Today we’d like to introduce you to Akazha Green.
Akazha, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always had a passion for modeling. In high school, I played sports, but I was always that girl taking pictures before/after practice or just in a mirror. I heard constantly from my peers, “you should model”. My senior year I actually took pictures to apply to a modeling agency. I didn’t get a callback, but that didn’t stop me. In 2016, I had hit an all-time low in my life. I had to learn a lot of lessons and just naturally wasn’t very confident in my decisions and myself. I changed my college courses to online and moved to Florida. I would like to believe that Florida saved me. Opened me up to the real me.
One night I said I’m going to go full force into my passion. I did research, looked up photographers in the area, invested in a shoot, and I haven’t looked back since. It was just so natural for me. I would say my portfolio this year is the best it has ever been. I had to learn that all free work isn’t good work and it can hold you stagnant in this industry. Once you have created a better look and have worked with better photographers, it’s important to keep moving up. I don’t always get a chance to be in a studio so every now and then I’ll do my own shoot at home with my own studio set to just continue to make sure I work towards getting better. That saves me a lot from jumping to any shoot offered and ruining my craft/worth.
Great, 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?
It has not been a smooth road. You learn so much when you start with no agency or so guidance. I had to learn that posing is an art, you have to work at it. You would think it’s so simple and anyone can do it, but it’s not. I learned to not expect to get paid right off back. You do have to invest money in this field just like any other business. Bring a friend with you if you’re not familiar with the photographers or the area. I always bring a friend that helps out as an assistant makes it a lot easier to say this is an assistant over I just brought a friend because I’m not fully comfortable. Networking is so important! Don’t leave a photoshoot with bad impressions be yourself. Photographers like to test shoot all the time bringing positive vibes might make them consider you again but for free. Also, it’s great to be versatile know how to do hair, makeup, and a good sense of basic styling. This saves money time and helps you not miss any new ideas the photographer might have or get during your session.
Please tell us about Akazha Green.
I am a model and a certified mua. When modeling I prefer more commercial, print, and editorial. I am just proud of how I didn’t let the lessons in this industry break me. What sets me apart is my personality and that I’m open to criticism. I bring a lot of laughs with me to a shoot and I’m able to break the ice fairly quickly. I also am very diverse, so if need be, I can do my own makeup, hair, and style myself. I like to get the photographers involved a lot in what I’m doing. I’ve learned that what I see doing a shoot and what they see it’s completely different it’s important to take direction from them and opinions on what will look better for you shoot. They are able to visualize what it will look like in the end.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory from my childhood is pageants. I held the title of Young Miss Talon and Preteen Miss Daleville. Pageants were taken very serious growing up. Walking around the house on Saturday mornings in heels, answering pop quiz interview questions. Leaving softball practice to do homework then outside in the driveway practicing my walk all night. Your goal was not to be in the pageant but to be your VERY best and win.
Pricing:
- 75 an hour per session.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Kazha_nicole
Image Credit:
Photographers: Vegas, Michael Moore, Cam, Stylist: Sirgade
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