Behind the Scenes at a Frugi Photoshoot: Model with Down's Syndrome

Have you ever thought about whether your child would enjoy modelling? Do you wonder what it's like behind the scenes of a photo shoot? It's different every time of course, Natty has worked for Eden Project, Jojo Maman Bebe, Scott Dunn and Frugi before, but there is a general pattern each time that your child will either love or hate.

Just before Christmas Natty took part in the Spring Summer '13 Catalogue shoot for Frugi and I decided to take my camera along to capture some of the 'warts and all' behind the scenes action.

You'll see it's all good fun, especially for a natural show-off like Natty. Yes, there is a little bit of waiting around, some noise, other children, a few outfit changes, but you get to meet some lovely people, and Frugi always provide wholesome snacks and drinks to keep us going :)

We got paid in vouchers to spend on clothing, which is always nice!

Rows of gorgeous organic cotton clothing, organised into outfits for each model

Natty loves to dress up and check for pockets

Natty takes position on the stage ready to...

...perform her karaoke routine of Mary Poppins songs

She then meets and greets the photograher and Frugi ladies, her public,
rousing them after a long day in the studio

Trying to eat the chocs we gave Frugi for Xmas

There's nothing left now, but to perform her party piece...

...dressing as one of the Frugi team!

And ta da!

And how they manage to capture images like this amidst 
all of that beats me!

The new Frugi Spring Summer collection is launched on Friday 18th January 2013. You can browse online or order their catalogue here. Look out for Natty amongst the other lovely models.

Thank you Frugi 

H x

Natty, 5 - Model with Down's Syndrome

Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful, 

for beauty is God's handwriting -- 

a wayside sacrament.
Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every flower, 

and thank God for it as a cup of blessing.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Natty models for  Frugi

When I began writing Downs Side Up some 6 months ago, my motivation was partly to show the world that children with Down's Syndrome are utterly beautiful, certainly not to be feared and deserve a place in the heart of our communities, where they can live in a fully integrated way and give so much back to those around them.  I wanted to uplift and inspire new parents, show them the possibilities, give them courage.

I began thinking of a many-pronged approach to reach this aim and the blog became the hub or core from which all other threads emerged.  Then came Downs Side Up on Facebook, more recently we've been getting our voice heard on Twitter @downssideup and laterly on Pinterest.  It has been amazing to meet so many like-minded, inspirational parents here, but my thoughts soon turned to how I could preach to those who were not already converted.

I started thinking that our childrens' beautiful faces should be visible in everyone's lives, popping up in catalogues, magazines, on TV, ads even, another facet of globally accepted beauty.  
I started writing to companies and model agencies, 2 or 3 a night every night, asking for their support.  Several were very supportive but politely said Natty was not 'chocolate box perfect' enough.  Others ignored my emails completely.  But a special few replied immediately with an open-armed 'yes'.  Frugi organic kids clothing was the first, the other was Scott Dunn Travel and then came Jojo Maman Bebe, who coincidentally use several models with Down's Syndrome and are proud to be inclusive employers also.

Modelling wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, but little show-off Natty is a natural in front of the camera.  At our first Frugi shoot she began posing before we had even changed her out of her school uniform!  Highlights of the afternoon were a vigorous game of kiss-chase with a male 3yr old model, (Natty was to be heard called 'come here and kiss me now!'), stroking the photographer's stubbly beard (No, that wasn't me. Honestly.), and dancing with a cardboard owl (what a hoot!).  

After this, national paper The Sun, online publications such as The Mail Online, our local radio station, Bella Magazine and even ITV show Daybreak wanted to share the story of a little girl with Down's Syndrome taking the modelling world by storm...well, turning it on its head anyway.  With each published and broadcast story, Natty clearly shouted from the rooftops that Down's Syndrome is to be embraced, loved and accepted.

Natty's agent Alison Smith-Squire 
writes about how the 
Downs Side Up word is spreading

Of course, all parents of children like Natty know why they are so beautiful.  It isn't simply the packaging on the outside that makes them so, although their delicate features apparently echo those of the perfect dainty doll.  No, it is something that radiates from within their souls, their innocent hearts, that 'live for the moment' Joie de Vivre, that being utterly absorbed by every activity they take part in, giving everyone they choose to interact with their undivided attention and that born desire to be the centre of attention.  Or is that just Natty...?

Also read The Photo Gallery of Hope
The Face of Disability in Marketing
Gorgeous Models: One with Down's Syndrome