Women Archives - Tony Ward Studio

Tracey Olkus: Behind The Scenes

Tracey Olkus:Behind The Scenes

Tracey Olkus and I have known each other for decades. Philly is a small town amongst creatives. We worked together on shoots over the years as she is one of the best hair stylists in Philly, but I never had a chance to photograph her as a subject, for years I only worked with her like any other colleague in the Arts. Tracey always had this allure but shy in a way or so it seemed. Last year I invited her up to my new studio in Elkins Park to assist on a shoot and I also invited her to attend a party at my house during the summer. That’s when it finally clicked that I wanted to photograph her for The Vixens Series. The time was ripe.

After several back and forth communications, she agreed and noted that she had never been photographed by a professional photographer before. I felt honored and I think she cherished the moment. So the process began. I asked Tracey to put some fashion together from her wardrobe and explained the process of how I work with creative director, KVaughn. They too have known each other for decades so communicating by Zoom was easy and so began our team’s creative journey. There would be four to five changes within a two hour shoot schedule. My lighting assistant, Anthony Colagreco was working the lights. Fortunately for us, Tracey had lots of interesting costumes that KVaughn curated and molded into the style in which the series has become known. KV especially knows I have a thing for hats. Tracey is also a headdress maker. A creative match made in heaven and the pictures are always the result.

Tracey indicated on the eve of her sitting that she was a little nervous. That to me usually indicates the person that I am photographing is fully immersed in the creative outcome, which through my experience tends to lead to a positive result. I simply assured her she was in good hands.

To be cast for The Vixen Series contact: Tony@TonyWard.com.

To access The Vixens Series gallery link here: https://tonyward.com/the-vixens-series/

Lileet_Miriam: Work is Work Isn’t It?

Styling by KVaughn

Work is Work, Isn’t It?

The concept, by design, is meant to be transactional. An even exchange. You provide “x” set of skills for a particular field so therefore you should be paid “y” in return, right? The good ole “employer/employee relationship.” But, what happens when you are both the employer/employee that must rely upon a third party (cash app, social media platform, or even a reputable banking institution) that is designed, let alone meant to provide you with the steady income you worked for only to be told in return, sometimes without warning, “no, we can’t provide you with your hard earned money because THESE set of skills you possess, we actually frown upon.” Welcome to the constant struggle of the current sex worker.

As The New York Times reported in November of 2023, “workers in sex-related industries – whether creating online content, or working in a strip club or even a legal brothel, – often risk their safety and face social and employment discrimination. But a lesser-known struggle is that it’s often difficult to maintain a basic bank account and other financial relationships that most people take for granted.” The ability to maintain a business bank account, a line of credit, or to generally use the financial services of banking institutions or service providers like Zelle or Venmo, are essential to commercial undertaking. In the life of a small business operator, that quickly bleeds into one’s personal life and ability to perform basic economic functions like use a checking account, obtain a mortgage, or even keep a credit card. Unfortunately, for many sex workers, who are disproportionally women, these basic rights are denied, forcing them into a continuous cycle of financial instability and hardship.

Whether driven by moral condemnation or financial risk assessment, too often women involved in sexually explicit work find their access to banking institutions and financial service providers denied. According to a May 2023 report from the Free Speech Coalition, nearly 40% of workers in the adult sex industry have experienced account closures and denials of service in this past year alone.

Some of the dangers are clear. The inability to access financial services and banking causes significant financial instability and prevents the creation of new businesses and wealth. This cycle in turn forces workers in the adult sex industry to depend on less reliable third parties or operate through the use of far less secure payment methods like cash and cryptocurrency. The negative impact far transcends the business end of the operation for most small business operators. Lack of credit and easily documented income can quickly have a negative impact on one’s personal credit, impacting the very basic needs of modern life.

Work is work, except for when a bank decides that it is not the type of work that one should be doing. Then work becomes an arduous journey to secure a glimpse of financial security. For many women, who comprise a significant sector of modern adult sex work, this has become a reality which often compromises their ability to work for a living.

Antoinette. AKA Scorpiana: You Cannot Pour From an Empty Cup

Beautiful tall black woman models a KVaughn couture jacket photographed by Tony Ward Copyright 2024 — Antoinette. AKA Scorpiana. Photo: Tony Ward, Copyright 2024

Text by Antoinette, AKA Scorpiana

You Cannot Pour From an Empty Cup

You cannot pour from an empty cup.

This was the single best piece of parenting and life advice I have ever received and my continuous reminder to take care of myself. Navigating multiple polyamorous partnerships requires a lot of time and effort but those relationships continuously fill my cup. It was thru one of those relationships that I was introduced to rope bondage, and with it a whole new world in the BDSM community.

Chinese woman hanging upside down in bondage in her bedroom — Savanna. Photo: Tony Ward, Copyright 2024. Rope Work by Scorpiana.

Rope spoke to me in a way nothing had previously. The artistry, the physical challenge, the emotional connection it can foster. Being restrained was the first time in my life I could turn my brain off and just be in the moment, in my body. Learning to tie others was the most fantastic puzzle that continues to challenge me physically and mentally years later. It is a rare situation where I have never gotten bored, and boredom is ever present in my life as a human with ADHD. Balancing my kink life with my vanilla life as a working mother of two kids has me literally and figuratively pulled in multiple directions every day. Yet it is thru rope that I keep my cup full for the rest of the things in my life. Rope bondage has provided a unique emotionally connective experience with friends and partners alike. It is an expression of my creativity and an artistic outlet unlike any other.

closeup bondage photo of woman's butt — Tony Ward for KVaughn Scarves, Copyright 2024.

Sculpture with the human body, a transient dynamic living piece of art. Expanding access to rope bondage for those who are traditionally not included due to body size and ability is this intersection between my professional life as a physical therapist and my personal life as a rigger that allows me to share my love of learning and teaching with other marginalized groups. Tying others, and being tied, has been a source of joy that has kept me happy and grounded and better able to show up in all other aspects of my life; as a parent, as a partner, and as a physical therapist.

Beautiful tall black woman models a KVaughn couture coat photographed by Tony Ward Copyright 2024 — Antoinette. AKA Scorpiana. Photo: Tony Ward, Copyright 2024

Behind The Scenes: March Cover Shoot 2024

Text by Tony Ward

I first learned about Lileet and her modeling interests when she started following me on Instagram. After looking over her IG @lileet_miriam I followed her back. Not long after the initial contact I decided to invite her to be photographed for The Vixen’s Series. Her response was brimming with enthusiasm and eager to set up a shoot date. She mentioned that she was going to be in Philadelphia for a party with her husband on 2-24-24. I thought that was a lucky number and suggested that we figure a way to shoot on that day before she went to the party. We settled on “the lucky date” and that she would be arriving at around 10:30am for hair & Makeup and to meet with KVaughn, creative director to discuss the photographic styling and flow of the two hour shoot.

The husband and wife of 12 years (impressive by most standards these days) took the 2 hour ride from their home in New York only to arrive a little early. I already had the coffee on and some snacks, but I didn’t expect a request for champagne. I guess Lileet and her husband knew this would be day worth celebrating. So I ran off to the nearby state store for a couple of bottles of Corbel. Bottles were popped and the mood was set. The champagne was finished by the end of the shoot. Everybody was in a good mood. KVaughn directed Tara through a medley of costume changes including personal items from her wardrobe like the corsets she loves to wear mixed in with some of KVaughn most eye popping fabrics. For the grand crescendo, KV would paste on blue costume jewels over her Tara’s spectacular naked torso! That was a tough shot to frame, just kidding!!

Relaxing after the shoot. Photo: KVaughn

Politics: Mean Marjorie Taylor Greene

Portrait of Marjorie Taylor Greene by the artist Tomcat23 for Tony Ward Studio — Marjorie Taylor Greene. Artwork by Thomcat23, Copyright 2024

Text by Claude2

Edited by Tony Ward

Marjorie Taylor Greene has made headlines since her election to Congress in 2020 for her controversial and often extreme political stances. As a vocal supporter of former President Trump and his “Make America Great Again” movement, Greene has propagated disproven conspiracy theories, expressed racist and anti-Semitic views, and supported overturning the results of the 2020 presidential election.

While Greene’s blond hair and brash speaking style may appeal to some of her supporters, her political positions and statements are deeply troubling. She has endorsed dangerous QAnon conspiracy theories, including the false claim that Democratic leaders are part of a satanic pedophile ring. Greene has also denied school shootings like the Sandy Hook massacre, harassed teenage survivors of school shootings, and trafficked in anti-Semitic tropes.

As an elected leader, Marjorie Taylor Greene has a responsibility to serve all her constituents, not just those who share her extreme ideological views. Her hateful rhetoric and endorsement of disinformation have no place in Congress. While she is entitled to her opinions, her false and discriminatory statements make her unfit for public office.

Rather than judging Greene’s questionable sex appeal, the media and public should focus on holding her accountable for her harmful words and actions. She was rightly stripped of her House committee assignments due to her past incendiary comments. Now her colleagues must continue to denounce her extremist stances and work to counteract her spread of misinformation.

Marjorie Taylor Greene’s loyal followers may find her blond hair and aggressive tone appealing on a superficial level. But true leadership requires integrity, compassion and a commitment to facts – qualities sorely lacking in Greene. Her presence in Congress is a danger to vulnerable groups, democratic norms and the institution itself. We must look beyond the surface and examine the real harm Greene’s views have caused. Her place is not in making policy for the American people.

The notion that blonds have more fun is a longstanding stereotype in popular culture, but does this idea actually hold up under scrutiny? A deeper examination reveals the flawed assumptions and prejudices behind this superficial belief.

The idea propagates regressive gender norms by reducing women, especially blonds, to objects rather than whole persons. It implies fun is predicated on appearance and grants white blonds an elevated social status. However, people’s capacity for joy comes from within, not their hair color. Perpetuating this stereotype diminishes the diversity and depth of all women.

Additionally, blond hair has long been associated with whiteness, lightness and purity. The “fun” ascribed to blondness is intertwined with notions of privilege and racial bias. Positioning blondness as ideal excludes and marginalizes women of color. It also reduces blond women to a narrow, sexualized stereotype rather than acknowledging their full humanity.

The notion that blonds have more fun provides a useful illustration of how even playful stereotypes normalize prejudice. Taking a critical lens to this cultural trope reveals the need to challenge assumptions, reject biological essentialism and embrace the spectrum of human diversity. While hair color provides aesthetic variety, it gives no indication about a person’s character or capacity for joy.