Every scene queen has got to start her scene career somewhere, and the “place” in question is online, plastering your pretty face across the pages of social networking sites such as Myspace, Buzznet and Bebo. This is how the now celebrity scene queens Audrey Kitching, Jac Vanek, and Kikki Kannibal put themselves on the map. All you need to follow in the footsteps of these pioneering self-made celebs is an online profile and some super-slick shots of you looking utterly irresistible and of course oh-so-scene.

Your mission

You may have noticed when cruising the profiles of fellow scene kids that their shots all follow the same flavour; it’s that tried and tested “look up at the camera through a wedge of a severely straightened fringe”. This isn’t just accidental! Ok, so it may be that it’s the easiest way to photograph yourself with a hand-held camera, but it’s also ultra flattering! You get a three quarter angle with a perspective that accentuates the most highly attuned aspects of any scene look.

Remember that the aim of these pics is to show the world who you are, so cram in as much of your personality as possible by tailoring your make-up, hair and clothing. Most professional modeling shoots will employ make-up artist and stylists to perform these jobs, but as a self-made scene queen, you’ll need to be multi talented, and you’ll be able to take full credit for your success when it all pays off!

Preened to perfection

Your make-up will need to be perfect, and typically heavier than usual so as to look good under the weight of a camera flash. Your face is your canvas, so don’t take any prisoners! Just let rip with the black eye liner, false lashes and vibrant shades of colour! Click here to read our scene make-up guide!

Just like your make-up, your hair and how you choose to style it is your opportunity to express your individuality. Most scene queens choose to follow the same basic rules of hair shape, but after that the rest is up to you. If you want to achieve that sought after scene queen look, your hair will need to be chopped in spikey layers on top and razor cut into longer trails on the lower layers. Add to that heavy bangs/fringe swept sexily to the side and you’ve got the look!

Once the cut is achieved and set (usually straightened and back combed and set with hair spray) the main way to express yourself is through the use of colour. Your choice of colour is totally up to you, though you may wish to extract influence from scene queen idols and go for bright day glow colour! Block colour is ultra dramatic, and streaks of different shades contrasting heavily with a very light or dark base looks ultra effective! Click here to read our scene hair guide!

Every inch a model

Your choice of clothing will show your fans not just your own personal sense of style, but also just how stunning you are! I’d suggest going for provocative rather than total glamour shots - a bit of suggestion is always far more appealing and effective than all out exposure! Scene queens know that more is more, so pile on that scene clothing and of course those scene accessories!

Brightly coloured scene tops and scene hoodies are a must. The aim is to achieve a visually stimulating shot, crammed full of detail, so try layering an all-over print scene hoody over a graphic print skinny scene tshirt. As you know, skinny jeans are a must, choose from busy zebra prints and mineral washes or a versatile plain black or grey pair. Then sling on a belt or two, preferably scene pyramid stud belts in contrasting colours or patterns! Why not try a bright rainbow stud belt to really jazz things up? Masses of carefully chosen scene jewellery will really complete your look. The goal here is to look like you’ve thrown it all together, but it’s best to put a little thought into how each piece will work with the rest of your outfit. Go for cute and kitsch pendants and bracelets - cherries and cupcakes are popular themes, as are diamonds and crowns. If your feet are going to be in shot then don’t forget to pull on your best pair of pumps too!

What’s my motivation?

When posing, your aim is to portray a set attitude, just as if you were modeling for one of your favourite designers. So before you begin, think about the attitude you want to portray. Practice your very own “Blue Steel” in front of the mirror first, then try it out with your camera to see how it looks on fim (so to speak). Having checked out other scene queen's pics, you’ll notice that smiling tends to be shunned in favour of sexy-pouty expressions. This is a rule of thumb, but rules are made to be broken, right? There’s nothing to stop you devising your very own look and making it your trademark pose!

Location, location, location!

You may not think it that important, but your location will affect the mood of your shot and will have some influence on the lighting too. Of course you have the option of assuming the frequently adopted inverse bathroom mirror shot – you may want to throw one of these in for good measure if you’re really into abiding by trends. But why not get a little more imaginative? Outdoor shots look great; vivid green grass can add even more colour to a brightly styled scene shot, while clear blue skies can help you create a surreal, dreamy feel. Likewise city environments can provide a real edge for more urban photos, especially areas that offer large scale graffiti – a ready made set that’s sure to enliven your images!

If you choose to shoot outdoors you may wish to enlist the help of a friend in taking your photos. It helps if you are relaxed in their company so that you can be totally uninhibited in front of the camera, but as a true scene queen you’ll know that you look great so there’s no need to feel self conscious. Just make sure they know how to use your camera!

Polish it off and serve it up

Reel off plenty of photos to give yourself pick of the crop, and if you know how you can touch up your pics in photoshop too. The aim of retouching is to enhance your image by brightening colours and perfecting levels in contrast and curves, though you can of course add more artistic enhancements if you're feeling ultra creative!

When you're happy with your end result, you can upload your super new pics to your online profile, ready to show the world what a scene setting stunner you are!
Where to buy great scene gear

For an awesome range of scene clothing and accessories by Criminal Damage, Living Dead Souls, Celebrity Babe and Poizen Industries, check out our shop, the Scene Dead Store!