Lexy Parks is both a model and photographer located in British Columbia, which ultimately means that she creates some rad self portraits that will takes your breath away. Not only is she beautiful, but she is also brilliant. She understands lines, plays creatively with shadows and creates work that is both bold and full of movement. Moral of the story, she is our current girl crush photographer and you must check her out.

What inspires your art? I am inspired by nature more than anything else. The world around me has so much left to explore, and my own backyard has more beauty than I could have ever hoped for. Moving to the mountains of British Columbia, Canada has been the best decision I’ve ever made for myself and for my art.

What do you shoot with? Camera body and favourite lens? I currently shoot with a Canon 6D. My Sigma Art 35mm is on my camera most of the time, the Canon 85mm a close second.

What other ways do you express your creativity? I let my creativity influence much of my life. I’m a model, graphite and conté artist, seamstress, and love to cook.

How do you de-stress at the end of the day? I love a good meal and too many episodes of true crime television (yes Netflix, I’m still watching!). In the summer, I try to book at least one outdoor getaway to detox from technology.

What kind of music do you listen to while editing? I’m all over the place for music, it really depends on my mood and energy level. I listen to a lot of indie/folk when I need to zone out, 90’s tracks and reggae if I need something more uplifting.

What is your favourite book? My favourite book (series) is Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I’ve been reading the books for 10 years and just adore the mix of historical fiction, fantasy, and romance. The recent TV series isn’t bad either :)

Name one movie that inspires you. This may sound odd with all of the beautiful modern productions out there, but I’d have to say The Wizard of Oz. It’s been a favourite of mine since I was a child, as I have extremely vivid dreams myself. I love the blend of characters she knows but a journey she’s unsure of.

How do you handle self-doubt or creative slumps? Hah I don’t know if I do. I think the most important thing for me is to just shoot through it. Usually, when we’re feeling stuck we tend to shut down. If you just push through and create anything, good will eventually come. This quote about creatives by Ira Glass has probably been one of the most helpful things I’ve come across: http://bit.ly/1dfzwy2

What has been the most difficult part of your creative journey? Getting started! My stepdad gifted me my first DSLR as a wedding present, and passed away a week later. I struggled with getting into photographer before I finally jumped in headfirst.

Who is your favourite photographer? I’m going to be super cliche and say Sally Mann. The depth, raw emotion, and sheer beauty of her photography really draws you in. I was introduced to her work when I was young (my older sister is an artist as well) and fell in love long before I picked up a camera.