Nude-Form Interview w/ LizZusev

We at had the pleasure of interviewing the intrepid . Our aim with this interview series is to provide insight in how other people approach their work but also allowing us in getting to know our fellow group members. Below is interview.


Nude-Form Question 1: Thank you for sitting down w/ us. Let's start by telling something about yourself?

Lizzusev answer: I grew up in NY, currently live and work in CT. Spent some time working in the jewelry industry until recently. I spend remarkably little time worrying about camera settings.


Q2:What attracted you to the photographic medium?

Answer: My friend Annie from high school. My interest in photographing her actually came before my interest in photography itself.


Q3: If you don't mind us asking, what was it about Annie in particular? Was it her look? Her vibe? Her command presence?

Answer: She's one of those girls who never had any particular need to be pretty and ended up stunning anyway. Her face has a strange mixture of innocent and seductive.


Q4: Do you partake in any other creative endeavors?

Answer: Yes, I am also a jewelry designer/metalsmith, I primarily work with silver. Occasionally I draw or paint, but I don't get the chance too often.


Q5: Do you happen to have any place online where people can view (or even purchase) your jewelry work?

Answer: Sure do, here's my etsy site --> www.etsy.com/shop/Zusev


Q6: Work long enough in this business, you're bound to experience some comedic episodes even if its only funny in hindsight. Would you be willing to share us one of yours that happened during a shoot?

Answer: One of my favorite comedic moments was actually after a shoot. It was trying to explain to my mother that the slippery spot on the living room floor was, in fact, lubricant to shine the latex catsuit of the dominatrix who had been stretched across her fireplace an hour earlier.


Q7: Oh, that's funny! What was your mother's reaction if you don't mind us asking?

Answer: Well my mother is an exceptionally cool woman, so I got a raised eyebrow followed by a laugh (and a demand that I get rid of the slippery spot).


Q8: For the sake of this question, we'll take for granted that "respecting the model as a human being" is the unspoken first piece of advice. What other advice would you give another photographer, perhaps working w/ their first nude model?

Answer: Keep them hydrated and the mood light! Don't touch! Props to warm up with can be helpful, like a silk scarf or strand of beads. Giving them something to hold and move with can loosen them up.


Q9: What do you feel are your strengths whether they be in photography or just life in general?

Answer: Diplomatic honesty.


Q10: Something you can improve upon?

Answer: Organization!


Q11: We each have a defining moment in our life, sometimes we have more than one. It changes us from who we were to who we became afterwards. Would you mind telling us yours & how it changed you?

Answer: Well, not going to go into too much detail here, but I was 18 and was fed so much bullshit by one person that it changed me by giving me the ability to not be afraid of confrontation.


Q12: If given a choice between listening to Beatles music OR Elvis, which would you choose?

Answer: Beatles all the way!. I became a huge Beatlemaniac when I was six.


Q13: Any particular Beatles song that is above & beyond your favorite?

Answer: While My Guitar Gently Weeps!


Q14: Any nuggets of wisdom you'd like to share w/ models working w/ you?

Answer: Your face is far more interesting to me than your shoes. Go ahead and get silly.


Q15: What are the most common set of difficulties you experience as a photographer?

Answer: Tying together shoots that involve more than myself and a model. Team shoots are really fun when they work, but working around schedules can be a real pain.


Q16: If budget & personnel were not an issue, loosely describe us your dream shoot?

Answer: I'd love to do a nude underwater shoot at the great barrier reef. With three models.


Q17: What is the proudest moment you've experienced as a photographer?

Answer: Deciding that I wanted to shoot who and what I want regardless of "industry standards."


Q18: Leaving out specifically who or any other identifying characteristics, ever have any shoot ideas pitched where you were like "uhm, no chance in hell is that going to happen"?

Answer: A male contacted me for a nude shoot and after a couple of emails, he asked if I'd spank him. I told him no I wouldn't, but I'd be more than happy to ask my husband if he'd obliged. Funny, didn't here back from him...


Q19: If you were dictator-king & could change anything about photography, modeling, or the industry itself, what would you change?

Answer: Ahem, don't you mean dictator-queen? I'd behead all the creeps out there that give photographers a bad name. Off with their heads!


Q20: Dictator-Queen indeed. Who are some visual artists you admire, whether they be here on or elsewhere? The answer need not be limited to the photographic medium either.

Answer: I'm a big fan of Alexander Calder! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexande…


Q21: Favorite cartoon character?

Answer: Totoro. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Neigh…


Q22: Who would win in a 3-way fight: pirates, ninjas, or robots? How do they win?

Answer: Really depends on how advanced the robot was...can it learn and improve upon the skills of the ninja or pirate?


Q23: Favorite movie?

Answer: Shawshank Redemption www.amazon.com/Shawshank-Redem… because I like Morgan Freeman.


Q24: Favorite book?

Answer: The Cheese Monkeys by Chip Kidd www.amazon.com/Cheese-Monkeys-… .


Q25: Anything else that you'd like to add or ask us here at Nude-Form?

Answer: Just a big thank you to all the people who have modeled for me & you guys for putting together a great group!


Thanks for allowing us to pick your brain. Keep up the great work.

For those that are interested (or are new & have not had an oppurtunity to read them), here is a list of our past interviews. We hope you find them illuminating.

UniqueNudes nude-form.deviantart.com/blog/…
TheHarlequinsMask nude-form.deviantart.com/blog/…
FrancoisDeWynter nude-form.deviantart.com/blog/…
StMerrique nude-form.deviantart.com/blog/…
katyT nude-form.deviantart.com/blog/…

Beyond that if anyone in land wishes to have something asked on a regular basis (it could be photo/art related or not), you are encouraged to note us. The same applies if you wish to be interviewed (it saves me the energy in thinking who I should pitch the offer to ). It doesn't matter if you're mainly a model or a photographer, we're interested in a variety of perspectives for this series.

Feel free & comment on any part of this interview if you so desire. In the meantime, I hope everyone has a great day.