R.I.P friend and photographer Christine Kessler.

I am really shocked and heart broken! Just heard that legendary and beloved fetish photographer Christine Kessler has passed away.

When I first started modeling she was kind enough to give me a chance as one of the first international photographers. Although I was still quite inexperienced we made some great work together, and continued to work together whenever we had the chance over the years, which was always a wonderful experience. I got to stay at her place where I had a nice spot on the couch with her sweet greyhound dog. She introduced me to Playboy USA and therefor contributed greatly to my career in that way. Eventually she even came to design my website, which became very successful, with all of her experience. My site has often been copied by others but it was always missing that special Steen touch.

Over the past few years she had not been shooting anymore, which I thought was a damn shame, she kind of disappeared and so we lost touch. I always hoped she would be well, I guess as some expected, that probably wasn't the case  

Dear Steeneeweenee, it is a great loss for you to be gone. You were truly a remarkable and talented person with a warm heart like not many have.

I will always remember when you dragged me along to try LA's delicious Ethiopean food, now my favorite cuisine.

I will always remember how we spent Halloween decorating your house to the tunes of Disney's Haunted mansion and scaring children, my first and only "real" Halloween ever. And your dogs all dressed up in costumes

I will always remember the funny sight of you waiting with your blue punk hair and baggy jeans of in the hallway of our fancy 5 star Beverly Hills hotel shooting location. It was the first time we met, but I knew that could only be my appointment  

I will always remember your epic home made humus and your love for cooking. How you taught me to properly handle garlic by wiggling a big knife over it.

I will always remember how, tho a very humble person, excited you were when the waitress has recognized your name and turned out to be a big fan of your work.

I will always remember the weird situations when working with a new model and other photographers. Too weird to post on Facebook  

I will always remember how you would say a picture looked good cuz I looked like I just got f*cked. Lol.

I will always remember how embarrassed you were when I forgot to tip at the pedicure (I'm Dutch! I'm sorry!) but you didn't say anything until I realized my mistake and then you said "don't worry, we're never going back there anyway." Haha.

Dear Christine, I am so glad I remember so much of what you've said to me and the things we've done and I guess I'm a blessed girl that I got to shoot as much with you as I did and we got to spend so much time together. I am really incredibly sad that you're gone.

No fair. Bye Steenee -♥