DaniellaChappellainterview
An interview with the beautiful and inspiring model, Daniella Chappella and this fantastic series captured by the talented Ryan Myers (instagram.com/rymy), enjoy!
Know more about Daniella at instagram.com/daniellachappella
How would you describe yourself in a few words?
My initial response was simple and sweet? Haha I guess that’s not totally true. I care deeply and love even deeper but I’m complicated, like most. I try to be patient with others, remembering that we’re all figuring something out. Mostly I’m me and I feel a lot all of the time and though it can be too much at times, I wouldn’t change myself for anything.
How long have you been a model?
I’ve been modeling for almost two years now. I started out just doing a few shoots here and there but since last November, I have been steadily shooting with at least 1 shoot up to 6 shoots per week.
How did you get into modeling?
I got into modeling when I was reigniting a high school friendship with a fellow model and dear friend, Nadia Vaeh (@nadiavaeh). She was on her way to a shoot, which was nude, and with my naïve thought process, I decided to go with her telling myself it was to protect her. Hindsight being 20/20, I think I went because I knew I needed something. Something new, something to grow me, something I didn’t know was there and definitely did not know I needed.
How was your first shooting? Tell us a bit about that first experience.
Similar to most of my work, my first shoot was a nude shoot. I actually ended up booking with the same photographer as my friend Nadia the week after I met with her and joined her on her first nude shoot. It was an exhilarating feeling. Although a lot of people find it odd that my first shoot was nude, to me it allowed me to truly open up and express something that was beneath the surface. I’m still grateful for the opportunity that was presented to me through Nadia, as I’m not sure it would have ever happened it we hadn’t reconnected.
What does modeling mean to you?
Modeling, to me, has a lot to do with strength. When I first started modeling I loved that I was able to portray a different emotion, a different person than the one I felt like at the moment. As time has passed and I’ve grown in my craft, modeling has become an outlet to express the feeling I AM feeling, the person that I AM. It has allowed me to grow into myself and build my confidence to show the world what I carry in my heart.
A model you particularly admire?
I just went through pages upon pages of “Posts I’ve Liked” to see who’s really been inspiring me most lately. I think it’s important for your top inspirations to change frequently. How can you grow if the things that inspire you aren’t changing? Right now, I’d have to say the model and artist that has been pouring a lot of inspiration into me is Chelsea Sinclair (@chelsey_sinclar). She doubles as a model and photographer but most importantly, she is fueled as being an artist. It’s always been important to me to not be afraid to be “ugly”, to not worry about a certain angle or pudge that might be showing; it just doesn’t matter when you are creating. I feel Chelsey has a lot of that belief in her work. I look through her feed and I don’t see the perfect shot, angle or tones, I see emotion and relief and stress and hurt. And that’s what I strive for in my work - and my life. It’s the expression that means the most to me. The perfect image means nothing to me if there’s no feeling being expressed. Even if that feeling is one of nothing – numbness. That can be expressed too.
If you could choose, where would you like to shoot?
I would love to travel Europe and Asia and shoot in every spot that catches my eye. I don’t mind if I have nothing but a backpack and the same pair of yoga pants the whole journey. Roarie Yum (@roarie_yum) is always there to remind me that if that is truly my goal, determination and a passport is all I really need. (Of course having extreme skill, high demand and connections throughout countries is always super helpful. :P – you go Roarie!!)
What is your dressing style in everyday life?
Haha! I’m pretty low-key when it comes to fashion. I try not to think too much about what I’m wearing in my regular life. You can usually find me pretty casual in some jeans and a top of some sort. I throw on a dress when I’m feeling lazy and I’m pretty much always wearing boots (I can go anywhere in those things!).
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
Europe! I wanna hit multiple countries in a day, ya know?
What is happiness?
To me, I find happiness most when I am finding myself. I don’t believe you only have one chance at happiness or that anyone could ever truly miss out on the chance to find themselves. I believe that it’s never too late to start over and no matter how hard you fall and dig in the wrong direction the easiest and most beneficial thing to do will always be to turn around and start over. Not to abandon your past or run away but to realize what’s no longer benefitting you and to see how much more you could give to yourself when you let those things go. To me, that’s how you find yourself fighting for happiness. Happiness is a state of mind, one you fight for and appreciate but know that it comes in waves, just as sadness and heartbreak, nothing is always.
Where can we find you on a Friday night?
Snuggling my kitty, getting ready for a busy weekend. I schedule most of my shoots during the week evenings and weekend days so I try to stay home and take care of things there when I’m not working.
What’s your next goal?
Right now, my next goal is to get my website up and running. I feel like I have a lot to express and it goes further than the images I create with the wonderful artists in my life. I also want to write and blog about my experiences in my life as a model, a woman and as an artist, not always happy but always striving. Once I have my website up, I’m really looking forward to sharing my thoughts and feelings and hopefully growing my skills in that area as well. Other than that, I am going to start planning my trip to Ireland for next summer to visit my dear friend and talented photographer, Courtney Oliver (@cofasionphoto). Look out for that one, we’ll have castle pictures by the dozen. ☺
Lingerie: With Love Lingerie instagram.com/carrie_withlove