modelo!

I can’t believe I just had my first ever photo shoot.

Ever.

And I mean bright lights, professional photographer, a DSLR with several wide-angled lenses, art direction, multiple costume changes, the full monty!
One lazy Wednesday afternoon, I was approached by one of the people in marketing and asked if I wanted to be a “talent.” Talent for what? She told me that our small business loan will be re-launched in the market; ergo its marketing collaterals need to be overhauled as well. I was surprised at first, I thought “wala na ba talagang maganda sa Plantersbank?” On second thought, I was up for it. She said she will email me a number of layouts where the entire shoot will adhere to. The ad agency prescribed specific clothes style & color for each peg. I was asked to do my own make-up, which I gladly did.

Sunday came and I stormed the mall and basically ransacked all the shelves I could find. I was telling myself to really be stringent and stick to cheap stuff. I promised myself that I will only wear them once because I’M NOT THE TYPE WHO WEARS BABY PINK, for crying out loud! Oh, well, I think I’m left with no other choice but to wear it often because that baby pink sweater was the most expensive of all the stuff I picked. Nonetheless, I welcomed the untimely outfit hoarding with open arms. At least I get to update my ensemble after so many moons. See, I’m more a shoe person than clothes.

Monday, 2P.M., I got a call from the coordinator. The agency has set up the cameras and we’re ready to shoot! Before that, the art director carefully examined the wardrobe I brought. She instantly loved the pink sweater. I was even tempted to give it to her, but we don’t have the same size. Sayang. Charles, my “husband” in the ad, brought several pieces of clothing, with matching pants and shoes pa! Too bad, the shots will only be limited to our upper bodies.
We were called to position. Since Charles lost weight, his polo was kind loose. The photog suggested that his assistant “tapes” the back of his polo. As in literally, he took the tape dispenser and joined a few inches of his loose polo at the back to give it a better-fitting illusion. On the other hand, they kept fixing my bangs that incessantly fell to my face. They gave us quite a lot of instructions on where to put our hands and how to position our bodies in such a way that it will appear as if we are in an intimate relationship. We appeared stiff at first, but after a few test shots, we both loosened up and were able to adhere to what they wanted in no time.

The shoot started with me leaning against Charles. At first I was so stiff and conscious about the pose because my boobs are pressing against his back. I just told myself that he’s a friend and that he wouldn’t mind (?). But our “directors” were horsing around and they made us laugh all the time. So the shoot didn’t involve a lot of acting. It was more of a string of candid shots. It took us perhaps a hundred tries and a couple of costume changes before we finally got the perfect husband-and-wife shot.

So I know now how it feels like to pose for the cameras. It’s no easy feat but it was sure a lot of fun!

Will post stills as soon as I get my copy!

My 25 random things

Since everyone is coming up with 25 random things about themselves, indulge me as I come up with mine.

1. I secretly liken myself to Carrie Bradshaw – the writer, her love for shoes, her fabulous friends, her “long live love” mantra. I have to find myself my own Mr. Big soon.

2. I am a frustrated doctor. I didn’t have a fear of needles growing up, nor of blood. In fact, I love watching medical operations on Discovery Channel. I also have high tolerance for pain.

3. I’m at my most creative when I’m in the shower. My creative juices really flow while I shampoo my hair and scrub my back. I plan my day’s activity and I also get to pray during this time.

4. My favorite ice cream flavors are vanilla, strawberry and caramel. For cakes, i go for chocolate. I don’t like cakes with lots of icing. The simpler, the better.

5. If i were to learn another language, I’d like to learn French. I love how the language sounds so nasal. I like watching French channel on cable.

6. I love notebooks or paper in general because I love doodling. I hate writing on ruled notebooks though. I once spent Php 600 for a very nice notebook that served as my journal a few years back. I tore all the pages after some time and I’m ready to replace it with greater memories.

7. My comfort food is cream-based soup and pasta. I can have them any damn day.

8. If I were to travel to a foreign country, aside from France, I’d love to see Greece. I love how they paint their houses white atop the hills. The culture intrigues me as well.

9. If I had a choice to pick my name, I would name myself Georgina. It gives a very manly appeal to a woman’s moniker.

10. My favorite fairy tale of all time is Cinderella. I still believe in happily ever afters at this age.

11. Had I not pursued Psychology, I would have studied communications. My dream job was to be in a fashion/lifestyle magazine. I love the idea of deadlines, of photo shoots and all the glitz and glam that comes with it.

12. My pet peeves are arrogance, dishonesty, infidelity and ruthlessness .

13. I am a woman who doesn’t believe that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Shoes are! So not a jewelry person.

14. During my lull time, I’d read books, watch DVD, answer Sudoku puzzles, see a movie, cross-stitch, go malling and blog.

15. When I was a kid, I honestly truly believed that the best comedy/gag shows were Champoy, Buddy en Sol and John eh Marsha.

16. When I was about 3 years old, my parents would take me to Fiesta Carnival and make me ride the ghost train. My mom was the one scared so she covered my eyes and kept screaming to my dad that we let be out of the train. I ended up seeing nothing, ergo not scaring myself.

17. I am fascinated by anything mabango. I love perfumes, fragrant soaps, lotions, scented candles and the like. I hate smelly people, the stench of garbage and pollution.

18. I don’t have pets. I used to have a pair of gold fishes, they ended up floating in the aquarium after a couple of weeks. Although I’d wish to have a labrador someday.

19. I like Wendy’s french fries better than McDonald’s. Enough said.

20. I believe that the greatest invention is the Internet. Need I say more?

21. Self-doubt is the most challenging thing to defeat. One will not be able to go on with anything if one doesn’t believe in himself.

22. If I become a mother, I would stress the importance of integrity in my children.

23. I’ve been hurt twice, but I am still standing and waiting for the one that will sweep me off my feet...for good.

24. I am cool-headed, I forgive easily, I don’t fall easily. But if I fall, I fall hard.

25. I love my Mom above everything else in this world.