D Cubed Photography
Location: Lee Creek Area, Utah
Today we’d like to introduce you to Liz River
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Honestly, this is a little bit embarrassing, but the truth is I bought a book called “Modeling for Dummies,” and they mentioned a website you could join for free that had casting calls for paid work. I knew I wasn’t tall enough to be a fashion runway model but I just knew in my heart there was a place for me in this world.
I began applying for paid gigs in my area for modeling and acting. Most of those were for independent artists with a specific vision for a project and I immediately felt like I was where I was meant to be. I love to collaborate a bring to life someone’s idea that just lives in their head. For about 20 years now its afforded me the opportunity to pay my bills and travel around the US, just recently a little bit in Europe, too. It also helped me fund my favorite charities, like, The Humane Society.
But it’s not as glamourous as it sometimes sounds. For those photos in Salt Lake Valley, we walked 3 miles at 5 a.m. just my photographer, D Cubed Photography and I. We carried everything out on our backs ourselves. By noon we were pretty sure we’d stayed too long and might fry like eggs in the sun, haha. But I live for these outdoor shoots, being out in nature and especially in Utah where there is such unique scenery you really don’t get anywhere else! Now, looking at the shots, its nice to see how it paid off and that I am leaving a legacy of passion and art.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, haha. I don’t really believe that anyone has it easy, and I am no exception. One of the biggest struggles has been to continually adapt as times and methods for delivery of art had changed. You know, 20 years ago we called it “Time for Print,” if you wanted to trade your time for some prints of a few photos from a photographer for your “book.” Neither of these things really exist anymore. The move from film to digital alone was an enormous change! And now with social media I almost have to have a little bit of something everywhere just so clients can find me. Since I am a one woman show, it can be a challenge to update everything and not get sucked into the temptation of distractions, right? I had to set a timer on my apps just to stay on track!
The other thing I would say was a struggle is aging as a woman in the modeling industry. I feel like I grew up in a time before body positivity and a time before age positivity. But it’s actually gotten much better with time, I think for two reasons, one we are more accepting as a society of varying types of bodies and the other is that the older I get the less I care what people think!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I think I am mostly considered an artist’s model. I would say that is my specialty, bring someone’s dream to live. I am probably most known for playing Anne Hathaway’s sister in a movie called Dark Waters. It’s on Netflix now and its one of the most liked movies! This is also something I am most proud of.
I think what sets me apart from others is my longevity, but also, my cooperation. I am as willing to work with someone who is brand new as I am to work with a seasoned veteran. And I am happy to share my knowledge, which is not as common as it should be! I just look for people with ideas that speak to me and, I know this will sounds a little weird but I pick projects out with my intuition. If it feels right then I go for it.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Hmm, wow, what a great question! I think my industry is going through an enormous change. Especially as young artists emerge. I know the younger generation gets a lot of flak, and I might get some for saying this, but their brains really do work differently. In a good way! The way they see things is just so different and I love to see other view points.
I think just like vinyl and cassette tapes for music, we will see a resurgence of analog media for photography like film and maybe even tin type kind of stuff as diy continues to rise up,
For sure I see way more models that stay booked in their 40s and beyond, more than I used to see. Which makes me feel like I have a bright future ahead as a traveling model. I hope to still be doing this at 65! If I’m lucky.
Contact Info:
- Other: email: lizriver20@gmail.com
Liz at Non Solo Vini Feinkost & Wine
Berlin, Germany
Liz at Full Circle Brewgarden
Englewood, Ohio
Liz at The Silver Slipper
Dayton, Ohio
D Cubed Photography
Location: Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah
D Cubed Photography
Location: Lee Creek Area, Utah
Liz at Arco Inn
Arco, Idaho
Devils Orchard
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
Arco, Idaho
