by SG’s Team Agony feat. Rydell

Let us answer life’s questions – because great advice is even better when it comes from SuicideGirls.

Q: I have been with my boyfriend for about three years, and to my face he seems sweet. However on the internet he ignores me and has no problem talking to sluts. I tried stooping to their level, but then he gave me shit for the smallest bit of cleavage! My next plan is to add and talk to hot shirtless men, but I don’t know if that’s the right plan. What can I do just for him to ‘like’ a photo or ‘comment’ on a status update?

A: Ok where to start with this…Firstly, if he is sweet to your face that’s great, but when he is not around you, including the internet he isn’t? Doesn’t that seem like a bright blinking red flag to you? If he isn’t acting how you expect a boyfriend to act then TALK TO HIM! I have said this I think in every question I have answered for SG’s Got Problems? column. We as people need to learn to talk to each other and not just be silent and think people are mind readers.

You have a voice, use it and express yourself. Be heard! Stop changing how you think you should be and just be you. You don’t need to change who you are, how you are, unless it is to better yourself. Don’t stoop to your boyfriend’s level with the plan you outlined. It’ll just come off as juvenile and desperate. Be yourself, be proud of who you are, and if he doesn’t appreciate you and doesn’t fit in with that lifestyle, there is always a man who will.

Secondly, stop placing your self worth and self esteem on how many Facebook comments and likes you have from others on a social media network. In the grand scope of things does that really matter? I mean it’s FACEBOOK!

All I can say is voice your concerns. If they fall on deaf ears, then you need to man up and either settle for mediocrity in your love life, or go out and find someone better suited for what you need in life.

Rydell

Got Problems? Let SuicideGirls’ team of Agony Aunts provide solutions. Email questions to: gotproblems@suicidegirls.com

by Blogbot

Artist / SG Member Name: Inks.

Mission Statement: I have always wanted to mix the classic pinup with propaganda art. I always wanted to make art that people can afford.

Medium: Ink, graphite, digital, spray paint.

Aesthetic: Beauty in simplicity, line that shows natural curves not idealized and unrealistic ones.

Notable Achievements: I have been part of over 30 shows in the last 8 years. I have had the honor of showing with artists like Erik Jones, Shepard Fairey, Dennis Brown, Hydro74, and so many other artists. I am also honored to have designed posters for the Hot Toddies, Sharkteeth, and a few other bands.

Why We Should Care: I always wanted to make art that people can afford. I don’t make art to make it rich, but to add richness to peoples lives.

I Want Me Some: You can find me at:
boardinker.tumblr.com
gorillasdontpaint.tumblr.com/
boardinker.com

[..]

by Nahp Suicide

Anemona is from Chile. She has been photographer and a Suicide Girl since 2007. She started being her own model/photographer and has now shot more than 70 sets for SG.

How did you first get involved with SuicideGirls?

I remember that the first pictures of Suicide Girls that I saw were on a website called Fotolog. I loved the concept of the webpage and the whole role of alternative modeling. Immediately I felt identified with them! I talked with a friend from college (Neftis) and proposed her to make a set, and she said yes. That’s how everything started.

What’s your background photography-wise?

I studied sound engineering at college, and there I got on a short course of basic photography. That was my first introduction to it. Then I quit my career to officially study photography at university. I left university for personal reasons, but I’ve continued my self education every day. I’m a firm believer that knowledge and perfection comes not only by theory but also through practice.

What was the first photo you had published?

Some of Mattilda‘s pictures in La Nacion, a local newspaper talking about the new phenomenon called SuicideGirls.

How would you describe your style?

I think that my personal photography style is very connected with who I am, my personal style and how I interpret the world; I would say bright colors, fresh, and playful.

What gear do you use?

A Canon 7D + 50mm + 10-22mm + 28-200mm and my very personal NATURAL LIGHT. I don’t like to use much studio lightning, I always prefer natural sets.




How important is Photoshop in your final images?

I use Photoshop basically to increase the colors – that is kind of my personal style. I also add some contrast and do a little skin retouching.

What gives you ideas and inspires you to create such amazing sets?

I really love music, so music videos are a huge inspiration to me. I love the style of Jonas Åkerlund and how he uses colors, I really do! Also Cherry has an amazing use of colors and Sean make sets with such a simplicity that’s impossible not to feel inspired by them too.

What is your favorite image?

It’s hard to choose but I would say these are some of them: Atomic in Under The Waves (NSFW), Discoquette in Transparent, Smash in Into The Light (NSFW), Belena in Lomography, Lith in Hottie Geek (NSFW).

Tell us why it’s your fave and how you achieved it?

Well, in Atomic’s “Under The Waves” set it was very difficult to do, cause the day was so cold and we had to try to shoot in waves and cold water. But we actually made it awesome. I’ve always wanted to make a set like that so I guess that’s why I really liked that one.

In Belena’s “Lomography” set we wanted to show just how she is, a very fun, colorful and playful girl, and her love of Lomo cams. I think that’s also one of the best executed sets that I’ve made.

Is there anybody or anything you would love to photograph that you haven’t? (And tell us why)

I really love to make people’s portraits and capture their style and represent that. I would love to shoot some day with girls like Carrina, Annalee, Plum, Gogo, Rambo, Pilot, JaneDoe, Discordia, Lass, BelleBane, and many more. Actually, I’m so lucky to have had the opportunity to make sets with girls I’ve always wanted to, and I hope I can continue doing it in the future!

Related Posts:
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In Focus: The Photographers of SuicideGirls feat. Lavonne
In Focus: The Photographers of SuicideGirls feat. DarrylDarko
In Focus: The Photographers of SuicideGirls feat. Albertine
In Focus: The Photographers of SuicideGirls feat. Holley
In Focus: The Photographers of SuicideGirls feat. Dwam
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by Ryker Suicide

Every year in high school some friends and I would venture down to the Carolinas for a beach vacation. Anyone who has spent a decent amount of time down south knows the best BBQ is found on little pits at the side of the road. I remember my junior year this was this one that we stopped at that had the BEST BBQ I have ever had in my life. It was smoky, spicy, with huge chunks of onion. Once I got a bit older and a little more efficient in the kitchen I spent a lot of time trying to replicate this recipe with my own BBQ sauce and pulled pork. Now this is a recipe you will need all day to make, as it requires being slowly cooked (if you have a crock pot, SUPER, if not, a heavy pot and an oven will work just the same). Here is my recipe for Chipotle Pulled Pork BBQ-N-Slaw sammies!

Ingredients: For The Pork

• 1 pork shoulder-butt roast (about 5 lbs or so)
• Salt/pepper
• Brown sugar (for a sweeter-style pork, I omit this because I prefer my BBQ with more of a bite)
• 1-2 cans of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (1 for more mild, 2 for spicier)
• 2 cans of Dr. Pepper
• 2 small, or 1 large onion
• 1 bag of hoagie rolls

Ingredients: For The Sauce

• 3/4 cup of Jack Daniels / bourbon (my rule is, if you wouldn’t drink it, don’t cook with it – use something good!)
• 1/2 finely chopped onion
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar
• 4-5 TBS Worcestershire sauce (to taste)
• 1/4 cup of brown sugar (also to taste, I like my sauce less sweet)
• 1/2-3/4 cup of molasses
• 2 cups of ketchup
• 1/2 tsp each salt/pepper
• 1/4 cup-ish tomato paste
• 2-3 tsp liquid smoke
• 1/2 tsp of Tabasco or your favorite hot sauce (to taste)
• 2-3 TBS horseradish mustard or Dijon mustard
• A *dab* of grape jelly or jam

Ingredients: For The Slaw

• 1 bag of coleslaw mix
• 1/4-1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar (to taste)
• 1-2 tsp celery seed (to taste)
• 1/2 cup of low fat mayo
• 1/2 tsp each salt n pepper
• 1 TBS horseradish mustard
• 1-2 tsp of sugar (to taste)

Directions:

1. Start with the pork because it is going to take hours for this baby to cook to perfection. First, cut onion in half lengthwise and then quarter slices. Place onion wedges at the bottom of the pot. Salt, pepper and rub with brown sugar (if so desired) the pork butt generously, and place in pot on top of onions fat side up. Empty can/cans of chipotle peppers and sauce all over top of the roast. Then add two cans of Dr. Pepper, cover pan and cook on high on crock pot (or 300 degrees in oven) for about 6 hours. You will know roast is ready when it is fork tender, if it isn’t fork tender then cook longer. Trust me, it is so worth the wait.

2. When the pork is starting to get close, you can start on your other goodies. I like to start with the BBQ sauce since sometimes I have to play around with it a bit to get it perfect. Like many people, I don’t always cook with exact measurements so these listed above are as guestimated as I can get. So, first combine onion, a little olive oil, and Jack Daniels/ bourbon in a sauté pan. Fry until onions are translucent and then add garlic and cook for an additional 45 seconds or so. Combine remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes or so until the sauce gets nice and thick. Here, you can add more Jack/bourbon should you want a little more bite to your sauce.

3. Now time for the slaw. I typically use a slightly different recipe for a spicier slaw, but since this pork is already pretty spicy, I went with a more Carolina style slaw recipe (modified a bit, of course). In a medium bowl mix together all ingredients except for the coleslaw mix. Taste dressing and modify as necessary. Coleslaw, like many other picnic style salads, vary from batch to batch and I tend to use recipes for salads like this as a basic guideline. Once your dressing is to your liking, toss with the coleslaw mix and refrigerate.

4. Is your pork ready yet? If it is, it’s time to get to pulling! Remove roast from pan and place on a large platter or cutting board. Trim fat off of top and discard. Using two forks, pull the pork roast until every bit is off of the bone, discarding fat pieces as they come. Now, here is where things get a little tricky. Everyone has a different preference for their sauce thickness in pork BBQ. I always have to play with it a bit, so what I do is drain about 1-2 cups of the Dr. Pepper/roast juice from the pot and SET ASIDE. Then return pulled pork to pot and stir in remaining juice. Add BBQ sauce and stir. Add more of the juice that was set aside earlier to reach desired consistency/flavor.

5, Serve pulled pork on a toasted hoagie bun, top with slaw and viola.

Enjoy!

[..]

by SG’s Team Agony feat. Clio

Let us answer life’s questions – because great advice is even better when it comes from SuicideGirls.

Q: I’ve been in a relationship with my girlfriend for 5 years and love her more then anything, but we don’t have sex anymore. Sex at the start of the relationship was frequent, as is usually the case in new relationships. As time has gone on, we continued to have regular sex, which has always been fantastic, with both of us reaching orgasm, but it has been a long time now.

Any ideas?????

A: Sorry to hear about your lacking sex life. I can imagine your frustration. Physical intimacy is of vital importance to a relationship, so this is definitely something you want to address. Even though your lady doesn’t want to discuss it, you should talk to her about the issue if you want to relieve your blue balls anytime soon.

Is there something going on in her life that might be causing her disinterest in sex? Stress, depression, medication, anemia, hormone imbalance, and various other factors can contribute to a low libido. Communicate with her to understand what could be the problem and tell her how you feel and that it’s affecting your relationship. Consider getting counseling if you think you would benefit from it. If you’ve been drifting apart try taking her out on a romantic date to reconnect with her mentally so you can start connecting again sexually.

Good luck!

Clio
xoxo

Got Problems? Let SuicideGirls’ team of Agony Aunts provide solutions. Email questions to: gotproblems@suicidegirls.com

by Laurelin

Change over time is a strange thing; it’s so gradual and so fast at the same time. One day you open your eyes and you’re like, wow, where did the time go? How did I get here in this apartment with all this stuff, with this job and this… life.

That’s how I felt high school and college were, and then all the years after that –– a montage of years blending, flickering in my memory like old movies, set to the most beautiful music. It all seemed to be only an exhale in a series of breaths, and all the breaths gone with only the slightest breeze before I’m even aware I’ve drawn another. It was forever and no time at all at the same time, and when it was finally over I couldn’t place how I had changed, or when; I just knew that somehow, I had. Looking back on the past month of my life I am finally able to look at something and know that without a doubt, this instance was when everything changed. This moment was mine.

I have always coasted though life with minimal responsibilities. At almost 30 I have to say I have the best and worst of it all: I have worked hard for every penny I’ve earned. I’ve always paid my own way. I fell into bartending because it paid my bills and still allowed me to party. This was a community where I could drink and stay up late and have a family, and a home away from home. I watched every friend I ever had in high school and then college settle and get married, start families, buy houses. And I stayed the same. I don’t think I ever had a problem, but I certainly never had any solutions. I never thought of it as a career, but it all of a sudden was mine, and while others turned up their noses I decided to make it my own. I never thought that anyone else would imagine me as being able to run a bar on my own; it was always someone else’s job. But then all of a sudden, there it was. An offer for this place to be mine –– really, actually mine.

Being offered a management position in an industry that has always allowed me to coast through life with minimal responsibilities seemed at first frightening. I can’t do this! Other people do this! It was scary, knowing that someone saw something in me, someone thinks I could run the show. What if I’m not good at it? What if I let everyone down? A chance to shine is also a chance to fail, and I always ran from responsibility in fear of failing. Mulling over my fate clutching my usual pint of beer, I consciously make a choice. This job I’ve chosen might not be what “everyone else” is doing, but it can be a career, it’s always been mine. I took a week to think about it and when I was finally ready to say “yes,” I knew that my life would never be the same. This was one of those moments where you take control and literally steer your life down one path. Mentally, I strap on my seatbelt and brace for impact.

My new manager pants seem to be fitting alright, but at the same time I am still so lost; working amongst friends and ex-boyfriends, trying to find my voice of authority while also trying to remain one of the gang. I have no idea who this person is who is supposed to be in charge. I feel like I haven’t found my voice. I can’t even control the color of my cheeks around my ex, how can I control the bar? I may not feel like I can find that voice of authority, but I have always had MY voice, and sometimes I hear that person I want to be stepping forward and speaking, as though someone else is finally accepting a role, and it takes a minute to realize that that person really is me.

I’m settling in in my own way, piece by piece. I’ve come to the conclusion that for me, there really isn’t a life beyond the bar scene. Some people were created just for this; born of late nights, shaken cocktails, of phone numbers and thoughts scribbled on cocktail napkins and spilt beer. I like to think that I didn’t just fall into this because it was easy. That’s how it started, sure. But it’s not how it’s going to end.

[..]

by Nahp Suicide

P_Mod is from Strasbourg, France, and has been a photographer for SG since 2006. He specializes in shooting for tattoo magazines, and also takes live music and band promo pics.

How did you first get involved with SuicideGirls?

After a long photography break, my tattoo artist (Reynald, Asphalt Jungle) asked me to do a couple of portraits of some of his costumers. It was a proposition that I declined first cause I felt uncomfortable with portraits. (Basically I was pretty shy and I preferred taking pictures of landscapes, abandoned buildings, and so on.) I discovered SG when looking for good inspiration pictures of tattooed people, and three months later I shot two girls (Ayane & Raia) in Paris with a national TV team behind my back. I hadn’t slept for two days before the shoot, but at least the baptism by fire was done.




What’s your background photography-wise?

I learnt photography [at college] and I graduated 15 years ago. I was pretty disgusted by the artsy/elitist/show-off [element of] the students’ and teachers’ mind-shaping, so I gave up shooting for eight years and worked as an assistant in a photo laboratory. Then digital arrived and the photo processing industry felt down, so I opened my company four years ago. Now I work mostly for the tattoo press and doing band pictures.

What was the first photo you had published?

A picture of Jay Read for the cover of Rise tattoo magazine. 




How would you describe your style?

That’s a pretty difficult question. I don’t work to create a special style actually. Basically I try to keep pictures as close to reality as I can. Photography is in many ways like music, you can hide behind the technology, but it’s not everything. For example, I was at a Dream Theater show a couple of years ago. It was the most well executed gig I’ve ever seen, but the most boring also. Two days later I went to a random punk gig. It was technically a disaster, but way more enjoyable and alive. You can shoot a perfect picture technically, but which doesn’t work cause the moment isn’t there and nothing happens. The shoot is only a part of the process. The selection is also very important: why a picture is a part of your selection, what the picture means for you, and how it represents your mood during the shoot – even if the picture is not technically perfect.

What gear do you use?

A Canon 1D + 50mm + 24-70 95% of the time, and Hasselblad 500CM for analog.




How important is Photoshop in your final images?

I think that a raw image which doesn’t work unedited won’t work edited. I try to select pictures where I won’t have to spend two hours editing, but there’s obviously an element of laziness also.




What gives you ideas and inspires you to create such amazing sets?

Mostly music visuals, video clips, cinema. Actually, most of the time it’s not a real creation but it’s tributes from existing things, winks or whatever. The trick is I’m usually trying to let the girl bring her idea. I’m just here to help in a technical shaping. It’s not laziness; I find it interesting to involve models in their own idea as SG is basically a way to show yourself. There’s also the possible scenario where there’s no specific theme, in this case we just discuss how we can take advantage of a location, light, and mood, and do something coherent. To mix with some photographers on SG like Steve Prue, Cherry, Albertine or Dwam has been a real inspiration and kind of changed my view on photography generally speaking.




What is your favorite image?

None and many in the same time.

Tell us why it’s your fave and how you achieved it?

My main trouble is when I spend too much time on the pictures, then I always think it’s all crap. I used to have a personal crisis, like “let’s give up photography and open a fishing company in the country side.” On the other hand, I’m more interested in personalities than simple aesthetics, so my faves are obviously the pictures done with people who own a strong universe. I think when you can join personality and aesthetic, you can be sure something will happen. My first thoughts go to people like AnnaLee, Gogo, Lylie, Leopoldine, Dwam, Nemesis, Revenge, Apory, Opale, Sinnah, and so many others. But I’m certainly not objective about it as they are a way more than models and have became true friends.



Is there anybody or anything you would love to photograph that you haven’t? (And tell us why)

I’m usually [limited by] geographic issues, but I’d like to drift off into new encounters so let’s wait and see ; )

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In Focus: The Photographers of SuicideGirls feat. Lavonne
In Focus: The Photographers of SuicideGirls feat. DarrylDarko
In Focus: The Photographers of SuicideGirls feat. Albertine
In Focus: The Photographers of SuicideGirls feat. Holley
In Focus: The Photographers of SuicideGirls feat. Dwam
In Focus: The Photographers of SuicideGirls feat. Writeboy
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