Ingénue in Bisous Magazine

photography by Fred Fraser
model Elizabeth @ Liz Bell Agency
styling, hair/make-up by me

Today I was possibly the oldest "new face" ever in a fashion shoot.

I now empathize with every new face model, uncomfortably standing for the first time in front a camera and expected to "bring it".

Oh, yeah, sure I've had a lifetime of having my photo taken, from camping it up with friends to updating the professional portrait. But today was different. 

Today I was a fashion model. Sort of.

The lovely designers behind the label "Thii" asked to interview me for their upcoming "in conversation with" series on their blog, and take some photos of me wearing their fashions. I was flattered, and knew it would be fun to hang out with them, so I said yes.

My favourite fit!

My favourite design!

I got to choose which pieces I wanted to wear, in my size, and they were so beautiful, and felt so good on! Especially the black Fion Dress. I had done my own make-up and hair (I guess I had it professionally done, lol), and should have felt like a proper model by now... but...

When they began taking the photos I realized that I was self-conscious and unsure how to proceed. Me. Who has art directed more models than I care to list! I smiled nervously, did my "pose for a nice photo" face, but what was holding me back from cranking out those fashion poses I want from MY models?

I think I then understood what maybe many new models or "new to modelling" people experience. Perhaps they simply don't want to appear foolish, to look silly by doing "real" fashion posing. I know I didn't want to look like some non-model thinking she's hot. But the thing is, to make the photos work, you do have to "bring it", by which I mean, pose. Be involved. Commit.

It's like acting, the character isn't really you, but for this moment, you need to really be the character. Otherwise no-one is going to buy it.

So I tried. I tried to remember everything every new (or experienced) model has taught me, everything every photographer I have worked with (including me) has helped new models with... hand placement, legs, where the eyes are looking, expression, being open to trying kooky poses. And it is a lot to keep track of, and still try to make it "natural".

In the end it was actually fun once I stopped trying to be me (you know, the non-model), and allowed myself to actually pose. Of course, in the photos I will still be me... short, a little plump, 50 years old... but I will be a confident and beautiful me because I let go of a few fears.

Concrete Wave published in Tantalum Magazine

And one more to catch up....

Photographer Benjamin Kwan
Stylist Sarah Danniels
Photo Assistant Samm
Model Angelica @ Liz Bell
Hair and make-up - Liz Dungate

Check out Angelica, coming up in the January issue of V Magazine as one of the four V & Ford Model Search finalists. Woot!

Everything is Darkest at Noon - Coco Magazine

How did I forget this one? A fun day out with Rene and Elysse!

photographer Rene August
hair, make-up, styling - Liz Dungate
model Elysse @ Lexington

Chelsea with Jager models - just for fun!

photography - Fred Fraser
hair, make-up, styling - Liz Dungate
model Chelsea @ Jager Models

An Early Frost - Victorian mourning in a modern world

This particular fashion story is inspired by the beautiful and (to modern senses) eerie tradition of post-mortem portraiture, which was popular in the mid-1800's to early 1900's. At this time in history, photographs of loved ones were rare, or non-existent - a concept almost unthinkable today with cameras built into our everyday devices and "selfies" posted daily for all the world to see. At one time, a post-mortem portrait might be the only memento a family would have of a loved one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-mortem_photography

With this thought in mind I wanted to create a modern wintery fashion story based on this concept: modern young people, casualties of an "early frost", beautifully dressed, groomed and posed "naturally" in settings where they would appear almost alive... but not quite. The colour palette and fogged glass in-camera effect also contributed to making the images dreamy and wintery, like a frosty morning, sunlit, but not really enough to warm you.

Thanks so much to Amanda and Amy at Liz Bell for trusting my vision (or just feeling sorry for me!) and helping with the almost overwhelming obstacle of casting so many models for one shoot over multiple days when they would only have one image (with eyes closed) published. And much thanks  to Anna at Nobasura for also coming through with more models to add to the beauty and diversity of the shoot.

And the models were fun! It was actually pretty social with moms and models and everyone playing dead, and great to visit with models we've worked with before, like Britt and Brittany, and a chance to meet some lovely new faces too.

And while I'm hijacking my own thread to thank people, thanks to Mia (and Stephanie) for styling such a diverse cast of models (over two very full days), and finally to Fred, for making my vision come true, and putting up with... everything. Before, during and after.

OK, I know I went a bit over, but I was pretty touched that so many people will help you explore your passions, if you just ask.

Photographer    Fred Fraser  www.fredfraser.com
Art director    Liz Dungate www.behance.net/lizdungate
Stylist         Mia Fiddis @ Judy Inc www.judyinc.com
Hair/Make-up      Liz Dungate using MAC www.lizdungate.com
Stylist Assistant    Stephanie Janyk
models     Angelica, Beket, Cole, Kelsey, Kirsten, Teanna and Theo  www.lizbellagency.com
                Britt, Brittany and Evy  www.getradkids.com

Modern Combat - W25 Magazine

Fierce Fun Fei!

photography - Fred Fraser
model - Fei @ Richards Models
styling, hair, make-up - Liz Dungate