There are a lot of ways to become a model. Today we like to share with you the story of Hollie Charlotte Myhill and her first session:
"In July 2016 I decided to try my hand at modelling, I've always enjoyed the creative aspect of modelling and thought it was something I would like to get involved with at some point. I decided to do my first TF shoot with a very talented photographer Chris Harrison. I looked through his images and loved the variety in his styles and the way he catered to each models good points and angles and made them look great. My sister had worked with him previously and her photos were amazing.
I contacted Chris and he was friendly, helpful and lovely. He came to my house to pick me up for our shoot and straight away I felt at ease with him, he was so funny and made me feel totally relaxed. We went to Plessey Woods near bedlington Tyne and Wear. I had the idea to do a woodland shoot and wore a huge black net skirt, my Mum had made me and it looked amazing! Just the affect I was after, like a gothic fairy princess affect. Other props I used were black helium balloons and a huge fairytale book which I pretended to read through whilst Chris snapped away. The weather was beautiful that day it was really hot and there I was in a long black skirt and black lace top. I was nervous as it was a busy day in the park/ woods and people were looking at me. Chris was great and told me not to be concerned with others opinions and to just enjoy it all.
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A lot of people stopped and watched and a couple took photos themselves which I was a bit embarrassed by. I thought I would know how to pose after years of watching and looking at others but I soon realised I literally wasn't sure at all. That's when Chris helped a lot, anyone that knows Chris knows he's a bigger bloke and has his stick to help him about and he's so full of fun and it really shines through that he's one of life's good guys, he got into really amazing and girly poses to help and show me what to do and it was hilarious, helpful and kind. He made the full experience enjoyable and I enjoyed his company more than anything. We chatted on about life in general and got into talking about when I was at school and how a boy was unkind about my looks, Chris called him a cheeky ba*stard and said that no one has the right to feel they can say something hurtful to anyone else. He made me realise that I do pay a lot of attention that I really shouldn't to people who are unkind and nasty.
We then went to a gate near the airport which backed onto an airfield and it was amazing! Chris knew the spot would make a great shot and waited for a plane to take off, we got this photo and it looked fab! I wore a guns and roses body suit and leather shorts with high black heels and Chris lent me his sun glasses. We then went to a nature reserve but just the car park as Chris said we needed a metal gate or something to that affect to fit in with what I was wearing. We found one there and it worked really well, Chris even showed me how to hook a heel up onto the gate and lean back into my poses, which looked great on the finished images. Chris is so talented! Each time he took a good snap he made nice reassuring comments such as "great" and "lovely" little things like that really help with your confidence when doing a shoot.
Chris warned me prior to the shoot he doesn't do photoshop, I was so anxious about this, I kept thinking all my flaws would be on display, but he must have a fabulous camera because I loved every photo. It put me in the right direction to keep pursuing modelling as I started with the best person I could have. I will always be grateful to Chris.
I am 5.8 in height so I'm not majorly tall but not short either and I'm a size 8. I was worried about looking lanky or too skinny and I didn't feel like that after I got my images back. I am 29 years old, I'm married and have a two year old son. I thought to myself, if I don't do it now I never will. I've since then done numerous shoots with lots of different photographers, I have had artwork done of myself by Gary Cozier too which I adore. I feel that the more direction and kindness a photographer gives me the more I feel I can let go and create great images. I have such a passion for modelling and adore the creativity of it all. It really is like making art and I love speaking to the photographers before hand and finding out what styles they like and telling them what I like and then coming up with a amazing themes and ideas together.
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I am part of Tyne Tees models in the family section but want to progress onto the women's section. I am such a hard worker when it comes to my modelling I enjoy it so much. I have been paid for a couple of shoots but to be honest it doesn't bother me if I get paid or not that's how much I love it. I love doing TF with photographers I admire especially as it makes me feel happy that I'm not being charged for photos when other people would have to pay for their expertise. I've never paid for a shoot yet and to be honest I don't see the need to as of yet.
There's been times I've felt I need to get cosmetic surgery to fit in as a lot of the models on "the scene" have their lips, boobs and Botox done and it has made me think about it, but then I wouldn't be me and I think in an ever changing world it's nice to just be yourself and il never be everyone's cup of tea and I've learnt that's ok. I've been told I have a quite high fashion look about me and there's not much scope here in Newcastle for that type of thing, but that doesn't put me off. Il keep doing it because it makes me happy and simply makes my soul sing."
Thank you Hollie for sharing with us the memories of your first session as a model here in Streetfashion MagZZine.