Confidently beautiful
WHEN AN OFFER to model for a budding but definitely talented photographer comes, it is almost a mortal sin to refuse.
The artist’s objective was quite simple — gather as many “ordinary” women as possible willing to pose and transform them into coveted silver screen stars or models straight out of the cover of Vogue.
It was an impossible mission and there was definitely hesitation when I came across the Facebook post of my Romulo “Muloy” Luib, a former colleague and an award-winning journalist. But if my shutterbug-friend wants to be challenged, I was more than willing to oblige. A pro bono proposal to make me look like a star was too hard to resist.
To be clear, I don’t claim to be pretty. I will never be that Koreanovela character who looked horrendous in the first episode only to turn into a drop-dead beauty by the fifth episode. I will need work and the experts should be on hand to help.
Mr. Luib, a former BusinessWorld reporter and editor before moving to
The Brunei Times in 2005, returned to Manila late last year to pursue his love for photography.
When we met to plan for the shoot in early December, he was very professional. Instead of our old story conferences where we decided on our top stories for the next day, we discussed outfits, color palettes, makeup, accessories and shoes. We also talked about the possible venues, available studios, beauty tips, and even costs. It was an unusual lunch meeting at Padre Damaso in Greenbelt but my biggest takeaway was that Mr. Luib — who incidentally is also a salsa enthusiast — certainly knows his craft and I was in good hands.
“Are you miracle worker?” I asked, chuckling. His confident reply: “I bring out the most beautiful in everyone.” That sealed the deal.
After that meeting, he continued to give me tips for our shoot set in January. Choose dresses that are form- fitting but loose clothes that allow the photographer to highlight my curves are also acceptable. He said some necklines are more interesting than others and even accompanied his Facebook messages with helpful photos. As the photo session is a celebration of who I am, he encouraged me to ready my cocktail dress, or my evening grown, or even my simple flowing dress, with a reminder to “bring some glitter.”
Although I didn’t imagine him to be a beauty guru, Mr. Luib also reminded me not to do anything with the face that may cause redness such as eyebrow threading, and if manicure is in order, to use nail polish in nude colors.
Glamorosa Portraits even sent me a reminder e-mail for my portrait couture session days before January 29, with the names and number of my glamor team. Citrusnap was the chosen studio and Julie Ann Canja Raymundo of Jules Raymundo Makeup Artistry will have the unenviable task of making me look confidently beautiful. Of course, Mr. Luib would be at the helm.
I settled on a black suit with a flowing gray top, a simple gold gown, and a traditional hanbok, the Korean national costume which I purchased from the Dongdaemun Market during my visit to Seoul last October.
There was an obligatory “before” look that Mr. Luib took before Ms. Raymundo weaved her magic. She created three simple looks for me — corporate, evening wear, and the cute Korean. As I rarely wear makeup, and only dab powder and some lipstick for client meetings, I could hardly recognize the lady looking at me from the glamor studio mirror.
Weeks before the photo shoot, Mr. Luib already told me he would need at least two hours for the session. When the D-day came, I understood why. He was a fastidious photographer though not in a negative way. When he encouraged me to exercise in the weeks leading to the event, I realized he had his reasons. He made me stretch, freeze, look to the left and right, pose — sometimes uncomfortably — until he had the perfect angle. He was precise with his instructions and well, I was a dutiful subject.
I lost count of the number of frames that he took during the threehour session. He was very methodical and knew exactly what he wanted. When he instructed me to run my fingers through my hair, to smile ever so slightly, or to look pensively at a certain direction, I did what I was told, never doubting his ability.
The photograph studio we rented was sparse but the resourceful Mr. Luib made full use of what was available — a worn-out chair looked more glamorous with the photographer’s personally handpicked fabric, a studio fan to achieve a windblown look, and even a wooden block in lieu of a Lazy Boy. Creativity had no limits.
When it came to editing the photographs, he was very patient in explaining how to make a stunning final product. He noted how one of my eyes was a bit smaller than the other so he chose the photos that are most flattering given the circumstances.
Even in choosing the photos for printing, the actual printing and delivery, Mr. Luib was hands on. He chose the reputable printer and provided tips on how to better preserve the pictures.
When I was pregnant with my first child, I thought of commissioning a photographer for a photo shoot. I changed my mind. When I passed the bar in 2004, the opportunity again came but I let it pass. This time around, I was thankful to have finally grabbed the chance to be immortalized, at least in photo paper. It could not have come at a better time. The experience of being transformed — even for just a few hours — was a oncein-a-lifetime and truly priceless.
Photo credits: Romulo “Muloy” Luib ( https:// www. facebook. com/
mu lo yluib photography /). Hair and makeup by: Julie Ann Canja Raymundo of Jules Raymundo Makeup Artistry ( https://www.facebook.com/julesraymundohmua/).