Vogue...Vogue...Vogue...
Oh OK, Debenhams more like. Well, we've all got to start somewhere!
Yes people, I got my first ever modelling job!
You might remember I went for a casting for a pharmaceutical company a while back, but didn't get the drug-pushing job, then when we were on holiday we got a call from 'Mother & Baby' magazine (but Mummy said we were in Mauritius so we couldn't do it! Pah! Where's my private jet already!).
However, on our return we got a call for a Debenhams job, so the start of November saw us traipsing to a studio in Parson's Green for my big modelling debut :)
Mummy was excited as;
a) Debenhams is one of Grandma B's favourite shops, so she'd be able to see it as much as she likes, and
b) she thought it might be for the Christmas posters in-store, so she had visions of me wearing cute antlers on my head.
She reckons that even if it's the only shoot I ever get, I am bound to use the 'I've done a bit of modelling' line when I am growed up and trying to impress the ladies (tch, like I need to, Mummy!)
We're only doing it for a bit of fun and a change from the usual playgroup/mummy-baby type activities - any money will go into my own bank account - and, Mummy wryly noted, once her maternity pay ends in December, I may well be earning more than her!
Anyway, the agency told us to get there for 10.30am - slap bang in the middle of my usual nap time, so Mummy got me up super-early to start our routine earlier and she worked it out so I'd sleep on the tube and wake when we got there - clever Mummy! So far so good, I woke up all happy and refreshed as we got off the tube and we arrived there bang on time.
"Um..., yes, well we're running about 45 minutes late, so...go grab yourself some breakfast...", the lady who seemed to be organising things said.
Mummy wished they'd told us we could arrive later - there seemed to be a queue of older kids waiting for their turn to model before us, and then half an hour later 3 more babies turned up!
A further disappointment (for Mummy at least) was that there were no reindeer antlers apparent in the studio, as this shoot was actually to appear mid-February and will be instore (and perhaps online) for 12 weeks - so folks, do go and check me out in Debenhams next Spring!
Anyway, a 45-minute wait turned into 1 hour 15 minutes and I was starting to get a bit bored with my toys and the bits of toast and snacks I'd made soggy.
Mummy asked, "It's his feed time coming up at 12 - do you want to shoot him beforehand?"
"Um...we're not ready, go ahead and feed him if you need to!"
So Mummy fed me lunch, and...still no action. She eventually had to go and ask what was happening again, as I was now tired from getting up so early and needing a nap again!
"He's probably got another 10 mins, tops...", she warned.
One of the assistants rushed over with an outfit to dress me in - T-shirt, hoodie, jeans, socks and trainers - but I thought the T-shirt was really twee and babyish. After all the waiting, that was the final straw, so I decided to kick off there and then. (Supermodel tendencies? Moi?)
I screamed as Mummy took my clothes off, I hollered as she put that awful T-shirt on and I wailed as she put the jeans on. In the end, I was so upset, she stopped dressing me to try and calm me down with lots of cuddles and kisses.
The assistant came over again, hovering over Mummy nervously, most probably at the thought of baby snot and tears all over the merch, and tentatively suggested...
"Er, perhaps you should give us the outfit back...we'll use the other baby boy..."
Er - whaaaaat?!??
As Mummy took the T-shirt and jeans off again, I screamed even more at the indignity of having my big moment (and outfit) taken from me, so much so that Mummy couldn't even dress me in my own clothes and had to wrap me up in a big jacket and take me for a little walk to soothe me again. Mummy whispered that she felt terrible if I was upset, that if I didn't want to do it that was fine, that there was no pressure, that I was gorgeous to her and Daddy and that they loved me very much whatever I decided to do.
Well, that perked me up no end! I started smiling again, so she brought me back into the studio:
"He's calmer, but if you want to shoot him I suggest you do so now, as I really don't know how long we've got!"
The assistant handed her a green and white stripey sleepsuit for me to model, at which I started to cry again - I mean, now I was looking like a *total BABY*!
Mummy gave me a pep talk and said that if I hadn't behaved like a big baby and had worn the first - more growed-up - outfit, then I wouldn't be in the babygro now. She had a point. So after another little walk and little chat, I decided to suck it up and go for it.
The make-up artist spiked my hair up a bit, dried my eyes and snotty nose (I got off lightly, some of the other babies were blushered!), and then it was "ACTION!" No one actually said that, that's my 'poetic licence'... :)
Well, as Mummy later told Daddy, the most astonishing thing (apart from me writing my own blog, I mean) was how once the camera started clicking, I completely transformed my mood and acted up loads, striking different poses, twirling my hair, gurgling, grinning, showing off my teeth, flirting and laughing away... so it was a wrap (as us pros call it) in about 5 minutes!
Everyone was amazed at my performance and they all cheered and cuddled me when my shoot was over.
Mummy said it was like I was already properly showbiz - I might be traumatised in real life, but in front of the lens, the show must go on!
It was only as Mummy carried me away from the set that I started howling again...
Naomi! In your FACE!
PS Mummy did ask for the ladies and the agency to send a couple of pics through, but so far, sorry, nothing to show you :(. You might just have to check me out in-store!
Update: Feb 16/2/2011 - online...(OK so I woulda got the hero shot had I not cried)
and instore...(Daddy was so proud to spot me in Uxbridge!)
