A tribute to my Mother - Mama Anatomy

On September 20th, 2016 my biggest supporter, friend and hero left this earth. My mother, also known to others as "Mama Anatomy". Without her love, support and once in a while a little push, you wouldn't be reading this article right now. Would not be enjoying the portfolio of an alternative, redheaded, tattooed, model.

"Mama Anatomy" or Lori, was my mother. She was seen at several of my photoshoots, runway shows and events. She came to support me (mostly because back in the day I didn't drive) She come to photoshoots, chat with the photographers, their wives, Help hold a reflector or hell even be a test subject. Lori was something photographers didn't see often.A model and mother team, getting along and having a good time. No fights or bickering. Nothing close to a controlling mother and her young adult daughter trying to wear something sexy at a photoshoot to try to "make it" in the biz. A friendship rather or sidekick duo.

I started modeling back in 2008. I was goth, black hair piercing all over my face. No one wanted to shoot me. My mom wasnt always supportive at first, Back when I was 13 I wanted to model. She just looked at me and sighed "Anna you know how hard it is to be a model? you have to have perfect teeth, be a certain height and weight." So I pushed that idea aside and moved on with life.

At 17 I decided I wanted to model, but I had also put on a lot of weight. I weighted almost 200lbs, black hair and bangs. I tried it anyways. At 18 I joined Modelmayhem. I got some shoots, and my mom agreed to take me. She had seen how happy these sessions made me, also how quick I Took to posing. Mid 2009 I started to get more and more work, lost some weight, and dyed my hair red. 2010 things really took off, I was shooting almost every saturday, with my mom by myside. We became closer, a great team, and the best of friends.

In 2011-2013 my mom decided she wanted to be my hair dresser. Made herself a little kit and watched youtube videos. It was the most adorable thing, to see my mom wanna persue a side passion.. With her doing my hair and my makeup skills, it was an amazing thing, We went to shoot after shoot traveling across NY state, southern Canada, and northern PA. We visited places of interest on the way, shopped, talked, got lost, and after every shoot pigged out on food. She even followed me out to NYC, when I received a call back for Americas next top model show casting.

She would listen to my issues along the way, but never told me what to do.

Even when my jealous Boyfriend would want me to quit modeling, or stop doing "sexy" shoots. She only then tell me what to do and that was "No! Don't listen to *****! you love modeling! don't give it up because of him! He should be proud of you."

Some shoots going through wardrobe trying to find something to wear thats not too sexy or reveling, she pulls out a see-through piece of lingerie. "mom! he would kill me if I wore that!" I screamed in a whisper, "So what! screw what he thinks, come on.....its sexaaay" As shes swinging the garment back and forth on the hanger.

Even when I agreed to marry him, and he gave me the ultimatum to retire when we are wed. Even then my mom was there to tell me to keep going. Also there for me, when I came to her house at 11pm to cry and tell her about the situation.

2014 my life changed, and so did my modeling career. In April I got promoted at work and my mom was not going to be able to drive me to work anymore. So i got a car and started on getting my license. Then my mom got diagnosed with incurable breast cancer. I was crushed.

Now being independent, and driving myself, my mom having to get chemo. She no longer went to my shoots. Chemo left her tired, and drained. Some weeks she was great other she was bed ridden.

I missed her presence in the studio, someone to joke and laugh with, someone to give me advice on wardrobe, give me posing ideas when I'm starting to run dry, or someone to look at with screaming eyes and validation when the photographer is being a creep. haha.

She was determined to keep the cancer under control to be off of chemo one day. Then get a ton of tattoos. and continue to attend metal concerts with me and my sister. Lori was a free spirited 57 yr old. Piercing all up and down her ears, a full back tattoo, loved metal/rock music, attended concerts and shows with us. She loved watching drag shows and local burlesque performances when attending my shows. Also she, worked full time up until she passed away. She never complained or wanted a soul to treat her differently because she had cancer.

She is my inspiration to continue to model. Also to never give up on a dream even though others may not agree or believe in you. To never hold back from how you want to truly express your self. I've learned Age is just a number and does not dictate what you should or shouldn't do. No matter what cards you are dealt in life, keep moving, keep living, and enjoy the simple things.

So here are some of the best, funniest behind the scenes stories with my mother at photoshoots. Also some of her handy hair styling work..

Beach shoot with Ted Sandilands, Ted's wife Melanie, Sarah Easton photography, My mother and another model. We all played in the water, goofed around. My mother and Melanie talked in the shade while the rest of us did our thing. My mother held a reflector or two for Ted so we could get the perfect shot and so they wouldn't blow away. Photo by Sarah Easton 2011.

On the runway for my first ever bridal runway show. Its the Buffalo Bridal Expo, one of the largest bridal runway shows in W.N.Y. Its held every year at the Niagara falls view casino, I was modeling for a bridal shop called the Bridal Chateau in Williamsville NY. An amazing family run store with great service. My mom took me to all the castings and fittings. I've been modeling in the show for the past 5yrs. My mother loved bridal runway. She got to see me in beautiful gowns and all the other models in beautiful dresses. I will remember checking my email on my slide-up keyboard phone back in the day in her car. We were coming back from a shoot. I got the email I was casted and when my fitting was. She was so happy, She said 'The bridal expo?! you got it? yes! " with a huge smile on her face. She came to the show, you can see her in front of the runway in the bottom right corner of the photo.

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The photographer Fred Mount and I had such difficulties lighting this dolls head on fire for a shoot. we used lighter fluid, hairspray, alcohol you name it. My moms says "Would transmission fluid work? I got some in my trunk." Behold it worked, and it worked well..

I was casted to do a runway event for charity for breast cancer. The runway show took place in Medina NY in 2010. "Pamper me Pink" was a breast cancer runway show and event to help raise money and awareness for those who have had breast cancer, or is currently fighting. Back in 1999 my mother was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. She went through chemo, radiation and surgeries. She went into remission and was cancer free for almost 15yrs until 2014. The goal was to recreate a dress or make a dress that was pink and breast cancer themed. My mother and I sewed, glued, and put this dress together from an old thrift store dress. I made the hat and painted the shoes. I designed the dress and outfit. Styled all the jewelry and accessories. I had a Pink Fur coat I took off and under I was wearing a sash that said "Daughter of a survivor" but had another one that said "survivor". Mid runway I stopped took the sash and put it on my mother, she was surprised and had no idea. I walked the rest of the runway and then off stage. My heel got snagged on the carpeted stairs and I stumbled down the stairs.. Luckily a staff member caught me and the audience didn't have a good view of my fumble. Who uses carpeting on runway stairs anyways.

In Canada I shot some pinup with Remember that Photography.

I had this little frilly g-string skirt and matching polka dot bra. My mom recommended I pull the string from my underwear with my heel. It made for a great shot.

My mother has made it quite obvious she doesn't wanna relive the 70's. I decide I wanna re-visit the 70's, then that's when my mom starts to gripe. She grew up in the bell-bottom era, earth tones and paisley prints. When gas was ridiculously high and the music was easy listening. Anyways, She hated the 70's for good reason. Her teenage/year adult years weren't nicest to her. At the time, I got into 70"s rock music and some bands she couldn't be mad at (since she was a fan of them too). I decided to style and model in a 70's themed fashion shoot. I need help with wardrobe, why not my mom? A crafty seamstress who verify if the garment was periodically correct..

I brought the idea up and she instantly goes "Eww, why Anna? Come on, the 70's really, I wanna forget the 70's and you keep bringing it back. Bad enough you were listening to the Eagles & Peter Frampton the other day. Yuk." as any child would do I said, "Pleeeeeease..........(overly fake cheesy smile)" as she rips the pants out of my hands silently and disappears into her sewing room.

So I got these cool pants and had an awesome shoot. Even though she thought my outfits were ugly, she admitted I hit the 70's fashion right on the head, then told me "Please nooo more suede pants."

Another one of those shoots, were my mother sewing skills were needed. She sewed all the gold fabric and dark green of my bottom skirt piece to my belly dance costume.

Also hauled me and my crazy self to Jamestown NY for a shoot with Jon Elder. I ran this Medusa idea by Jon and he was game. He body Painted me fully green then we assembled all the costume pieces together.

Jon had a friend with a Boa Constrictor on stand by. My mom busted out laughing and pointed at me giggling. Jon was unaware of my deathly fear of snakes.

After the long 6hr shoot, It was time to leave. I started to get dressed despite being painted green. "uh un, You ain't going in my car like that!" my mom said. I looked at her and said "What do you want me to do? scrub down in a sink somewhere?" The photographer then offered "I have a maintenance sink in my old dark room if you wanna use that to hose off in".

In this small tub, I'm folded up inside of it while my mom hoses me down. I asked "Doesn't this remind you of the old times, like when I was baby. Giving me baths in the sink?" she looked at me, not amused look and replied "No."

In Rochester NY at a bar, My mom, did my hair for this cool 1920's themed shoot with Not the Mall Studio. After wards the photographer bought My mom and I a drink (the photographer and I are friends in normal life). we just hung out at the bar with the bar owner and talked for an hour.

In Erie PA, We made the trip out to Allegheny State park for a pinup themed shoot. We hiked through the woods to get to rock formations and a fairly decent size waterfall, of which I climbed up on.

My mom insisted I stick my butt out more and things like that. I also thought about what she said about forgetting about my Boyfriends rules and living a little.

While the photographer was switching batteries, Him and my mother were talking about something. I took my bikini top off and hung it on a stick. At first they didn't notice.

My mom said "Whats that on the stick?" I responded " My top." My mom turned around and cracked up laughing she wasn't expecting me to do that.

Shooting with Fred Mount, he had this idea no model would agree to do. Of Course I take the challenge. I can cross this off my bucket list.

I was to be completely naked, and to go inside of a latex balloon and have theatrical slime dumped all over my head in a abandoned mansion. O.k, sign me up.

So I'm Completely nude, Fred says to help get into the balloon you have to put lube on your back and waist. My mom has seen me naked a lot as an adult. It was weird at first but then I got used to having her at My shoots watching me get body painted or shooting nude. So my mom lubes me up, then we blow up the balloon with a shop vac. I put my whole upper body into the balloon then my legs. I closed the bottom of the balloon with my hands and then popped my head back out. Fred and my mother Gently rolled me forward to the floor. Then they dumped slime on my head. It was freezing and was very difficult to get out of my hair. Work well spent. The image along with others in this series were published in a art gallery in Korea.

In January, Shooting nudes with Dan Olek. I decided I wanted to shoot in the snow. He had a deck that was surrounded by trees and very limited visibility to neighbors.

I jumped outside in only a scarf and mittens. About 15 mins later he said you wanna come back inside. I really didn't want to . He had a real fire place, and a fire going in his house. Shooting inside all day in front of a fireplace and lights, I was roasting.. Of course my mom is like "Get in here! you don't have any shoes on!" Not worried about the fact I'm naked in the snow, nope the fact I have no shoes on.

I had a pinup shoot booked with Randy Zak in Hamburg, NY. My mom looked up online how to do pinup hair. She got her little hair kit together. Fully stocked with bobby pins, hairspray, pony tails, combs and an empty toilet paper roll.

Yes, an empty toilet paper roll. I don't have bangs, nor will I ever again. A lot of pinups have those nice curled rolled bangs in the front. With an empty toilet paper roll (A trick she learned from watching a youtube video) my mom achieved this look, without having to cut my hair.

My amazing cosplay of leeloo from fifth element by Pixyst in Rochester NY. My costume is very simple but yet I needed my moms skill to craft this one. It is all one piece, I made the design of how it needs to look and work. It has Velcro straps to be easily take off and on. The costume got a lot of attention from fans and just people in general. Unfortunately its tailored to my body and cant be wore by anyone else but me.

Another shoot with Not the Mall Studio. My mom crafted my hair while I did my makeup look.

The look is inspired by Queen Amidala from Star wars. She wanted to do a Princess Leia bun but then I had to explain that's not the character I'm going for mom. Haha.

After we ate Chinese as usual. The photographer always bought Chinese for us. She always looked forward to Chinese when we went to Rochester to shoot with Not the Mall Studio. We would all sit around and talk during lunch. He even gave my mom compensation for her travels.

Lori or mama Anatomy was well known in the WNY modeling/photography community as one of the most supportive mothers they have ever seen. Photographers, their wives and other models & mothers enjoyed the company of my mom and conversations they had with her.

I hope she continues to be an inspiration to others, I hope everyone has enjoyed this entry about my mother's support, our memories and hearing about her impact on my work. Thank to everyone and your support during my families most difficult time and I look forward to creating some more amazing art this coming year.