Misa—Model Test Shoot

I’m happiest when I have photos to edit, and this weekend was no exception. During my weekend trip to San Luis Obispo, I reached out to TEDxSanLuisObispo conference speaker, Misa Chien, to do a quick test shoot. A model and entrepreneur, Misa was speaking about the topic of impostor syndrome, and I was interested in getting to know her and her story.

Misa's been working as a commercial model with LA Models for over 10 years, and I was fortunate to have gotten to test shoot with her on campus before her TED talk. We walked around my old stomping grounds, and I got to capture portraits of Misa not as a fashion campaign star or actress playing a part, but as Misa.

As a commercial model, she tells me about the crazy things she’s expected to do for shoots (learning lines in another language, diving into a crater) and how she has to be ready for just about anything. As a new mom, she tells me about the challenges of working long shoot days away from her daughter. As a career-women, she tells me about her software company side hustle, taking leadership classes at Harvard Business School, and growing her budding career as a public speaker. I’m intrigued by her journey and never-ending determination to try new things.