And I do my little turn on the catwalk. Yes, on the catwalk.
Mmm Hmm.
As you might recall, I some how landed myself in a wedding dress fashion show. I promise you, I am not dillusional. I did not seek out this opportunity. It came to me. Just so we’re all clear on the fact that I don’t fancy myself a model!
The fashion show was at the Gateway Bridal Shows, just outside of StL. As bridal shows go, it was one of the nicest I’ve seen. Not too big, but not to small. And like a true model, before heading back stage I made the rounds and sampled the cake at every baker’s booth. In fact, I sampled one baker’s cake twice. It wasn’t that good really. I just like cake. I also sampled some sort of cheese cake. And I stole travel brochures from the travel agent’s booth.
And I was an interesting site to see I’m sure. I wasn’t anticipating having time to walk around. So my makeup was applied a little too heavy for an early evening exposition visit. And I was wearing just a lace cami (sans undergarments) because I didn’t want those pesky bra strap lines on my shoulders in the strapless dresses. Everyone else was wear either a fur parka or a North Face jacket. Because from November through March, the only thing people in St. Louis know how to wear are North Face jackets. Its wierd. Anyway, that’s a different rant.
So I trotted around the bridal shower looking like a first class tramp, stealing cake and brochures with nothing to hide! And when the pesky vendors tried to hock their wares I yelled “Already married! Here for the cake!” Which only added to the fun.
Eventually it was show time. The five dresses I’d picked where narrowed down to 4 (my favorite 4 too!). And I was assigned a “dresser.” She happened to be the Financial Officer (or something similar) for the Gateway Convention Center where the event was held and she was quite nice. Good thing, since her job was to rip dresses off of me and apply new ones. Sometimes with the aid of WD40.
Modeling does not allow for modestly. Thankfully, I’m already married and I didn’t have any modestly left. After the fittings and they day-of dress application everyone who’s anyone has seen your stuff. So I got over the naked in public thing and got into the first dress, waited for my que, and hit the runway:
There where WAY more people than I anticipated. I’d guess 400? Maybe 500. A lot anyway. So out I walked. I smiled, did a few little turns, showed off my back side and walked off. It was pretty anticlimatic. Until I got backstage and was met by my “dresser” who, wielding a pair of scissors, declared there wasn’t time to undo the dress and promptly cut it off of me. Alrighty then.
My own wedding dress was next, although in a size bigger than I wore and a little on the baggy side.
As lame as it sounds, I left so comfortable and relaxed when I put it on! It was like putting on my favorite blue jeans. Except couture. And with hand beaded lace. Heehee.
And then there was dress 3, which coincidently is the same number of cups that had to be sewen into this dress to make it fit. Heehee. (6 total I mean, 3 on each side. Not 3 total. I’m not lopsided.)
And then dress numero 4. This is the one that required WD40. And vaseline. But it was my favorite cus when something is that tight, you’ve got no choice but to work it!
And so my modeling career came to an end. It was fun while it lasted. And a big thanks goes out to the hubs who sat front and center in a sea of women to take photos for this blog. But he did get to eat cake samples so fair trade I say.
On another bridal show note – there where LOTS of photographers with booths there. Lots! And at first I was intimidated. Not necessarily by their work but by their shiny displays and giant prints and just the scale of what they were doing.
Then I realized that that is not what I’m going for at all. I want people to hire me as a photographer – be it for a wedding or otherwise – because they want me to photograph them. Not because of a shiny ten foot reprint of a photo.
I want folks to hire me because they came to this blog, liked my work and could relate to my voice, my attitude, my philosophy (if you can call it that). Not because I pounced on them at a bridal shower and shoved a shiny postcard down their throat!! But I do suppose that business, like life, is just a process of being briefly intimidated and then figuring out who you are and what you want. Which leads me to where I always land…
Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way
Ole Frank always says it best : )