20 Questions with Hanratty-Stock

This interview is part of a series of articles I've written for dA artists to get better acquainted with the stock community at this site. I hope this will result in stronger communication between stockers and their stock users and provide some inspiration to new stock providers for their stock galleries.

My interview this week features UnicornReality.



UnicornReality is a stock provider from the UK, and she's been offering stock at deviantART since May 2005. She's a well known stock artist, famed not only for her fantastic stock photos, but also for her hot pink hair and endearingly genuine community spirit.

Some of her community spirit can be found in her participation in the stock forum and in various dA stocker chat rooms. She also features dA's artists in her journals from time to time, and she's currently hosting a Surreal/Dark Art Contest (which ends on the 1st of September later this year). Her "We Are Beautiful" stock movement is a call to all stockers to contribute to dA's stock database with a series of poses redone by a variety of models of all sizes and styles.

When I asked UnicornReality for this interview, she was happy to help me out. While discussing the ins and outs of dA stocking, I found myself enjoying her carefree nature and sweet demeanor. She's not only an active member of the stock community, she's a very nice person to get to know. I hope you agree when you read this interview that Hanratty is definitely someone worth getting to know.

1. How can I become a member of your "Love me, love dA family"? (I think your family needs a sister-in-law therapist with a slight drinking problem.)

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UnicornReality: Just drop me a note or a comment somewhere and I’ll stick you on the list. I was quite surprised at the reaction to that. I thought a few people might play along, but it’s nice to see everyone doing something silly together!

2. Being a stock photographer as well as your own model, do you have any tips for taking nice self portraits and full body shots?

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UnicornReality: Most of the good photos I have are done by my better half. But a massive must is to get a tripod. It makes life so much easier.

3. Where do you find your costumes and props?

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UnicornReality: Generally they’re just my clothes that tend to fit in with certain themes – I have some proper costumes off eBay – that’s just because I adore costumes. So ‘stock’ gives me a great excuse to buy more!

4. How did you learn the tips that you offer in your stock tutorials?

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UnicornReality: I have just learned over time really, you pick things up as you go along I think. Most stuff is pretty much common sense like with the correct categorising – but some people who are new might not get it so it’s nice to help out. Just like the stock packs one, there were so many confused people, so I hope it helps out. There’s a lot of trial and error to make things right and I’m still nowhere as good as I’d like to be.

5. What about deviantART makes this the place where you offer your stock?

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UnicornReality: Community. I love it here. The people I have met along the way are absolutely superb. They provide me with advice and laughs and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

6. Sometimes certain images are more popular than one might expect before they upload it to their gallery. Do you have any images in your gallery that have suprised you at how well they've been received?

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UnicornReality:

Is my most used photo – I never thought that it’d get used so many times. It’s nice to see the different pieces people do with it.

7. Likewise, what image in your gallery seems to be the most under appreciated?

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UnicornReality: I always like my nature shots much more than photos of myself – so I’d like to see them used more. But there’s not that much that can be done with a photo of a tree I guess.

_{Some nature stocks from UnicornReality chosen by the interviewer:}

:thumb48349868:



8. In what ways do you feel stock photography relates to art photography?

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UnicornReality: Most stock photography should really be considered art photography in my opinion – many times it doesn’t lack in quality – it’s just for a different use. Most of it isn’t just point and click – there’s thought behind it and effort put into it.

9. What are the 3 most important things a new stock photographer should know before they start a stock account at deviantART?

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UnicornReality:
1. This isn’t myspace or a place to whore yourself for views. It really bugs me to see really bad half headshots of teens in their bedroom and people leaving comments on them like “you’re so pretty!” Yes. They may be pretty, but that photo is never going to be used.

2. Don’t just post stock, get active in the community – you’ll enjoy it.

3. Read up on cameras, browse the stock gallery to see what’s offered and to see what is useful.

10. Who inspires you with their stock gallery?

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UnicornReality: To be honest I think you’ve got to take your inspiration from everyone around you, so I can’t really list people. But I will mention shelldevil; she’s the whole reason I’m here. I saw the great work made with her stock and thought, “that looks good. I want to have a go.”

There are so many awesome people out there – they all know they’re awesome too.

11. "Work made with my stock" is a journal entry with over 400 pieces of art that have been made with your stock. Which 3 of them are personal enough to you that you'd hang them up in your home?

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UnicornReality:
:thumb52724882: by eshkenazi
Though it’s drawn from a non-stock reference; I still adore it. My dog, Toby, is a massive part of my life, so to see a drawing like that really makes my day.

:thumb37801088: by Refused-Addiction
is just super in my opinion, one that I instantly loved and I still do now.

:thumb52771229: by LawrenceDeDark
is another piece that I loved on first sight – it’s odd cos it’s not a full body manipulation, but it’s still so powerful

12. The last time we communicated, you told me that you get to keep your pink locks. Pink hair is cool, so that's good news to me. But it begs the question... Why pink?

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UnicornReality: Well…. I’ve been almost every other colour and I settled on bright red for a while. Then I saw a dodgy packet of hair dye that was bright pink so I thought “what the hell. Go for it!” And that’s how it happened! I do have plans to dye it back red soon though.

13. You only have an hour to chat... So you visit:

a) :#FishnetStockers:
b) TheHarem
c) createbyweek
d) Stock Forum
e) None of the above/I'm shooting stock in my free time.

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UnicornReality: a)-d)! Yes I am that sad. When I’m online I’m generally in the chat rooms even if I’m just lurking and I’ll have another stock related tab open too. So come and visit me people!

14. Money is no problem. Travel anywhere you want to go. Where is your dream photo shoot, and what are you taking photos of for your stock gallery?

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UnicornReality: If money were no problem I’d go everywhere! I’d love to go to some gorgeous places and get many nature and landscape photos. Maybe some wild animals too – that would be superb.

15. What are the 3 most important deviantART links for stockers to know about?

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UnicornReality: Attemptestock’s camera tutorial Fantastic tutorial by AttempteStock who is one of the best here on dA – an added bonus is that she knows what she’s talking about too.

Stock Forum come in and have a look round, participate in the community and get to know people.

Here is where you post your arms length phone shots.

16. You also make stamps for dA subscribers to use in their journals. Which of your stamps is, in your opinion, the best?

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UnicornReality:

Well it has to be the Hoff stamp, inspired by Cat-in-the-Stock


Although the staff picks/DD one got a good response and I see it all over – so that’s pretty nice.

17. The photo in your gallery that gets the most views is "Crux1."

What is it about this photo that makes it your post popular?

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UnicornReality: It was my DD a while back – the funny thing is I think it’s been used about twice. I liked it at the time but as times goes on I tend to not like the things I’ve done, that’s why my gallery is generally quite small. I go on deleting sprees!

18. What can we expect to see in your gallery in the near future?

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UnicornReality: God knows! Hopefully some more naturey shots – just because I like them really! But you never know. I’ll surprise you.

19. What will we never see in your gallery?

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UnicornReality: Myspace style photos. If I ever do them I have given pendlestock full permission to shoot me.

20. What else do we want to know about UnicornReality, dA Stocker, and model extraordinaire?

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UnicornReality: Wellll lets see…I like long walks along the beach and warm nights in front of the fire and I can be reached on 077889….

Thanks, Hanratty, for this interview!

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_{Previous Interviews:
20 Questions with Resurgere (June 4, 2007)
20 Questions with LDD-Stock (May 17, 2007)
20 Questions with Markopolio-Stock (May 14, 2007)
20 Questions with Gracies-Stock (May 7, 2007)
20 Questions with AlinePotter-stock (May 3, 2007)}