Bettie Butcher

If you live for cars and the hot rod lifestyle, you’re at The Ryno Insurance “Downunder Beachfest”, the only five day hot rod event of down-to-earth, family friendly fun held on the beautiful Sunshine Coast beach in Australia.   The festival celebrates every element of the hot rod and classic car lifestyle, with 700 cars on show, cruises, bands, market stalls and the Miss Downunder Beachfest pinup pageant. This year Miss Downunder Beachfest (MDB) was supported by Sailor Jerry which was flowing all day with patrons and pinups trying to collect all four of their new cup designs.    We had burlesque from Summer Dragonfly with her “Sea of the Moon” act, taking inspiration from MGMs top swimming star the glamorous Esther Williams, fitting for an event right on the beach.   With tunes from rockabilly bands The Zephyr Project and the ERT Trio. In our third year of MDB at the Caloundra Hotel, we helped to raised funds for “Project Pink”, a nonprofit fo...

Corsets have been around for hundreds of years, but have experienced a surge in popularity recently, especially within the pinup and burlesque communities.   But it’s not all about pinups and dancers, corsets are for anyone who is interested and I do recommend that you give them a go, as I'm sure you love the shape they create.   I think of corsets as magical, as it will not only make your silhouette smooth and shapely, but they improve your posture and confidence. My obsession with corsetry started on my 18 th birthday, with a gift from my Mumma; it was a Gallery Serpentine Edwardian over bust, full steel boned, finished in black brocade fabric.   This corset was not cheap plastic, it was a solid investment that I had it for over a decade before passing it onto a new loving home.   I am a seasoned corset lover, who took wearing a corset from my darker gothic side, into a more soft and elegant look perfect for pinup. Before you buy a corset, you need to do ...

It's no surprise that pinups love cars, to be honest who doesn't! Pinup goes hand-in-hand with car culture and you'll find most car shows and events support pinups by hosting pageants. Photo DTrain Photography Not every pinup has access to cars for photo shoots and not every photographer has contacts in the car culture. It's a great chance to get some photos with cars and pinups in the same place, and you'll be spoilt for choice! But, there's an unsaid etiquette that everyone (not just pinups) should follow when at events. Remember your dealing with someones pride and joy, a car they may have restored themselves over years, maybe passed on from their parents, a car they have saved for years to purchase, that costs tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars. Always treat cars with courtesy and respect. Photo Rod Moore shooting Parnell Photography The best approach is to have a plan, even a rough one, talk with a photographer/pinup you know an...