When I started modeling about 2 years ago I really had no idea what was actually involved.  I’ve learned so much along the way from some amazing women who have helped pave the way for us plus size models and I’ve been fortunate enough to learn from some of the greatest in Canada and the US.

From packing a model bag (who knew there was such a thing), to taking care of your skin, hair and body so you are always ready for a photo shoot, to promotion, and then let’s not forget learning how to be in front of the camera.  All of these things (and more) have taken practice, dedication and always being up for learning more to take it up a notch.

I thought I’d take you inside one of my recent photoshoots with SexyPlus Clothing (located at 5100 Maingate Dr, Missauga) where we shot some spring looks, YEAH SPRING!!!!  However, in fashion you are always a little bit ahead of the season so the day we shot there was actually snow on the ground but you’d never know based on how some of the pictures turned out.  We shot from about 11:30 am and straight through until about 6pm.  When Stef (owner of SexyPlus Clothing) and I shoot, we usually shoot outside and find some pretty cool locations.  So….let’s take a look into Spring at SexyPlus Clothing.  There are some really great looks available for you – and yes, they do ship internationally.

We started off by looking for a spot by the water to pick up the bluey/greeny colour in this beautiful cardigan.  We walked to the boardwalk in the snow and I was wearing these open toe sandals.  The people at the park kind of got a kick out of it but as soon as they saw the camera they realized I wasn’t just being cray cray.  It was too windy by the water so we adjusted our location and found this really cool spot at the park.  This dress is so fun and we played around a little bit it in it.
This is from Point Zero’s Spring Collection
Get the look here:
Cardigan by Point Zero Curvy
Dress by Point Zero Curvy

We then moved onto this black number.  I always love me a little black dress and with these long legs, I love wearing shorter dresses.  What once was my least fav feature about myself is now my fav.  This was shot in an auto strip mall.  We found some orange colours to pick up the leopard look in my shoes and voila.  This dress is a classy piece that helps to minimize your tummy and it hangs so nicely on. Um, and not to toot my own horn, but look how this dress makes my booty look!
Get it HERE
Ok now I’m not going to lie but this dress is probably my favourite piece from our shoot.  This is a handkerchief dress by Point Zero and I Just love it.  It sits really nice on my waist line (something that usually is an issue because of how tall I am) and it’s long enough to wear with heels for me.  The neckline is also amazing and not to mention the feel of the material.  This dress we shot on a ledge and right below that ledge…it’s a bunch of snow.  So, I had to walk through the snow again in open toes to get there, but you can’t even tell!  Also, it was super bright that day and it was tough to keep my eyes open but I had to fight it ….but sometimes man, all I could do was close my eyes lol
Get it HERE 
One thing Stef is really good at doing with me is having me step outside of my comfort zone when it comes to what I wear and that’s something that is really fun about modelling, I get to try things I wouldn’t necessarily pick up or put together.  So here I am rocking a crop top jacket with high wasted AlliStyle jeans paired with my fav strappy sandals from Nine West and a belt to accessorize.   Notice my hair is a little different here too.  When I’m shooting for an entire day and multiple looks I try and change my hair up to match the attitude/feel of the outfit. It’s really important that they all match.
Get the jacket HERE
Get the jeans HERE
Now these 2 outfits are really similar and yet different but we both fell in love with black fitted pants and a black fitted shirt.  There are different ways you can wear black pants.  The first outfit is an amazing cardi (Canadian made) with Joseph Ribcoff pants (swoooonnnnn).  I just love me some Joseph Ribkoff.  Now this outfit was shot at the side of a No Frills Grocery Store – you’d be amazed all the different, cool backgrounds you can find if you just look.
Get the top HERE
Get the pants in store

The second outfit is a pair of SWAK Tights (the only tights I wear really) and another Canadian made top.  I added a really pretty dangly necklace to make it pop a little bit and how fun is this stack of skids.  All straight lines that just helped make this outfit pop.  And, of course, I had to walk through some snow to get here too.

​Get the top HERE

Ok, just 2 more looks to show you.  We’re almost there….

So this top is something really simple and casual that you can wear with tights or jeans or maybe even a cute little skirt.  It feels really nice on and hangs on my curves really nicely.  This is another piece I wouldn’t normally pick for myself but it looks great on.  Again – modeling can really be like acting.  You put on an outfit and you gotta embody the feeling and attitude of the outfit.
Get the top HERE

Now this  another one of my fav’s.  I’m loving these blue and teal colours for spring.  This is another piece by Point Zero for Spring and we paired it with my SWAK tights and some nude pumps.  The material feels a little like crinkled satin and I just love it.  The cold shoulders add a little bit of a different look too.  We found this office building with really cool cutouts in the walls and we tried to take pictures with me standing in there but the lighting wasn’t very good.  This is somewhere where you can see the importance of being active, flexible and taking care of your body.  In my 6 inch pumps I was climbing in and out of that wall to test – it was quite funny to watch I’m sure and of course Stef captured that too lol.
​Get the top HERE

So that’s a lot of looks to talk about in 1 blog but I really wanted to take you on an inside look to what it’s like to do a photo shoot outside, in the winter for spring looks.  Keep in mind, we did  a few more shots this shoot too, that’s a lot of outfits to shoot in one day but we did it and we had so much fun.  Be sure to check SexyPlus Clothing out on the regular as they are always adding new stuff!

Your job as a model is for someone to see the outfit you are wearing and think, I like that, it would look good on me.  As a model, your body is a hanger – whether that is on the runway or in print. It’s been a journey to learn how to move my body well in front of the camera and how to embody the attitude of varying outfit styles.  I generally gravitate towards glamorous items but being versatile is important and I’m having so much fun with it all.

As a little girl I wanted to model because I thought it meant I was beautiful.  Now that I know that I am and finally see my beauty, why I model is entirely different.  I model because I love it, it’s fun and it’s a platform to reach women in hopes that I can teach them what I’ve learned when it comes to value, worth and beauty.  Modeling is work, a lot of work but it’s worth it.  In a recent feature by Dare Magazine I gave some more of my tips on modeling – check out the feature HERE.

One final thought….a couple days after this shoot, my client Stefanie contacted me to tell me how great the images were.  When I told her I was going to do a blog post on the inside scoop she wanted to send me her feedback so it could be included. She actually moved me to tears and I am so proud of the journey to get here…The goal for me is to have fun with this, follow my dreams and to ensure my clients are happy.  Here’s what Stefanie had to say,

“Working with Sarah has been a wonderful journey. From the moment she won the Miss Plus Canada crown in 2014, Sarah reached out to me with a determination to jump right into modeling and we’ve been working – and growing – together ever since.

As a retailer and as a business owner who shoots a lot of my website content, the three most important elements I look for in a model are: attitude, talent and professionalism. From our very first shoot, Sarah was organized, enthusiastic, flexible and eager. With her increasingly versatile arsenal of poses and facial expressions, her consistent professionalism in being reliable and prepared for every single shoot, her endurance through long and exhausting sets, her spirit of collaboration and the high standards she sets for her own performance, Sarah is a talented and professional model, and a valued collaborator.”

Stay Beautiful,