In The Haute Seat: Mitzi Valenzuela

Name: Mitzi Valenzuela
Occupation: Photographer and owner of Mitzi & Co.
Hometown: San Dimas, CA
Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA

How did you get started with photography?

My dad gave me my first camera when I was 16. It was a Canon AE1. I started going to college at 17 and took beginning photography my first semester and fell in love with the darkroom. The rest is history.

How does the pin-up look tie into your passion for photography?

I love everything pin-up represents. I get to work with real women everyday. I love seeing the transformation not only in the look of my client but also her personality.

Mitzi & Co. has a Pin-up for a Day package – what does this entail?

My Pin-up for a Day package is the ultimate gift of pampering. We provide hair- and makeup-styling and I also have a very large collection of wardrobe and accessories to complete the look, so very woman walks in as herself and leaves feeling like a movie star. My studio also comes fully equipped with a variety of retro-inspired sets including a 50s kitchen, claw foot bathtub, a tiki living room set and more — it is the perfect playroom for every woman.

What do you think it is about pin-up-centric photography that appeals to women?

Pin-up allows every woman to feel beautiful and confident about who they are no matter what their size, age or race. Every woman can identify with that era because we all have moms or grandmas or aunts that grew up in that time and have shared some part of that history with us.

Did the appeal of pinup and the love of classic cars happen simultaneously or did one lead to the other?

I have always loved classic cars but I spent most of my time focusing and developing my pin-up style first. It wasn’t until I went to my first show (Viva Las Vegas) that I shot classic cars and pinups.

How is shooting cars different from shooting women?

Cars require more lights, more information and creative positioning. I have photographed thousands of women but shooting cars alone always poses a challenge. I can never light two cars the same. Every car has its own set of curves, lines, angles, etc. I am very particular about locations, lighting and reflection.

What is the most memorable rods or bikes shoot you have ever shot?

I will always remember the shoot I did at Viva Las Vegas in 2007 with Dayna Delux, Kim Falcon, Jasper James and Bettie Nice. I had my buddy’s hot rod all lined up at sunset ready for a shoot with my girls. We had to control the crowd and keep everyone back because he was going to shoot some massive flames from behind it. We finally got the crowd back to a safe distance and the shoot was on. I don’t think I have ever seen a crowd around me like that before. I was elbow to elbow in people but I got my shot! When I was done everyone applauded. That was an amazing feeling I will never forget.

Mitzi & Co. made an appearance on Rock of Love II with Bret Michaels in 2008 — how did that come about?

I actually turned VH1 down twice! They were pretty persistent and finally we worked out a deal for me to shoot at their location. It was my first real TV experience and I had a blast. I got called back by the same production team to do the Antonio Treatment last year and have since worked on two other projects.

You do workshops at your Pinup Beauty Academy – what kind of workshops are these and what kind of people attend? When are you planning your next workshops?

I’ve always made myself available to answer any questions about pin-up culture; a lot of women want to learn how to recreate the pin-up look. It’s an art form and I have some of the best stylists around, and that gave me the idea to start offering classes.

These classes, the Pin-up Academy, are open to women and men who want to learn to recreate the pin-up look. Our next workshops will be offered at Viva Las Vegas this year. This will be our 2nd year inside the Boardroom at Viva. Last year was a huge success, so we have added more classes on Friday and Sunday. We also try and offer them bi-monthly in my studio in San Dimas, CA.

HOT: Traveling the world!

NOT: Late models…