The Magic of Airbrushing

My sister-in-law Alicia had a great comment about Dana Delaney (see earlier post and comments). Alicia is the one with the really great sense of humor in our circle of sisters. And she makes a great point that we all would look great if only we had someone to airbrush our pictures.

I can never see those things right off the bat. I usually take things for what they appear to be which makes me what they call gullible much of the time. And my memory isn't always that great, so I forget things a lot. Not a good combination!

But I do remember an airbrush-like picture of me, a long time ago. Mid eighties ... big hair ... shoulder pads ... Can you say "Glamour Shots"?

I was President of Seattle Ad2, the junior club of the Seattle Advertising Federation and President-Elect of the National Club, trying to make a name for myself. Being in advertising, there were lots of opportunities for publicity and I was getting some press. I needed a head shot. I've never been fond of taking my picture, but I valiantly headed with a few wardrobe changes to the local mall Glamor Shots place. I have also never been one to know much about hair and makeup until recently, so when I sat down in the chair and started the process, I was much too overwhelmed and undereducated to really know what was happening. I just went with the flow. So on went lots of makeup that looked clownish in the light of day but I was told that it would look great on film. And my hair was curled, teased, primped, poofed and probably massively sprayed in place. First set of shots - business suit - for the press. Second shot - the hottie shot in black leather jacket - for nothing in particular at the time, but everyone was doing a hottie shot, so I figured I needed one, too.

When I got the pictures back a few weeks later, I was pleasantly surprised. They actually looked good. Nothing like me, but a close enough resemblance that I felt I could send the business shots out with press releases.

My friend Carrie has also been my hair stylist since our college/beauty school days and at the time, I had way better hair. A few months or years after these pictures were taken, I wanted her to make my hair look like it did in those pictures. Well, remember what I said about the memory thing? After wiping tears of laughter from her eyes and practically doofing me on the head, she had to remind me that they attached a piece of cardboard to the back of my head with hundreds of bobby pins to make it look that way! Duh! Airbrushing the non-technical way. I had totally forgotten that.

A few years later, in between boyfriends, I thought it would be interesting to look for a date in the personals in the Seattle Weekly. I only ever responded to two ads. The first one wanted to meet at the bar at Denny's (first clue right, but re-read above re: gullible) and I ended up buying my own disgusting wine and his too. I couldn't get out of there fast enough. To the second guy, I decided it would be a good idea to send a picture - just to secure the date. I also thought it would be a good idea to send the black leather glam shot (taken a few years earlier mind you). I got the date in a few hours flat, but imagine his surprise and mine when he showed up expecting to see hot-babe-in-leather-with-really-fab-hair-and-makeup and me realizing that I pulled off my first ever bait-and-switch inadvertently. There I was ... flat-haired, minimal makeup, a few pounds heavier, no black leather (but likely black spandex pants which I wore for many years almost uniform-like) ... very unglamorous but totally me and I had to laugh. I never wondered why he didn't call back!

I'm sure Dana Delaney really does have a great body and loooks really good for 51, but Alicia, you are right girl - if she sends those pictures to get a date, someone will probably be surprised!

PS I'm looking around the house to see if I can find that picture. If I do I'll scan it and add it to a post.