We were lucky to catch up with Chloe Juniper recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Chloe thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I recently did a photoset where I got to cry during it. I had been processing a lot of stressful emotions the past few days, and my husband and I were offered the opportunity to shoot in a new studio. We accepted, and once we got there I realized my usual energy wasn’t present. I didn’t feel sexy, or strong, I felt defeated, I felt raw. I asked my husband, Adam Rosenfield, to capture the grief and guilt, and fear I was processing. I let myself just cry and feel while he snapped the photos. It was a cathartic and healing experience and made me realize afterward that I want to begin creating photosets, both with myself and other people, to capture moments that are important to them in ways not typically seen in photography on social media.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I grew up in a cult. My every moment of existence was monitored and criticized, especially as a female. My clothing had to be a certain length, I was not allowed to cut my hair until my late teens, and I was not allowed to go to school or have friends. I am self-educated up until I was able to get out when I turned 20, and then taught myself the GED prep book in order to get my GED and apply for college. My life basically began as an adult, and in a way, I’ve felt like I’m going non-stop to catch up on everything I missed out on ever since. Art has always been my escape, my drive, my saving grace. It offers me motivation and fulfillment that nothing else has so far. I love telling stories through my modeling and have been so lucky to get to meet and work with Steve Marshall, who has not only allowed me to work with him to create stunning photosets but who has actively encouraged me to become my own creative. I have been able to work as a Creative Director recently, and I absolutely love it. I want the photos I’m involved in creating to have some form of meaning or elicit an emotional response every time, even if it’s something simple like capturing a laugh or taking a photo and getting to play with colors. I’m picky about my portfolio and want every image to be something I really love. Something else I’m passionate about is literally understanding people, especially as someone who was raised with a one-minded mindset and had to unlearn everything I grew up with to discover who I am and what I stand for. I got my Bachelor’s Degree in Integrative Studies with a focus on Psychology, Counseling, and Social Work. I want to support others who had similar childhood upbringings to have a safe space to process and grieve in, and I’m working on how to develop that.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I want to learn as much as I can so I can continue to grow as a creative as I age. I’m aware modeling has an expiration date for most people. I dislike that, and perhaps I can work to develop change for that. I also don’t ever want to feel stuck as a social media model. Although that is a wonderful way to express myself and show my work, I want to network and learn how to do more than social media. I want to become involved in other means of artistic creation – gallery submissions, film acting, and editing, and always support other artists in various creative fields. My mother-in-law, Louise Rosenfield, is a potter and hosts the Dallas Pottery Invitational every year here in Dallas. Through her, I have loved meeting potters and learning a different art form that otherwise I would not be privy to – the pottery community is also extraordinary, they are all so supportive of each other and it makes me want to make the photography industry the same way instead of constant envy and gatekeeping that occurs. I am always so humbled when someone tells me something they appreciate about my work, especially when it’s something specific. I feel so immensely happy that something resonated with someone enough that they share that with me.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I feel like I’ll be preaching to the choir here, but I’ll share what has worked for me, and when I say It’s worked for me, I both mean it has been successful in helping me build my social media platform, but it’s also something I truly enjoy and makes me happy. I’d say be genuine in how you express yourself. Learn your audience. Try different forms of photos and see what seems to resonate, and interact with your followers. Follow people you admire, and let them know what you admire about their work. I really enjoy getting to meet new people by them sending me messages talking about something I posted in my Stories or my Feed and then getting to follow them and support them in return. Definitely only talk to those who you are comfortable talking with, though. Never, ever be afraid to block someone if you feel it necessary. Protect yourself first, always.    

Contact Info:

• Instagram: http://instagram.com/girl.with.the.dragonair.tattoo
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chloe.j.hedrick
• Linkedin: http://linktr.ee/girl.with.the.dragonair.tattoo
• Youtube: http://youtube.com/@pastelpoleaxe8839
• Other: Podcast: Pastel Poleaxe on Spotify

Image Credits
Steve Marshall Adam Rosenfield Beau Campbell Stephan Tran