It's windy now and the waves are crashing on the rocks. The crew rushes onto the slimy, wet sand to try and set up lights as quickly as they can to try and get one last shot before this one is over. The model peeks up at the camera and smiles. With her well-manicured nails and doll-like features, she struts on to the blue wall with a wave at the crew just before she emerges into the sunset.
The girls show off their skills as models in front of the camera one by one, but do not leave the trailer since adjustments as to hair, makeup, and wardrobe are constantly taking place. It is heating up and the models are either in full hair and makeup with damp hair or getting back into makeup and wardrobe.
It is not easy to be a model especially when putting on swimwear, so the girls need the team at their backs to ensure that they're comfortable enough to pose for hours at a time. The makeshift dress rehearsal is perfect for everyone involved to get acquainted with the light placement and other parameters.
After the dress rehearsal, hair and makeup are done as well as dressing the models for the shoot. The team usually spends a great deal of time lighting each shot with all kinds of equipment and often floods the room with strobes, flashes, and more backgrounds than one could ever imagine. Lighting is a major focal point for photography shoots so as to properly show the model's body. It's quite dazzling to watch a photo shoot in action.
Despite appearing calm and collected, they often shout names, waves, and flick at the hair or skin when they are doing makeup, hair, yoga or whatever daily activity that they're preoccupied with on set. Those who are less experienced with models, models want to dress up in anything new are the ones who will gush about them up on set.
Unprepared models can be guilty when handling a makeup artist's lipstick for a touchup, unaware of just how much a product costs and therefore how precious it is to the one who has it. They will often gasp from their mangled nose or just excitedly smile because they're lucky that they get to do this on a regular basis.
Those who are more experienced with models, know that the day can be long and what time of day that it is is entirely debatable. Stomachs will be growling and flares of sweat will cover skin but they are happy because it is work.
A screen lights up and it merely displays ,'12:00 pm', so they keep working without knowing how much time has gone by. Weather will sometimes change whether it's thunderstorms or hail, so it helps to be prepared as part of the set crew so that no one gets harmed. The teams are often grabbing and wiping down furniture platforms along with uncluttering mannequins as if they have an internal clock telling them exactly when and what needs to happen.
If we stay on the same footing as this question, then my most recent experience with a swimwear photo shoot would be the best I have ever had. All around me were actresses, athletes, and people of various shapes and sizes. Women were touching up makeup and unloading camera equipment and guys were randomly throwing themselves into the water to break the repetitive soft light.
I returned to the same question mid-interview. The makeup artist abruptly replied, "I mean, I'm having fun." I asked her, "Do balls always heal?" and received raucous laughter amongst women in the room. She revealed to me, "You're joking. You ask me a stupid question like that. It's a job for me, it's not the best experience." I concluded from her response that it is not the best experience for her but a rewarding experience for many reasons.
I proposed an opinion to her and she laughed it off with her friends. Immediately afterwards she briefly mentioned that she wanted to go back to work. I concluded my interview feeling as if she missed where she wanted to go and that she was more inquisitive than anything.
I'll always remember this experience at a swimwear photo shoot because it was awesome.
This blog post is to demonstrate Pipeline theme. Photos provided by Simone Ainsworth. Please visit https://seamone.com.au for real store, products and articles.
