Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emilee The Visionary. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Emilee, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
The biggest risk I’ve taken is changing career paths to pursue modeling and styling. In 2019, I moved to small town Mississippi for college to pursue ministry. Amidst the quiet and calm nature of Bible school, I felt closer to God than I ever had. At the same time, I discovered my love for fashion through the diverse collection of thrift stores in the area. With my experimentation of wearing bright colors and eccentric outfits, peers at school made a joke out of my style and outcasted me. Learning about God in an environment of whispers and side eyes, I quickly got turned off from pursuing ministry at that school. As I was researching different colleges, the Covid-19 pandemic put life to a halt. I moved back home to quarantine and through fervent prayer, God gave me the green light to start pursuing my dreams in fashion. I reached out to peers from high school and asked if I could style them and take pictures with my iPhone. At the same time, I asked my boyfriend to take pictures of my outfit every single day. I shamelessly introduced myself as a model to everyone I met even though I had never done a photoshoot before. My blind confidence tricked people into taking me seriously. It wasn’t until December 2020 that I attended the Jxn Photowalk (a local meetup for creatives) and did my first photoshoot with complete strangers. My heart was in my stomach and I almost talked myself out of going, but I knew how important the opportunity was. The theme was blazers & suits, so I purposely wore the most ridiculous lime green and teal blue suit that you could point out across the entire neighborhood. It definitely turned heads, half looks of disgust and half nods of approval. I quickly filtered through the category of photographers I like to work with – those who aren’t afraid to be weird. After that event, the photoshoots flowed into my life because people were intrigued by my unique and colorful ideas. I consistently did collaborative photoshoots, attended events, and built my content on Instagram. Were there times I doubted the journey? Of course. My own family told me modeling was a dead end. However, as I continue my journey every single photoshoot I do is an ongoing risk to prove the naysayers wrong and prove the supporters right. My current goal is to be a creative director, public speaker, and continue my calling to ministry while trailblazing the fashion industry.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am a freelance model, creative director, stylist, designer, event planner, researcher, and brand ambassador. My goal as a creative director and model is to get people to stop scrolling. It’s so easy to get sucked into the pattern of scrolling, but I want my photos to be so jaw dropping and thought provoking that you’re forced to stop and ask questions. When working with clients, my goal is to provide a safe space that instills an unwavering confidence to embrace the moment and create photos they will love forever. That’s why being a co-founder of a nonprofit called FStop/504 means so much to me. We organize free monthly photography events that bring the community together, opens doors for people new to the industry, and allows models and photographers to network and create content together. Just as I got started at a photowalk, I’m continuing the legacy by administrating my own events. Above all, I do not want to make this journey about myself. I recognize that God has given me a gift so I can point the glory back to Him and be a vessel for His goodness. I am entering a treacherous industry, so I have to hold my beliefs close to me and put on the armor of God every morning. I want to ultimately inspire people and reverse the fear that precedes the modeling industry. Creating timeless, freelance photos is a rewarding and beautiful process. If you love being photographed, you don’t need to sign to an agency to be successful. I’ve had the opportunity to inspire so many people and create outlets for them to express themselves just like I yearned to do when I started. I didn’t have anyone to ask for advice, so I want to be that person for anyone starting now. That is the biggest reward – paving a way to make it easier for the people who come after you.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Showing up and giving 150% to everything that has my name on it has helped me build a reputation in my city. Anything I produce is a reflection of my work ethic and I take that very seriously. The photographer wants me to bring a prop? I’m bringing five. The stylist wants me to bring a pair of boots? I’m bringing three pairs and two heels. The biggest thing I’ve learned about freelancing is creativity flows freely when you’re working with likeminded individuals. Sometimes the best photos don’t mirror the moodboard. It’s all about staying true to yourself and speaking up when you have an idea. Anyone who works with me knows I am highly organized, efficient, and have a clear vision. This took years of practicing my craft, making mistakes, and finding my people within the industry who simply understand me.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
This is a great question — when I first started, I slowly gained followers by organically meeting people and networking. Word of mouth also goes a long way with modeling! I peaked at 4,500 followers when my photographer friend, Alyssa Rubio, encouraged me to start posting Instagram reels because her account substantially grew that way. My self-doubt and fear got in the way for a few months, but when we visited New York I did a photoshoot on top of a newsstand, made a reel about it, and it got 1M views. This began my momentum of gaining followers and having high engagement. From there, I pulled videos from my best photoshoots throughout the years and showcased my work thus far. Glory to God, my videos consistently did well and I started growing a fan base. My best advice is to scroll on reels and ask yourself “what videos make me want to stop, like, and even comment?” When you find your niche editing style, music choice, and content ideas, you can insert videos from your own life and make viral-worthy reels in minutes. I know it’s hard to put yourself out there, but once you get past the fear, you’ll surprise yourself at how well you do!
Contact Info:
- Website: Emileethevisionary.com
- Instagram: emileethevisionary
- Facebook: Emilee Chubb
- Linkedin: Emilee Chubb
- Twitter: emileethevisionary
Image Credits
Kayla Palmer Gabe Hernandez Alyssa Rubio Juwan James Shelby Ursu Delaney George Cameron Blake