View the frequently asked questions about participating

Welcome

Thank you for your interest in being featured in Absent Magazine.

Absent is a creative publication dedicated to preserving stories, celebrating culture, and creating meaningful human connection through photography, writing, and conversation.

We believe every person carries a story worth telling.

In a world that moves quickly, Absent exists to slow down and pay attention... to the people, the memories, traditions, experiences, and moments that shape who we are.

This project is not about modeling. It is not about perfection. It is not about fitting a specific image. It is about authenticity.

Our goal is to create thoughtful editorial features that allow people to be seen, heard, and remembered.

Each participant becomes part of something larger: a collection of stories that document the beauty, diversity, and humanity that connects us all.

The purpose of Absent Magazine is to celebrate people and their stories, preserve culture, heritage, and personal experiences, encourage connection through storytelling, create meaningful editorial artwork that lives beyond social media, and showcase the details that make each individual unique.

Every article combines professional portrait photography, personal interview questions, written storytelling, meaningful objects and details, handwritten elements, and editorial design.

Together, these pieces create a visual and written representation of who you are.

THE PROCESS

01 - Initial Consultation

Our first meeting is designed to get to know one another.

There is no obligation to have previous modeling experience. Our goal is simply to understand your story and how we can best represent it.

During this conversation we will:

Discuss the magazine concept
Learn about your story and background
Review wardrobe ideas
Discuss cultural representation
Discuss details of shoot
Schedule the next step

02 - Preparing For Your Session

Before your session, we encourage you to think about meaningful objects. We love incorporating items that have personal significance.

Examples include:

Family photographs, Jewelry, Passports, Plane Tickets, Recipes, Letters, Books, Artwork, Instruments, Keys, Heirlooms, Keepsakes, and anything that represents an important memory, experience, person, or chapter in your life.

One of our favorite aspects of the magazine is including authentic handwritten pieces.

If possible, we encourage participants to provide:

Their signature, A meaningful phrase, A personal reflection, A favorite quote, A life lesson, A message to their younger self, and/or words that represent their culture, identity, or journey.

These handwritten elements may be scanned and incorporated into the final article design.

03 - Photo Session

The photo session is designed to feel comfortable, relaxed, and collaborative.

No modeling experience is required. You do not need to know how to pose. Our team will guide you throughout the session.

An assistant will also be present to help with styling, posing guidance, and overall support throughout the session.

We will:

Demonstrate poses
Provide direction
Help with positioning
Offer encouragement and feedback
Make adjustments as needed

Our goal is to create images that feel natural, authentic, and representative of who you are.

04 - Interview

Following the photo session, we will conduct a personal interview.

Sample questions can be found on this page below this section.

There are no right or wrong answers. We simply want to hear your story in your own words.

Topics may include:

Childhood memories
Family traditions
Cultural identity
Personal growth
Dreams and aspirations
Challenges overcome
Defining moments
Advice and wisdom
The people and places that shaped you

05 - Editing & Article Creation

After your session, our creative team begins the editorial process.

This stage takes the longest, as each feature is carefully designed to reflect the participants story.

This includes:

Image selection
Photo editing
Article writing
Design layout
Incorporating handwritten elements
Incorporating meaningful objects
Fact-checking & Review
Final magazine

Sample Interview Questions

Every interview is unique.

Questions may vary depending on the individual, their story, and the theme of the magazine edition. The goal is not to provide perfect answers but to share authentic experiences, memories, and reflections.

Below are examples of the types of questions we may explore during the interview:

Tell us about yourself
What is one of your earliest memories?
How would your friends and family describe you?
What did you want to be when you grew up?
What was your childhood home like?
What is a memory that has stayed with you throughout your life?
What does your culture mean to you?
Who has had the greatest impact on your life?
Is there a food, celebration, place, or tradition that immediately makes you think of home?
What is something you wish more people understood about y0ur culture?
What does family mean to you?
What is something difficult that ultimately helped you grow?
What are you most grateful for?
If nothing could stop you, what would you do?
What part of your story deserves to be remembered?
What do you hope people remember about you?

Wardrobe Guidelines

Celebration Of Culture Editions

For our Celebration Of Culture issues, we strongly encourage authentic cultural representation.

This may include:

cultural garments

cultural heirlooms

Traditional clothing

meaningful accessories

family traditions

heritage items

Our goal is to celebrate and honor culture accurately and respectfully.

If you do not have cultural clothing or would prefer not to participate in a culture-focused edition, we would be happy to feature you in a future edition that focuses on other themes and stories.

Standard Magazine Editions

Unless otherwise directed, we ask participants to wear:

preferred:

neutral colors

earth tones

white

black

cream / beige

brown

solid colors

simple textures

please avoid:

large logos

brand names

busy graphics

neon colors

distracting patterns

excessive wording on clothing

trend-heavy pieces that may quickly date the image.

The focus of the magazine is people. We want the viewer's attention to be drawn to your story, your experience, and your presence... not the clothing. Simple wardrobe choices help create timeless imagery.

Hair & Makeup

We encourage participants to come as themselves.

Natural makeup is welcome.

Professional makeup is optional.

the goal is not perfection.

the goal is authenticity.

Magazine Release & Sharing Guidelines

ONCE THE MAGAZINE IS COMPLETED:

Participants will receive a digital copy of their completed article.
Participants will receive a digital copy of the final magazine.
Participants are encourage to share their photographs, article, pages, and feature announcement on personal social media accounts.

SHARING THE MAGAZINE:

To help preserve the integrity and value of the publication, we respectfully ask that participants do not publicly distribute or upload the magazine in it's entirety.

While we do encourage sharing your individual article pages, the complete magazine should remain an official Absent publication.

This allows readers to experience the publication as intended while supporting the continued growth and future of the magazine.

Magazine launch dates will be announced through the Absent website and social media channels.

Publication timelines may vary depending on the size of the issue and the number of participants involved.

The Podcast

OPTIONAL FEATURE: ABIGAYL ON AIR PODCAST

Participants may also choose to be featured on the Abigayl On Air podcast. This opportunity is completely optional and is not required to participate in the magazine.

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ABOUT ABIGAYL ON AIR

A.O.A. originally launched in 2024 as a platform dedicated to storytelling, meaningful conversations, and sharing the experiences that shape who we are.

In preparation of partnering with Absent, the podcast underwent a complete rebrand, including the removal of all previous content to create space for a new vision and a stronger alignment with the mission of Absent.

Today A.O.A. serves as an extension of the magazine, a place where stories can be heard in addition to being seen. While the magazine captures moments through photography and written storytelling, the podcast allows participants to share their experiences, perspectives, memories, and personal journeys in their own voice. Together, the magazine and podcast create a more complete representation of the people featured within each issue.

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WHAT TO EXPECT

Podcast conversations are relaxed, conversational, and interview-based.