Meet E’lysse Barnes

Today we’d like to introduce you to E’lysse Barnes.

So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Well, ever since I was a young girl, I’ve always had a love for being behind the camera. Whether it was being silly, playing dress-up, taking family photos, or anything you could think of, I was always camera ready! No matter what. As I grew older, taking pictures or being in pictures became a passion of mine. I’ve always had friends and family members that would encourage me to model or get professional pictures taken, but I’ve always been so modest my entire life. I didn’t think much of being a “model.” I didn’t see myself as “pretty” or “beautiful” as everyone saw else saw me. I just knew I loved taking pictures and I was good at it! Once I turned about 22, I agreed to participate in my first photoshoot. I was incredibly nervous and had no idea what I was doing. Sometimes I still don’t haha! But I wanted to test my limits and just go for it! After that, I began to gain more confidence behind the camera and became more in love with it than I ever was before! I then decided to make modeling a goal of mine but making sure I was always sure to stay true to myself, regardless of what obstacles I was destined to have to face. To this day, in my 26 years of life, I want to inspire women to love and live! Be your best you and understand that YOU will always be enough. I haven’t gotten as far into my modeling career as much as I would have liked to by 26, but after all, life is a journey. Not a race.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I feel that going after goals will always be challenging. There will always be times when you have to make choices, even when they are choices you don’t want to have to make. Some of the challenges I’ve had to face are learning to fully accept myself for who I am. A lot of times, I may see unedited photos of myself or even the edited photos and I’ll think to myself, “Ew. Nobody’s going to like this picture. Look at you. You don’t look like a model at all! Just stop trying. You don’t have the look those other girls have.” Self-criticism is a struggle in itself! But sometimes you literally have to psych yourself out. Go against the grain. I’ve had to tell myself numerous times that I can and will embrace my flaws and wear them proudly. Confidence is raw and sexy! And people will appreciate that. So get out there and work it, even if you don’t think you can do it, TRY! Some other challenges I’ve faced would be learning that I am more than my body. There are a lot of photographers that prefer women who can pose nude or may want to have you more exposed, but I just want women and girls to know that it is most DEFINITELY okay to not want that! Sexy is not always naked and exposed. Sexy is what YOU make it. Your personal views about yourself are far more important than what others may think about you. So speaking up may be a challenge, and some people may turn their noses up at you. But there will always be other photographers and opportunities where people are forced to see your true beauty, and those are the pictures worth taking.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
As of right now, I’m just taking photographs to put myself out there. I’m self-taught and haven’t had much direction in the industry, so I’m just enjoying the ride and hoping for the best! Some of my specialties and things that I’m known for are eating and making people laugh! Laughter truly is the best medicine in my eyes. And I’m honestly the biggest foodie I know, haha. Something I’m most proud of would be being able to trust my process. I know that flowers don’t bloom overnight, so I am proud to be my own business and be my own brand as I am trying to build myself to become better. I think my personality sets me apart from others. People will tell you I’m nothing like anyone they know, and I take pride in that. My spirit is pure and my energy is radiant and incredibly contagious and that’s something I’ve always loved about myself. My outlook on life has also always been different from others. I’d like to think I am indeed a force to be reckoned with ;).

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I’d love to build my own modeling agency if I could. But I wouldn’t want it to be anything short of ordinary. My dream is to inspire women to be 100% themselves and feel good doing it. I would love to have my group of models travel to local and foreign places, spreading Love and positivity! Hitting up festivals in groups, telling the world our story and reminding people that we are all one in the same. A large group of confident, strong and beautiful women who spread nothing but light and radiate amazing energy?! Now THATS dangerous! Something things I look forward to are being able to provide for my family, especially my mom. I would love to put her in a place where she has no worries and no strings attached. My mother is my rock and I would cross the world for her. She’s my roll dog and she deserves the world in my eyes. I’m looking forward to big changes for the future! I’m hoping to get discovered somehow and just create! Help someone’s vision come alive or better yet my own! Maybe one day I’ll be in a magazine or a few big clothing company ads! That would be incredible.

Contact Info:

• Email: elyssebarnes@yahoo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tequierolysse/

Image Credit:
Kaitlyn Kohn Photography, Aron Cut Above Photos, JB Six K Images

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