Meet Timothy Young | Model

We had the good fortune of connecting with Timothy Young and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Timothy, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I think risk is a scary thing in any aspect. I look at it as an unknown space where anything can happen and you can’t predict what the outcome might be. For me and my career I’m trying to build is very risky. I mean, I dropped out of college because I decided to go for modeling and try to make it my career. Also, they don’t have classes on modeling in college haha. I’ve risked leaving my friends and family back home in Utah to pursue this career here in Los Angeles. I’ve never moved states before so I was scared to make such a big decision to follow this passion I have. But I’m willing to take the risk because thats the only thing I can do and I will never know without trying.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
How this whole thing started is a little interesting. I have Dyslexia and Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) so it was always difficult for me to vocalize my thoughts and feelings and also just any sentences. And after years of speech and reading therapy, I discovered my older brothers camera that he handed down through all my siblings and I started messing around with photography and eventually found out I could capture my feelings, emotions, thoughts and ideas through it. I was coming up with so many ideas with all the portraits I was taking of my friends that I decided I wanted to be the face of them because it was my way of expressing how I was feeling even if it just looked like a shoot. So I would come up with my ideas and be the creative director for shoots and then I’d make my brother Jonathan take pictures of me and I’d edit the photos and share them on my instagram. Every personal shoot I come up with and execute has a story/meaning behind it. But you really wouldn’t know but you could feel it and thats what I liked. Having so much meaning and sharing it and as the viewer you wouldn’t know exactly what I was telling you but you would “know” because I was showing it in the photo. This has turned into opportunities to work with so so many creative people and brands. I want to make modeling my full time career and work with so many people and brands and help bring their visions and ideas to life. I am so lucky that my passion has turned into a thing where I can try and make it my career. It’s not paying the bills right now so in between my two jobs I work back to back, I try my best to shoot with people, do creative shoots, and trying to get signed to an agency (or a couple of agencies). The thing that my brother Jonathan and I tell each other is “you can’t grow if you’re comfortable” and I can confidently tell you I’m not comfortable at all and I strive to grow more and more to reach for the dream I’m chasing. Because why not take the risk?

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Since I’ve only been living in Los Angeles for a little over a year, I don’t know the city completely yet. So I think it would be fun to explore with my best friend and try out new restaurants and coffee shops together because it’s always fun to try new things. I will say I definitely would take them to Lady Byrd Cafe. I have loved this place every time I would come visit and they have such good coffee and food! For shopping, I love thrifting so I’d take them to flea markets on the weekend like Melrose Trading Post and Loz Feliz Flea Market. Also we could do a fun GoodWill hopping and find some fun things. And on the nights we want to go out, my favorite spot (for right now) is Tenants of the Trees. And then any dive bar like Tiny’s or Mom’s Bar. I’ve never had a bad time at those places. For relaxing afternoons, I would say we could lay out at the beach either Point Dume or Marina del Rey and get some sandwiches from somewhere local in those areas! But of course the most fun is to have all my friends hang out at someones house and we all make dinner and are all together.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have many people and things to give credit to. First off I want to thank my Mom and Dad for supporting me so much and always being there for me. I also wouldn’t be here at all if it wasn’t for my brother/best friend Jonathan Young helping me bring my ideas to life and for pushing me to keep going and always by my side. And my best friend Audrey Allen for being there to help me learn how to model and doing so many shoots together to get practice and being my constant inspiration in everything I do and the one who understands me at my lows. I also want to thank all my friends and family who are in my life and supports me endlessly. Everyone in my life has helped me keep going in one way or another. I feel forever rich with these people next to me.

Website: https://www.timmyyoung.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timothy_young_/

Image Credits
Jonathan Young, Kellan Mohr, Yacob (Jacob Bonifacio), Sophia Valentino, Coleman Anderson, Aaron Linkogle, Spencer Tuggle, Garrison Garner, Cleanne Viana (CV.COM)