Day One
8.30am - It’s the first day of the shoot and I’m not ashamed to say that I’m slightly nervous. I’ve spent the last 25 years as a fashion editor, working on lots of photoshoots, but I’ve always been behind the camera. Today I’m going to be modelling, which is slightly scary! As soon as I arrive I’m introduced to Andi, Angela and Hilary, the three other ladies that I’m going to be working with, and instantly my nerves disappear. They are professionals and have done this before, as long as I follow their lead I’ll be ok. After a quick coffee it’s straight into wardrobe.
8.45am – Our stylist Krishnan shows us the gorgeous footwear that we will be showcasing, along with the outfits that he has found to go with them. We have four different scenes to shoot, and we are starting with partywear. I love my sequin top and silver skirt combo that goes so well with my heeled knee high boots, but I’m slightly jealous of Andi’s green sequin dress – she looks stunning.
9.00am – After our wardrobe fitting, we head straight into hair and make-up where we meet Lou. She has the challenging task of transforming us from everyday women into models and she works miracles, by 11am she has all four of us looking glamorous, complete with false eyelashes and stylish curls. We love Lou and want to take her home with us!
11.30am – While all this has been going on the crew have been super busy transforming the studio into a party scene, complete with a red carpet and photo booth. Filming starts with us walking into the party as if we are going on a night out. I feel a bit awkward at first, but I soon get the knack of it and before long we are giggling and dancing as if we have known each other for years. I won’t say exactly what Angela did that broke the ice, but it made us howl with laughter! It’s hard work though, Jamie (our Director) makes us do each step over and over again until he’s happy, but the girls assure me this is perfectly normal and to be expected so I go with the flow. Phoebe, the Art Director, has lots of props and before long we are putting on silly hats and glasses and pulling glitter cannons. After we finish shooting the scene we head upstairs to the photo studio where photographers Mike and James and videographer Josh get the additional content they need for the website and brochures.
2pm – After a quick lunch break we are back in the studio to shoot more footage for the party scene, this time its close-ups on our shoes and we have to dance on the spot. You can’t see my face in this part, so I give my smile a rest!
4pm – Party scene is ‘in the can’ (I’m rapidly learning all the lingo!) and we are moving on to the slippers scene. Time to change from party clothes to chic loungewear. I’ve had my boots on for hours, and I can happily report that they are really comfortable, but I’m very happy to switch to my ballerina slippers with cute pom poms. This scene involves the four of us flopping back onto a sofa and wriggly our feet, sounds simple doesn’t it - I lost count of the amount of times we had to do it but we got there in the end! We finish with a shot where we make lots of noise with party blowers, I’m out of puff by the end of the day and we all head home for an early night.
Day Two
8am – After a strong coffee it’s straight into Lou’s chair for hair and make-up. While she works her magic we chat with Paver’s Social Media Manager Sam, who asks us lots of quick-fire questions and takes pictures to use on Instagram and Facebook.
10am – We are dressed and ready to go! This is an autumn scene featuring the gorgeous trainers, I’m wearing a lovely black floral pair with a matching shoulder bag. The studio is full of leaves and logs and we take it in turns in front of the camera, pretending we are walking in a forest on a crisp autumn day. Phoebe gets up a ladder and scatters the leaves, over and over again!
1pm – Time for some lunch. It’s early October and a gorgeous day in North London where the studio and production company are based, so we grab our chairs and sit in the sunshine. Sam isn’t far away with her camera and microphone, getting more content for her social posts. There’s a happy and relaxed atmosphere. Dave, Head of Brand aka The Boss, is really happy with the rushes from the day before (more lingo!) and we only have one more scene to shoot.
2pm – It’s time for the winter scene and I’m told that I’m going to get my big moment! After changing into a cosy faux fur coat to go with my red ankle boots I head into the studio to find it’s been transformed into a giant snow globe! I’m instructed to scoop up handfuls of ‘snow’ and blow it towards the camera, all the time smiling and trying not to puff too hard! After each take I end up completely covered in snow (fake snow is sticky) Lou and Krishnan have to remove it all from my hair and coat before starting all over again! After a while I get the hang of it and finally we get the perfect take – phew!
4pm – Hilary, Andi and Angela join me on set and we shoot our final scenes – giving each other christmas gifts and generally having fun. We head upstairs for some final pictures for the website with James and then just like that it’s all over! Two brilliant days with a great team who I hope I will see again very soon. I swap numbers with the girls and we promise to go out for a cocktail or two!
10pm – I’m exhausted after a busy couple of days and head to bed. As I take off my underwear fake snow flutters to the carpet – it really does get everywhere!
Update…..
A few weeks later we met up for a few drinks to celebrate the launch of the new campaign. Sadly (for us) Hilary was out of the country on a luxury cruise, but here I am with Andi, Angela and Debbie Paver enjoying a glass of fizz!
