Interview with

POSE & SHOOT WORKSHOP

Vessel: Could you please provide an introduction about yourself? Additionally, could you share information about the individuals behind Pose and Shoot Workshop?

Lindsey Hawkes is the founder of Pose and Shoot Workshop and has long been an entrepreneur and an artist. Growing up, she joined as many art clubs and theater programs as she could. In college, she majored in Marketing and Public Relations, which provided her the resources to be a creative and an entrepreneur. While raising her three children, she did photography and graphic design. Once her children were in school she began modeling and acting. She has been published in over a dozen magazines, worked for international clients, and acted in movies and commercials. She loves coaching and helping others find confidence in themselves. 

Ethan Kartchner began to seriously pursue modeling when he was in university over 10 years ago. He has a bachelor’s degree in Community Health Education. Now, he is a full time professional model, actor, and stuntman. This year, he modeled for the Sony Kando event and became a series regular in a new TV series. Not only has he been the lead actor in several films, but he is also heavily involved in film production. He has modeled for dozens of brands, been published in magazines, walked runways, and has representation both locally as well as out of state. He loves being in front of the camera creating and telling stories. 

Brookelin has been professionally modeling for eight years. In that time, she's had the opportunity to sign with modeling agencies, be a magazine cover girl, walk several runways, and work with many incredible companies like Kodiak Cakes and Downeast. She is grateful for Utah's modeling community and feels privileged to be a Pose and Shoot Workshop coach for Utah's models. When she isn't modeling, she is using her psychology degree as a school counselor and creating a podcast with her husband. 

Matheus Santos, known professionally as Teo Santos, is a professional actor and model. Most recently featured as a supporting character in the film Image of You, alongside Pretty Little Liars star Sasha Pieterse, and indie film Omaha with Past Lives actor John Margo. His work is featured in a variety of commercials for companies such as Delta Airlines, Peloton, Gillette, and more. Additionally, Teo has also been published in several men's fashion magazines. Teo’s transition into the world of film and modeling came at the heels of a career in medical sciences. Although not actively pursuing a career in medicine anymore, Teo believes that all of his expertise, passions, and background lend themselves beautifully to his current path. 

Vessel: How did each coach venture into the field of modeling, and what aspects do they find most enjoyable about being in front of the camera?

Teo: For Teo, modeling came at the heels of a career as a doctor. While he had worked with a couple of brands and participated in photoshoots in college for fun, it was not until the summer of 2020 that he signed with his first agent in Utah. Although passionate about medicine, Teo fell in love with both modeling and acting and the ability to tell stories through photos and film. So much so that he quit his job as a researcher at a cancer hospital only three months after signing with his first agent, in order to pursue acting and modeling full time. Four months after that, Teo was accepted to medical school and decided not to go because he had fallen in love with his new career. Now, three and a half years later, Teo is signed with numerous agencies across the nation, including in New York City and Los Angeles, and has worked on over 150 productions. 

“I think working in unison with everyone on set to create and tell a story is the best part of my job. I love being able to show emotion no matter what it is: for example, in photos, I love to capture the essence of the shoot and hopefully translate that to the viewer.” - Teo

Brookelin: Brookelin found interest in modeling as a teen and made the leap to become a professional model at 18 years old. She quickly jumped into training, networking, and growing her portfolio, and found a thrill in the art of posing and connecting with other people in the industry. 

Ethan: “I was always fascinated with modeling and the art form that it encompassed. For example, the concept building from storyboard to actualization was extremely satisfying. Not only because it made me dig into the style I wanted to express, but modeling helped discover a part of me that I never knew. I initially most loved building mood boards, but that eventually evolved into materializing my concepts from off the page and into reality. That combination became the pinnacle and culmination of my creative process.” 

Lindsey: “I began modeling later than most, at age 30. My kids were all in school and I was looking to reinvent myself. I began acting, which led to needing headshots and then to modeling. I love being around creative people and the Utah industry is so supportive. The energy on set is addicting. I find that being in front of the camera is like therapy. I love expressing different emotions and getting viewers to connect with the story I am telling.”

Vessel: What led to the creation of Pose and Shoot Workshop? Was there a specific need in the industry that prompted the establishment of this workshop?

Pose and Shoot Workshop started five years ago in 2019. An agency approached Lindsey about teaching modeling classes and she agreed on two conditions. First, that the classes remain affordable and second, that the classes be open to all models, not just those signed with the agency.

At the time in Utah, model training was exclusive and expensive. The only educational programs were either out of state or through agencies who charged models to take their classes. Most models in Utah are freelance, therefore, they had no access to training. Lindsey began teaching and saw an overwhelming demand for professional model training. So Pose and Shoot Workshop was born. 

“We focus on strong portfolios, providing real job training and experience, and helping models network and build confidence.” - Lindsey 

“Each of us at Pose and Shoot Workshop has a different story about how we became a model, but all of us learned common lessons the hard way. Lessons we wish we would have known before joining the industry. Things that we now pass on in our workshops.” - Ethan 

“We believe that every model deserves affordable access to quality education.” - Brookelin 

“Modeling sits in an entertainment industry niche that not only gets looked over but often taken advantage of. We help models avoid these pitfalls.” - Teo 

@pose.shoot.workshop

Pose & Shoot Workshop

Photographer: Madison Pope

@madisonpope.creative

Lindsey Hawkes

Teo Santos

Brookelin Backus

Ethan Kartchner

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