You’ve seen her work everywhere. Maybe you didn’t know you saw it, but you have. Anya Garrett is responsible for making some of the most average looking comedians look balls to the wall sexy. Make no mistake, Anya may be very, very, young, but she knows a thing or two about how to make sex sell.
Let’s start with the basics, Anya, like most people, finds big eyes and big lips sexy. But not everyone has these features, but somehow she makes us all look like we do. Here’s what she managed to do with me:
I asked Anya how she gets the sexy out of people so easily. “I believe that people, across the board, are sexy. They may not realize it (which is maybe when it’s most fun) or they may take a little coaxing to be in the right mind frame, but everyone can find their sexiness.” So very true. A photo shoot with Anya is like foreplay without the sex. She plays with you and calms any of your self conscious nerves right down. She makes you feel hot, and it shows in the shots she takes of you.
Of course, being the nosy sex-obsessed lady that I am, I just had to ask if any of Anya’s shoots have ended in sex. Anya’s response? “I think I can honestly say I’ve never gotten hot and heavy with someone after shooting them. But then again, I like to think of myself as a lady. That isn’t to say I haven’t photographed people I have dated or people I wouldn’t mind fucking. I guess a simple answer would be that [the model and the photographer] need each other and they make each other better. When you boil it down, isn’t that what most people want?”
Anya Garrett can find the sexy within anyone. I asked her what she is turned on by in a subject that most people would qualify as unusual. “Personality-wise, I like a little shot of craziness now and then, whether it’s angsty or obsequious. I don’t mean to say it can’t be sexy, but I don’t really dig muscular types - a little bit of a belly (especially on guys) is a huge turn-on. A beautiful face is all well and good, but a beautiful face with distinct features is much more interesting to look at - whether it’s a big nose, visible scars, or unusual teeth. I’m very into the gothic aesthetic. I also dig glasses on a person, although that’s a little more common of a quirk.”
When Anya shoots a subject, she gives pointers to steer you in the right direction, but never makes you feel like you don’t have a say. It’s like sex, you give a hint or advice here and there on how to please you, but you don’t force them to do anything out of their comfort zone. The same rules apply on a photo shoot. Anya gave me a few tips to share with my readers on how to get a hot shot. “Completely relax your face and let your lips part slightly. For ladies -
straight posture with your hips to one side, arms akimbo or with one hanging straight to emphasize the curves. For gents - a solid stance, leaning forward slightly from the waist. Leaning in general is good. These are body positions that are textbook ‘sexy’ as far as modeling is concerned. The real sexy comes from your eyes, though. You have to feel it for us to read it.”
Lastly, I thought I should ask Anya who she found sexy, famous or in our smaller circle of alternative comedians in New York City. While her answer surprisingly did not include my imaginary boyfriend Matt Dillon, I decided to let it slide and instead found myself agreeing with the majority of her “sexy list.”
“Angelina Jolie is the epitome of sexiness for me. Still. She has spanned so many different variations of sexy in her career, and I’ve been fond of every one. Even her humanitarian motherly stage. Marlon Brando was probably the ultimate in sex appeal in a similar way, but when it comes to men, my taste really runs the gamut. From Woody Allen to Alan Cumming to to James Spader to They Might Be Giants (John and John) to Eddie Izzard to Rowan Atkinson (yes, Mr Bean). They unabashedly do what they do and they do it incredibly well. That is very sexy to me.A little closer to home, some of the sexiest people I can think of are Adira Amram, Kurt Braunohler, Seth Herzog, Dave Hill, Jacqueline Novak, Amy Miles, Kristen Schaal. Oh, and those adorable fellas from God’s Pottery. (Saving yourself is hot!) Or at least they’re the sexiest local performers I have yet to photograph freely. If any of them are reading and interested, I’d love to see you through my lens!”