darlings
it was SUCH FUN being in our first magazine shoot!
we drove to a secluded inn far down the coast into the gorgeousness of Malibu (don’t you just adore the word Malibu?)
and the kind, talented, welcoming crew were waiting for us: there was a fancy photographer – a lady one – very modern, a stylist with a rack of clothes and suitably constrictive underwear – for us to wear – and a steamer and a clever silk scarf so we didn’t get the clothes smushed because Yes! there was a make-up and hair artist and she made us look all pretty with lipstick – so strange – we don’t own one in RL – and an Assistant who had excellent taste in music mixes and told us jokes to make us Laugh on the Beach (that was the shot they were all going for).
we tried on clothes (and were Not Allowed to wear black) – the magazine had specifically asked for bright colo(u)rs* so it’ll be strange and yet wonderful to see this peacock self when the magazine goes-to-press.
*the last time we wore “something in coral” was probably at boarding school (the “summer” – quotes used advisedly, twas England after all, we Froze) dresses were white with coral splodges or perhaps tiny flowers in a Victorian style bell-skirt with fitted bodice (agony for burgeoning breasts) and tiny buttons and pasty legs (no fake tan allowed). Or we also had to wear that coral/pink voluminous skirt for our saturday job in the shoe department at Miss. Selfridge in the Churchill Square shopping Centre.
back to yesterday *farofflooktocamera*
and the poor shiny patent leather (black) doctor martens shoes had to stay in the Inn as well – we took ballet flats (which we have Not worn since April 26th 2012 for a then-day-job-event at the Casino in Madrid) – black – of course – but they did not appear in shot as they liked our lilac toes instead.
and this is El Matador State Beach – there is not a State called El Matador – at least not in Los Angeles – but some of the beaches in Malibu are private and this one is State and thus open to all (but if you’re doing a professional photo shoot you need a Permit and so the Crew had one with them to show an Inspector just in case).
500 shots later “That’s A Wrap!”
we frolicked in the sand, walked slowly towards the camera, did lots of sitting on the sand and smiling (soft smile, shy smile to giggling and then a broad laugh – all the Options, you see) and generally doing what the magazine needs – a happy English person living in L.A who got sick, walked away from a corporate job and wrote a book and is now having a splendid time – that’s the shot they needed.
and we were happy to do so.
how did we know how to behave in the shoot?
well. we have Studied how to do this by watching others.
but secretly we just pretended to be Diane Keaton.
because she has the right sort of laugh/look for the beach.
especially in Something’s Gotta Give where her character is a writer and has the Most Glorious House and triumphs through pain and into the light.
yes.
that was our motivation.
and the crew completely got it.
which is why we’re Never Working With Anyone Else (because we hope there’ll be Lots of Shoots in the Future).
isn’t life delicious?
oh yes.
