Lori Smith of Kunkletown is a former European fashion model that now specializes in helping local models create their portfolios.

Lori Smith (right) applies makeup to model Christina Wildes. Wildes came to Smith for a set of professional portfolio photographs.

Lori Smith (left) takes close-up photograph of model Christina Wildes. Smith learned her craft by watching the photographers that were taking photographs of her when she was modeling in Europe.

Barefoot Lori Smith (right) adjusts lighting for a portfolio session with model Christina Wildes. Smith developed the habit of working without shoes to avoid damaging the seamless paper backdrop.

Model turned photographer
is comfortable on both sides of the lens

Kunkletown

Lori Smith knows all the right moves—whether she’s modeling for a European fashion magazine or photographing a portfolio for an up and coming fashion model.

An extension of the arm, a twist of the hip—Smith knows how to pose a model for a fashion shoot. She’s done it many times as a model herself. That’s why models travel from New York to Kunkletown to have her create their portfolio.

Lori Smith’s story has to start at the beginning—because the beginning is so unbelievable. One day, Smith was on her way home from her high school in Santa Monica, walking with friends when a man approached her. 

Discovered and Re-Discovered

“A man with a shaved head wearing a sport jacket and an ascot—he looked artsy—came up to me and asked how tall I was,” said Smith, who is 5’-9” tall. “He asked me if I was interested in modeling. He gave me his business card— his name was Steve Martin—and told me to give it to my mother.”

Dressing fashionably, Smith and her mother went to Martin’s Los Angeles runway modeling agency. “When I got there, I didn’t want to go in,” Smith noted. “I was nervous but my mother talked me into doing the audition.” That day, Smith was discovered!

One modeling assignment led to another and one agency lead to another. She was re-discovered, this time on an international level at an audition with Marilyn Gauthier Agency. “I tried to impress her and I did,” said Smith. Gautheier sent Smith to Paris where her career took off.

Smith is tall and slim with western facial features and eastern coloring. Most people take her as being from the mid-East. She is actually the progeny of a white Jewish woman and a black mixed with Native American man.

She had the “look” that was in demand in Europe and she was quick to learn the modeling trade. During those six years, she appeared in Vogue, Marie Claire and Elle, and on billboards in France, Germany, Switzerland and Spain. 

The Other Side of the Lens

All the times when Smith was being photographed, she took along her SureShot camera and took backstage candids. “I would get the kookiest pictures of models,” Smith noted.

Smith was at a shoot and showed her photos to a stylist who said, “Wow, these are great pictures. You should study photography.” He urged her to take a photography course in Paris given by two American women.

Smith bought a used Nikkormat camera, which she took to all her modeling assignments. She took pictures of photographers shooting models and what went on backstage.

As a top model, Smith dated noted fashion photographer, Andre Rau. Rau taught Smith about technique and lighting. “He let me go to the Elle studios and experiment using his camera,” Smith said. “If you are a model with a passing interest in photography, they will tell you everything that they wouldn’t tell another photographer.” 

An American Photographer

After six years in Paris, Smith had married, had a child and was ready to return to the US. She and her husband, artist Robert Syracuse, returned to Smith’s native Las Angeles.

Smith showed her photographs to her modeling agency, LA Models. “They liked my photos,” Smith said. “And they sent me girls to photograph.”

After six years, her husband had an opportunity to move to his parent’s six-acre farm in Kunkletown. Smith had never heard of Kunkletown but she was excited to be near the New York Fashion market. That was five years ago.

From her Pocono base, Smith had trouble establishing herself with the New York fashion market. Not having a studio in New York meant that she was always doing location shoots.

She made contact with agencies in Allentown and Wilkes-Barre. Through them, she gets referrals for both models and children’s photos.

Smith loves helping new models put together their portfolio. “I feel I know what they need because I’ve been there. I pose them a certain way. I try to make them feel comfortable. I feel like I know what it’s like being on that side, so I can relate.”

Her Kunkletown studio, a 1950 horse barn converted by her husband, is a one-stop shop for portfolio creation. In addition to photography, Smith does the model’s hair and makeup. She even has a wardrobe if the model needs an accenting scarf or blouse.

When she photographs in her studio, Smith never wears shoes. Early in her modeling career, she learned that shoes tend to damage the seamless paper background used for fashion photography.

A typical portfolio shoot takes several hours. Most of the time is spent on hair, makeup and wardrobe, all before the camera comes out of the case. The photo shoot itself may take an hour—more if several wardrobe, hair and makeup changes are required.

A typical shoot creates about 150 images. In the last year, Smith has gone digital. She reviews the images and provides them to her clients on a CD.

Although fashion photography is normally gentile, Smith tells a story of one fashion shot that truly scared her. That day, Smith was modeling expensive jewelry. The photographer envisioned an image taken on a water tower— fifty feet above the ground. “A guy was hanging onto my feet and I was leaning off of it,” she remembered. “It was pretty scary.”