when I have mother nature to inspire me.
Please tell us about the best and/or worst experiences you’ve had so far in modeling.
Hmmm, well I’ve had mainly good experiences I’m happy to say. I did have one photographer that flaked out on me after I had driven two hours to the location. He later apologized and promised to compensate me for my time, but that never happened either and he conveniently disappeared from the face of the internet.
Other than that it’s been smooth sailing! I’ve been lucky to work with many talented photographers and watch our artistic visions come to life.
Have you had anything funny, embarrassing or completely out of the ordinary happen during your modeling career?
I haven’t had anything extraordinary happen yet, but all my shoots have been fun and exciting. I’ve gotten to shoot with snakes, my doggie soulmate, and been drenched in honey. I’ve also done a nude couple’s shoot at 5am in freezing mountain weather which was fun and totally worth it.
Thankfully I’ve never had really embarrassing moments either. However there was one time where I was shooting nude at Black’s Beach, a clothing optional beach, and this one guy who was also nude came and stood right by the photographer, just the right distance to hopefully catch his attention. He just stood there gawking at me at first and then proceeded to start kind of flexing like he was hoping maybe the photographer would start shooting him too. That was weird.
Is there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?
I’ll speak for the freelance modeling industry since that is what I am in, though commercial and runway could also use a few improvements in the body image department. In the freelance community though, I really wish there was more mutual understanding and respect between models and photographers on the subjects of escorts and payment. I understand that one bad escort experience could cloud a photographer’s judgement, but there are also quite a few creepy “photographers” out there that make us models feel the need for an escort. All photographers that I have chosen to work with have found my escort -my boyfriend and fellow model- to be invaluably helpful, holding reflectors, watching out for unwanted audiences, being my fantastic looking male sidekick, and more. So not all escorts are all bad!
I also understand the value of TF, trade for images, but I always cringe and am quickly put off when a photographer states that they would never pay a model or that models shouldn’t be paid. Modeling is much more than sitting around smiling, it can be very hard work! It can be tricky business, the freelance industry!
Do you practice any sports and what do you typically eat? Please elaborate on the importance of nutrition and exercise in your life.
Nutrition and exercise are at the top of my priority list! As a model and dancer, my body is a work of art, and keeping it that way is of utmost importance. Dancing is my main source of exercise of course, since that is what I spend all my work and school hours doing. I was into boxing for a while, both sparring or just using a heavy bag, but unfortunately I haven’t had the time or resources lately since I have been getting deeper into my dance training. It sure is an excellent way to stay in shape and blow off some steam though, and I sure do miss it!
As for nutrition, I love to cook and follow a pretty relaxed Paleo/Primal diet. I stick to mostly veggies and meat, which can be way more exciting than it sounds, but do indulge in the occasional treat. I’ve cut out gluten, and when I do feel a craving for something like bread, pasta or baked goods, I make my own homemade versions using different blends of nut, rice, or pseudo-cereal flours. I make an extraordinary dairy free and gluten free Alfredo pasta! Even my Italian boyfriend can’t tell the difference, besides the fact that it doesn’t hurt his stomach like the regular stuff does.
Please share something people don’t know about you.
Well if I did that then everyone would know it! Just kidding.
Well most people would never guess that I can butcher my own food, but I already gave that away earlier so… I’d have to say that most people don’t know I am actually a very introverted person at heart. With career choices like modeling and dancing that seems a bit backwards, but it’s true. Social interactions in general are tiring for me. Instead of partying with friends on the weekends, I’d much rather be home alone with my art, my animals, or my very close loved ones. And even then I don’t usually feel like doing a lot of talking. However when I am on stage or modeling, I am so absorbed in my craft that the fact that someone is snapping pictures or that I am in front of a huge audience doesn’t faze me. I may be among a sea of people, but I am alone in my own mind with my artistic vision.
Would you change anything about yourself?
Sometimes I wish I was more extroverted, since that is what our society demands. I wish I could become energized by interacting with other people, rather than feel tired by it. On the upside, I never feel too lonely though when I’m alone, so it’s ok either way I suppose.
As for physical? I wish I didn’t tan or burn. Tan lines are annoying in this line of work.
Have you ever been in a brawl? Please elaborate.
This one day I was driving in some traffic, and this guy behind me kept tailgating me while on his cell phone, which already annoys me!. He finally ends up rear ending me. It was nothing major, but we both pull over anyway and he angrily gets out of the car, as if it was my fault. So I step out of my car as well, and upon seeing I was a woman I guess, his demeanor totally changed. He immediately starts apologizing for his temper and the accident, blah blah blah…Anyway he starts to get a little too friendly to the point of trying to put a hand on me, so I know it’s time for a throwdown. I shove him off of me, grab him by the throat and slam him against the guardrail. He struggles a bit and tries to swing at me, but I’m quick and have him off balance. I have him in a chokehold leaning over the guardrail to the traffic below…
Nah just kidding. I’ve never been in a brawl; That would be a pretty bad ass story if I did though.
Visit Raven Lynette’s website for more photos and information