Cheryl Reddevil: Intimate Realism in a Virtual World

Spotlight Interview with Cheryl Reddevil

See More Cheryl’s Outstanding Work: PRIMFEED

Blending sensuality, emotion, and authenticity, this Second Life creator captures moments that feel strikingly real inside an unreal world.

For readers discovering you for the first time, who is Cheryl Reddevil and how would you describe your creative presence in Second Life?

I don’t know that I fit any one creative slot in SL. I’m certainly a “pornstar” but I do mainstream type shots as well. I like to be creative so when something strikes me as sexy, or fun, or creative I try to move on that and create something that fits my style or challenges my creative process.

When did you first enter Second Life, and what originally drew you to the platform?

I came in a long time ago just a curious patron of the space. I was exploring and meeting people and found it was a creative place to explore and have fun away from the rigors of a very hectic but fulfilling real life. That helps me keep SL in the proper balance as more of a fun game.

At what point did you begin experimenting with photography and visual storytelling in Second Life?

I don’t remember when, but I was asked to be a model for someone and saw what they were doing and I got intrigued into what I could do. I just kept experimenting and found what I thought was a fun process and a place I can be as creative as I wish.

What motivates you to keep creating new content and pictorial scenes?

Discovering new ideas motivates me the most. Seeing if I can create something that is exciting, provocative, and fun. I also get to interact with some fun models and photographers from time to time and watch them be creative with me.

When you’re building an image, what usually comes first for you — the scene, the outfit, the pose, or simply a concept you want to bring to life visually?

Well, I hate to answer with the “it depends” but it really depends on what I find or see. Can be the outfit for sure, I like to explore poses and construct from that, and then sometimes I have an idea that I want to see if I can create. I explore and see what moves me and create from that.

How important are props, environments, and set design when you’re composing a photo?

I’m not a big prop person so my shots are usually focused on the people in the shot, not so much the surrounding. However, the set can set the mood and I use that on occasion.

Are there any Second Life photographers, bloggers, or creators whose work you particularly admire or who have influenced your style?

I’ve tried to develop my own style so I look unique but there are several I follow and like almost anything they publish. So many it is hard to name just a few. Here are some different examples of adult creators and bloggers that I love to see their creations.

Nicoletta Carlucci-Desmoulins ~ PRIMFEED
.:: ℬᴇᴇ ::. ~ PRIMFEED
Y Å Ɲ Å .ＣＯＵＲＬＥＹ ~ PRIMFEED
Lexi Cortes ~ PRIMFEED
Sasquatch Rhino ~ PRIMFEED

Your images often have a strong sense of mood and sensuality. What inspires that aesthetic for you?

I really strive for a realistic look for my images. I want the people viewing it to have a sense of reality and not of cartoonish fun. That is just my style, so I concentrate on the people in the image, the faces always have emotion or feelings, so I can create an image that feels like it could really be happening. I want to feel that realness in the connection between the people.

When someone views one of your images, what kind of reaction or feeling do you hope it evokes?

Well it would depend on the image. Could be sensuality, could be fun, could be danger, it just depends on what I am creating. Want to invoke a sense of realism in my image in the unreal world.

What role do lighting, Windlight settings, and camera angles play in shaping the mood of your photos?

Well, all of that helps set the mood for the image and the response of the viewer. My images tend to be a little brighter than others because I concentrate on the people so I want you to see the people in the image and what the person is feeling in the shot. I also want to create my signature style and lighting so they when you see a Reddevil Studios shot you know it.

Can you walk us through your typical workflow when creating an image—from the initial idea to the finished post?

I think I’ve covered a lot of this in previous answers as it all depends on where it starts as to where it will finish.

How much post-processing or editing do you usually do after capturing a shot in Second Life?

I do very little processing after the shot. I do make little edits from time to time to create my image and put a little style into it. Mostly, I arrange everything in world and take the image as it comes from SL.

The adult side of Second Life photography can sometimes blur lines between art, fashion, and sensual expression. How do you personally approach that balance in your work?

My philosophy is that whatever you are doing it should be fun enough to do it. I don’t take my SL that seriously but when I was blogging a lot it began to feel like a part time job and that was not fun. I don’t want to give it my all in RL and come home and work an SL job too. So, when I create, I want it to be fun and catch my interest at least. And I have varied interest in SL. I enjoy pushing myself in the adult side of SL and creating sexy and sensual items. But I’m also a shopaholic and so I love doing fashion looks and creating outfits to post as well. Sometimes, I can merge the two which is a lot of fun.

For creators who are just starting out in Second Life photography or blogging, what advice would you give them about finding their own style and voice?

Have fun with it. Don’t take it too seriously and just enjoy creating what you want to create. If you depend on others to make you happy with your art, you can be very vulnerable. Make yourself happy with what you create and share it with the world.

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