Today we’d like to introduce you to Aikiela Wilson.
Hi Aikiela, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Photography has always been a passion of mine since I was a young girl. I never realized how much I really loved it until I became an adult, but I always knew it was something soothing about snapping a good memory here and there. My family traveled every summer out of town, so my old Instagram is full of good Missourian scenery, great food, and so much more!
The more technology became advanced, the more I found myself upgrading my phone just so I could be able to take what I thought were the best photos. Until there came a time when I kind of fell off from doing photography and exploring other hobbies or other things I thought I had been into. Then I lost my grandfather in March of 2018 and became really secluded, especially after I had my two children but then things started to finally look up to me.
After I won my battle to depression, I soon picked back up on my once forgotten passion. I then saved up to purchase my first camera in May 2021 and things went uphill from there! I found a wonderful mentor through Facebook by the name of Dena Barrie who taught other people like myself who felt like photography was more than just a hobby and just overall wanted to become a better photographer. I got the name Modele’ Photography, pronounced MO-Dell, from my children’s middle names.
I wanted to start a cycle of generational wealth for my family and naming my business after them just made the perfect sense and I hope that as they grow older, they too grow a passion for photography. I have learned a lot within this past year and my progress in my work continues to show. One day, I strive to be a very known professional photographer. And not just within the local KC, MO area, I plan to go international if I get the chance to!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Although I have only been doing photography for almost a year, there has definitely been obstacles in the way! I think every great business has to face at least some challenges before becoming truly successful and that it won’t always be a walk in the park.
There have been plenty of times when I would get discouraged and wanted to give up until I remember my sole purpose for starting in the first place. When I first started, I would offer free sessions hoping to get lots of people to book until I did my first real shoot and learned how much work actually goes into being a photographer.
Having Ms. Dena as a mentor truly helped me overcome these challenges as she worked with me one on one to help me learn how to become the best in my own ways. Looking back, I am glad I decided to keep going because hard work definitely pays off.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Outside of Photography, I actually work as a Fraud Investigator and words can’t describe how much I truly enjoy my job. Being an investigator helps keep me on top of other good qualities that make me a great worker since I am constantly critically thinking 100% of the time.
Without getting too detailed about my profession, I pretty much work diligently to prevent fraud and do my best to guard the safety of my customer’s information, and even in the event something wrong happens, I pick up the pieces to the puzzle to stop the bad guys from doing any more damage. I basically consider myself a superhero who gets to proudly wear my cape home every night!
I believe what set me apart from others is the fact that I will truly work hard until the very last second just to make sure a job is well done and that I am truly proud of because in the past, giving up was always the easiest way out.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
If there’s one thing I had to say that I dislike about Kansas City is that World’s of Fun needs a nice upgrade BUT other than that I wouldn’t change a thing!
Growing up, I’ve always heard the bad about our city but I’ve always been able to see the beauty in it. I don’t know if that’s because I have a photographer’s eye, but I feel the more you explore the city, the more there is to see.
Not to mention, we’re known for having the best BBQ, and who doesn’t like BBQ?
Contact Info:
- Email: modelephotos13@gmail.com
- Website: modelephotography.pixieset.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/modelephotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mpphotos1395
