Working with Mark Stout

About 2 1/2 years ago, I had signed onto some modeling site to try and start up my modeling portfolio. For those that are not too familiar with the modeling industry there are times when you pay the photographer to do a shoot for you or there are work called TFP/TFCD (Time For Print/Time For CD) which is you give up your time to do a shoot for the photographer and they will give you the images of the photo shoot. The TFP/TFCD is usually done when both the model & photographer are trying to build or expand their portfolio.

2 weeks ago, a photographer by the name of Mark Stout (www.markstoutphotography.com) contacted me informing that he was coming down to Vegas and wanted to work with me. Mark was one of the first photographers that had hit me up on some of the modeling sites saying that he wanted to work with me. I remember his work being incredible that it would have been a honor for me to work with him....especially for a TFP/TFCD project as he charges $1000/day for shoots.

Last week, Mark came into town and we actually did 3 photo shoots while he was down here in Vegas. He got in on Monday of last week and we meet up after I finished work. We did a shoot in downtown Las Vegas in the parking garage of The California Hotel & Casino and down on Fremont Street till we told we couldn't take pictures on Fremont Street. We think it was because the Fremont Light Show was going on and that may be a copyright protected thing. Shoot on Fremont street was an experience for me as I have never really shot in public with people watching me. There were a bunch of tourist that were staring and there were quite a few of people actually taking pictures of me too. LoL!! We went back to his hotel room and did a few shots there. Mark is a photographer for an underwear company called Baskit and so we did a few underwear shots (which for me didn't bother me since I used to be a go-go dancer...LoL!).

On Tuesday, he and I were actually kind of tired, but we both wanted to shoot more pictures so we went to the parking lot of my CrossFit gym and did a few shots there since you can see the Las Vegas city in the background. It was soooo cold outside that I was freezing when I had to take my shirt off for some of the pictures. Standing in the windy weather in the 30-40s isn't that easy to take pictures without showing that you're cold in you face. After that, we headed back to the hotel to take some jacuzzi shots. It was really cool because the heat of the water and the cold weather caused fog to be around me during the shoot.

On Wednesday, we headed out to Red Rock Canyon to take a few pictures out there. It was again, another windy, cold day. I tried my best to keep myself warm, but that didn't really happen since I could not get warm. We headed back to downtown Las Vegas to do more pictures. We parked outside the California Hotel & Casino to take pictures next to Mark's mustang on the street with the casino lights in the background. It was funny because Mark gave me a wad of cash....it kinda of looked like I was some kind of pimp or mafia member/drug dealing. LoL!! For those of you that don't know downtown Las Vegas, it's really ghetto compared to the main strip so it was a little scary flashing cash like that with occasional people walking by. I had to quickly hide the cash before we got jumped. LoL!

I haven't gotten the all the pictures yet as Mark is back in Denver editing the pictures, but I'm so excited to see the pictures. I have to say this has to be the best photo shoot I have done. I feel like it was so easy to work with Mark. There really has to be a connection between the photographer and the model or the pictures may come out horrible. Here are a few pictures from the shoot that Mark sent me.....

Shooting outside the California Hotel & Casino with a wad of cash...LoL!!



Freezing my butt off in the cold



Chilling outside the California



Still outside the California Hotel & Casino



Shoot in Red Rock Canyon



Shooting on Fremont Street (This is the proposed picture for an ad for Baskit undwear....waiting to hear from the designer)

Back To Work & Working Out

So I started my new job on Monday and all I can say is that I'm so excited to be opening this new casino (The M Resort). We're scheduled to open on March 1st and I know this casino will be a great place to work at. My managers are cool and my co-workers are great. The property is really nice and the rooms are gorgeous!! I may not be getting paid like I was when I was a casino host, but I know I will enjoy this new job and hopefully, I'll be able to work my way up the ladder with this company like I was able to with The Rio.

I've been keeping up with my CrossFit training and I'm excited for April when I'll be a Level 1 Certified CrossFit Trainer. I recently started the Paleo diet and I've been good at it. Basically, this diet is based on the Paleolithic times (Stone Ages). The diet consists of foods that the cave men would have eaten which included: meat, fruits, vegetables, nut, & fish. I have to cut out all starches (except for yams or sweet potatos) & dairy. The Paleo diet eliminates all the processed foods that we eat everyday....in reality these processed foods are very unhealthy. Many think I'm crazy to be on this diet, but I feel great and some people even say it looks like I'm getting more toned. Some may say that I don't need to be on a diet, but it's not a diet to lose weight, it's a diet to live a healthier life style and there's nothing wrong with that.

Here are a few pictures and videos of recent CrossFit workouts:

Sandbag Clean & Jerk


Overhead Squat


Double Handed Kettlebell Swings


Kettlebell Clean & Press


Jump Squats


Tire Flippin'


Team Push Ups


Breaking a few of my previous records:
Deadlifting 365 pounds


Overhead squatting 220 pounds


Back squatting 315 pounds

Oh Happy Day!!!!

A lot of people know that I've become this huge health freak and gym rat since I moved here to Vegas. Last August, I started working out at a gym called CrossFit Las Vegas (if you want to check out the website, go to www.cflasvegas.com or you can check out the main CrossFit page at www.crossfit.com). This gym is like no other gym...they combine all different types of workouts ranging from running, olympic weightlifting, body weight workouts (pull ups, push ups), & gymnastic ring exercises. CrossFit helps you in improve in 10 different areas: Cardiovascular and Respiratory endurance, Stamina, Strength, Flexibility, Power, Speed, Coordination, Agility, Balance, and Accuracy.

It's sad to say some people get intimidated by the workouts and they refuse to check out the gym. However, there have been quite a few people that like it and see that it's a great workout and lifestyle change. I can say that since I started at CrossFit, I have improved dramatically in the 10 areas previously mentioned. People may say paying $150 a month is crazy and not worth it, but I can really say it has been worth it. I feel better about myself, I feel like I'm getting in the best shape I have ever been in, and I enjoy the environment of the gym (it's like no other gym I've been to).

This past Saturday when I went to CrossFit, I received one of the most exciting news I have ever gotten in my life. After the workout, one of the trainers (Joe) pulled myself and another lady aside. Joe informed myself and the other lady that there was a CrossFit Level 1 Certification class coming up in April and it was going to be held at our CrossFit gym. To take the certification class, it costs $1000. That is a lot of freakin' money!!! Anyways, Joe informed us that they were extending a scholorship to the CrossFit Level 1 Certification class to myself, the other lady, and 3 other people. I was shocked!!! I really wanted to get certified back when they had a certification class in October, but I didn't have $1000 to spare to take the class....however, I don't have to worry about it now since I will be able to get certified without having to pay.

I'm so excited to get certified and actually be able to help train at our CrossFit gym. Honestly, I don't even have to get paid to train, but I will find joy in helping others get into shape since it is one of my passions. I have done a few beginner's class to help with the training portion, so I've been exposed a little to it. However, after April 26th....I will have the certificate to back up me up!!