PRINT FEATURE: Fashion Spread with Parents World Singapore

Click on Flipbook to enlarge

We were offered a fashion spread in Parents World March 2016 issue as a family. I couldn't possibly reject it. I am always locking in memories of our parenting journey be it through photography or my writings. Sometimes I do wonder if my efforts are futile because once we leave this world, we bring nothing with us. Then the husband said, "We leave behind a legacy." and with that, I shall continue creating memories. I would love to go through that chest of carefully kept hand-written letters and vintage photographs with our children and their children 30 years down the road [Darn. I'd be 60!]. The stories they will hear, the laughters we will share and the happy tears we may shed as we flip page after page after page... Then, we will pick out this issue of Parents World and take a trip down memory lane together as a family. I am sure it will go something like this-

Meyer: Aiyo. Do you remember this photo-shoot? I agree to it just for you lor mom.
May: Oh of course I remember! You were so vain you announced that you will have to turn in early so that you will look your best for the shoot in the morning!
Meyer: Are you sure? I don't remember that?
May: You don't remember most of everything my dear.
Ewan: I'm quite good at this ah? Better than you 妹! *hahahah* 
Faye: What do you know? This is called modelling. Models don't smile too much haven't you notice? *gives the resting bitch face with lips parted*
May: *hahhaha* I remember Faye was so exhausted she needed a nap in between shots. She was only 20 months old then! That was a lot to ask from her. Five changes of clothes!
Meyer: Oh gosh. So I was fat since then.

We started the morning at 7am as usual. The children's body clocks are set at the same time every single day and we arranged for the earliest possible shoot. We are quite a seasoned group of four when it comes to photo-shoots so I didn't think this would be too much for everyone to handle. Meyer and I know what makes the children tick and were confident we will call it a wrap by noon. We turned up for hair and make-up at 9am, started the shoot at 10:30am and were done only three hours later. It took half a day's work to produce this 11-page fashion spread.

A lot of attention was given to mommy me. I think I was the only one who felt like a celebrity. I had six changes of head-to-toe outfits, a fashion stylist next to me correcting my attire and a hair and make-up specialist touching up unruly strands of hair and lip colour. In fact, the girls [Faye and I] received most of the attention from everyone. It was a lot more work as compared to taking wedding pictures.

A fashion shoot is quite different from our regular family photoshoots. We had to ensure that the clothes are clearly featured, get the children to change [without a fight] from one outfit to another, keep the children happy with snacks and cartoons and the toughest for me was to keep Faye awake. As the shoot took longer than expected, it ate into lunch hour and that got the baby girl rather cranky. I nursed her in a $420 Rob & Sara Maxi Dress [oh thank goodness it's a toga] while getting my hair touched-up. I looked at myself in the mirror and thought about how tough the life of a celebrity must be. Behind-the-scenes aren't as glamorous as what people may think. Hmmm I say I have it slightly tougher because I've got a mini-me stuck to me and I was at her mercy. Faye fell asleep halfway through our shoot. I hadn't anticipated that at all because she had never pulled a fast one like this at any of our previous shoots. However, the production team shared from experience that Ewan and Faye were considered "easy children".

I was a tad disappointed with two particular pictures chosen for the print because the children were donning nothing but expressionless faces. There were a whole bunch of happy Ewan and Faye during the shoot which were not used. This is the thing about a fashion spread I guess. While we select the happiest pictures from our informal family photoshoots, the editors of a magazine have to give the apparels priority. Well of course happy faces coupled with unobstructed shots of the clothes are most ideal, sometimes joyful expressions are brought about with a lot of rough play [with the kids] and that sometimes translates to untidy [or obstructed] clothes. A few more flips into the fashion spread and I begun to like them better than at first glance. Check out these unedited ones we've got at the set:

We brought everything we could with us to keep the children occupied and what works best after all the snacks is YouTube. Anyhow, I feel that the best shots can only be captured when the photographer is experienced with shooting children. They have to zero in on the child and shoot. There is no time to think and definitely no time to procrastinate. Children are easy to photograph yet difficult. Oh how contradicting but the pros [and you mommies] should know what I mean. With the children acting sticky and cheeky on the set, it was rather difficult to take individual shots of the adults without them hanging around us. Thank goodness everything can be edited [taken away or added into] in this age and time. Otherwise, this will have to be in the magazine - a sophisticated me with my boorish-looking son eating Yan Yan. In all honesty, I love this picture to bits! He is a natural.

Meyer and I got to spend some fun shooting time together while the children were treated to Mickey Mouse and Pororo on the computer. They told us to, "Make it fun!" and so we did. This was really natural and I liked it that we were laughing to the same joke. Whatever that might be. I can barely recall but I'm sure it is something hilarious he said. My husband is quite the funny man at social gatherings.

Catch the Digital Highlight at www.parentsworld.com.sg for an exclusive interview of me with Parents World.

Pictures featured in the magazine are works of Edwin Tan, Lumina Photography.

Like Us on Facebook if you enjoyed the read!

A stay at home mum, blogging to widen her social life. 
We want to echo the sound of love through our lives to inspire other mothers alike.