Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathalie Russell.
Hi Nathalie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I first started modeling in my late teen years. So between 18 years old and 20 years old. I started doing a lot of Photoshoots with different photographers and then eventually small agencies reached out to me and I was signed to a small agency that didn’t get me anywhere.
I’ve always wanted to do photography since I was a young girl I was always buying those disposable cameras from Walgreens and bringing them to school and just taking pictures of my friends. I never was much of a photogenic person because I always felt like I didn’t meet the standard of beauty.
It wasn’t until just a little bit after high school my friends started doing my hair differently I started receiving so many different compliments and different photographers wanted to work with me. It wasn’t until I believe it was on two different occasions that I was sexually assaulted by these photographers.
I won’t go into much detail as it is still a trauma that I feel that I’m still healing from but I wanted to give women a chance to work with another woman who is actually done modeling before and be comfortable with me taking their picture without having to worry about being sexually assaulted or sexually exploited from these predators that hide behind the cameras.
Photography is just one of the talents or skills I would like to say I have I also do custom shirts video editing as well as many other things. I haven’t really gotten a chance to explore more in the photography field because of school and work and just not having time but I do eventually want to go in at 100% and give it my all because I know I will succeed at it.
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?
When I’m in it it’s great I love hyping girls up, I love coming back home to look at the pictures show them the pictures, and see their reactions but one of the challenges that I think every photographer has is coming back home to edit.
Editing can be therapeutic when you have like 1 to 5 images. But when it’s 10 to 15 that’s when the struggle comes because you’re tired and then you start pushing it off and then now it’s like three weeks and you haven’t submitted the clients their images LOL.
But I stated before making time for it when you have so many different things going on.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Other than photography, I also do digital marketing as well as customized shirts.
I recently just graduated with my exercise science and health promotions degree so I’m trying to wean myself back into becoming a fitness professional on the side.
I like to say that I overwork myself sometimes and I haven’t really gotten to the point of organizing in my life to implement all these different tasks or professions that I have but eventually I will, lol.
I just recently started working with different brands as well so aside from everything else I am on YouTube and TikTok creating different content for brands.
What do you think about luck?
I think a combination of good luck and bad luck has played a role in my life and business.
They’re going to be times when you have a wonderful day or even wonderful weeks or even a month but you also have to prepare for those bad days.
Because once those bad days come they come at full throttle and I’ve been put on my ass more times than I can count but I appreciate those days because it pushes me harder.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/n.russphotography?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCpcTFWUmeNcvSCsEJBbBIfA
