Phebe - Gold Coast beauty
My first photo session was probably one of the most exciting, yet nerve-wracking experiences of my life! I felt unstoppable that day and really enjoyed myself. Even though I had absolutely NO idea what I was doing, the photographer made me feel confident and helped me with my posing and things like that -- we actually ended up getting some awesome photos together and have worked together since then on multiple occasions.
I'm from a friendly town in Victoria, Australia where I spent the first nine years of my life enjoying being a child and experiencing the love between my parents that raised my two sisters and I. My parents were doing quite well with their business and decided to move it and the family to north Queensland, where we spent the next two years. From then, we would pack up again and move to south-east Queensland to the tourist destination known as the Gold Coast, where I am still currently living.
It was a hard transition going from primary schools in friendly towns where everyone knew each other to starting at a new high school in a new city where the girls at school were brutal towards each other and the social structure built on competition. I found it difficult to find a place where I fit anywhere. With the unexpected suicide of my father in my second year of high school and my already finding it difficult to adapt, I found myself faced with life's harsh reality much sooner than my peers, which lead me down a path of disillusion and self-discovery. I used my premature existential crisis to delve further within myself, which became my creative drive and aided me through my troubled years, which has lead me to find a lifestyle I enjoy and become the strong and confident woman I am now.
I went through a lot of phases growing up where I wanted to pursue different things. Mainly, I wanted to be a veterinarian as I've always had an indescribable love for animals. But unfortunately I discovered how terribly squeamish I am so becoming a veterinarian was no longer realistic.
As I think every girl did at some point though, I secretly wanted to be famous! Whether it was singing or acting, my sisters and I would make little movies and duets together all the time and have our parents video tape us. I discovered that I could sing in my early teenage years; had singing lessons and got the lead role in my high school musical. I think life just got in the way of all of that but I do still enjoy singing really loudly when I'm alone in my car!
I always had musical idols but I went through a phase when I was about fourteen where I was super in to makeup and would watch countless YouTube videos of Kim K's trademark smoky eyeshadow look trying to perfect it. I got a lot of my inspiration for my earlier, amateur self-timer selfies from pages like Tumblr and Instagram and create my own "photo shoots". Rebecca Fox and Cleo Wattenstrom have always been MAJOR insp for me!
It wasn't until I started my Instagram page in 2016 that modelling came in to my life. It all started when my following boosted from a couple of hundred people to a couple of thousand and I began receiving offers from all kinds of freelance photographers in my area asking if I wanted to collaborate for a shoot. My first photo session was probably one of the most exciting, yet nerve-wracking experiences of my life! I felt unstoppable that day and really enjoyed myself. Even though I had absolutely NO idea what I was doing, the photographer made me feel confident and helped me with my posing and things like that -- we actually ended up getting some awesome photos together and have worked together since then on multiple occasions.
I am my own boss. I collaborate with other Instagram users with photography and promotions. This allows me to discover new brands, photographers and opportunities to grow as a social media influence. However, I have been in contact with an agency very recently that I am considering!
My favourite shoot location was right here on the Gold Coast on top of a skyscraper. The views were amazing and we got some great pictures. I remember standing on the building's edge with nothing but a glass pane between me and a 100 metre descension. The minutes I spent posing there felt like forever as I tried not to let myself look down! Seeing the photos afterwards made the whole experience all the more amazing.
It all depends on the kind of model you want to be and how far you want to go. I definitely would recommend young girls to look in to well-known agencies that can build your skills and portfolio with a professional touch and gain experience within the fields you wish to pursue. In my experience as a freelance model, I spend time familiarising myself with the photographer's work and style. It is super important that you feel comfortable with what you are doing so that you can enjoy the full experience of what you are creating together.
I can appreciate all kinds of art; though I like what I can feel. Not to touch, but where I resonate with the artist's creation. For example, music can connect to emotion. I'll tune in to a song or an artist that connects with how I'm feeling at a time. Hearing or feeling a description that resonates with me makes me feel a kind of peace. I feel something similar when I see a breathtaking photo of a landscape or a beautiful garden. I suppose to answer that, I like any form of art that brings me peace.
Fitness has become a huge part of my life! I see my social media profile is a part of that hobby. I really enjoy connecting with my following about fitness and health. Sharing my fitness journey, inspiring and gaining inspiration from others is a huge motivator for my fitness goals and career.
The rest of 2017 is going to be huge! You can keep fully up to date with all of my endeavours from Travel and Fashion to Health and Fitness, by following me on Instagram: @phebody_ ❤