by Olivia Snyder ’12

“I was 16 when I began my modeling career, earlier this year. I got my first job through a friend of mine who was already in the business with local designers in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) area,” explained senior Amelia Bell of how she got started as a model.

Bell is most known for “commercial print” that simply promotes a product and appears in magazines or catalogues. As her career has progressed, Bell has also been getting into editorial and high fashion modeling. High fashion means modeling for well known designers and fashion houses; editorial is similar in that it is for many of the same companies but is more directed towards a specific audience. Both kinds of modeling are usually for print, which is the modeling Bell prefers, as opposed to runway.

At school, Bell is often seen sporting casual jeans and a t-shirt or even her Medical Careers hospital scrubs; however, for a photo shoot, Bell revels in the excitement that is the “glamification” process. “My favorite part is the enjoyment you are rewarded with,” she explained. “Getting dolled up, putting on some new, up-and-coming couture, and finally working with the photographer to create an image is so exciting.”

To many, a photo shoot seems easy, but in actuality it takes much preparation and practice to produce a great picture. “To prepare for a photo shoot, I leave my face clean and clear, my hair down and not tampered with, my eyebrows done, and legs shaved. To practice, I can observe in my pictures or mirror how different body positions and personified emotions can project certain ideas or tones in the image.”

With every photograph, there are limitless possibilities of expression. With a simple adjustment of the hands, movement of the foot, or curling of the lip an entirely different emotion can be projected to the audience. Being expressive and knowing what movements convey what emotion is key in modeling – no longer do models simply purse their lips, tilt their heads, and “look pretty.” A model holds the entire composition of the photograph in her hands to make it become anything she wants, in the blink of an eye.

It can be hard not to let modeling mentalities bleed into everyday life; with all of the pressure and responsibility of a simple photograph, a model can gain both confidence and consciousness in her world outside of the photo booth. “Modeling forces you to become more conscious of the way your emotions can be projected to other people,” said Bell. “An enormous part of modeling is showing your emotion – what you express through your pictures. And it has followed me outside the studio into my everyday life; it has helped me carry myself in a better, more conscious way. It also, of course, builds immense confidence knowing that I am working for someone who specifically wants my picture.”

The involved world of modeling can sometimes absorb one’s entire life, but Bell she has found a way to stay grounded and find balance. “Modeling has never interfered with my school work or extracurricular activities. If a photographer is willing to work with you, then there will be plenty of room to compromise for a time.”

Though Bell enjoys modeling and values it, she is choosing a much different career path to go down, “While I love modeling and fashion in general, I plan to go into the medical field. I want to spend my life doing something that will helps others in a more direct and meaningful way.”