I confess, I was one of those people who have never considered modeling a real job. It doesn’t seem like a hard work when somebody has an army of makeup artists and stylists fussing around them to make them look gorgeous. And all the models have to do is pose for pictures, smile and look beautiful. That was my outlook then. But I changed my mind pretty quickly when I got a chance to spend a day in their shoes. I was invited to take part in a photo shoot and let me tell you, I learned quite a few things during that day.
Lesson 1. Forget about beauty sleep.
It was 4 o’clock in the morning when I was driving through a deserted city. After gulping down about a gallon of coffee in an attempt to wake up, my eyes were popping out, but I was ready to roll. I was on my way to the hair salon, where my transformation was about to begin.
Lesson 2. Your hair will be damaged.
It took more than 3 hours and 2 stylists to do my hair just right. It was cut, dyed twice to get the exact color they wanted, highlighted, teased and styled. If you wish to get back to the color you had before the photo shoot, they will do it for you the next day, but you end up with extremely over-processed and damaged hair that requires a lot of conditioning.
Lesson 3. You better not be a germaphobe.
It was hard for me to watch the makeup artist use the same set of brushes on twenty models. That’s the main reason I hate makeup sessions at the beauty counters. Another thing, makeup people at the photo shoots don’t usually cater to your specific skin type. They will apply different products on your face that can give you a rash or result in breakouts. I had a full face of cakey waterproof makeup so it wouldn’t melt and fade away in the summer heat. The skin problems you get afterward are only yours to solve.
Lesson 4. Be prepared to change clothes everywhere and in front of everybody.
This was the hardest thing for me. The stylists shielded a little corner of the room with a clothes rack, but the more models arrived, the less clothes were left on the rack to hide behind. I couldn’t deal, I changed in the bathroom.
Lesson 5. You will be judged.
“You look way smaller than you really are”, one of the stylists said to me in disbelieve, when the jeans she gave me wouldn’t zip up. I told her I was taking that as a compliment. I am a size 4, but she decided to squeeze me into 2. Mind you, I am not easily intimidated by any remarks about my appearance. I ate two big snacks in front of her, and they were not mints.
Lesson 6. Get ready to suffer.
First of all, I had a hard time following photographer’s instructions, especially when he asked me to act “normal”. Suddenly I forgot how I normally act “normal”. Another thing was that the photo shoot took place outside, in a 95 degree summer heat, and lasted several hours. To make the matters worse, I was wearing skinny dark jeans, tight mini-dress, and a faux fur stole on my shoulders (and no, I can’t explain why). But you have to look happy, energetic and are not supposed to get tired.
Lesson 7. Modeling is not for me.
The most important lesson of all. I’m glad I had an opportunity to try something I’ve never done before. It was a fun and eventful day with meeting new people and learning new things. But I decided not to do it again, I’ve gathered enough memories to last me a lifetime.
