Meet Gina B | Model and Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gina B and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gina, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’ve always had a very large creative spark since my childhood. I originally started out writing stories based off of shows or games that I liked. As I got older and my time commitments changed, I fell off the writing bandwagon. It was in high school that I picked up a camera for the first time — a friend’s simple point-and-shooter — and fell in love with taking photos. I made do with what I could get my hands on — an iPod touch, which eventually led me to an iPhone; DSLR’s that photographer friends would let me borrow — until I was able to buy a used kit from a friend who was upgrading. It was a Nikon D5300, a camera I still own to this day. That was in 2018 and I’ve been shooting with DSLR’s since then.

My modeling career started slightly differently: I started modeling in 2013 with the intention of having a side hustle while I was in school. At first I didn’t make any money out of it, but I fell in love with the process of modeling as well as the results and, after a 3 year hiatus, took modeling by storm in 2016.

I originally intended for my creative endeavors to be simply side hustles, but I quickly realized trying to balance these on top of my full time work was exhausting. I was burning out because of said jobs and losing the energy for my creative pursuits. Everything reached a head early summer of 2022; I was working a job that paid me barely enough to get by and the ways things were run it was clear my bosses truly didn’t care about me and my colleagues. I couldn’t stand working so hard for so many hours of my time only to end up living paycheck to paycheck, what am I working so hard for?

I was given an opportunity to work as a photography/modeling educator for a youth summer camp, and with the pay offered and hours worked, I seized on the opportunity and worked the entire summer at that camp.

Once it had ended, I’d found myself at a crossroads. No matter what happened, I needed to be able to pay my bills. On the one hand, I could simply go back to working a 40-hr work week kind of a job until burnout and then hop to another job. Or, I could take the opportunity to try and forge myself a course of income using my skills in photography and modeling.

So, I’m currently building up my freelancing career, seeking out contractor positions where I have control over my schedule. I’m also learning how and building up my own personal photography and model business. My goal is to be self-sufficient one way or another before the end of the year.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
With modeling and photography, I shoot a variety of genres, but I know my favorite style with which to shoot is editorial.

With modeling, I like to consider myself very well-rounded; I can model print or on the runway, and in a variety of styles (no erotic work though). It’s because of the skill set I’ve acquired through modeling that I’m now able to offer coaching for newer and aspiring models, something I wish I’d had when I first start out. I teach techniques related to posing, runway walking, professional etiquette, and model safety.

I also carry my pose coaching into my photography capacity, meaning I can shoot not only with established models but also aspiring models and even simply members of the general public. I love shooting my photos with a little bit of an editorial flair. I’ve made it my goal in each shoot to create a set that can be publishable in a magazine, whether I’m shooting a fashion model, or a senior graduate, or an expecting mother. Ultimately I want my clients to feel the way I did when I got my very first set of professional photos: “holy cow, that’s really me?!? I look freakin amazing!”

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Phoenix has such a variety of things to do!

During the week I would take them to all the spots that would typically be busy on the weekends; the Phoenix Art Museum always has amazing displays and installations. The Japanese garden downtown is a place of serenity that truly blows my mind considering the hustle and bustle that surrounds it. Some of my favorite brunch spots include Snooze, First Watch, Over Easy, and Scramble. And of course I gotta take them to Postino for their $25 board and bottle special on Monday and Tuesday nights! The afternoons I would take them to the popular hiking spots, such as Camelback Mountain, South Mountain and the Superstitions, but only if it’s weather-appropriate. During the hot summer, I’d show them Salt River as well as Saquaro Lake.

Nightlife-wise, I love checking out downtown Gilbert, almost hands down. The free public parking right off the bat is awesome, and there’s a ton of great spots to check out. Level One is a super fun little arcade bar, and if you’re willing to venture away from downtown Gilbert and few blocks north, The Grid is another video game bar with an even larger variety of games (they literally have almost every so console you can think of from the Sega génesis to the Nintendo switch)! For a low key sit down and drinks, there’s a speakeasy called The White Rabbit, they have incredible cocktails and bites to eat. Dinner-wise, ramen at the Clever Koi is *chef’s kiss* and after dinner, Whiskey Row is perfect for something more upbeat and if you love dancing.

If they’re into more of the clubbing scene, I would definitely show them Mill Ave in Tempe (super popular nightlife spot with bars and clubs) and Old Town Scottsdale (a more upscale version). Depending on the weekend I might even take you to a rave at SUNBAR, or one of the many annual festivals that take place out here like Phx Lights, Goldrush, or Decadence!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are a few people in mind whom I owe my personal career growth to:

– the various models and photographers within the Phoenix fashion and art community who were willing to work with me on collaborations that not only built my portfolio but also attracted the attention of other individuals and organizations that I may not have otherwise come across my work;

– my mother for her unwavering support and business management advice;

– my former agent, Tricee Thomas, of Scout Model Management and The Garment League, who provided me with a valuable wealth of information and networking;

– finally, my wonderful partner who has been my rock since the day we met, and is currently supporting me in this journey to self-employment and self-sufficiency. Ryan, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t never gotten this far, period.

Instagram: @ginabmodeling OR @ginabfotografie

Image Credits
My models: Ziva Fey, Cain Rivers, Veronica Core (designer for this shot was Kristin McFarland), Calvine (IG: @bycalvine) My photographers: Bill Stevens, Kate Payne, Arlo (IG: @rlodzn), Anthony Mendina (runway show: Lagos Phx 2022, designer: @blazziancollection)