08
Feb
Heidi Van Horne
You can’t talk about the world of modern day pinups without mentioning the lovely Heidi Van Horne. Intelligent, beautiful, and extremely driven, Ms. Van Horne not only shines in front of the camera, but behind the scenes as well. Whether she’s posing for a magazine cover like Barracuda or for her very own playing cards, Heidi makes our mouths water. She’s a special treat we can’t get enough of. YUHMM readers, here’s a taste.
How did you get into modeling and what made you pursue a career in Pinup as opposed to more commercial modeling?
I’ve been an actress since I was a kid doing tv, movies and commercial work so I had done some modeling when I was younger. I enjoyed it but ultimately fell more into the acting side of it than the “girly” modeling stuff. When I was about 24, all my acting peers were doing Maxim style shoots, and I decided that I wanted to get some sexy images in my book and for myself while I’m young but wanted to do them my way. I had always loved pinup as a kid - old Gil Elvgren Coke ads, Vargas girls, bomber nose art, etc. In my mid 20’s, it finally seemed appropriate to try it out myself. These days, even though I do the rare fashion assignment or pin up shoot, I’m more about commercial clients than any other print work. Well, and my own projects, too, of course! (Like the new Playing cards, my 2010 art-inspired pinup Calendar and a couple book projects!)
So tell us about your Pinup Playing Cards with model Sabina Kelley and your 2010 calendar.
I’m so excited to finally announce the new cards! Sabina Kelley and I are great friends and we came up with the Pinup Playing Cards back in 2005 as our modern take on one of our favorite classic pinup items. They were a hit and we’ve been sold out for quite a while now- they truly became Collector’s items right away. We were the only ones doing them in the old school style at the time and it was a total DIY project. This time, we worked with a couple of close friends to make the Second Edition even better - Octavio Arizala shot the photos and we had Red Dodge on hair and makeup. It is once again a standard size deck with 54 brand new images of Sabina and I, some solos and some duos. No poses or outfits repeated! The new deck will be available early this spring and you can check the website for updates starting in January! As for the calendar… I can’t talk much about it yet as I’m still shooting, but it’s going to be 12 of the BEST photographers and I collaborating on an art inspired collection of images for a 2010 Heidi Van Horne calendar. Some are pinup style, some are very NOT pinup! It will be released in fall 2009, and there will be a gallery showing of the pieces, too, so keep an eye on my website for info and details of both the debut and the gallery event!
Who are some of your favorite photographers to work with and what makes them unique?
I just shot with the legendary Peter Lindbergh for Italian Vogue, and it was amazing to do such a high-end fashion shoot. My favorites (photographers) in pinup are the ones I’ve worked with a lot- Danielle Bedics and Octavio Arizala are both so talented and make women look so beautiful. Ama Lea, Shannon Brooke, and Mehosh Dzadzio are all also incredible to create pinups with - detailed and classic. Some out of town folks I loved working with and hope to do more with are the lovely gals at 666 Photography in Austin, Vlad Voloshin in NYC, and of course, Bunny Yeager in Miami! They all are so talented and so varied in approach and style!
You’re quite the multi-tasker and besides acting, modeling, and writing you also shoot photos. What attracted you to become a shutterbug and what projects are you working on?
I’ve always loved shooting and have always worked on both sides of the lens in the indie film world. I’m not formally trained but have on set experience with some of the best in the in biz in both photography and film making. I started pinup modeling by shooting my own pics Bunny Yeager style with a tripod and self timer, and those shots have been published and used all over the world! I also have had my automotive and car culture pics in hot rod mags and major newspapers. I basically only shoot friends or fun stuff. I don’t really shoot for hire because I want to keep that as a side hobby. I started pinup for fun and it went crazy and became a second job. I don’t want to have that view on photography, too, to be honest. I just wanna play! As for film making though, there will be news soon on my upcoming film projects!
Many models have said they never get asked out on dates because men are too intimidated by their looks. Have you experienced this?
I think there’s truth to it in that most of the guys brave enough to talk to a pretty girl at a bar or out somewhere are usually either arrogant and self-involved or wasted. So, most models or cute girls have some jackass in their face rather than the nice guy down the bar who is too shy to speak up! (and who she’d actually LIKE to talk to!) I think most models get hit on a lot… just not actually asked out nicely by a normal guy very often.
Define sexy.
Feeling good about yourself and owning it.
You know you’ve made it when someone inks your picture on their body. Describe the feeling when you first saw a total stranger with a Heidi Van Horne tattoo.
It’s a trip, for sure. I think it’s cool- especially when it’s an image that meant something to me - like a couple I’ve seen of me from the “Hot Rod PinUps” book cover. I had a great time working on that shoot that day and have been so proud of the pics. Then to know that an image you helped create made that much of an impression on someone to get it tattooed across their body is awesome.
Johnny Depp turned his Winona (Rider) tattoo into Wino when they split. What would an ex-boyfriend do with “Heidi” if there was a bad break up?
I don’t know about changing the name tattoo, but I am waiting now to see how long it takes for my soon-to-be ex to put a tail and horns on the tat he has of me! I’ve been fearing it since the day he got it done! I always worry it’s like the tattoo love curse- it won’t last if you ink ‘em!
