Voguing for the black community in Oz.

On Tuesday I spent the whole day vouging.. more like posing.. but not in front of the camera.. I had to shoot an ad campaign for Mardi Gras 2010 and the theme is 'FIERCE'  for the Aboriginal / Indigenous community.

It was the queerest shoot I have ever done so far in my career.. When i got the call on Sunday from the producer.. I thought to myself.. " Do i have to do this shoot..? "  I just have a lot of bad experiences with the gay and lesbian community in regards to photo shoot, they are either too pathetic or JUST pathetic.  But i am so glad I did this shoot, it was so much fun.  (not only b/c of the pay cheque )  Most of the models on the shoot are not ' models ' as such.. but they are volunteers who wants to be featured for campaign to promote their own community.. Good on them.  

Having said that.. they are really professional and take directions really well.. I spent 10 hours helping them pose, vogue it and get the ' Fierce ' message across.. and of course shooting with me.. people usually have fun.  Being silly and out of character is all part of it anything to make the models feel comfortable..

The shoot is about Identity and presentation of the race. The idea is inspired by the documentary.. Paris is Burning ' about the Black community in America 1960s, it dealt with racism & sexuality and other issues, but using the dance as a movement.. that probably still exists in our society now.. (that's for both America and Australia).   Also the shoot is influenced by Jante (??) whom I believe is a choreographer for current performers such as Beyonce and Janet..etc. Also of course Madonna Vogue who is influenced by Paris is Burning.. and ANTM(odel).  I spent 48 hours researching everything for this shoot..

We shot in Sun Studio, one of the biggest photographic studio in Sydney.  Actually the studio had a 3.5m Cyclorama.. I didn't have to compensate on space, i had lots of it... I'm impressed and the makeup / hair studio is like huge...   We were jam packed with costumes, drag, amazing makeup and hair, wigs, the works.. 

Here are some of the shots..

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