So You Want Me To Take My Clothes Off?
Essentially, yes. I joke with friends that I have a particularly great ability to make people undress quickly. If the thought of shedding all layers (in all senses) makes you want to say “HELL NO,” I’ve got you covered. These are some things I’ve personally tried through the years that tremendously help in terms of getting ready!
1. HYDRATE: Yes, water. Water is one of those tried-and-true solutions that seem to work for anything and everything. Being well-hydrated makes my skin look and feel plumper and clear of blemishes (for the most part). Because it aids in flushing out toxins and impurities, water helps make sure your digestion is working efficiently so you avoid the dreadful bloated sensation. IF you’re feeling bloated, however, this is your cue to drink even more water. Albeit seemingly counterintuitive, water accelerates the de-bloating process, so drink up! Whether you’re a water junkie or if water intake is an issue for you, definitely consider becoming more conscious about your consumption (try for 2 or 3 liters a day) during the week leading up to the shoot. Trust me – this alone makes a huge difference!
2. MIRROR, MIRROR: Staring at yourself might seem silly or daunting, but having a good understanding of your body can help a lot during our shoot. If you have a general idea of what your favorite side is or what angles you think your body looks bangin’ in, that gives us much more room to play during the shoot. If there’s a constant word that threads from shoot-to-shoot it’s “Movement.” I love capturing the in-between moments that happen between poses. THOSE are the bangin’ shots. If you can start feeling comfortable with movement before your shoot, it’ll make it that much easier for you during the actual shoot. So get playful. Dance a little in front of the mirror, put on what you’ll be wearing… explore! Who cares if it’s ridiculous?! No, seriously, who cares? The answer is probably no one other than yourself. So let go of all inhibitions and get silly, get playful, get sexy! I’ll cue you A LOT during the shoot regardless, so you don’t have to know exactly what you’ll do, but having a feel for it definitely helps.
A great resource worth looking into are all the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition behind-the-scenes videos or Victoria’s Secret campaigns to notice how the models move. Before you start to say, “well duh, those are professional models and ANGELS for goodness sake, of course they know what they’re doing!”, I’ll remind you – I don’t expect you to know what you’re doing, that’s the fun part!!! Visual inspiration in the form of videos, though, is a great resource since it gives you an idea of the dynamic between model (you) and photographer (moi!). I like to think it’ll also pump you up.
3. SWEAT: Am I the only one who thinks working out is sexy? Let me rephrase that, having worked out is sexy. It makes me feel ultra feminine and strong, which is exactly where I need you to be for the shoot. Challenge yourself to a dance class or spin class (Side note: I just tried KP Dance Body’s master class, and can I just say how freaking awesome it was so shake my ass and pretend to look hot while attempting to follow along?!), or get your zen on at a local yoga class (OR do yoga with me, helloo!!!). The point is to move, sweat a little and feel great about your body. A hardcore sweat sesh always does the trick for me.
4. BEAUTY PLAN + PAMPERING: Have one. Do it. Make sure hair and make-up are accounted for, whether you’re getting it professionally done with me or at a third-party business, definitely make sure you know exactly what you’ll want your look to be. Professional pictures and sophisticated lingerie do wonders, but without proper hair and make-up,
