Anyone can be a model
In Girlguiding, you never know what opportunities might come your way!
With nearly 370,000 members, and over 24,000 groups meeting weekly powered by over 80,000 volunteers, the amazing people who make up Girlguiding are always going to be a diverse bunch.
Making everyone feel included and represented in the organisation is really important. So for our latest uniform photoshoot for our online shop, we wanted to give all young members and volunteers the opportunity to get involved.
'In the past we’ve mostly used staff and models for our uniform photoshoots, but we thought it would be a really good idea to use current members to make the photos authentic,' says Priya Khosla, marketing lead for Girlguiding’s trading team. 'Who better to show off our uniform than the people who wear it every week?'
Getting ready
With the shoot set to take place in Stockport, our friends at Girlguiding North West England sent out an email asking for members to take part.
'We wanted to make it clear that this call out was open to every member to take part – we believe that anyone can be a model,’ explains Priya. 'We want everyone visiting our online shop to feel represented and included, so this was a great way to make sure that we found a diverse mix of people. All members needed to do was send in a selfie and some information about themselves.'
A mix of 26 Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Rangers and leaders got in front of the lens on the day of the shoot. Sisters Elena, 14 and Courtney, 11, were two of our models. 'We had a great time,' says Elena. 'It boosted my confidence a lot. And the clothes were really comfortable.'
Feeling more confident
Elena wasn’t the only one whose confidence grew thanks to the shoot. Rainbow leader Aimee says: 'I’ve never felt so confident in a photo! I really enjoyed myself and loved the final images. It was a great day.'
Aimee was pleased to see a varied mix of real members on the shoot. 'Volunteering for the shoot pushed me out of my comfort zone. It’s not something I would usually do! But when I saw the email asking for a mix of people to apply, I wanted to do it.
'I’ve got hidden disabilities – mental health issues and also a neurological problem called functional neurological disorder – and I wanted to show that it doesn’t mean you can’t be a leader. In fact, being involved in Girlguiding has done more for me than any doctor ever has.
'Photoshoots like this help show Girlguiding for what it is and show how diverse it actually is.'
The importance of using real members
Alison has been a Brownie and Guide leader for 35 years. 'I was representing a certain age group at the photoshoot – I’m sure you can do the maths!' she jokes.
Alison is positive about using real Girlguiding members. 'There’s too much air brushing out there which gives such a negative sense of self-worth because you compare yourself to models. It’s taken me a lot of confidence crises to get to the other side of feeling that. Using real members shows we come in all shapes and sizes.
'It felt good that people were going to see me in the photos and say that’s a real person, and the clothes she’s wearing are going to suit me.
'The shoot left me with a smile on my face after being quite apprehensive. I thought I might be surrounded by 5’8 willows who are perfectly proportioned. I’m built for comfort, not for speed! But I’m a real person and that’s what guiding is all about. I also consider myself disabled – I have nerve damage in both legs which gives me mobility problems. So it felt good to represent the disabled community too.'
Fun on the day
Girlguiding is all about girls having fun, being comfortable and feeling like they can do anything. And the images from the shoot reflect this, with members moving, dancing and hula-hooping.
Nine-year-old Ivy had good fun dancing with a ribbon on the day of the shoot. 'It was a good experience. The best part was eating all the snacks! Then I enjoyed modelling my Brownie shorts, T-shirt and gilet. They were very comfortable. I used a ribbon as a prop and it was difficult to twirl it. But I felt really good at the end and I liked my pictures.'
Ivy was especially proud to be able to show an important part of her own story on the photo shoot.
'I’ve got a glucose monitor on my arm which you can see in the photos,' she explains.
And the uniform was a hit too. 'It was a giggle,' says Alison. 'I tried on clothes I wouldn’t normally have gone for. I was very pleasantly surprised at the quality and how comfortable the stuff was.'
'I was a bit nervous. But the photographer was just trying to make me laugh, so my shots look natural,' says Aimee. 'I liked the clothes. They’ve recently changed the design of the polo shirt and it’s much nicer now because it’s longer. I’m 5’11 so I love it.'
Priya was delighted with how the shoot went. 'It was a massive success,' she says. 'Everything went well on the day and we are very happy with the images. They really showcase what Girlguiding is all about and the uniform looks great.'
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