On Location
Chin up, shoulders back. Look at me, now look away…just be natural. Oh yeah, and don’t forget to smile!
Flipping through magazines I seldom stop to consider photos from a model’s point of view. There always seems to be more pressing matters like looking for key messages and meaning in the image or ad.
Until last Friday, I have taken for granted the fact that the stunning, effortless or otherwise interesting looking models before me had to work hard and need the help of something pretty special to look that good, or that ‘natural’.
This discovery began last Monday when Romy Seigmann called to set up a photo shoot for a graduate profile James Cook University want to run in 2011.
All of a sudden I had become a model and learned that it gave, and took, a lot more than just showing up to the hairdresser and waltzing in front of the camera.
Choosing a location and outfit seemed pretty easy, just like I expected. The hard part came when I was before the camera and realised that my posture sucks, my chin is more down than up and my lips quiver when I have to smile for longer than it takes to lol.
There were so many things to think about. I had to sit and behave in ways that “just look natural” while people were looking on at me. I felt so awkward and in focus – nothing like natural. Modelling is hard work!
Here is a video my friend grabbed with an iPhone while I was having my photo taken.
It is shot at our second location; the legal graffiti art space on Scott Street in Cairns. (Next-door to Cairns Sharehouse). The guys in the back ground are the artists who tagged the wall.
This video features my two best friends, Chachi and The Goon. One is in front and one is behind the camera.
When you feel like a stiff, awkward, dork it takes something pretty special to turn that into relaxed and natural. Something like your friends showing up, unasked, with nothing to gain, just in case you have a wardrobe malfunction or need a hand to smile on que.
I didn’t earn thousands (or any) dollars and am not likely to grace the cover of Vogue anytime soon, but I gained much more than the professional profile photos that came from this shoot.
This shoot gave me:
• Far greater appreciation for the occupation of modelling (and I’ll leave it to the pros!)
• An unexpected and heart warming lesson in the true meaning of friendship
• Inspiration to show people Cairns’ awesome graffiti art and find out more about the artists behind it.
These camera shy, friendly artists were stoked that people had come to enjoy their art.
They get together and add life to this legal art space as well as another one on Grafton Street every week.
I’ll try to find out more about them and their awesome art and bring you some of Romy’s shots soon.
Until then, chin up, love your friends and…just be natural!
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