Courtney Ellison
Measurements: 34-27-36
Location: Birmingham, AL
BMB: How long have you been modeling?
Courtney: I have been modeling for about a year and a half now!
BMB: How did you break into the modeling industry?
Courtney: I started modeling for a car club, SICC imports, at various car shows and then an agent from Loren Lange Modeling Agency contacted me about doing promotional work through independent contracts for each event. After that I started contacting different photographers and asking them about doing TFP to help start
my portfolio. Once I started posting pictures, photographers started contacting me as well.
BMB: Do you have a favorite photographer to work with?
Courtney: Favorite is not a fair word. I haven’t shot with anyone I didn’t like yet! The photographer who I have worked with the most so far is Fred Beeson. I like working with him because he is open to any crazy creative ideas I have, and he has no problem being straight forward with me if something doesnt look good. He will tell me “Girl, that angle makes you look big!”. On the flip side, he is quick to tell me if I am really working the camera, which is encouraging because I am still relatively new at this!
BMB:Describe your favorite photo shoot you’ve been a part of so far?
Courtney: My favorite shoot so far would probably have to be the first shoot I ever did, at David Compton’s studio. His studio used to be an old doctors office and it is huge with a million different rooms that all have their own personality! There is just so much to work with there. Also, we did this fun outfit where I wore a bathing suit and painted handprints all over myself. I love creative artsy stuff, so I had a ball with that! i was really excited to see my idea turn into pictures that I liked.
BMB: When you’re in front of the camera, do you have an awkward or nervous feeling, or do you feel at ease?
Courtney: I don’t feel nervous but I do feel awkward. A lot of people tell me that the more awkward the
pose feels, the better it looks! I guess I just feel awkward because I am a perfectionist and my worst critic,
so the whole time I am just hoping I like the outcome! I love those moments though, when you just lose
yourself in front of the camera and aren’t thinking so much about what you’re doing. That seems to be
when you connect with the camera and make the best work.
BMB: When you’re participating in a photo shoot, do you have any restrictions, or do you just approach it with an open mind?
Courtney: Artisticly, I am open to anything! Most of my favorite pictures are ones that have that ‘different’
quality or shock-value that catches your eye. I love doing anything creative and it’s amazing to look at a
piece of art and see yourself in it. I am not open to doing nude shots. I will do implied work as long as I feel
that the shots are tasteful.
BMB: How do you feel about the modeling scene here in Birmingham?
Courtney: All of the photographers I have worked with at this point have been in Birmingham and I have been very pleased with all of them. There are many talented models here as well. One model who has amazing pictures is Lauren Johnson. There is a LOT of great work being produced in this city! One of my favorite photographers I have not worked with in Birmingham, but whose work I am crazy about,
is Donald Love of Love Photography. Check him out. His work is raw!
BMB: What are some of your most notable appearances?
Courtney: Well, I did my first shoot to start building my portfolio about six months ago, so I haven’t done anything too big yet! One thing that I was happy about was being September’s Cute Girl of the Month at UAB 
.
BMB: What do you feel makes you stand out as a model?
Courtney: There are so many beautiful models and everyone has their own look. I think photographers remember me more for my willingness to try innovative shots and my fun nature while shooting.
BMB: What are you currently working on, and what are your future plans?
Courtney: Right now I am still working on getting every type of shot into my portfolio. I want to do some pictures with really different make-up and hair styles. So far I have had to do my own hair, make-up and wardrobe for each shoot.
BMB: Is there anything you’d like to add?
Courtney: I mainly want to model because I love the way it feels to make a picture you are proud
of based on the shot’s artistic quality. My favorite time to shoot is when either I or the photographer
have a specific creative theme we want to play with!
Look for more of Courtney Ellison at these website locations below:
Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=1007280040&ref=profile
Myspace
www.myspace.com/quartknee_leeuh
Model Mayhem
www.modelmayhem.com/courtneyleah
University of Alabama at Birmingham
http://iloveuab.com/uab/cute-uab-girl-of-the-month-courtney-ellison/
Courtney would like to thank the following:
John McDonald. David Compton. Fred Beeson. Laura Riley. SICC imports. Loran Lange.
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