For all of you that came along as I chronicled my thoughts through the many blogs about my photo session in Paris, I thought this week, on the anniversary of this trip I would let you in on what was really happening behind the scenes. All the glitz, glamour and grandeur.
Ashleigh (photographer) and Cheryl (hair & makeup artist HMUA) were supposed to arrive at 4 AM (did I mention it was before dawn?). They turned up at almost 4:30 because their UBER never showed up and they had to walk to my place (luckily it wasn’t that far). So we were already running late.
Hair & makeup done, I got dressed in that huge blue tulle skirt, grabbed my bag of other outfits and headed out.We all were up before dawn, so that we could get to the Eiffel Tower at dawn, before the tourists and have the Trocadero to ourselves. It was me, Ashleigh, Cheryl and my oldest daughter Kathryn, who was there officially as BTS (behind the scenes) photographer for both Ashleigh & me, but really was there for moral support and as my dresser. (I mean after all I did it for 12 years for her when she was dancing competitively.)
Luckily the car that we had hired for the morning was waiting for us. We arrive at the Trocadero and there were only a few pigeons and us. Soon more photographers and their clients came, and planted themselves behind us so we had to keep moving around to find a clean view.
(To those of you who ask if I was really there, here is an idea of who and what had to be photoshopped out).
Did I mention that the temperature was in the 40’s? Yep, April in Paris….
Next, we hopped in the car and as we traveled to our next location, I was getting changed in the back from a huge heavy skirt and top to a jumpsuit. Take a minute and imagine yourself at over 50 years old changing in the back of a sedan, stretching out, limbs everywhere… Good thing the HMUA was there to fix everything! But take a look at the sky and the landscape behind me at the Pont Alexandre III bridge. Amazing.
Then it was off to the Pont de Bir_Hakeim, same outfit. Here we were dodging cars and bicyclists because we were really on a street, in traffic, at morning rush hour. (No BTS there, someone had to be looking out for our safety, despite what it looks like here!)
Then it was off to the gardens and another change in the car, this time into a dress. We don’t have any BTS photos from there, because by that time, Kathryn had to carry my dress shoes, jacket, water (and other things to keep the model happy), while I slogged through the wet grass in more practical shoes.
And here is the behind the scenes at our apartment - the apartment that I had specifically chosen for the balcony. I wanted a balcony photo, me casually leaning against the railing, arms outstretched gazing into my luxurious maison. Until we discover that the ledge was about 9 inches wide and the railing was maybe 3 feet high. Did I mention that I am not a great fan of heights? Inside only. As it turns out too much light was coming into the apartment from the windows, so we needed a reflector to balance it out if we wanted to see the other side of my face. Time to “make it work”. Wake up the hubs (it was by then about 7AM), grab the comforter from the bed and have him hold it up.
It feels like yesterday, I can’t believe it’s been a year. I certainly did not know the transformation that I would have personally. Nor was I planning one. I was just along for the ride. The Universe saw differently.
Was it worth it? I would do it again in a heartbeat.
As a matter of fact, I am. Rome in June. Photo session this time will include the girls. And the hubs -this time in front of the camera.
You can see the whole series from last year here:
Part 1: Explored if I am worth it. Just me, not the girls. Not to mention the $$$. Find the full post HERE
Part 2: Wait! WEIGHT! Who doesn't consider this when they are about to be photographed? Find the full post HERE.
Part 3: Wait! I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO WEAR! Even though I have a closet full of things, do I really want to wear any of these? Find the full post HERE.
Part 4: The Photo Shoot: What it’s like to feel like a model for a day. Who thought it was a good idea to be photographed at dawn?! But it was at the Eiffel Tower… Find the full post HERE
Part 5: It’s reveal day. Time for me to actually see the photographs that we created. Time for me to choose my favorites. Find the full post HERE.
It's about shining from the inside.
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xoxo
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