Meet the Publishers: Nude Magazine
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Meet Nude Magazine
Nude Magazine is an issuu newcomer, but their beautifully-styled content makes them a publisher to watch. Twenty-two-year-old Raylene, Nude’s founder and editor in chief, wanted her magazine to be by the people and for the people — specifically creatives living in Los Angeles. Her motto of “Real, raw, and true.” is evident in each page, and she makes a point to handpick every person featured to keep that message alive.
How did you get started?
Raylene: Coming out of high school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I liked graphic design, and yearbook was something I did while in school, but I didn’t have any thoughts about going into publishing back then. I went to college because it was just something you did as the next step, but I wasn’t into it, so after a year and a half and left. I started modeling and ended up not liking it, but, I did like the non-modeling aspects of it, like working with the photographer and picking shoots. After doing creative directing for a jean company called Foxy Lux, I found that I loved that, so eventually I stopped working for them and started doing my own thing. Seeing all the creative people around me in L.A. inspired me to start Nude because I really wanted to give them some exposure. It’s also called Nude because I want it to be real and raw. Anything you say goes, and there really is no censorship.
How does L.A. inspire what you do?
R: Nude is really just a publication by and for a group of creatives [in L.A.]. Like I said, I see so much out there — designers, photographers, models — there are just so many creative people out there that I want to get together for this magazine. There are also great musicians and DJs that I want to give exposure to or that already have a following. All of L.A. inspires me: museums, art galleries, coffee shops that sell magazines — all of it. There are so many creative people here — a lot of my friends are modeling, starting their own businesses, making music, etc. I even have friends doing this amazing project where they’re building an art gallery in a greenhouse! I feel super creative living in L.A. and I think it can inspire everything you do, not just with magazine publications.
What goes into making each publication?
R: I put it all together in the end. There are photographers that submit content, and I have a friend named Audrey that is going to start contributing for a section called Bare Thoughts. I have photographers I knew because I modeled before, so I had that core group I liked, which has now expanded. When a new photographer contacts me, I set up a shoot with them that I can creative direct. I pick the model and the theme, and then work with the photographer throughout the shoot. I have people doing the content, but I still do the layout, some writing and mostly all the design for each issue.
Any advice for your readers?
R: Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something because you’re too young. You can accomplish so much nowadays through social media and different connections you have. It’s really all about who you know. Do what you love and everything will work out. Also, never take anything for granted. Being young, sometimes we take things for granted, but just take a step back and realize how blessed you are.
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