A Day in the Life of a Model....kind of ^^;

 Recently, I've had the experience of doing something that probably won't be offered to me again in my lifetime.  I've never considered myself much too look at, and rarely have I even considered myself "pretty." Partly having to do with how I was raised to think about myself and how my self-esteem is, and partly because,,,well, I'm used to being around other people who received so much more attention than I do (not to complain! I have some awesome and beautiful friends! ^0^)   


About a month ago, on my way home from work at the train station, a young woman approached Kenji and me. I thought nothing of it, assuming she was going to ask for directions or something...I didn't pay too much attention at first since I also assumed she needed an explanation from a fluent speaker ^^;  I heard a murmur of "kanojou ha kirei desu ne!" and looked over at her, surprised and a little embarassed. I saw her pull out a business card and she explained that she worked at a salon. She pulled out a magazine and then asked something I thought would never be asked for from someone like me.....a model? Really?....**Really?~~!!** I was a bit stunned as we briefly agreed to her request and walked away. I put it in the back of my mind, thinking it was kind of another joke life wanted to play on me.

    A few weeks passed, and it came down to the day before the photoshoot. I found myself riding a strange bus route and wandering up a hill past a rice field to a small salon seemingly out in the middle of nowhere with Kenji. The familiar face of the girl peered out of the doorway, then she rushed put to meet us as we neared. We were ushered up the staires to a 2nd floor with a great atmosphere! (I couldn't help but take a pic)>>>
^.^  She had me change into different clothes and explained her intended image for the next day.  She then carefully fit a wig on my head and applied a test round of make-up. After having had my make-up done by a make-up artist before (with my band) ^^; I have to say, it really is an enjoyable experience to be pampered in some way by another person. I sometimes wonder if I'd appreciate it quite this much if I were in fact living a luxurious lifestyle that allowed such decadence more than once or twice a year. Well...having it done every once in awhile is definitely appreciated, though...She was really gentle and caring in the way she applied and checked everything. I tried not to get too relaxed so I could stay really still for her sake.  After all the prep, she had me stand and do trial poses...she seemed to be really satisfied and after awhile of more talking, we called it a night.

                                                                                 I just love bird cages~! ^.^

The next morning, I met her at the station, and she drove us to the salon, where just the two of us spent a good hour and a half of quality time alone. She prepped and readied things ever so carefully, seemingly more and more excited with how much I "could talk." The conversation started off with her eagerly trying to entertain me with Dir en Grey on youtube. I tried to warn her that the music was rather dark and not easy listening, but she insisted on giving it a try. Almost ironically, she clicked a youtube link to a song from their Uroboros album. After the intro, Kyo's low growl blared from the little laptop's speakers and she surprisedly glanced over at me in the mirror. I just laughed a little and explained to her what I felt his concept in music was...she continued by commenting that she had previously thought I might like lighter things like...pop. Then she told me of a client who is friends with them during their tours in the US...the conversation carried on and over many things, including her asking how to say things in English. ^_^ She was just so pleasant and sweet.
 After the other stylist and model arrived, we spent a few more moments getting ready and then we hit the road for about an hour commute to the other salon, the setting of the actual photo-shoot.  The other salon was a buzzing, bustling mess of beauticians, models, and hairspray. I didn't feel as much like a sore thumb as I thought I might have. 
Everyone was pretty absorbed in their tasks, and we set up shop pretty quickly. Ueno-san (the stylist) really fussed over me all day. She constantly worried about me and how I felt, if the wig hurt me, if I was hot or cold, thirsty or hungry, needed something... I know part of it was her job, but she really did go out of her way and worried about me way too much...I tried to show my concern for her, too...offering a seat or trying to help, but she always refused.  She re-touched up my make-up, applied more cool liquid orange and red eyeliner, powder, blush, lipstick, styled and teased the wig and extensions...she tirelessly fixed everything with so much energy.

My preview look equipped with stars ^^

The photographer came over to our area and introduced himself and asked her questions on what she was wanting to shoot for. She explained as he looked me over curiously. We went to the "photography station" and she proudly explained that I could speak and understand Japanese, not to worry.  The photographer really was an interesting person, very funny. His movements were quick, his facial expressions were clear, he had a great was of conceptualizing.  He had me twist and contort my way back and forth, my back twisted like an S, my arms balancing off of my hips or slung out to the side with attitude. My eyes darted from the floor to the camera. "Left shoulder down, right shoulder back...back...left arm like this," he'd dramatically strike an example pose, I'd try to follow. He'd laugh and make another suggestion. "Chin down. Look here, look here!" He'd make a face and expect me to copy. Tongue out, sneer...kiss...sideways glance...biting my nails...leaning forward more, no back....more to the side...arms twisted behind my back. He certainly laughed a lot, but it was good laughter. ^_^ He had a few good things to say. I liked watching his face as he paused and thought of more ideas every once in awhile. In every pause, the stylist was there, fussing over me more, moving my hair, adjusting my garments, moving the curtain or light screen, suggesting ideas or asking questions. I wanted to really give them something good to work with since it seemed to be so much trouble for all of them. Towards the end, the photographer got a strange gleam in his eye and he pulled a black curtain behind me, had me use an extra flash as a prop in the pictures. He asked for more attitude, more "rock" and less "cute." Towards the end, my back was sincerely contorted into an unformforable backwards slouch while the top part of me twisted in different directions and I balanced the flash and my facial expression for the camera. I developed a whole new respect for people standing there and twisting,turning, blinded by flashing lights and muffled voices. I felt like a whole different person.

The two stylists, me, and the other model(Aiko) ^0^

 After painstakingly holding it in for a few more moments, the shoot came to an end and I was free to slump over in a chair as the other model from the salon took her turn. It was fun just to sit back and watch people come and go, new people set up, primp, prep, pose...onlookers watching and commenting...I wondered if some people were used to living like this on a relatively normal basis. It seemed fun, but kind of stressful...I asked Ueno-san a bit more and told her I thought she must have a fun job, doing things like this and making an image to work with. She agreed and nervously giggled at my curious questions. 
Eventually the long day (when I say long, I mean like 8 hours of this) came to an end and we were on the road again, headed back to Sakai. It really was a fun experience to get a taste of what it would be like. For one whole day as Lauren I really felt pretty. ^.^; (Iris is different..it's hard to explain) 



Who knew twisting into strange statue-esque poses could make something as cool as this? (The photographer let me take a picture of one of the unedited pics he shot ^0^ ) I wish you could see the awesome make-up job, but for some reason, they wanted to focus on making me noticably pale and I guess to bring out my eye color...but my eyeliner was so cool!! >_<; shimmering orange..it was awesomeness. Anyways, it was fun, regardless of the outcome...I just hope something good comes out of it for those girls. They worked so hard, I really do hope they win the contest they entered ^.^;   And I truly am thankful to have had this experience..it was so fun to feel different in a good way!