Chapter 3 My Photoshoot

Miranda's POV

I was so happy when I entered the lecture room and saw my test questions. Most of the questions were based on what I had read. I quickly got to work and began to answer the questions. The two tests I did went well, and I rushed out to get a cab as soon as I was done. I checked the time and saw that I was running late. If I did not get a cab in ten to fifteen minutes, I would end up being late. If I had to calculate the time in traffic, it would be terrible. I silently hoped that the roads would be free and I wouldn't need to be stuck in traffic.

Not long after I arrived at the bus stop close to my school, a cab stopped and I hopped in. I gave him directions and he stepped on the gas. It was as if he knew I was in a hurry. It didn't take long before I arrived at the building that housed The Orange Magazine. I gave my name to the lady at the front desk and she directed me to the prep room. Models and stylists were everywhere. Moving boxes, make-up artists were making people up, and stylists moved around with their clothes racks.

Sarah spotted me first. "Hey, Miranda," she beckoned to me, "over here." I moved across the room so I could get to where she was setting up. I was just on time. "The make-up artist would be here anytime soon," she said. I nodded and dropped my bag beside me as I sat in front of the dressing table.

"Let's check out dresses for you before the make-up artist gets here, shall we?"

"Of course," I replied to her, taking off my jacket and my blouse so that I was only now wearing my underwear on the upper part of my body. She got a red sequined blouse off the rack and asked me to try it on. I did and it fitted me perfectly, but I wasn't sure if it would give the sophisticated look that the magazine had told me they wanted.

I asked Sarah if she got the brief because the clothes she was asking me to try on did not exactly match what was in the brief. She responded that she had read it. I thought to myself, well then, if she got the brief and still brought these clothes, I don't think she understood what was required of her.

I told her that I was supposed to look sophisticated, so nice dresses and power suits were what I should be wearing and not just random dresses. She agreed with me and in the end, we settled for two trouser suits and four corporate dresses. The hairstylist arrived after we had finished sorting out the clothes. He asked if I was ready for him, and when I said "Yes," he immediately set to work, doing his magic on my hair.

Videographers and photographers milled around the room and they took pictures and made videos at intervals. In about 45 minutes, my hair was transformed and I got up to sit in the make-up artist's chair so that she could start doing my makeup. The make-up didn't take long and when I looked at myself in the mirror, all I could see was a princess looking back at me. I smiled broadly and allowed Sarah to perform her magic on me.

The first look was the Marilyn Monroe professional look complete with the carefully coiffured short blond hair. My lips were in a deep red Ruby Woo lipstick and the off-white satin shirt, the midi-length navy blue midi pencil skirt, and the houndstooth blazer looked so good on me. I posed for the camera and the photographer took several shots.

Afterwards, I dressed in a dinner gown that was made by Eleanor Smith. I couldn't believe I was wearing an Eleanor Smith dress. Her dresses were very expensive and most people who had them got them from keepsakes. It was a fuchsia pink gown with fur around the neckline. The back plunged to my lower back, and the bottom of the gown was finished with frills. This must be heaven, I thought to myself.

I lay on a fur carpet and the photographer directed me on how he wanted me to pose for each of the pictures. This photoshoot was one of the best I have had in a very long time and I really wished that I could have such photoshoots every other day. After about three hours of taking pictures and changing clothes and make-up, the photoshoot finally came to an end. Even though I was exhausted, I was very happy and I couldn't even wait for the magazine to be published.

They even said one of the pictures would be used for their billboard advertisement. This was a dream come true for me. Me, Miranda Rowlands on the cover of the most widely read magazine and a billboard, this was insane. The editor-in-chief came in just as we were packing up and informed us that we would get their payments the following day. This payment was more than other payments I've received in the past and it made me so happy.

After I changed back into my clothes, I sat down to eat the salad I had brought with me. One of the fashion assistants tossed me a bottle of orange juice and I gave her a thumbs-up in appreciation. It was already getting dark when I eventually left the studio. It had surprisingly ended up being an amazing day.

I didn't have to wait for too long before I got a cab to take me back to school. I was so hungry and tired and I wished that there would be food miraculously when I got back to the apartment. The cab driver finally stopped in front of my apartment and I paid him and got out.

I got into the elevator that would take me to my floor and it took all my willpower to stop me from sleeping in the elevator while standing.