Tara Jean
by Jennifer Cummer
If you met Tara Jean five years ago, modeling would not have been in her vernacular. This 20-year-old beauty originally from Omaha, Nebraska, had her eyes set on becoming a defense lawyer, so you can see how her course has changed.
It was a chance pizza parlour meeting on Vancouver's Commercial Dr. nearly a year ago (the stars were aligned) when Jean's path crossed with make up artist Anya Ellis. Ellis insisted on Jean meeting Lizbell, of Lizbell Agency, knowing she had something the agency was looking for. And as they say, "the rest is history."
Working diligently since that first discovery, Jean has enjoyed shoots with some of Vancouver's best photographers, like Renat Touichev, Fred Fraser and Matthew Burditt. She has also had the pleasure of working on creative collaborations with photographers like Le Beast Photography.
Enjoying photography herself, Jean insists her own photographic passion aids her modeling. She understands the composition of the shot and knows how to fill the frame not only from her point of view but also from behind the camera. Having worked with film and digital, we would not be shocked to see this young artist one-day step behind the camera. For Jean though, her full aspirations are to remain in modeling as long as possible.
Jean has artistic ability beyond her modeling and love of photography. She enjoys pencil drawings and occasionally working as a graphic designer when modeling does not fill her schedule. Some of the graphic design work she is most proud of is what she has completed for her Dad's website, Human Hair Wigs (
www.humanhairwigs.org). The site helps cancer survivors purchase human hair wigs after intense chemotherapy treatment, serving over 1000 customers daily for beauty, costume and everyday use.
Thankful for the support she receives, not only from her friends and family, but also from her agency, Jean is excited about what the future holds. "I have been so privileged," states Jean over the phone, where you can practically hear her glowing smile of appreciation.
For more information on Tara Jean or to view her portfolio, please visit Lizbell Agency at
www.lizbellagency.com and be sure to check out their blog for updates on all of Jean's adventures. We know we will!