There are many inspirational and talented creatives in the fashion industry however when asked to write about just one it can be a little hard to chose. As I've said before I'm not necessarily your typical mainstream girl, I feel inspired by people who are a little bit off centre, beat to their own drum and achieve success with an edge. I don't typically go for the industry house-hold names and I'd much rather support someone who is a quiet achiever, modest and an undiscovered, underground success.
These inspirational souls are the people I search for and tend to love best. It was by chance I came across this creative gem but I've followed her journey and continued to be inspired by her ever since.
Please allow me to introduce Leila Joy Berney.
A self-taught photographer living in Sydney, Leila is a free-spirited, edgy, raw and brave creative who has a deep passion for "people, exploring the world and telling a story through words and images". She isn't afraid to push the boundaries or expectations of any industry and stays true to herself through the purity and rawness of her photographs.
"Trying to capture the essence of a person or place, their vulnerability, their whole, the life inside them."
I first discovered Leila through local Sydney beauty (and my ultimate girl-crush at the time) Dj Tigerlily. I was obsessing over her blog when I came across pictures they had taken together. The images had a gypsy-like bohemian feel, telling a story of a wanderer through the sun, sand and sea. These elements combined with the juxtaposed environment really caught my eye. Tigerlily's unconventional green-tiped dyed hair mixed with high fashion pieces and a rustic background all bought together this unbelieveable beauty, a combination of high-end luxuries and ultra cool urbanity. I simply could not believe the breath-taking beauty Leila had created and I loved that they portrayed an unconventional, care-free world.
Another aspect that I love about Leila is that she hasn't permanently dropped herself into one box. She combines her two passions; writing and photography to tell stories. Stories of fashion, nightlife, travel and personal adventure to share and inspire others. Her stories have the ability to connect with the viewer and penetrate deep emotion within their bones, all giving off an incredible energy and defining her unique style.
"With a camera in one hand and a pen in the other, I capture and record little sparks of life and share them with others."
Her editorial work has been published in a number of both Australian and international online platforms and digital magazines including Nylon Japan Magazine, MINC Magazine, The Feed and David Jones online, just to name a few. Aside from fashion Leila has also gained great exposure through the Sydney nightlife and Dj scene by photographing some iconic faces and events including regular shootings of Dj Tigerlily and last year's sold out Alison Wonderland Warehouse Project.
Her style is free-spirited, edgy and raw, and captures the essence of a person or place and moments of “spontaneity and purity”. She firmly believes that "what is raw is beautiful" and that quote of her's consistently continues to inspire me. Just like Leila has done, I too one day aspire to combine all my passions into one, sharing my obsessions, personality and loves with the world through images and text.
Leila Joy is an absolutely incredible talent and I cant wait to see what she can produce and where her journey takes her next. Its motivational woman like her that push me to keep dreaming big and strive for success.
For more information about Leila or to explore even more of her amazing content head to her blog:
followthezephyr.com
 |
(all images sourced from Leila Joy sites)
|
