Gradlife

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Some of us are models, some of us are not. Some of us pretend to be models for a day and feel awkward the entire time. I am the latter(s). See, this blogging gig has provided me with the opportunity to be featured in the Essential Grad Guide that goes out to every grad student in the fall – and I mean, that is exciting and flattering and also fills me with a false notion of importance. I mean, it was fun to mention “my photoshoot” to friends. But more than all of those things, being a model, for a publication that will reach more than 5 people, is above all other things, terrifying.

Mainly because the preparation for such a photoshoot  is necessarily stressful. I mean, I got the first real (ie: expensive) haircut I’ve had in months (and now seeing the photos I notice that my bangs definitely weren’t cut straight). I employed my roommate to select outfits and do my make-up (I use the term employ here very loosely) and then I tried my best to not get all sweaty on the TTC on my journey to – (add dramatic pause) THE PHOTOSHOOT.

 

This is where every awkward inch of my body decided to migrate from my head to my outer being. Posing for photos (“just act natural!”) for a complete stranger, is (as originally expected) perhaps one of the most awkward situations one can get into. And the sick irony of it all, is that these very moments are those that are caught on film, and it’s this very fact that makes one act so awkward. IT IS A SICK CYCLE, FRIENDS!

 

And so I’ve now received the pictures, a couple weeks later, and I mean, I’m trying not to be self-judgey and appreciate the composition of the photographs, blah blah blah, but honestly, I’m having a hard time not seeing the awkward behind my eyes. But, as I was assured by the photographer himself – everyone hates their own photographs. This simply cannot be true. I think the truth must be this: everyone who isn’t a model does.

Do you want to try your hand (face?) at being a model of U of T? It just so turns out that the Library is currently looking for participants to grace the pages of their newest brochures! Surely, not all of us buckle under the photo pressure in the same way I did. Photoshoot is taking place July 11th and 12th, and would only take about an hour of your time (to be famous for much longer, of course) – contact margaret.wall@utoronto.ca or call 416-978-1757 for details.