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The wonderfully talented and beautiful Kirstin Aksnes. She and her beloved dog Moshi both died instantly in a car crash July 13th, 2011.

As her portfolio shows, she was a model of considerable talent and a fire I have not seen the likes of before or since. She recently had insisted on my photographing her for the cover of an upcoming magazine, and I can only say that I was beyond flattered.

When I met her, it was for a shoot in a park in Los Angeles. I won't soon forget the vision of her seated on a bench facing the play area. Like I said, tons of fire.

She had on a pair of Ed Hardy heels during the shoot that had been given to her and in order to show her thanks to them, asked for shots to be taken highlighting the heels. Another highlight was this young lady literally stopping traffic of Victory Boulevard. Drivers who didn't simply stop in the road pulled off into the parking lot or the side of the street, snapping away with their camera phones. At least one driver told me what a beautiful model I had. Kirstin was gracious and never once let the attention go to her head.

She had ideas and was the kind of model I love working with; a collaborator. She was quick to respond to requests, and was great in suggesting things, not the least of which was when she spied an abandoned shopping cart and told me she HAD to get in it. I was expressing my concern about the safety with her in heels and offering to help when she just climbed in like a kid with a new toy and posed away.

Rest well, Kirstin and Moshi. I cannot begin to tell you how much you'll be missed.