· 18 December
01:45am - time to go to bed as we have a photoshoot in the morning
0300am - time to wake up and get ready as I have to be at the Morningstar Estate Winery gates earlier than everyone else: before 0530am
long drive to Mornington in the dark while the foxes are still crossing the Melbourne's roads: I met two, one close to the Westerfolds Park and one on Springvale Road, also close to the local park
My time estimation is probably failing as there is no cars on the road, no traffic and I arrive o the gates at 0445am - the sun is slowly and shyly showing its presence... Time to sleep again however my dogs are so excited seeing the new place around - there is no chance !
Lilian arrives with her models and it is time to remember the gate code... My brain reads it backwards of course... as usual
The sun promises to be merciless and close to 45 up the Celsius scale. Celsius should have chosen a different units of measure then we would have colder summers here perhaps... :) [ one lousy attempt for a joke ]
I AM SWEATING ALL MY SWEATS OFF - to my total horror I can not find the keys from the studio... but all thanks for the tallest model Jacob and his parents to grew him this way - the keys are finally located... I wish I had Jacob's parents but my country constitution was different from Australian.
The cars start to arrive - our crew is so well organised this time. Everyone is here. We are ready in no time but before the girls finished Shep a German Shepherd who failed to be a police dog as he was way too kind takes my 4 pups and himself for a long stroll around the estate. If I had 100 jaws they would all drop down from the beauty we all saw however Tosha and Snoop have no time to waste and they are preoccupied with Shep's nostalgia for smallest dogs and how to order them around. Snoop gives up but Tosha is ripping off his weakening thought chakra - all in vain! Shep is not going to change his mind - the ground definitely belongs to him to matter how unhappy Tosha's feeling turn to be...
The sun is still tender but it never will fail its early promise- HOTTEST and driest day!
Morning green teas and coffees and the models are all ready... Gary? Ian?.. Fargo arrives with Robyn - all on German clock time and German Shep is very happy - he has now smaller space to chase Tosha from one corner of Gary's studio to another... Gary? Ian? Oh, they are both here and what? The models are not ready? Yes they are and the media start to surround them taking them all to the secret places only they know to shoot the best...
I am staying : AGAIN! behind to mind the pups and the camp fire.. Time to sleep for another 15 min... however the rush back stage continues and our make up artist is still working hard . The air conditioner inside the studio is on .I walk around: there are so many props and so many props: I wonder how Gary remembers where is what... but he does... I saw his look - he does...
The rest of the models are getting ready slowly one by one... They change dresses and one is better looking than the other: the magic is created.. .it is here, in the air, it is next to the rustic ageing estate walls that look superb as he paradise should look for any photographer... Gary, you have no idea how lucky you are, mate!
It is close to 1030am when the sun is felt already on the models' skin and it is time to go home.. Penny is bitten by some crazy insect and she squall and does not allow me to pet her.. Quick stop over for fresh orange juice and a drive back home..
Now I can sleep.. No, I can not , I am still driving.. Sleep, sleep, no, drive, drive... It was the most dangerous way back home... I ended up on the neighbour's lane for at least 10 times... HOME, sleep.. not no - I forgot Gary's keys in my wallet!!! It is not funny guys and girls , not at all...
GREAT TIME WITH THE GREAT CREW:
FASHION: Lilian Bermudez Bridal & Formal by Lilian Bemudez
ACCESSORIES: Lilian Bermudez
PHOTOGRAPHY: Gary Bradshaw
MODELS: Jesi Faun, Brittany Jacinto-Garcia, Rowena Esmundo De Guzman, April Morrissey, Vienna Salvo, Naomi Cusinato, Jacob Stone
STYLING: Lilian Bermudez
MUAHs: Eloise Simone
FILMING and BTS: Ian George
DOG: Borzoi Fargo (owner: Robyn Rinehart) special thanks to Cherree Benter
SPECIAL THANKS: Anthony Wayne
LOCATION: Morning Star Estate (kind courtesy of Gary Bradshaw)
CASTING / ORGANISING: Natasha Marchev
THANK YOU FOR SWEET COMPANY: Shep, Dasha , Tosha, Penny, Snoop.
THANK YOU BEST EVER CREW!! SEE YOU ALL NEXT TIME IN NEW YEAR!