I took a fashion marketing class at mount mary a while ago. I loved the class, even though I decided it wasn't for me. I remember one particular lecture where we spent the period looking over fashion photography and deciphering what the artist was trying to get across in the ad.
When I was younger I did modeling for a company that has since been bought out. My entire family was involved with the company for many years. We mainly were hired by kohls department store which has a big corporate headquarters in Wisconsin. I had some siblings do voice overs, my sister was on a bus for the museum and I remember getting a big "break" with Boston store. That's what my mom called it. We also did try outs for different acting jobs and I'm sure other things I just don't really remember.
I remember most of the jobs feeling somewhat stressed. It had a lot to do with the fact that I was a shy kid, especially around adults. When you walked into the back of the studio for the job, or if you were on location into the trailer things pretty much ran the same way. You would be given the clothing, sometimes put on before but usually after you visited hair and make up. Since a majority of my jobs were done in the studio this involved walking into what looked like a brightly lit salon. You were seated in a comfy chair and they went to work styling your hair and applying make up. The stylists were always very friendly and helped to make me feel more comfortable. I remember looking in the mirror at myself after the stylists left and being amazed at how different I looked. Since I was little I always thought I looked like a doll. My freckles were completely covered and my face was a uniform color. Being skilled at their trade, I didn't look like I had make up on at all. In fact going back to school after a job no one ever noticed the difference in my appearance.
After changing into the given clothing which seemed to always be too small or large even though you were set in a specific size you wandered out to find where you were going to be photographed. This usually involved me finding my mom and having her ask. Again I was shy. The studios always looked a lot like a warehouse with white backgrounds and mini sets set up throughout. Of course there was the bright photography lights and adults mingling amongst themselves. Once we found the correct set it was a waiting game. If you were photographed with others you had to wait for them. If it was just you the would do adjustments to lighting, set, where you were standing and etc. At this point you were given shoes which again were always too small or too large. Clothing that didn't fit correctly was clamped in the back with huge clothes pins. I remember I never felt overly pretty just sort of awkward in the ill fitting clothing, and shoes. This is why I particularly loved pjs so much. They fit easily and were hardly ever clamped. You kept your full range of movement and felt more normal.
When everything was ready to go the shoot began. This is where I remember feeling like I had to "turn on" like a light switch. Some photographers were really fun to work with and made the job super easy. Others were just doing their job. Stylists were on hand to fix clothing, hair etc that got moved out of place during the shoot. I think working with kids was epescially hard because they don't really know how to fully "model" yet. Sure we knew poses and could smile but the best pictures come when your personality comes out. Usually they would have me dance or make silly faces or jump up and down. This helped get rid of nerves I think and made me open up.
I say all this to get two points across
1. Models deserve more respect then what they get. They are notoriously ripped apart by the media. After being behind the scenes and sitting in that classroom I realized that modeling is an art. The models job is to evoke a memory or feeling in you. They are selling something to you. It could be the image or a feeling but regardless they are salesmen. When the camera turns on so do they. It's incredibly hard to capture someone's interest or evoke an emotion when you're just a photograph but they can do that. They can pull you in with a look. They can give off a feeling with posture. This takes skill. It's not easy for everyone, which is why not everyone is a model! I honestly don't think I could go on a set and do that today. May be with lots of practice. May be with great photographers. But in the end that only gets you so far.
2. Modeling is an art. The people in the photos are not real! What I mean by this is not just editing, lights, makeup photoshop. It's everything combined. While it may be different for everyone i felt like a different person in front of the camera. I was directed in how to stand, my hair was taken care of, lighting, setting, makeup, clothing and a photographer was letting me know what didn't work. Adult models are obviously a lot more skilled then I was as a child but without all of the behind the scenes that "model" wouldn't exist. The person doing the shoot would but the persona that the ad was trying to sell does not exist in reality.
We need to start to look at models as pieces of art. Which they are. Models are created in that studio. When we accept this we will be able to accept that being human is a beautiful thing. We don't need to compare ourselves to images created behind a lense.
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