Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Walker.
Angela, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am a neuroscientist who studies brain pathways, but I am an artist at heart. On a daily basis, I perform clinical research in pediatrics so that we can better understand the etiology behind cognitive developmental disorders (such as Autism), and we hope to uncover superior treatment methods that surpass the current standard of care. Outside of my day job, I collaborate as a model with photographers and makeup artists to construct unique, eye-catching collections of photographs. I strive to make the world a better place by helping people–whether through my work with patients in the clinic or by creating beautiful images through modeling that capture a story for the viewer to unfold.
As a former collegiate gymnast and dancer, I believe that modeling is a beautiful form of artistic expression using body lines/facial expressions to translate movement and emotion in a photograph. My first modeling experience happened purely by chance when my friend from graduate school said his photographer friend needed a dancer for a unique shoot. The concept was “Angel Wings in the Dark” in which I would be throwing a white powder mixture to create a wing effect when photographed. I had never modeled before, and I was pretty nervous.
What if I couldn’t portray the photographer’s concept? I really wanted his idea to come to life, so photographer Greyson Carlyle and I brainstormed the perfect mixture to get the white powder wing effect, and the result on the day of the shoot was magical. I remember him telling me when we were finished, “Wow-these images just take my breath away. We did it!” What a feeling. Knowing that I had helped develop his idea and make it into something memorable felt fantastic, our own little invention of art. I was hooked, and I wanted to bring to life future concepts of my own.
Continuing down this path, I have been blessed with many opportunities to be involved in multiple collaborations between amazing photographers, hair stylists, and makeup artists. The modeling world has allowed me to express a visual depiction of innovative ideas and imaginative thoughts that can be appreciated by others. I love being involved in a diverse array of photoshoots, and my absolute favorite shoots are those in which I am heavily involved in developing the idea at hand. I am thankful that I discovered this creative outlet, and I cannot wait to see what great things unfold in the future.
Fun side note: The images from the Angel Wing Shoot are now hanging up in a hospital waiting room as a source of comfort for those who are injured/sick.
Has it been a smooth road?
My challenge has always been that there is not enough time in the day to fit all of my passions into it. I thrive in the world of science and medicine, but I am also deeply driven when it comes to modeling and photography. Medical research and modeling gigs are both pretty time-consuming things, so scheduling everything I want to accomplish into my days can seem like an impossible task at times. Prior to getting my Ph.D., I spent long hours in the laboratory performing research on depression and addiction, so I had very little time to dedicate myself to artistic projects.
I now have a total of twelve scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals, including a high impact article in one of the strongest scientific journals in the world, Nature. Yet, I have learned how to balance my time as I want to ensure that my passion for modeling does not slip to the wayside. I truly believe in the notion that never-ending hard work is the way to achieve your dreams. Through this mindset, I have accomplished wonderful things, including my portraits being published in multiple issues of various modeling magazines. I have also had the honor of being the cover model as well as a featured model for magazines such as Mora Modeling Magazine (MMM) and 26&Beyond Modeling Magazine.
That being said, with hard work comes sacrifice. My free time gets absorbed by my art, and I there are times that I need to remind myself to slow down and appreciate the people in my life. A few more hours in my day would give me more time for not only my passions but also my personal relationships. My boyfriend, friends, and family are so supportive of me, and they deserve my time and energy more than anyone, although they don’t always get it. But, at the end of the day, I love what I do. I am so thankful that the people in my life lift me up to help me reach my dreams.
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
Having a strong gymnastics/dance background is truly helpful in modeling. To excel in modeling, you must be very aware of your body positions, length, and shapes that are formed through posing. Certain concepts also require grace or delicacy that only a dancer can exhibit– from the tips of her fingers down to the point of her toes. My second photo shoot that I was involved in a couple of years ago utilized my dance background to play with resulting shadows on a brick wall. There are themes in which a leap or graceful jump elevates the photograph, such as a Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon shoot I recently was involved in.
Furthermore, while I have always been capable of doing my own basic level makeup for shoots, I recently have begun to do my own higher level, more intricate makeup artistry, which also sets me apart from the majority of those in the modeling world. I am constantly seeking to improve upon myself, and I knew that enhancing my makeup skills would be one way to do so. However, I still love collaborating with other makeup artists because they can put their own unique spin on an idea that I may have never thought of.
Lastly, my interests and ideas for photoshoot concepts are very diverse, and they do not simply fall into one simple glamour category. Due to my previous experience as a division I college athlete, I love being active, working out, and staying fit, so athletic shoots are right up my alley. I also enjoy high fashion, eye-catching editorial looks and beauty concepts. However, I am most drawn to avant-garde shoots and outside-of-the-box images that would not be classified as the stereotypical form of “beauty.” These quirky shoots are where I can express the most emotion, and they are a category that not all models are comfortable with doing.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I foresee the industry changing to be more accepting of and appreciate different body shapes, types, weights, and heights. At 5’3, I am considered to be very short for a model; but the reality is, if you know how to work for the camera, you can make yourself appear to be 6 feet tall. I think that the photography world will continue to learn that there is beauty in all the different characteristics that make us each unique individuals.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 281-658-2374
- Email: Angtravels281@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/gazeablaze
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