Saša Rakić is is a great model from Bosnia. He is also a traveller and fitness lover. I hope you’ll enjoy the interview;
How did you fall in love with modeling?
Well I wouldn’t exactly describe it as suddenly ‘falling in love with modeling’.
To be honest, I used to talk down about men being models. I guess was funny and a bit weird to me that men modeled. So I didn’t have a wish to become one in the past.
The reason that I am one today and love doing it actually started in 2014. I had a motorcycle accident that really “woke me up” about health/fitness. The recovery was pretty long and difficult after having shoulder surgery. I started focusing one gaining back a lot of weight I had lost and eating healthier.
Once I was cleared to go back to the gym, it basically became my life. I fell in love with fitness at first. This got me to start another Instagram page solely about my fitness journey. I kept it hidden from my friends and people who knew me. Back then I was worried about what people would think, worried that I’d be judged for taking fitness pics that looked like I was modeling etc. Today, no longer care much for others’ opinions on what I choose to do.
How were you discovered?
Eventually, some friends found out about my fitness Instagram page. At first I was a bit embarrassed, but I moved past that. One friend in particular who happened to be a model/actor himself saw my page. He ran into me in the gym one day and told me I had a great physique and could connect me with a photographer he knew for potentially a free photo shoot. I was skeptical but said screw it, I got nothing to lose. If anything I’d get some free photos out of it.
So I did this photo shoot, it was pretty awkward, I didn’t know much of anything about modeling/posing. However, in the end we got a lot of good shots out of it. The photographer was pretty impressed and said he knew an agent from a modeling agency in Boston that he could set up an interview with. Once again I told myself I had nothing to lose and a few weeks later went to the interview.
I was pretty nervous, I got asked about some of my goals, about fitness, my background etc. The guy liked me. I was there for only about 15/20 minutes talking to him when he offered me a contract with his agency. Of course I said yes, and that’s how I started modeling and today love it.
What’s one of the most interesting shoots that you’ve done?
I think one of the most interesting shoots I did was more of an acting one than modeling. It didn’t have any speaking roles but it was a green screen shoot for the US Army relating to cyber terrorism.
How would you define your personal style?
I think my personal style is more fitness based however I’ve become really interested in fashion street photography.
Where did you grow up? How have your roots influenced your sense of style?
I moved a lot so I grew up in several places. I used to live in Germany before I moved to the United States. Then even here my family and I bounced around several times. My style definitely has its European influence as my roots are from there, originally being from former Yugoslavia. But I’d also say a lot of influence on my style came after my modeling really started and I got a better view of that world.
Who is your style icon and why?
That’s a tough question, I’m not sure if I have one in particular. However, there is this one guy, Samir Benzema, whom I discovered on Instagram and I absolutely love his style. (Instagram handle @sambenzema)
Who is your favorite photographer and why?
Another tough question, but in terms photographers who have shot me, I can say some of my favorite shots are from Anthony Grassetti and Stephen Cwiok.
What advice would you give to aspiring models out there?
If you love it, don’t stop. People will judge you, but put away your self-doubt and go after it.
Do you edit your own photos? If yes, which programs do you use?
I do edit some of my own photos and I really love the app Snapseed by Google
We would like to express our gratitude to Saša Rakić for this great interview.
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