Today we’d like to introduce you to Mattison Hunter.
Hi Mattison, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started my journey in modeling in 2020 during the pandemic. A great friend of mine Chris Polycarpe decided we should do a shoot for fun. We shot at some abandoned buildings, with no real theme or concept. The pictures came out amazing and I posted them to my instagram. From there, modeling was pretty slow as far as paid gigs which didn’t come until years down the line. I went to college that fall (2020) and modeling slowed down completely for me. I still loved fashion and posted fit pics every now and then. I withdrew from my freshmen year of college because of my academic challenges at the time with Covid-19 and came back home in the spring semester (2021). I started working a job because I was not in school, and I would shoot from time to time with friends and other people that reached out to me. Every time I did a shoot it was an opportunity to get seen by someone else who may be interested in my modeling services. I got booked for a paid shoot for the first time in 2022 for a upcoming fashion brand in Atlanta. Every shoot I have done seems to produce new clients that want to work with me. From 2021 to now it has been a growing snowball effect with getting work on my own. I am getting to a point now where I am getting booked pretty frequently through social media alone which is something I’m extremely grateful for. So as far as where I am today, I would say I am heading in the right direction with modeling and I am going to continue to try to grow as much as I can along the way. I am going to continue to build my networks and connections and become a star in the fashion/modeling world. I can’t wait to see where my talents take me and what doors will be opened!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Modeling has been very smooth for me. I think the bumps in the road come with unnecessary pressure being put on yourself. I look at things a lot differently than others in a sense that I don’t feel a lot of stress or pressure in modeling. I don’t feel like I have to fake an image or force relationships to get more bookings, I just shoot and see where it takes me. There has definitely been difficulties along the way. Navigating the modeling space on your own is very tricky and I don’t have much guidance in the industry. A lot of people also try to get over on models and in the fashion industry models are definitely last to get paid. My biggest difficulty has definitely been monetizing my talents. I have a lot of brands that reach out but sometimes we aren’t able to agree on the terms of the shoot. Another difficulty I’ve faced is trying to grow and reach a broader audience with my “small” platform. A lot of the modeling now is through instagram influencers and celebrity marketing, With that, brands are more inclined to budget a influencer rather than a model to promote growth in their business. My last difficulty I have faced is trying to get signed to an agency. I think this would make thing a lot smoother for me and it would allow me to just focus on the modeling. I have to coordinate with brand owners and negotiate terms myself which would be the role of an agent typically. An agent would also help me reach that bigger pool of clientele. Although I’ve had some difficulties in the modeling space I don’t let anything bother me or steer me off my path. I know that big things are heading my way and all I can do is wait and be consistent.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a freelance model based in Atlanta Georgia, I specialize in modeling fashion brands and concept shoots. I’m most proud of accomplishing new things and overall growth. One of my proudest shoots so far has been the shoot I recently did for ShopLHP and NASCAR It really caught me off guard that I was shooting for something as big as NASCAR but it also reminds me to keep doing what I’m doing because you never know who is watching. I love shooting for new brands and having repeat clients! In modeling I think what sets me apart most is my hair, you don’t see too many models with freeformed hair so that is something that sets me apart appearance wise. I think my connections with the brand owners also sets me apart. I try to be consistent, professional, and on time to all my shoots so those that book me know from their first shoot with me I am someone that is reliable. I also feel like I have a great personal style and a certain swag about myself that draws peoples interest in having me shoot in the first place.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The first thing I see in the fashion industry is a lot of turnover with brands and models. A lot of these brand owners for streetwear or instagram brands are just business owners. I think they are using fashion to make money and go into the fields they are actually more passionate about. I feel like clothes are the trend right now so there are a lot of people in it for the look and not the love of fashion. I think we will see a drop off of those people in the space who aren’t genuinely passionate for it. In the next 5-10 years I also see modeling becoming way more diverse through the power of social media. For example Kai Cenat recently did a photoshoot for Nike. I think we will see a lot more of that in the future. My last thoughts are that there will be ton of creativity in the future for m0deling, fashion, brand owners, and creatives. With the way social media breeds influencers I can see the fashion space being even more creative and individualistic in the next 5-10 years. I am excited to see what the future holds for myself as well as other creatives.
Pricing:
- Please reach out through DM or email to inquire about rates.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattisonhh/
Image Credits
Images by Oberon Asscher, WishATL, ShopLHP x NASCAR, Akbar Khan, Luvabominable, Blaxkthebrand
