“The truth is I have been taking photos almost the entire decade or so I have been modelling. After one of my first big trips to model in Korea I was so passionate about photography that I went and bought my very own camera with some kit lenses because I knew I was moving to Paris for a few months.” Anthea laughs. “I remember really wanting to shoot as well as model. I wanted to remember everything about my trip, the people along the way and the city.

In Paris I started to develop a style of photos and upgraded my lenses long before I upgraded my camera. I got to practice taking photos of muses and models because I got to live with them in my travels. We were drinking and chilling and looking through my photos, we were laughing a lot, and some of us became friends forever.

“I let go of my fear of being judged and now proudly follow my passion for photography.”

I thought my photos were something unusual because I could feel the true nature of the girls, it wasn’t contrived, I barely directed them. We just hung out. They were comfortable and when I look back at my best photos I still feel the sincere essence of friendship and fun we shared in a moment that will remain unrepeatable.

This was before the days of social media or somehow aggressively sharing all the photos. I thank all my friends that they had incredible patience for me and I learned so much from them. Because of my modelling career I always felt threatened to share my work. I did feel silenced somehow. I felt like maybe I would miss out on modelling work because photographers would think I’d steal their concepts or trademarks when all I ever wanted is to develop my own art. I have told a handful of photographer friends the truth about my love for photography and had a mixed response. Some of them eager to help and some of them eager to hurt.

Getting published is an emotionally charged decision for me. It’s something I have wanted for years, but have held back the urge to share my pictures for the fear of being ridiculed and the chance of making my colleagues uncomfortable. I am now, finally, happy with the photos I produce. I let go of my fear of being judged and now proudly follow my passion for photography.”  We hope to see more in the future of Anthea’s work behind the camera.