The following is the first of a series of interviews launched for Fetish Portraiture photography week in Project Educate 2008.

*ulorinvex is a prolific fetish and artistic nude model who brings the photographs she poses in to life. Her stunning look is surprisingly flexible for being so distinct, and her collaboration with photographers always seems to yield extraordinary results.

Basics and Background

Name and location?
Ulorin Vex. I'm currently based in the South West of the UK but am relocationg to London in the next couple of months.

How did you get involved in fine art modeling, and what inspired you to then take up fetish modeling?
I started off doing gothic style modeling, just because that was the look I was into at the time. Fetish followed on from that as I got asked to do some latex catalogue shoots and rather enjoyed it!

What made you choose art modeling over commercial modeling? Or do you do both?
I do a mixture of both, whatever I get booked to do really!

Is nudity essential to fetish modeling? Is it essential to a fine art model's portfolio?
I don't think it's essential but obviously there's a strong element of sexuality with fetish and I know quite a few designers who prefer to have models who are happy to pose nude, just in case the outfit requires it. I always associate the term 'fine art' with the genre of artistic nudes so in that case yes, but I guess that depends on what you mean by a fine art model.

What role do you play in creating the final image? That is to say, is it a collaborative process with the photographer to execute a concept? How so?
It depends on the shoot and what its for, some shoots I do have a full creative team including stylists and art directors with thier own vision, but a lot of the smaller scale shoots I do include a lot of my own styling and ideas mixed with the photographer's. I often try out random things just for fun and they end up being cooler than the original plan.



Do you have a fetish of your own? If so, what?
I am very fond of high heels and medical themes but I wouldn't call it a fetish.

Do you consider yourself a confident woman? How do you keep yourself feeling sexy so that you are fearless in your photo shoots?
I guess so. I don't really think about it. I have issues with some aspects of my appearance just like most people do but I don't let it bother me. I just make things up as I go along and try to have fun.

Who is your favorite photographer to work with, so far? Does he/she have a dA page?
I couldn't possibly pick just one!

Out of the shoots you have posted on dA, what is your favorite picture you have modeled in and why?
Again, I find it really hard to pick just one, I like a lot of different ones, for different reasons. My favourite is usually the most recent that I've posted, until the next new image.

What would you say to people who insist that fetish photography is "just porn" or has no artistic value?
"Don't be silly" ?? lol

What's the hardest part about modeling?
For me, all the travelling that I do gets very exhausting. And keeping up with emails and enquiries. The bit when the camera is pointed at me is easy in comparison!

What tips would you have for someone breaking into the field?
Take care of how you look, pay attention to the details. Don't try to do what someone else is already doing, do something new. And make sure you're having fun!

Anything else you'd like to say?
I suck at being interesting in interviews?




#thevaginamafia is the dAmn headquarters for fetish portraiture week. Be sure to drop by this week to meet the artists interviewed in this series, myself, and many other photographers of varied types here on deviantART!