Family friendly SPCA benefit party hosted by the Atomic Angels and Luscious Ladies, my family and I prepare to attend. My husband pin curls my hair in the sound booth at our church’s Saturday night service, yes while running the board. He takes in stride piffy comments thrown by other members of the media/production team. His answer? This is what a good husband does. My answer? Mama made him promise if he marries me, then he has to learn to do my hair. My mind wonders about the Atomic Angels and Luscious Ladies: Who are these ladies? What is the scene like? Is this for us? Will it be oversexualized? Will they be a bunch of seeking singles? Creepers? WIll we jive? Our first real pinup contest, should we join in or just spectate? Our resolve is that we are simply checking it out.

Days go by and I ponder what to do with our images. Is having them under our belt enough? They’re so lovely, sharing them would be marvelous. But how and where? I’m no FaceBook ham. If I share the images I want them to mean something. Our process to get even this far is a story worth offering. Even if you’re not interested in Pinup, perhaps vintage styling feasts your curiosity or desires to hug your beautiful womanly shape/shape of someone you love. Mother of two, I never regret having flattering images of myself to look back and remember. Early in our photographing days I hesitate at my husband’s obsession with photographing my body. I think memory fades for good reason, and he ought not to have such vivid memory one day of how much my body has changed through age and weight gain/loss. Many changes later, never do I regret our photos. Back to an answer, here I am, sharing my photos and accompanying story. But I am doing more than that, I am also seeking friendship with a community of people who enjoy classic styling. This piece of the journey I also share.

We have hundreds of usable images. Excitement swells as I review job well-done. Narrowed shots to 150 and more to narrow down, a filter needs to stand. Shane asks the question, What do you want to do with your photos?

Our Pinup debut on the calendar, we still have not nailed some great Pinup shots. My third hair appointment looming, I decide to get serious the day before and finally read Shoot Sexy, or at least the chapters on wardrobe/props and studio poses. What a difference, this information is the crowning jewel to vintage styled shots! A few pose adjustments and props later and we are in business! Third visit to the solon is not the prettiest hairdo, but we better manage our time. Nine wardrobe changes and three hours later, we have taken 1000s of photos, and about 150 actually turn out to be usable! This is the most satisfying day in pictures yet, and images from this day make my portfolio. Bingo!

Pinup Wardrobe acquired, check! Now to document in photos. What looks good with what, and practice poses. Three photo shoots later, the wardrobe is well documented but our pictures still don’t look like Pinups. My husband at this point has read Shoot Sexy, but I resist. The difference hair and makeup create is inarguable. For months now we’ve had two hair and makeup books. I have the makeup down all right, but hair has never been my forte. Call in the professionals! Or at least a professional student. Fortunate for us, there is a beauty academy down the street, Blake Austin. The first time I get my hair done up is for my cousin’s wedding and it takes three hours. Did I mention we have an infant and three year old? They need mommy and we need to hit the road North for the Placerville event of the year. We got a few decent shots, but plan to try again in three weeks when we take our annual family Christmas card photos. Same story of too long at the salon and not enough time to take pics beyond family and still make it out dancing. Third time is a charm though so by January, we finally manage the complete look over and over again.
The complete Pinup shot follows.

I stare into the abyss of my closet to find one ill fitting dress and pair of cigarette pants I believe to fit, but my husband labels “muffin toppy”. A huge sale the day after Thanksgiving affords me the opportunity to acquire a Pinup wardrobe beyond the bathing suits hoarded the previous summer to cover stretch marks from my second pregnancy. Shane allows a generous purchase, which arrives with mixed satisfaction. Brands in the vintage reproduction Pinup clothing abound as much as size variation and how a 28″ waist wears. I find one or two brands and exchange the rest, waiting on pins and needles for the following two weeks whether or not the next size down will be a solid fit. The feeling I get the day the first box of dresses arrives that actually FIT is like the best Christmas morning you could possibly recall! Seven months postpartum, the satisfaction of zipping up these lovelies and I feel like a beautiful new woman! Addicted to that feeling, the sales keep posting so we keep spending. Dresses, shorts, tops, shoes, earrings, belts, slips and a minimum of six months to pay it all off. But, we finally have the Pinup Wardrobe.

Months after Mustang Days, the Sonoma County Calendar Girls request applicants to their group. I pen an email and receive positive feedback. Ultimately, the ball is dropped. This is fine, as I have learned of two Pinup groups in Sacramento: The Atomic Angels, and Luscious Ladies who happen to be co-hosting an event in the near future. I look forward to the date for an entire month.

Pregnancy and a less “fun” and more serious dance scene helped us to pitter out for a few years while adjusting to family life. We want to reignite an effort that is just for us. Our children will ultimately benefit from our shared hobby and enhanced marital relationship: 1) Life isn’t all about them 2) What it looks like to work as a couple. These aims are accomplished fine in our home. For months the question lingers: Do we pursue this publicly?

We have some ruddy pictures of no hair and makeup to make the look complete, but enough to get some practice playing then sorting. A two-sided journey, Shane learns about lighting and photography while I learn about posing and props. Shane is a fact-driven, hard science mind while I err on the side of emotion and flow. Together, we make a great team and accomplish a rounded out ball. This dynamic is what brought us together in the early days after we met on the Lindy Hop scene. Neither one a stellar dancer, but we enjoy the dance. Similar motivation lives within this pursuit: pleasure in the process and enjoyment of the experience.

Vintage planes anticipated, along with some cars, but vintage girls as well! I become aware that other gals into vintage dress up get together and promote events. Sign me up! Oh wait, that can be exclusive. Whatever, I want to know these girls! The seed is planted to make gal pals who dig this as much as I do. Sonoma County is just a bit far to commute. Never mind, off my husband and I go to begin learning the hair and make up.