Some photos from the trip and teasers from the photo shoots as captured by Armand Sanchez. It was a fun trip! BIG THANK YOU to all of the models (Dakota, Katherine, Lizette, Itzel, and Rachel). We wouldn't have had nearly as much fun without you. And of course, thanks to all of our fans for following. You're the best!

Enjoy the photos and stay ugly.

Yesterday was Malibu. Today was Venice. The overcast morning wasn't a deterant to the throngs of fishers, skaters, cyclists, tourists, and street vendors that make Venice Beach the unique melting pot that it is.

Within 10 minutes we were accosted by 20 different vendors and 2 yogurt reps handing out free samples. After purchasing 3 CDs that we didn't want we decided to get off the strip and scout locations for our 12 o'clock shoot. Eventually we stumbled upon an alley called Breeze Court that had a lot of character.

Satisfied, we made our way back to the car, parked closer to our shoot location, and found a Mexican Pizza joint for lunch. Our waitress, Eliana, was really nice and looked like Melanie Laurent. The pizza was served on thin shells with plenty of Chalula to keep it spicy.

We met up with Lizette (our third model of the trip) at the location. The sun had come out just in time for our first and only taste of California sunshine. It was a fantastic shoot and Lizette was amazing to work with. Two hours later we were back at the hotel organizing a fourth shoot and planning dinner. we ended up back on Abbott and Kinney at a bar called the Brig. A cool joint that was all rusted steel, wood, and leather. A drink and a slice later we were back at the hotel ready to take some photos.

This shoot was a lot of fun. The model, Itzel, came over to the hotel. We shot some outdoor rock n roll chic stuff, took some shots on the balcony and then did a series of looks inside our hideous room. The whole thing was exactly the type of shoot I had hoped for on this trip. I think you're going to like these.

Today we're hitting the road back to SLC. We may have a couple more shoots along the way. Until then, follow our shinanigans on Instagram #uglyparadise2013 and stay ugly.

The day started off well enough. We had a continental breakfast, packed up, and hit the road to find a hidden beach in Malibu.

Armand had arranged a shoot for noon at Point Dume. Another photographer clued him in on a secluded beach on the opposite side of the point which few visitors knew about.

We got there early and parked the car about a mile from the point. The sky was gray and the air was cool. It was a great day to shoot and nice reintroduction to the Pacific Ocean.

There was a retaurant on the beach with a bar called the Sunset. We had some time to kill and decided to have a beer. As a traveler in a strange place, it's important that you make friends with the people you meet. The bar tender was a pleasant woman we were happy to happen upon. Originally from Portland she came here to play the Cello for Capitol Records. That's the fun thing about people who live in California. So many interesting backgrounds and ambitions.

A conversation later, we found our model Kat and made a mile long hike to the point. We weaved through some rock climbers and found an isolated beach on the other side without another soul around. It was perfect! Kat was more than affable and we shot for about an hour capturing some really great photos.

After the shoot we had a mission to find new lodgings and dinner. It seems that California becomes quite busy on Summer weekends. Eventually we found The Jolly Rodger, a crappy hotel near Abbot Kinney district near Venice Beach. After settling in we headed over to Abott Kinney and walked about and found G Jelina, a gourmet pizza joint that didn't fail to deliver. What lacked in service was made up for in taste. It was a circus in my mouth of sautéed onions, gruyere cheese, and arugula.

We went home for a nap, hoping to hit Venice Beach at night... That nap resulted in my waking up this morning to write today's entry. I guess we were tired.

Today we'll be hitting Venice Beach to shoot the lovely Lizzet. Follow us with #uglyparadise2013


Stay Ugly!

It was a decision made weeks in advance. Armand (Ugly's Creative Director) was going to LA to do some test shoots for LA Models (link) and White House Models (link). I (your Ugly editor) was looking for a Summer adventure; something to shake off the Winter blues and get me inspired.

Two needs and only one way to fulfill them, Road Trip.

Ahh... the American dream realized on the Highways of the West. Roads that stretch for miles through mountains, valleys, deserts and canyons leading us to the great Pacific Ocean.

Day one started well enough. We hit the road at 7am making a brief stop in Payson for supplies and then moving on to the city of sin, Las Vegas! Armand had the crazy idea of doing an impromptu photo shoot. He posted a casting call on Instagram and got a response from the lovely Dakota Raine.

In the scorching 108 degrees of dry desert heat, we met in a back parking lot and took our hottest photoshoot ever. 

2hrs later we were back on the road and headed non-stop to LA. Now, one of the cardinal rules of adventuring on road trips is to never plan anything. If you plan too much, your trip will lack discovery and situations of survival and cunning. Sometimes that can backfire on you. 

We had a general idea that we wanted to stay in a cheap motel near Venice beach. We asked Siri to find us some as we got there. We found some really low budget b rated horror film type of places that looked ideal, but the neon signs were all blinking "no vacancy". 

We tried eight locations, all with the same result. Finally, exhausted and in need of sleep, we gave into the gods of travel and headed to LAX where we found a room at the Travelers Inn (not exactly the cheap motel we were looking for).

Today's adventure includes 3 photoshoots, search of a lost beach, and finding cheaper lodgings (the gods be damned). 

So, follow on social media with #uglyparadise2013 and stay ugly!

-S