Fields of

Photographer Grant Beecher

I'm not sure how I feel about georgia opening back up. I haven't noticed many differences yet. If anything it seems more outdoor places are closed, but I hear various types of businesses are opening. Parts of the state are going back to school in person, and other's aren't. I've been looking into getting unemployment still, now that I finally have access to do so. I'm no longer hopeful of getting it though. They want more information than they've ever needed for me to correctly file taxes. If I get unemployment, they base the amount off my income last year. This time last year I thought I was quitting modeling. I was modeling here and there, but I expected to move on to another career.   I wanted to work with dolphins, but dolphin research turned out to be a less secure career move. Ultimately I'm happy to stay with modeling.  It isn't just an art career, but business, marketing, financing, website building, etc.  I'm challenged and pushed all the time to keep learning and doing new things.   There have been a lot of uncertain moments. I feel like I'm re-inventing the wheel all day, as my father use to say.  Instead of following a guided path to success, I try to make a new one.  I don't want to be like most of my peers.  Other models, are not why I model.  While I love them dearly, I don't want their jobs.  Many of my peers shoot different styles of content, focus on fan service, or live pay check to pay check, etc.  They're very happy with their lifestyle. I know that isn't a way I can enjoy my life, and I've found I don't have to. The benefit of running my own business is deciding who I will be and how I will get there. I've found that when there is the will, there is a way. Modeling the last few years as I went from dabbling to professional felt like cutting trees with a kitchen knife. Better than a butter knife, but just as clueless and full of frustration.   Another way to look at it is growing pains. The pains that come from learning and trying new things.  Lots of trying to work smarter and not harder, but having to work harder in the end to find the smarter path to take.