Photoshoots are the craziest.  The typical scenario would be models in disarray and in various states of undress, the photographers fixing the lights and flashes, the stylist fussing over the makeup and wardrobe, the makeup artists slaving over the right look and retouching numerous times.  Photoshoots always involve chaos, all said people running around in the same space, and long hours.

But I love it.  Stressful, but yes, it’s the good kind of stress especially if you get what you set out for.

Posting about this one in particular has been a bit overdue.  A friend of Ego (my regular partner-in-crime), Cyrene Morales, asked him to do headshots and a couple of new photos for her and two other models’ set cards.  We were happy to oblige, but it was kind of short notice and at the last minute, none of our usual make-up artists confirmed (since it was a week day shoot)!  From then on, I vowed I’d book shoots only for weekends so I can properly rally up the usual team.  I am also seriously considering taking up a course in make-up just so I’ll always have back up no matter what.  I’m thankful that I have enough time to plan three other upcoming shoots–thanks in great part to the designers who responded to my previous blog post about it.

This shoot was supposedly fairly simple, but to be honest, I haven’t had much practice in the last two years.  I’ve nearly forgotten how shoots could take hours, even a properly organized one.  Hence, on short notice, lack of professional make-up artists, more models and photographers than we expected, we were all scrambling practically half-mad at the studio.  I asked my friend Leia to do the make-up with me, even though she’s usually the photographer than stand-in make-up artist.  I used to be the photographer myself, before deciding to focus more on styling and art direction, so I was already anxious as hell.  But if there’s one thing I remember about directing any kind of shoot (whether it be for film/video or photography), it’s to never ever let your actors or models see how tired or nervous you are.  Even if your guts have already turned to jelly and you’re considering running around like a headless chicken.

Model: Jhona Aritao

Model: Cyrene Morales (same model as first photo of this entry)

Model: Rona Ofiana

Location: Rouge Studio, Makati
Photographer: Ego Faylona
Models: Cyrene Morales, Jhona Aritao, Rona Ofiana
Makeup: Leia Gutierrez, Alex Lapa
Styling/Art Direction: Alex Lapa

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