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My name is Che' Lenaj. (Shay' La-Naj) I have modeled for up and coming fashion designers, photographers, hair stylists, and makeup artists since the age of 15. I grew up in New Jersey so I have had the privilege to model in NYC, as well as Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta to name a few. I now reside in Georgia and quickly realized the fashion market here is not like NYC.
I have had an interest in photography and fashion since the age of 12 . I've studied all the fashion models and photography styles in every prominent fashion magazine from Vogue to Seventeen and like most young girls, I wanted to dabble in modeling too. I placed 3rd in a High School modeling contest and won a "free photo shoot" and a 1yr contract with a local modeling agency. I begged my mother to allow me the experience of the photoshoot and the opportunity to take those images to the local modeling agency. Well, needless to say... the photoshoot was not "free" and the Local modeling agency was non existent. Eventually, I did take my photos to a N.Y agency and was advised by famed model scout Trudi Tapscott "you look better in person than you do in your pictures." OUCH! Now, I didn't expect this photographer to transform me into Joan Smalls or Gigi Hadid, but I did expect some instructions on what to do to obtain fashionable photos. So, Whose fault was that!!?? Mine? or the photographer's?
Traditionally, it's been the model's fault. Why? Because the ONLY job the photographer has is to photograph what YOU bring to the table or in this case photoshoot! If you're a good model, you'll get good photos. If you're a beginning model, you'll get beginner photos! End of story.
I say the fault lies in both the model and photographer. Although, traditionally the photographer can't photograph you looking bad or doing bad poses unless that’s all you're giving them to photograph. However, the experienced photographer KNOWS what does not look good through their lens and should opt to photograph you in a way that's most flattering for your portfolio and theirs. So "Why didn't the photographer correct/help me with my poses? or my hair or whatever? The honest answer is... it's not their job!
That brings me to why I want to try my hand at fashion photography. I guess I'm an underdog photographer who want to offer you a chance at obtaining usable images. With my experience as a model, I am able to help models, especially beginning models learn behind the scene techniques to incorporate the poses that photographers THINK all models have in their mental rolodex. As well as, inform you of the small things that can RUIN a photo. Photographers want to work with "agency standard models", because most of those models are deemed qualified by a reputable agency to have "the look" and basic techniques to obtain the "shot" with any given photographer. With my help, and your honest effort on the set, you should be able to obtain the "shot" the photographer is seeking. I've taken girls who've never modeled before and gave them the basic techniques to get USABLE photos for their portfolios AND at a reasonable price! So far, the models on my site (with a FEW exceptions) have NEVER been... styled and photographed in a studio setting before. So with that being said, I want to push you out of your comfort zone so you can get the images you need. Photography is deeply personal to me and is not driven by any other agenda, but to truly see you get ahead.
I look forward to working with you,
Che' Lenaj