Meet Minah Smarr

Today we’d like to introduce you to Minah Smarr.

Minah, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Honestly, it probably started with growing up watching America’s Next Top Model. I admired the women making a career based on their beauty and ability to create art with their bodies. I’ve always loved having my picture taken, however, was never really comfortable, confident, or knew what I was doing in front of the camera even though strangers constantly told me “you should be a model!” My family members deemed me the “fashionista” from a young age due to my love for cute outfits. Once I taught myself how to do my own makeup during my freshman year of college(2016-2017), it was over with. I started taking more selfies, asking my few friends to snap me up & using a self-timer on my phone. By the time I decided to get in front of a professional camera, I had built my confidence by spending countless hours studying the do’s and don’ts and practicing with my phone camera and in the mirror. My very first professional photo shoot was in January of 2020. Then here comes Covid.

Living with a high-risk parent had me terrified to leave the house so I shot with maybe two or three photographers that whole year. But I refused to let my fear of being around people stop me. I would style myself and do my makeup just to practice taking pictures. I took a million photos on my phone literally just in my dad’s driveway, backyard, or I would tote my tripod around to different people-less spots around my city. At first, I had a friend and my sister helping to flick me up, then I went solo. 2021, I started doing more photoshoot collabs and taking really good photos both professionally and by myself. I learned how to edit photos to enhance my iPhone pics, cut out the wait time from photographers and any possibility of not liking the edits I receive. Most people can’t tell the difference when I take my own photos until I tell them. That’s how I knew I was ready to put myself out there.

One of my mutual followers randomly ended up booking me to star in his music video in May of 2021 and that gave me the confidence I needed to start submitting my photos to casting directors… like maybe I could do this foreal foreal; and my dream of being paid to be pretty began. I became a freelance, working model and video vixen officially in June of 2021. I’ve worked with Lil Duval, Boosie Badazz, Lakeyah, Glorilla, and many smaller artists. I’ve obtained eCommerce and fashion photography experience so far and I hope to earn print publications very soon. In March of this year, I was booked by Amanda Harvey to join her in Magic City’s very first high fashion runway show (it was also my very first runway show). I’ve done one more runway show since then and this is where I’m at now!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Ups and downs should be expected on any path one choose to take. I’m very fortunate to say that bad experiences outside of my control have been few and far between for me. Most of my struggles are internal, like being frustrated when I encounter a string of rejections. I focus on my affirmations during the slow moments where I feel that I’m not getting the work I want or making the progress I’d like. I try to focus on the greatness that I know is coming rather than the speed of my progression. Of course, that’s easier said than done. One of the first things anybody in this industry will tell you that you need is THICK SKIN to handle things like rejection or criticism.

A lot of times, I don’t even get a response, which by the way is much worse than a “no.” I’d rather be acknowledged and rejected than straight ignored, ya know? I’d rather be criticized so that I can make improvements. But I keep trying, regardless, and doing the work that will attract the right people to me. I believe that the things that are meant for me will come to me but I also have to present myself in order to be found. So I keep going. Perseverance is what separates the people who really want it from the people who thought it would be easy to chase your dream. I’d rather deal with the difficulty of chasing my dream than the difficulty of finding a new passion.

Also, it’s not easy constantly being surrounded by a bunch of other people who are just as used to being one of the most attractive people in the room as you are. It requires a lot of constant internal work to prevent myself from comparing my appearance or my journey to other models. I try to eradicate thoughts like “why them and not me?”, “Why am I not good enough?”, or “what’s wrong with me?” Comparison is the thief of joy! I have to trust that anybody who sleeps on me is just missing out.. or I was being divinely protected.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I style myself and do my own makeup for photoshoots. I get more paid work for video shoots than I do for photoshoots even though that’s where my passion started. Probably due to my ability to provide that vixen sex appeal. My look is really edgy, not for everyone, and I change my hairstyle often. Clients and collaborators love my self-awareness for what looks good and ability to execute an idea. I show that I’ve taken the time to learn the actual skills of modeling and posing: every photographer or cameraman I encounter tells me how easy and fun I am to work with. I become a favorite really quickly since I’m a model that takes direction well but doesn’t require it. The hardest part about shooting with me is having too many good shots to choose from.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
DM me on Instagram @thatsminah or email me at [email protected]

Pricing:

• Photoshoots: $100/1 hour or $75/hr for 2+ hours
• Videoshoots: $150/up to 4 hours, $50/hr for additional hours
• Contact for Content Creation

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Instagram.com/thatsminah

Image Credits:
@ace.the.visionary_ @sirdified @itsgroovy_ @selectivefocus_atl @benguche