Sure, it may look like a costume to some, but it reveals a reflection of one’s personality.

Putting a video at the top of the page has become a habit that I’m sad to break. Losing our video host this week was devastating. While we found another host, we were sad to discover that the playback quality was severely lacking. This puts me in the position of deciding to hold off on any new videos until we can move everything to a private server. There’s little point in presenting a video that isn’t going to represent the quality we’ve worked hard to maintain.

Still, we have pictures. We always have pictures. And this week we look at a series of photos we shot earlier this fall that I find defining in some ways. The BDSM Kink dictionary defines the term Brat as “A submissive who is deliberately uncooperative, topping from the bottom, pretending to be young, for the purpose of eliciting attention and/or punishment from their Dom.” The definition fits the DC Comics character of Harley Quinn quite well. She’s submissive only to Joker, and even then only on her terms. A Brat doesn’t view their limited submissiveness as a weakness because they know they are always in control, no matter what their Dom might say.

With that definition in mind, it’s of little surprise that the familiar red and blue costume with colored hair is a popular look come late October. We see various interpretations and renditions frequently. Most of the time, however, the costume is make-believe, a momentary act, taking on the role of a character the actress probably doesn’t understand. Harley Quinn is complicated, after all. The character started life as Dr. Harleen Quinzel, a young psychologist caught up in the fascination of Joker’s deep and dark psychosis. She’s no fool and should never be taken for one. If she sometimes comes off as a bit ditzy it’s for the purpose of mentally disarming her opponent.

Capturing that personality came rather easily for our model because she is, as much as the character she portrays, a Brat. A brilliant young person with a mischievous bent, she is confident, disarming, and full of life. So much so that in processing these pictures, I found myself questioning whether I was playing to the fictional character of DC Comics or the real character of our model. Fortunately, our model doesn’t have a homicidal streak to her (at least, not one that I know). She is often compassionate and caring for those most vulnerable. But, like the character she plays here, she can be defensive of those for whom she cares, and yes, she knows how to swing that bat.

What we end up with is a set of portraits that are part Cosplay, and part personality study. One can revel in the fiery defiance of the Brat without losing the deep sense of humanity and emotional depth hiding beneath the costume. The images are fun and sexy and still reflective. We hope you enjoy them.

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