Behind the scenes with the Metro Bodies

Posted on Tuesday, 10.27.2009 06:59 PM

Tags: magazine, photography, styling, models

A lot of people would say that one of the major perks of the job is getting to see gorgeous people every shoot or show.  But place yourself in a model's shoes--how would you stand out in a sea of beautiful faces and bodies?  You don't want to be labelled as just another pretty face.

In the course of my fashion styling studies, I've yet to come across a diva model.  The best ones, and the ones who keep getting booked for magazine features and fashion shows are the ones who never forget to thank everyone involved in the production process.  They're not necessarily the most beautiful among the lot, but they're the easiest (or the most fun) to work with.  They're the ones with the ready smiles and easy banter when a make-up artist or hair stylist nitpicks anything about their appearance (and this happens quite often. Now I realize to be a model you've got to have the balls and a tough hide).

Jasmine with her make-up being done.

Anyway, last week, we've had another opportunity to be working with the chosen models and celebrities for this year's Metro Bodies for Metro magazine.There are about 20 of them, I think, and this is a huge deal for any one of them.  Styling, as usual, was done by Luis Espiritu, make-up by Shu Uemura team and photography by Raymund Isaac.

Admittedly, I don't know a lot about local celebrities as much as I do about models and photographers.  I don't watch TV, and I usually just pay attention to fashion magazines.  In the past 2 days of having this shoot, though, I've gotten to know Jasmine Maierhofer (I notice she's booked a lot), Koby Parcell, JC Tiuseco, Kemuel Viterbo, Victor Aliwalas and VJ Alvi of Channel V. I had to do some Googling to find full names for that, haha.  There were other models for the shoot, but these were the ones whose names I can remember and they did stand out from the rest I suppose.  I'll have to buy Metro's December 2009 issue and update myself.  There's another day for shooting since not everyone in the feature has been shot yet; I hope I still get to be a part of that.

Everyone featured for the spread is wearing Viktor denims. So expensive, that brand!  Apparently they do custom denim, which is probably the reason.  But what made me cringe is that we had to CUT these expensive jeans into short shorts. AND they still had to be returned to the store. I hope they can still make something out of it cos those are helluva expensive jeans.  The cheapest I saw on the first day of shooting was worth 5500php.

6500php jeans and we just cut them to mini shorts for the shoot. Personally, I like the look of cut-off denims after they've been in the wash so the edges are frayed naturally. But I guess we didn't have time for that.

Jacket that costs an arm, probably. Haha.

Hands down, Kemuel (or Ken) Viterbo was my classmates' favorite at the second day of the shoot. I was sort of embarrassed that they all kept giggling and taking pictures of and with him, but I couldn't resist a snapshot myself. Personally, I like his form because he's not scary buff, you know?  Not with biceps thicker than my whole body.  He's hot, but he could easily be the boy-next-door.

I usually like chatting up the models prior to shooting because, well, what else is there to do?  I found out that Ken here is a pilot for Cebu Pacific.  And that he's done Cosmo Bachelor Bash this year.  Fortunately, my sister had a copy of this year's Cosmo Bachelors issue lying around and that's how I looked up his last name. I had to google his first name for the spelling, because he said he went by Ken but in print he wants it to be Kemuel.

I remember having to work the night of the Cosmo Bachelor Bash when I was still a consultant for Summit.  I refused the tickets because I had a personal shoot to be busy with the next day.

VJ Alvi

When he came into the room, he was immediately friendly and chatty.  I thought that was unusual, if he were a model.  Apparently, he's not a model but a VJ, and I thought that made sense.  Very charming, this guy.  He came with Xeng Zulueta.  I remember seeing this couple in Preview's feature on their annual ball (the one with the Barbie theme).

I wasn't able to stay around for his shoot, though.  I guess I'll just have to wait for Metro's December ish along with everyone else.  I'm curious to see who else made this year's list.

Tags: magazine, photography, styling, models

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