Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittni Walker.
Hi Brittni, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My first real experience modeling was back in high school when I did my senior portraits, and there was a brief time after this that I seriously looked into modeling. My best friend and I modeled a winter collection for MukLuks (a popular footwear brand in the Midwest), and my mom signed me up for classes at John Casablancas Model and Acting Agency. But my mom thought we could do it on our own and promptly pulled me out of the program after one class. Surprise surprise, agencies were not impressed with her makeshift comp card of my images scotched taped to a paper, and with all of my other school activities, modeling fell off my radar.
It wasn’t until I was in college that my interest sparked again. A good friend of mine, Ingrid, was telling me about her latest photoshoot, and from there, I acquired a photographer’s contact information. Almost every weekend, I was shooting cute outfits in the studio and around the city. My first photo meetup in Chicago marked a turning point for my page – not only did I see growth in my audience, but the connections I made allowed the quality and the quantity of my work to increase. Modeling has followed me to Miami, where I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in Neuroscience. Knowing that no matter where I go, there’s a creative community makes every city feel more like home.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Because this has always been a freelance position for me, I think there has been a lot less stress involved with it. It isn’t my only source of income, so having stretches of unbooked weekends or primarily collaboration work has never been troublesome. What has been a challenge is finding trustworthy artists. Unfortunately, a number of photographers have established a reputation for the whole community of having a predatory nature, and I’ve fallen victim to that. There have been too many times when my limits have been pushed, or a photographer has made an inappropriate comment. My worst experience was with a well-known photographer in Chicago who drugged me in his studio. It took me a while to really understand and come to terms with what had happened. The #MeToo movement has encouraged more people to come forward with their stories, which is so important for protecting other models from dangerous situations.
I also advise models to seek out referrals for anyone they may work within a one-on-one environment. On a much lighter note, I think the other major challenge is visibility on social media. It can be difficult to grow your audience and increase your reach. You have to put a lot of time and energy into it, and sometimes even that isn’t enough. Some people just get lucky with a viral photo or video. Keeping up with all the trends and algorithm changes can be exhausting and can sometimes feel like it’s invading all aspects of your life. Right now, the big thing on Instagram is Reels, so I started a series called Miami Monday, where (most) Mondays I have a Reel of a local spot that I love or have just discovered. I’ve really enjoyed doing this series; however, it makes outings feel like work – Did I get enough video? Where should we get photos? How can I use this trending audio? Ugh, now I have to edit everything together. If you’re in the “business” of content creation, I encourage you to do two things: one, schedule and batch tasks together to optimize your time; and two, don’t be afraid to TAKE A BREAK! I promise the Internet will still be there when you’re ready to come back. There’s no point in burning yourself out.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’ve been a freelance model for almost five years now. As much as I love modeling, it is very much a side gig. My degree comes first, and that means I’m typically only free on the weekends to create. This also means I’ve gotten very picky about the collaborative projects I book. Creative, conceptual projects are my favorite, especially when I can build an accessory or prop. My favorite piece was the fall floral headpiece I put together for this shoot with Tia Powell.
Although the past year has been extremely difficult for so many reasons, I am extremely proud of the work I have produced. The pandemic challenged me to produce content without my usual collaborators. I did some self-portrait work in my apartment, and my boyfriend took on the role of the photographer in other scenarios. I also found my dream creative team during this time, and we had several publications in the past year. My proudest moment so far has been my publication in the Celebrity Issue of Style Cruzé magazine. While I’m certainly not a celebrity, it was such an honor to be included in that issue. I think my background in the performance arts (theater and dance) has really influenced my style in terms of posing and expressions. With theater, you have a character to portray, and modeling can be like that as well. You get to try on a new style or personality.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Over the years, with the boom of social media, modeling has become more inclusive and more accessible. I think that trend will continue and people who may not have had opportunities in “traditional” modeling will be more seen and celebrated. I don’t think runway modeling will completely die off, but I do think they’ll have to adapt, in terms of both inclusion and salary, to stay relevant.
In general, the fashion and beauty industries have seen that they can save a lot of money on advertising by hiring “influencers”; however, people are recognizing their effort and their impact and are asking for their worth. I hope that in the next 5-10 years, we’ll see less “for exposure” offers and more people getting paid appropriately for their work.
Contact Info:
- Email: brittnirae.walker@gmail.com
- Website: www.knockoutkitten.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knockout_kitten/
Image Credits
Featured image – Photographer: Mauricio Yciano, MUA: Adriana Alarcon Orange dress – Photographer: Tia Powell Heart to Heart – Photographer: Mauricio Yciano, MUA: Adriana Alarcon, As Published in Style Cruze Green pants – Photographer: Juan Medina Denim – Photographer: Ryan Rivas Disco ball – Photographer: Logan Ari, PA: Camila Rosa.
