BTS: Villain Photoshoot pt.1 (Patreon)

That's right: the Cult Leader jacket made it into the Villain Photoshoot 😎

Shhh I can say that because a) it's the jacket I wore for the cover of "Cult Leader" by KiNG MALA, and b) this is the Patreon and we do what we want here. 🤭

This was actually the final look of the day, but will likely be the first look the world sees. My photographer, Millissa, is working on getting me one of these photos for the ticket link for the show 🙌

I will share another short clip of this look from the front at Tier 2 in the next day or two, along with more details, but I don't want to give too much away too early! 🙈

What I can tell you for now is that shortly after this clip was taken, I told my makeup artist, Caitlin, to make sure she got my feet in there for my Only Fans 😂 I genuinely do not know if she knew I was kidding...I think she understood that I was kidding...but who can say for sure 😅

This was genuinely SUCH a fun shoot. In total, we did FOUR different looks...six if you count smaller changes 🙈 2 hair and makeup looks (plus one small change in the middle), and 4 outfit changes (plus one small adjustment at the end).

I've never had such a holistic photoshoot experience. I had lengthy chats with both Millissa and Caitlin in advance of the shoot, where they asked me questions to better understand the vision and to help me to refine the vision. I met with Millissa in person to discuss further and to learn about what clothing stores/thrift shops were best for finding useful/unique pieces to use. And then for a "four hour session", I was asked to arrive 3.5 hours before the session was meant to start to make sure we had enough time to do hair and makeup and get set up beforehand. It ended up taking 4 hours to get ready for the first look, 20 minutes for a small adjustment, and another 45 minutes for the changeup in the middle.

All in all, I was genuinely there for 9.5 hours. And that was about what was expected...for a four hour shoot!

In my previous experience, I had to rent the studio time separately, and I paid for the studio and the photographer at an hourly rate. The hair and makeup and everything was still done at the start/during the studio session, so I would usually spend half the time getting ready and half the time getting photos. And I had only ever done a 2 hour shoot – although the "Honestly" EP Shoot took us an extra 40 minutes including cleanup...and I did indeed have to pay for an extra hour.

This time, the shoot still ended up costing about double what I have paid in the past, maybe a little more, but I got way more than twice as much out of it! So while it was an expensive one, it was well worth the cost!

I got TONS of material, had a FANTASTIC and incredibly well thought out and organized experience, was able to feel more comfortable from the start since I was able to meet everyone ahead of time, AND I had a blast! 🙌

And thankfully, because of everyone here, the added cost for that experience wasn't even stressful. So thank you all again so much for being here and supporting me and my music in this way 🫂❤️ I am eternally grateful that when extra and/or unexpected costs come up related to getting my music out there, I don't have to worry. Because that's what this page is here for 🥰

So far this year, the Patreon has helped me pay for the release of "I'm Here", the two added songs on the EP, the full day studio session (and another half day to come on Saturday), the higher than anticipated cost of the photoshoot, and the venue deposit for the EP release party. Of course, that's with the help of an accumulation of sub revenue here since after last year's releases, so thank you all so much again for your continued support. Not only does it just mean a lot to see that support, but it also genuinely helps with all the things that come with releasing music!

Still to come for help from you all and the Patreon: the upcoming half day in the studio, of course; distribution costs for the EP; ordering CDs, vinyls, and merch in advance of the show; and all the remaining costs associated with organizing and hosting the EP release party (e.g. printing tickets and badges, lanyards and badge holders, cookie ingredients and packing supplies, opening acts - yes I pay them!, hiring a ticket taker, etc.).

I know you don't ask and I'm not obligated to say, but I really like being able to share with you how you are directly helping by being here 🤗❤️ I hope it's cool information for you!

Either way, sneak peak season continues... 👀