From enchanted forests and cinematic archery to daring aerial performances, model Josefiena explores the art of becoming someone else in front of the camera.
Some models step in front of the camera to capture a beautiful image. Others see photography as an opportunity to create an entirely different world.
For Josefiena, modelling is as much about storytelling as it is about appearance.
Her portfolio moves effortlessly between fantasy-inspired woodland scenes, atmospheric portraits, equestrian photography and striking alternative imagery. One moment she might be an archer emerging from the forest; the next, a mysterious character standing in a lake or an aerial performer suspended above the ground.
What connects these different worlds is Josefiena’s imagination and her willingness to explore something new.
Behind the photographs is a model who approaches each shoot with curiosity, enthusiasm and a genuine love of creative expression. Sometimes she arrives with a character already imagined; sometimes the location, costume or atmosphere inspires an entirely new story.
HERA Magazine International caught up with Josefiena to discover how her modelling journey began, the experiences that have shaped her work and the extraordinary fantasy photoshoot she dreams of bringing to life.
Photographer: Erik Sand
Hera: Josefina, could you start by telling our readers a little about yourself? How did your journey into modelling begin, and what first attracted you to being in front of the camera?
Josefiena: I get asked a lot about how my modelling career started, and my answer is always: I wanted to try it out!
But to be a little more precise, my brother once told me about a girl who had done a paid photoshoot in a swimming pool or lake, or somewhere like that. That was really the trigger for me because it sounded like so much fun, and I thought I simply had to try it too.
That’s how it all started.
One of my first attempts to find a photoshoot involved looking for that girl and her photographer on Instagram. I found them and simply messaged the photographer. A while later, we arranged a photoshoot together, and that became my very first modelling shoot.
He gave me some advice along the way and suggested registering on a modelling website. As soon as I did, I woke up one morning to around 100 enquiries!
So that’s the whole story of how it began.
But I’ve always had the desire to stand in front of a camera, for as long as I can remember. I also wanted to become an actress when I was little, so the camera has always been my friend.
Photographer: Jo Grabowski
Hera: Looking through your portfolio, there’s a wonderful variety of styles, from atmospheric woodland photography and archery-inspired shoots to darker, alternative studio portraits. What draws you towards such different creative worlds?
Josefiena: It’s simply the desire to try everything, as much as possible, because I don’t want to spend my whole life, or even a large part of it, creating the same kinds of pictures. For me, that would become too boring and tiring.
I also want to tell stories through my pictures. Often, when I look into the camera, it’s like stepping into a character, and I want to tell different stories rather than always repeating the same one.
That’s the philosophy behind the variety of styles in my work.
Photographer: Bastian “Teddy” Nadj
Photographer: Axel P
Hera: Some of your photographs feel almost like scenes from a fantasy film or the pages of a storybook. When you’re working on a themed photoshoot, do you imagine a character or story behind the images?
Josefiena: First of all, that’s a big compliment for me!
And yes, I absolutely do that. As I said, it’s like stepping into a character.
Sometimes a photoshoot inspires me to imagine a character or story, and sometimes it’s the other way around. I already have a story and characters in mind, and I use the photoshoot as an opportunity to become one of those characters and live out my own story.
There’s one photoshoot that’s particularly typical of this approach: my lake and river shoot. It was one of my most joyful experiences.
You can see pictures from it on Instagram.
The water location and my outfit, including the necklace I wore, were so perfectly suited to a story I’d had in mind for some time. During the photoshoot, I simply became that individual character from my story.
And that was awesome!
Hera: Your archery photographs have a wonderfully cinematic quality. Was archery something you’d practised before, or did you learn how to handle the bow specifically for the shoot? And did you have someone advising you on technique?
Josefiena: Thank you!
No, I’ve never practised archery before, despite my zodiac sign!
I did some research specifically for my archery photoshoot. I watched videos about how to hold a bow and arrow correctly, so I could prepare myself.
I didn’t have anyone advising me beforehand, although my photographer helped me during the shoot.
I really tried to hold the bow and arrow as correctly as possible, which wasn’t easy because it required quite a lot of strength.
But I’m so glad I did it. It was a great photoshoot, and now I feel a little more fulfilled.
Photographer: Andreas Niggemann
Hera: Modelling can involve much more than simply posing. How do you use expression, body language and movement to bring a particular mood or character to life?
I often follow my instincts.
I look into the camera and try to imagine another place, a particular situation or a person standing in front of me instead of the camera.
I try to really get into that character or mood, and then the facial expressions and body movements come naturally.
Sometimes, though, it’s simply about enjoying the moment during a photoshoot.
Whether I’m in the water or sitting on a horse, those experiences can bring a beautifully natural smile to my face.
Photographer: @amazonenphoto
Photographer: Bastian “Teddy” Nadj
Hera: The relationship between photographer and model can make an enormous difference to the finished photographs. What qualities do you value most in a photographer, and how much do you enjoy contributing your own ideas to a shoot?
Josefiena: I think what I value most is having respect for the model, because poses often aren’t particularly comfortable.
It feels good knowing that the photographer genuinely appreciates my efforts and tries to make the shoot as comfortable as possible.
It’s not that I don’t want to attempt a difficult pose. I just want the effort involved to be appreciated. That’s what makes the difference for me.
I also value photographers who respect the model’s ideas.
I really enjoy contributing my own ideas. Often, I already have poses in mind, or they come to me naturally during the shoot. I appreciate it when the photographer takes the time to explore those ideas.
And, of course, I also try to respect the photographer, their ideas and the effort they put into the shoot.
Photographer: @aktshootings | www.aktshootings.de
Hera: Your portfolio moves comfortably between softer, natural imagery and much darker, alternative aesthetics. Do these different styles reflect different sides of your personality, or do you particularly enjoy the challenge of becoming someone else for the camera?
Josefiena: It’s true that some of my pictures have a rather dark style, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they represent another side of my personality.
As I said, I enjoy trying different kinds of photography, and I like the challenge of becoming someone else for the camera.
So, in those darker images, I’m often portraying a completely different character.
However, I have also created some dark, melancholic photographs that do reflect part of my personality.
I like a little melancholy in pictures, and some of those images genuinely reflect who I am.
But other dark or alternative photographs don’t represent my personality nearly as much.
Photographer: Bastian “Teddy” Nadj
Hera: Your Instagram profile mentions your connection with Armed Nation. Could you tell us a little about that relationship and what it has meant for your modelling journey?
Josefiena: Armed Nation was one of the earliest people to contact me through the modelling website I mentioned earlier, and we’ve stayed in touch ever since.
He’s been very supportive over the years, especially recently.
In particular, he’s been giving me advice about managing my social media, which is obviously important for my modelling journey.
We’re also trying to arrange more opportunities to shoot for his fashion label, and perhaps one day he’ll even become my manager.
But he’s certainly not the only person who has supported me from the beginning.
I’m grateful to everyone who’s been there for me.
Photographer: Andre Gall
Hera: Looking back over your modelling experiences, is there a particular photoshoot, unexpected moment or creative challenge that has stayed with you? We’d love to hear the story behind it.
Josefiena: Every photoshoot tells a different personal story, but of course, there have been some moments that really stand out.
For example, my first horse photoshoot.
I remember smiling the whole time because it felt incredible to be sitting on a horse without a saddle while being photographed.
Then, when I attempted a pose lying backwards on the horse, I remember feeling quite afraid that it might move.
The horse had become a little startled earlier, and I was worried that it might happen again while I was in that position.
But I stayed in the pose until we got the shot, and luckily, nothing happened!
I’m so glad I did it because the photograph looks wonderful, but it was definitely one of the most suspenseful moments of my modelling career.
Another photoshoot I often think about is the water shoot I mentioned earlier.
It was so much fun to swim in natural water again and bring my own imaginary character to life.
Another thrilling experience was trying pole work and aerial hoop for the first time.
I’d never done either before, and they were incredibly exhausting, but I think I made the best of the experience.
I love the photographs, especially the one where I’m upside down in the hoop!
That was another extraordinary and suspenseful moment for me.
I also did a similar shoot involving a special table, where I attempted some athletic poses.
That was really challenging because I had to perform those unusual poses in such a small space.
These are the photoshoots that have stayed with me and that I often find myself thinking about.
Photographer: Andre Gall
Photographer: @amazonenphoto
Hera: Finally, if you had complete creative freedom, an unlimited budget and the opportunity to shoot anywhere in the world, what would your dream photoshoot look like — and what story would you want those photographs to tell?
Josefiena: Wow, that’s a great question!
It would definitely be an outdoor fantasy photoshoot.
I can imagine several different shoots like that, and they would all be wonderful, but if I had to choose just one, it would probably take place in Scandinavia or Canada.
I’d love to capture the beautiful Northern Lights above a snowy winter forest, with me standing in the landscape wearing an antler costume.
That would be my dream photoshoot.
It would tell the story of an antler girl who has been banished from her home and is wandering through the snow, about to find a new home in the world of humans.
It’s a story I’ve had in mind for some time, but one that I haven’t yet had the opportunity to bring to life.
Photographer: Andreas Niggemann
A World of Stories Yet to Be Told
What makes Josefiena’s work so engaging is not simply the variety of photographs in her portfolio, but the imagination and determination behind them.
Whether she is learning to handle a bow for the first time, finding the confidence to pose on horseback or discovering the physical challenges of aerial performance, each experience becomes another chapter in her creative journey.
Throughout our conversation, one theme emerges repeatedly: Josefiena doesn’t want to stand still creatively. She wants to experiment, explore different characters and tell stories that extend beyond the boundaries of a single photograph.
And perhaps that is what makes her dream of a snowy forest beneath the Northern Lights so fitting. Even with the extraordinary range of experiences already behind her, there are still entirely new worlds waiting to be imagined.
We certainly hope that one day she gets to bring her antler girl to life.
HERA Magazine International would like to thank Josefiena for sharing her experiences, her creativity and the wonderful stories behind her photographs. We would also like to thank the fantastic photographers who contributed their work to this feature.
We look forward to seeing where Josefiena’s imagination takes her next.
HERA Magazine International — Celebrating Beauty, Creativity and Individuality.
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