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Art-oriented modeling agency Photogenics has just announced the imminent launch of its own avatar division. Thanks to this, according to a press release now shared with nft, models currently under contract with Photogenics will now have the option to have “edgy, lifelike avatars” they create for use in virtual worlds. The underlying technology avatars that drive these 3D creations are spearheaded by Nina Hawkins of Lilium Labs and 3D filmmaker Sage Morei of Horizon Labs. Photogenics’ avatar division will feature 13 3D avatar models currently under its banner.
why it matters
While seemingly worlds apart, professional athletes and models have one important thing in common: They can only perform at the highest level for so long. Just as professional athletes rarely break down in their careers for more than 20 years, models face a relatively limited career. But not for long. With Photogenics’ avatar division, models may finally have a way to overcome the physical constraints of their careers. “Not like us […] Our avatars never sleep, never age. […] Even long after you retire, your avatar retains your legacy and everything you’ve worked so hard to build,” Hawkins and Morey said in a joint statement on the formation of the avatar division. In addition to providing its models with A new way to preserve its legacy, this move speaks to Photogenics’ understanding of the state of the world. Everything is digital. “As pioneers in the industry, we want to create this opportunity,” Photogenics founder Nicole Bordeaux said in a press release. , so that our industry does not fall into the hands of computer-generated talent. ”
what’s next
The computer-generated talent that Bordeaux hopes to compete with may come from an unlikely source: VTubers. Short for “Virtual YouTuber,” VTuber became popular at the turn of the century. Today, the Internet is flooded with content featuring individuals adorned with virtual role-playing—a style of content commercialization that is in full swing. While the fields of fashion models and VTuber may seem far apart, if the popularity of this growing content niche reaches critical mass, what is preventing some of the biggest fashion brands from using VTuber models in their campaigns? We’ve seen countless crossovers between anime and haute couture – back in 2013, Gucci and Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure teamed up. With Photogenics’ new avatar division, the modeling profession may have a new strategy to keep it relevant amid our growing relevance. digital world. “The tools may be different, but the eyes are the same,” Hawkins and Morey added. “It is reassuring that this new discipline is not meant to replace the traditional way, but to enhance it. Now we can create limitless events across borders and time zones without offline production. Combining talent, agency and avatar , the technology at hand is a powerful tool for propelling the industry into a new virtual age.” But wait, there’s more:
