Photoshoot 2006
As I previous year’s I decided that once again, I wanted to do a photo shoot in the early part of the year and this years shoot took place on Saturday 18th March which was sandwiched between the Transfandgo Ball and my trip to New York.
Although on the day of the shoot Jodie and Mike are responsible for the amazing results, in the days leading up to the shoot there are a few other people who help get me organised.
The first of these people is Gemma who owns her own clothes shop in Sunny Essex, she is brilliant and lets me visit her shop and try on all the clothes, and always gives me an honest opinion in how I look in them. Some of the clothes worn in this shoot are from her shop.
This was going to be my first photo shoot, using my own hair rather than a wig, so far I have been growing it for about 18months and its coming along really well. I have to thank Amanda my hair dresser for helping me through the early days of the hair getting in my eyes, and then her persuading me to keep it growing, longer than I originally planned. The day before the shoot I visited Amanda and Caramel highlights put into my hair, which looked great.
The final person is Nas who did my waxing as usual a couple of days before the shoot and this time she also painted my roe nails and put these great sparkly diamonds on them, it’s a shame you cannot see them in any of the pictures. The waxing before the photo shoot is always painful as I choose to do an underwear set, then the waxing involves the bikini line, Nas always appears to take perverse pleasure in my screams as she rips out more hair, but as she always tells me I gotta suffer to be a girl.
As usual I had a fairly quiet time the night before the shoot, just me and a bottle of red wine, the idea was to have a glass or two then pack my bags, but I ended up drinking the lot and leaving the bag packing until the next morning. Every year I appear to take more and more bags to the photo shoot and this year was no exception with two bags, plus a box having to be shipped from my flat down to the car.
I drove round to Jodie’s flat, switched my bags and then we drove off to the Boudoir, where I unpacked whilst Jodie made the coffee, and we were then ready to start the make up. We had already agreed on 6 different outfits, with the first three looks being with straight hair and then the last three with hair after it had been in curlers.
Soon after Jodie had finished the make up, Mike arrived and began to set up the camera, I showed him my first couple of outfits, and he put the appropriate filters on the camera. As usual it always takes me a bit of time to get into the shoot, as I don’t relax that well, therefore we try and start off with the most casual outfits so we can ease into it.
Once I got relaxed the first three outfits flew by, in a blur of cameras, changing of clothes and touching up of make up. After the third outfit it was back into the make up chair to have my hair put into curlers so that it would look different for the last three outfits. Jodie also made us some lunch, so I sat there in my dressing gown with my hair in curlers eating soup and another of Jodie’s delicacies.
After lunch it was time to take the curlers out my hair and for Jodie to restyle it, I was again amazed how different the hair looked after being in the curlers, then it was back in front of the camera, for the next three outfits, Mike told me afterwards that it was like taking pictures of a completely different person once the hair had been changed.
Eventually we had done all six outfits and it was time for me to change back into a casual outfit and pack my bags, I had arranged to go out in the evening with Jodie and we drove back to her place, where she changed and we then drove off to Milton Keynes and had dinner with Stacey.
I had a great day at the shoot as always and thanks to Mike for his patience whilst I made all my changes and to Jodie for doing a fabulous job on my hair and make up, for the loan of the coat and for lifting her top up and showing me yah belly during the shoot.
Outfit 1
This was a green top that I had gotten from Monsoon in the sales at Xmas, it had been a little too tight, but as I lost a bit of weight it now fitted fine. The jeans were from Gemma’s shop, and the Cowboy boots I got from e bay for a bargain £20. I have always wanted a pair of girly cowboy boots, but could never justify the expense so I was really pleased to find these at such a bargain price.
Outfit 2
Jodie, Nas and I had worn these outfits to the Rubber ball towards the end of 2005, and I decided to give the outfit another run out, but unfortunately I was unable to find mine, so I borrowed Nas’s costume. I teamed the uniform up with my Lycra boots and whale net tights, which I think are one of the hardest things in the world to put on.
Outfit 3
I’ve always wanted to do a showgirl look and I managed to find this outfit from a company called Glam n’ Glitz in Southampton, they were really friendly when I rang up and explained why I wanted it, and they made some great suggestions regarding the outfit. I cant see me wearing the outfit out much though so if anybody has an event where they need a show girl let me know.
Outfit 4
This was a top for Gemma’s shop which I got last summer, but had not yet worn, I didn’t have a decent black skirt so I borrowed this one from Jodie. The shoes I had gotten when I went shopping with Alison a few years back, I was pleased with the overall look in this set.
Outfit 5
This was the dress that I got and wore to the Transfandgo Ball the week before, again we had the same problem in that we could not get the dress done up, hence all the pics from the right hand side. The dress was teamed up with nude stockings and green shoes.
Outfit 6
This was the traditional end of shoot underwear pictures and this year it was a fur type coat, with a set of Aubade underwear which Nas had gotten for me a few years ago. I also had a Nu bra underneath the actual bra which helps to create the illusion of a cleavage.
