Behind the Lens and In Front of It: An Interview with Jessie Farrell
Today, we're taking you behind the scenes with a truly unique talent: Jessie Farrell. For 15 years, Jessie has navigated the dynamic worlds of modeling and photography in New York City, bringing a wealth of experience from both sides of the camera. We sat down with Jessie to discuss her journey, her insights, and her vision for the future of the industry.
The Value of Education: Learning How to Learn
Many aspiring photographers wonder if formal education is necessary. Jessie, who attended college for photography, firmly believes it was a beneficial path. Despite being told it was "dumb" to go to college for photography, she sought a well-rounded education and wanted to be taken seriously in her chosen career. For Jessie, the most crucial takeaway from college was learning "how to learn". This foundation has clearly served her well throughout her extensive career.
From Basement Editorials to Professional Practice
Jessie's passion ignited early. At just 13, she was already directing elaborate photoshoots in her basement, crafting clothes from leaves, ripped magazines, or even trash bags to imitate Vogue editorials. This early, hands-on practice with friends laid the groundwork for her future. Modeling, too, began at a young age. Encouraged by her height and lanky build, she signed with an agency at 13 and it has "always been a part of her life". Her inherent energy and positivity have always been a hallmark, translating into a comfortable and productive environment on set for clients and photographers alike.
The Dual Role: Shutting Off the Photographer Brain
Being both a model and a photographer offers a unique perspective, but it also presents a challenge. Jessie confesses that "shutting off" her photographer brain while modeling is "an actual problem" that many female model-photographers share. As a photographer, she's used to controlling every aspect – hair, makeup, styling, lighting, and composition. Over time, she's learned to switch gears, though she admits it's harder when working with close friends like Brandon, where comfort encourages more input. Brandon, recognizing this, views her dual expertise as an asset, considering it "part of the package" when they work together.
High Moments and the Female Gaze
For Jessie, the most rewarding modeling moments aren't always about the most prestigious brands. Instead, she values working with "highly skilled photographers" whose work she deeply admires. She finds particular inspiration and power in working with female photographers in the largely male-dominated industry.
Jessie has observed a distinct difference in approach between male and female photographers. She feels women tend to make models more comfortable "looking ugly" on camera, encouraging quirky, silly faces and focusing less on conventional beauty. This often translates to "identity-based photography" that is "messy, in a good way," contrasting with male photographers who may prioritize traditional beauty.
Essential Advice for Aspiring Photographers
Jessie offers two crucial pieces of advice for those starting in photography:
1. "Curate, curate, curate, curate, curate!". It's vital to know precisely what you want your work to be and aim for the top 1%. Identify your top five dream photographers, study their work, setups, and style to quickly define your own unique identity. Be incredibly harsh when editing, aiming for just five best images out of 2,000 shots to maintain a high standard.
2. Seek Inspiration Everywhere. Every idea, consciously or subconsciously, is derived from an experience. Put yourself into new experiences through nature, travel, and exploration to fuel your creativity.
Navigating the Modeling World
For new models, Jessie emphasizes a balance of confidence and humility. "Be confident, but not obnoxious," she advises. Aspiring models should actively put themselves out there, sending emails and consistently working at their craft. Most importantly, "be nice, be open, and be present" on set, focusing on building genuine relationships with photographers and the team. As Brandon adds, a strong connection with a photographer can lead to amazing images, even with just jeans and a t-shirt.
The 3% Rule: Continuous Growth
Jessie's dedication to learning didn't stop with college. While she wishes she had mentors, she actively seeks knowledge by sending "50 questions" to her favorite photographers during Instagram Q&As. Early in her career, she would even DM photographers with smaller followings to ask for coffee and "interview" them. She'd also ask for specific Photoshop pointers from photographers she modeled for, soaking up their 20 years of expertise in a few minutes.
She lives by Virgil Abloh's "3% rule," which suggests constantly improving your process by making small, "magical" adjustments. This methodical approach ensures consistent growth and refinement in her work.
Balancing Passions and Future Horizons
At 29, Jessie is in a "good space for both" modeling and photography, genuinely loving both equally. She sees potential shifts in the industry, predicting that modeling agencies may decline in 10-20 years. Models can increasingly find jobs directly through DMs, and companies prefer paying models directly to avoid agency fees. While she still values agencies for contracts and regulation, she observes growing frustration from both models and companies regarding payments and fees.
As a photographer, Jessie takes on various jobs but is increasingly selective. She meticulously calculates the hourly pay for every job, factoring in travel, retouching, and even personal wardrobe and makeup time, ensuring she takes on "quality jobs that represent me in a nice light". While she used to shoot many weddings when starting out in NYC, she now does about five a year, focusing more on fashion but still appreciating the "grounding and beautiful" experience of being part of someone's special day.
Her ultimate goal in fashion is to work with dream brands like Mirror Palais, IMG, or Tiger Mist. She maintains a detailed vision board and tailors her portfolio to align with these aspirations, finding reward even when prestigious brands use her images without payment, simply because they deemed her work "good enough".
Looking Ahead to 2025: Goals and Growth
Jessie's Trello board holds 35 goals for 2025, but a few stand out:
• Finding Mentors: She aims to connect with mentors "above me" in the field, as she never wants to be the smartest person in the room.
• Big Brands, Maintained Independence: She wants to earn more working with larger brands while initially maintaining her unique independent style, where she works alone with just the model to ensure her "voice only" comes through.
• Embracing Delegation: A significant step is learning to delegate and be open to working with hair stylists, makeup artists, and larger teams. This means accepting the "next level" of success and its potential challenges, like a "shitty makeup artist one day," without letting it diminish her love for photography or cause burnout.
• Continued Modeling: She intends to keep modeling, knowing that it's a career that can extend well into her 60s.
Jessie's journey is a testament to passion, perseverance, and a methodical approach to creative growth. By constantly learning, curating, and thoughtfully navigating both the artistic and business sides of her career, she continues to thrive in a competitive industry. Her path reminds us that success isn't just about reaching a destination, but about the continuous 3% improvement along the way.