favorite pictures from a fashion influencer photoshoot + reflections (2018) #41a

hi my loves! I decided to include these few favorite photos into my Air Patron Tier from the posts I posted last week because this was a really special photoshoot to me in which I was, for the first time, taking fashion influencer photos and video of me by myself. I literally was taking these photos on my iPhone 7 Plus and balancing it on a bucket that was sitting on a chair. I didn't have a tripod at the time. The first two photos were the ones I posted as a fashion influencer, but the last 4 photos are a few of my personal favorites that I took as frames/stills from the videos I posted in my earth patron tier + edited the colors of the photo so that the colors have more vibrance, etc.

Looking back at my first self-shot fashion influencer photoshoot and videoshoot, I really do believe I showed talent already. and the reality is that the fact that I'm proud of the raw footage I filmed back then is a testament to it. I wouldn't be using footage that I didn't think was worth sharing, and I'm really proud of myself for following my dream. around the time I started working as a fashion influencer, I was already working as a substitute twerk instructor, a student worker at my college, was a college student, and was considering applying to university (as you probably saw in my previous story vlog). However, I'm SO proud of myself for not going to university again!

it's such a weird thing to look back at that decision be grateful I didn't go but it's the truth. I initially got a full scholarship to a great university straight out of high school and took it, but I hated it there and purposely neglected the classes I didn't enjoy when I was not really feeling up to exerting effort into stuff I didn't enjoy. but I did very well in the classes that were fun to me.

eventually, that caught up with me and my gpa dropped just a little bit too low at that university, so I had to raise my GPA in order to return as a full-time student again. I still went to college after that and graduated (because it required very little effort of me as I was building up my social media + social media-related skills), but I decided not to go back to university... partly because I knew I'd be miserable there and partly because why would I go into debt doing something I hate (I wasn't going to get a full ride if I went back)? If I went to university ever again, I'd want to go for fun - to study in order to become a better person... not to study to get a job.

I'm not saying university is not for me. I love education, but there's many ways to get an education, and not all of the ways to get an education is through a book. there's so many ways to get an education through actual real life experience, through practice, through trial and error... I'm not discounting the value of studying through books. I still read books to this day and study... but not in the format of a university that "grades" me for the purpose of becoming a worker in a company ... I get educated at a pace and in a way that feels right for me. right now, that's not university, and it never really has been university so far. maybe I'll find a program one day that meets my needs to keep my interest, but I don't feel like searching for it right now. 😂

I'm really grateful I made the decision to say "fuck it" and do what I wanted, even if the beginning was just taking risks that seemed stupid  and/or "shameful" to others that involved the stigma of taking twerk classes, being loud and proud about loving to twerk, taking photos and videos of myself while balancing my phone on a bucket that sat on a chair (and almost fell over a few times).... all of that led me to where I am today. despite all the pushback, I made it...because of your support.

I am living my dream. and it's thanks to all of you, my supportive patrons. thank you for supporting me during this time. I promise I am doing my best to make the best decisions in order to post more of what you enjoy from me + making sure I take care of myself so that I don't burn out and can continue to do this in the long term.

I love you. Than you again for your support. Each and every one of you has changed my life for the better. 🥺❤️ xo 

Sincerely, 

annastayziaa