I’ll let you in on a secret.
I’ve been bullied into taking before-and-after make-up photos. (Haha! Yeah…. If you know me it’s hard to believe that I’d be bullied into…..well, anything.) But yeah… Sometimes a person on set will “ask” you to hold products up for an shameless endorsement celfie. You do it, and you cringe on the inside because you technically have no choice. See, as the model you’re at the bottom of the totem, and you’re at this “person’s” mercy b/ they’re either responsible for making your camera ready and presentable. Hey, it may even be the photographer from time-to-time. But one slip of the green and purple shadow; looks like dirt pomade [“let’s use two bigger dishes”], and you look like “drag, dressed, peacock, supermodel, Xuxa princess.™” (I’m going to make that doll, so… come up with your own idea.) These photos are posted with all of the 33 hashtags that IG will allow you: #amazing #beautiful #glowing #skin aye yay yae woooo wooo wooo. (O.K. don’t look at my instagram. I use hashtags.)
So what’s the what, who cares, right? Well, you should.
Just in time for Chanukah, Three Kings Day or the season’s change the ACME brand of whatever has a new product ad out. You think it’s the answer to you skin care or make up needs. But the girl or boy in the celfie has never used that product on his or her selfie before in his or her life. Or they have, but it’s not part of her beauty regiment/ routine and she probably already has great skin. Some will often “attempt” to take a before photo of the model: chin tucked into your neck; bad lighting; after rubbing the hell out of you face and then posting it like, “see she was puffy and gross before, but now she’s my master piece!”
Brand Building and Models
Now, I’m a fan of self brand-building. I’ll even help you, promote you and repost your work if I believe in you. Most of the time, I work with a talented team, all pros, that are super easy to believe in; although, I may not always have the opportunity or time to post/ repost some the great work I do with these people. But unless I post a before and after photo, don’t believe it, Folks. Unless I post a product photo and/ or tag/ mention or hashtag a brand, seriously, don’t believe it. I’m the first to tell you that I look crazy without make-up, and yes, I have a skincare routine. (I ain’t ashamed. I’m human.) But unless, I hashtag a brand in my own post or repost some of these photos in which I describe, do not believe it because I am guilty of enabling these fables and falsehoods.
I’ll probably still take this faux endorsement celfies. Don’t hold it against me. The pressure is real, and a lot worse could and has happened on sets and at events, so I have to pick my battles. For the most part, I only do makeup demos for brands and artists I love. (There are many, and if you want referrals I can give you some.) But before, you go out and buy something or assume a product works because you seeennnn…. (See/saw), ask me. I got’chu. I’m certain I’m not the only model this happens to, right?
But, selfie, if I’m an addict then why does this bother me?
Because there’s levels to this ish, that’s why! So leave the product endorsement celfie to the socialite/ social media stars who do it best. Let the models work.
Probably…. to be continued.
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